Sarah Georgiana has navigated her way through ruthless dance competitions, reality TV and road trips across the U.S. in pursuit of her dreams—all by the tender age of 13. The teen received her big break after being cast on Season 8 of Lifetime’s Dance Moms, performing with the notorious Abby Lee Dance Company Elite Competition Team for several months. She has also toured with Revel Dance Company as a Pro Reveler, and she served as a stunt double on AMC’s anthropology series, Dispatches From Elsewhere. Last year, Georgiana collaborated with Soel Dancewear on establishing her own collection of clothing, “Sarah G,” which features personalized merchandise that captures her personal style. Get to know the young dancer as she discusses her experience on Dance Moms—and if her coach is as tough as she seems.

When did you first develop your passion for dance?

I‘ve wanted to dance since I was two years old. My mom tells everyone I used to dance all the time in our house. I really developed a passion for it, though, when a teacher noticed me at a dance convention. It meant a lot to me that something I have so much love for was recognized.

Who are some of your biggest inspirations in the dance industry?

Kaycee Rice, Jennifer Lopez and the many choreographers that I‘ve worked with over the years. They’ve inspired me to become the dancer I am today and fuel my passion.

What is your favorite style of dance, and why?

Jazz because it’s a genre with technique but also a lot of performance. I love getting to perform a jazz routine on stage.

What was the audition process like for Dance Moms?

It started with phone calls, then Skype interviews, then a flight to Los Angeles for an in-person interview with the producers, then meeting with Miss Abby and learning choreography with Gianna [Martello]. It was an intense and interesting process. I had to gather pictures, tell stories and recall various events throughout my dance journey. The craziest part was waiting for weeks upon weeks to find out if I was actually cast but not finding out until it was announced on Instagram.

What's the hardest part of learning competition dances?

The hardest part is not necessarily the learning but the cleaning of the dances. It takes time, dedication and patience to practice the details. A lot of people want to just learn the choreography, but I spend time breaking it down and fixing it piece by piece. I make sure that each arm, finger and toe matches.

What was your favorite group dance you did on the show, and why?

"Body and Soul," which is funny because it was the hardest week for me on the show. I loved that dance because it was jazz, my favorite genre. I‘m grateful that I could do it and had the opportunity to perform it in the dressing room, too.

What's one thing people may not know about working with Abby?

She always has our best interests at heart. It may not always come across that way, but when I work with her on- and off-camera, I learn and understand things that help me grow as a person and dancer. It definitely brings perspective.

Should viewers expect another season of the show?

You never know what‘ll happen. We found out with the world about Season 8 on Instagram. Everyone will have to stay tuned.

What's your endgame? What do you ultimately hope to accomplish in the future?

To continue to grow and move forward through open doors as they come. At 13, it‘s hard to say where I‘ll end up, but I’m hoping to continue pursuing dancing, acting, modeling and singing opportunities in the entertainment industry.