There are two types of dancers: Those who want to dance, and those who have to dance.

Matia Simmons-Reimnitz, a Port Townsend senior, is staunchly the latter.

“I can’t even describe how important dance is to me,” she said.

“You’re just going to have to take my word for it when I say that it is my everything,” she said.

Even though she has deeply loved dancing ever since she was 5 years old, something switched at age 12 when she decided to seriously commit to ballet.

While studying at Ling Hui’s, she was put in a class with much older dancers. As she worked hard to keep up with the “big kids” that year, dance became her priority. She recalled how successful and accomplished she felt after her first performance with them.

“Since then, I have not been able to get enough of it,” Simmons-Reimnitz said.

Her continued dedication has paid off. This spring, she was cast in the lead role of “Giselle” for Bainbridge Dance Center’s 42nd annual student performance.

It was her first lead role, and she was over the moon. However, the role of Giselle is a huge undertaking.

“I’m not going to lie, I was unsure if I could even make it through the whole ballet without keeling over or losing a toe,” said Simmons-Reimnitz.

But as “Giselle” is her favorite ballet, she took the role as both an honor and a challenge.

“After I had confidence in my endurance, that’s when I really dove into being Giselle and dancing the role to my full potential.”

Simmons-Reimnitz described how she tried to channel genuine emotion and give her all to every moment, no matter how small.

“I approached Giselle with my organic self,” she explained.

Much like Simmons-Reimnitz herself, Giselle is no meek, confused, lost girl; she is complex and gently powerful.

“Matia brings a maturity that encompasses both the emotionality and technical demands of that role,” said director Christiana Axelsen, who has admired Simmons-Reimnitz’s commitment to not only dance, but to her studio (she drives more than an hour each way up to five days a week, braving the inconsistencies of the Hood Canal Bridge to train at Bainbridge Dance Center).

“She is one of those natural leaders who inspires by the strength of her own inner compass,” Axelsen continued. “By working as hard as she does, she has raised the level of professionalism of our students, inspiring them to work harder and believe in themselves.”

For Simmons-Reimnitz, the commute is worth it.

“BDC is my second home,” she said. “The opportunity to study and try to perfect a classical ballet with such incredible instruction is simply priceless.”

She found Bainbridge Dance Center after trying out a few different summer intensives in 2021.

“It was Ling Hui who told me to branch out to better my chances at dancing professionally,” said Simmons-Reimnitz, referring to her beloved first dance teacher. “Ling Hui will forever have an incredibly special place in my heart. Without her, I would not be a dancer.”

She feels lucky to have had such lovely experiences at both studios, as they have both shaped her into the dancer she is today — and will be in the future, as she hopes to dance professionally.

“At Skidmore College’s conservatory level dance program, I hope to work on truly becoming an artist,” Simmons-Reimnitz said.

Her dream come true would be to dance with the New York City Ballet, with whom Skidmore has close ties.

“But I’d be happy with any company,” she added. “I simply must dance for the rest of my life.”

There will be three performances of Giselle: 6 p.m. on Friday, June 23 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25.