Berlin Girl Uses Her Dance Skills To Open Doors To Modeling

Margot Paul of Berlin has been dancing since she can remember. Her goal is to win the television show "So You Think You Can Dance." She'll have to wait until she is 18 to even tryout for that show.

But in the meantime, her dance training and teachers have opened another job for her.

This past weekend, Paul and her family traveled to New York City for a paying modeling job for Lara Designs, a company that makes dresses and dance and theater costumes.

Lara is a family-owned manufacturer of dresses and costumes based in the heart of the garment district in New York City. They provide fashions for their client’s everyday needs, ranging from the perfect dress (Lara Design) to custom made costumes (Lara Costumes).

"I have been in fashion shows for the past three years," said Paul, who will be 15 and is entering her sophomore year at Berlin High School. "I have been in three Trashion Fashion Shows, Brazen Betties Street Fair, and a domestic violence prevention fund raiser. I've also been on Better CT in a fashion show segment, and modeled in shows and an online catalog for Sugar Plum, a boutique in Southington."

So what is it about the modeling process that she likes so much?

"I like to see the from beginning to end process," she said. "I like going there wearing simple clothes and no make-up to having my hair and make-up done, wearing and posing in the costumes. Then to see what you looked like before the shoot and what the photographers finish with, it's an amazing process.

"I also like the fact that when I'm doing an all-day dance class I'm working really hard and concentrating on the steps and techniques. With modeling there is more time to socialize and really meet and get to know new people."

This summer, Paul is attending a four-week dance intensive program at Earl Mosley's Institute of the Arts. They rent the campus of Marvelwood School in Kent, CT for the program.

Mosely is Alvin Ailey School and Martha Graham School trained and has premiered many works in Ailey's professional dance companies in NYC. You can see his bio online. He is an outstanding dancer and choreographer, and is based out of New Milford.

Paul also received a significant scholarship for the EMIA program based on her talent and potential at her young age.

Paul has done and accomplished a lot at her young age

• Modeled for an Etsy.com vendor called Feathers Of Artemis
• Modeled for various Ballet Theatre Company Nutcracker posters
• This weekend's Lara Design shoot came about thru one of Margot's dance instructors who is also an actress; catalog will be issued in September
• Was in McGee School's Beauty And The Beast production last year; danced en pointe for the roles of The Enchantress and The Enchanted Rose.
  
• When she's in NYC for dance it is usually to integrate certain choreography of BTC's pre-professional dance students with Exit 12 Dance Company professionals.