Did ballet help Jacob Ly become an excellent all-around student?

Did being an excellent student help Jacob Ly excel at ballet?

However entertaining the competition of developmental theories might be, ultimately there’s little sense in trying to parse the effect that devoting himself to ballet had on Ly’s life from whatever innate ability to focus and excel that Ly may have already possessed.

The end result is irrefutable: Ly is a terrific student and a heck of a dancer.

Consider: The Kalani High School junior holds a 4.0 grade-point average and scored a perfect 36 on the ACT college entrance examination. He serves as vice president of his class (he spent the previous two years as class treasurer) and plays viola for the school orchestra. His overstuffed CV also includes participation in mock trial, math league and the National Honor Society.

Last year, Ly played the dual roles of Drosselmeyer’s nephew and the Nutcracker Prince in the Ballet Hawaii production of "The Nutcracker." This year, Ly will return to the production in two different roles — a mouse and a Russian trepak dancer.

"Dance has helped instill characteristics in me that can be carried over," Ly said. "The process of training through it and learning developed characteristics in me that have allowed me to do well in other situations outside of the ballet world."

Ly began studying dance at age 6 and quickly became enamored with the grace and artistry of ballet. Ly’s appreciation for the form deepened as the rigors of training increased and he came to understand more fully the strength, concentration and endurance necessary to perform at a high level.

Ly began playing the viola at Kaimuki Middle School.

"They complement each other well," he said. "Dancing enhances my understanding of music rand music obviously enhances my understanding of dance. Dedicating my time to both of them is beneficial to me."

Ly said he gets a different but similarly satisfying experience through student government.

"You need to place what you believe will benefit others as the priority," he said. "It gives me the opportunity to improve the environment I’m in not just for myself but for everyone."

Ly credits his public school teachers for helping him to succeed.

"Every single teacher is genuinely supportive," he said. "They aren’t the type to say, ‘If you fail, you fail.’ They want you to succeed and they will work with you to get there. Public school teachers don’t get enough credit for devoting their own time and effort to try to help every single student."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@staradvertiser.com.