Conversations with Callie Leinbach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Callie Leinbach.

Hi Callie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hey! I’m Callie! I am a 16-year-old dancer and model. I currently dance at Campaneria Ballet School in Apex. I started dancing at age 2, and absolutely loved it! When I was five years old, I started competing all over Carolina. As I got older, I attended competitions and events all over the East Coast and even Las Vegas!

I began to take ballet and contemporary seriously when I was 13 and joined the pre-professional ballet program at Campaneria and the pre-professional contemporary program at Threehouse Studios. In 8th grade, I started an online school program to focus on furthering my dance education. I’m at the studio almost 35 hours a week! This summer, I began teaching classes at Campaneria Ballet School and Studio One Dance Center.

Ever since 3rd grade, I have wanted to be a dance teacher and that dream came true! I also have grown a following on my Instagram and TikTok, @_callie.alyssa_! Go follow to check out my journey growing as a dancer, model, and influencer!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I started the pre-professional ballet program at Campaneria in January 2019 but unfortunately ended up fracturing the growth plate in my ankle in November 2019. I was in pointe class landing a pirouette and put my foot down wrong and collapsed on top of it. It happened so quickly that I didn’t know what happened.

I thought I felt fine, but tried to walk and couldn’t at all. Everyone told me that it would be a sprain. I was actually scared to go to the doctor because I was worried they were going to say I could never dance again. The first doctor I went to said it was a fracture and gave me a boot. The second doctor said that it was fractured through the growth plate. He told me that if the break was 1 millimeter then I would only need a cast, but if it was more than that, surgery was required. A couple of days later, we went to another doctor for a CAT scan which determined the severity of the fracture. It ended up being 2mm which meant I had to get surgery.

The surgery was scary, but I got through it. By January, I was cleared to begin physical therapy. A couple of weeks later, I tried walking again. The next day, my dance teacher who supported me through all of my recoveries and reassured me that it would be okay, passed away. This was a super emotional time because he was one of my biggest supporters. I started to dance for him. Although this time was very challenging, I got through it and it made me a stronger person.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a junior in high school and I started online school in 8th grade to focus on dance. I attend two pre-professional dance programs. I am at the studio almost 35 hours a week not including teaching. I also have represented brands such as Pink Tights Black Leo, Sugar, and Bruno, OhLaLa Dancewear, Dance, etc.

World of Dance Convention and currently represent Dancewear Solutions as a Style Squad Member! I have been building my social media for the last few years and have over 15k on Instagram and 8k on TikTok!

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I enjoy traveling and sharing my experiences on social media!

Contact Info:

• Email: callieleinbach4@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_callie.alyssa_/
• Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRvAoErW/

Image Credits
Sydney Harris Photography