Our interview with Lauren Celentano happened just after the professional dancer had received “the call of a lifetime.” We’re not gonna lie — even we screamed in delight. But before that, Celentano had to take a bit of a career detour, as well as an international journey.

The 23-year-old Cheshire native has had the goal of performing on Broadway since she was 4 years old. “My mom says I started kicking early in the womb,” Celentano says. As a musical theater lover, her mother thought her high-kicking babe might embrace it, as well. She was right. By 4, dance lessons and toddler-created musicals in the living room were a mainstay in the Celentano household.