If this photo looks amazing, it is a reflection of all the hard work Skyler Taylor puts into her craft. She won first place for this Yellow Polka Dot Bikini dance, just one of the many competitions she has participated in with her Georgetown based dance school, Dance Empower.

She is going into her third year of competition. Her dance routines are highly choreographed and Skyler is the youngest person on her team. There may be up to a dozen acts in any production. Skyler is typically in most of them. She dances fifteen hours a week in her classes, then comes home, creates her own routines, and dances all around the house. Her dad, Chase Taylor, says, "She's my little butterfly. She floats around our home and never stops dancing, which makes me happy because I know she is happy."

Skyler has been dancing since she was three years old. She said, "Dancing makes me happy because I get to move my body. I am very wiggly and sitting still is boring." She she trains five days a week, for three hours at a time. Her dance classes include Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, and the competition oriented Company Dance. Her favorite dances are the lyrical ones but she likes all dancing. Her main goal is to be on point (which means she wants to be a ballerina dancing on tiptoes) because, "It's really beautiful and I want to be an artist".

Mom and dad both support their daughter. They are at every competition. Grandpa and grandma are usually right there with them. Her mom says Skyler has a lot of different dimensions to her personality, so she mainly works to help her enjoy her childhood. She does like that her daughter's own discipline and work ethic have given her so much confidence on the stage.

Skyler is sixth generation Georgetonian. Her mom Cherub runs her own hair saloon, “Hair by Cherub” and her dad Chase spends his days hanging off the side of skyscrapers, as he installs or replaces large glass panels working for an Austin commercial glass company.

Skyler's grandparents, Shawn and Donna Taylor, live the philosophy "It takes a village to raise a child." Their family of four boys, with daughter-in-laws, and a growing number of grandchildren are all frequent visitors.

Only nine now, Skyler has never have needed anyone to push her. Instead, mom and dad work hard to keep her balanced between school and dance. She got all A’s in third grade, is reading a full grade ahead, and is going into Gifted and Talented this next school year. She loves to perform but also enjoys other sports, like volleyball and especially gymnastics. A very good singer, Skyler would love to act in shows where she can sing and dance. Dove Cameron from the Disney channel is her idol.

I can't resist finishing with this photo. Skyler was a super-cute toddler and, with the help of her super-supportive family, is growing up living her dreams.