What happens when two sisters grow up side by side in the studio, pushing each other every step of the way? For Ellary Day Szyndlar, 13, and Sylvie Win Szyndlar, 10, it’s led to big wins: Both have recently been named Mini Best Dancer at The Dance Awards and earned top honors at Youth America Grand Prix as a duo and soloists.

Originally from California, the sisters have moved around over the years—first to Phoenix, Arizona, where they trained at Master Ballet Academy and competed with Club Dance Studio. Now, Ellary Day is continuing her training in New York City at Ellison Ballet, while Sylvie Win remains in Arizona to keep building her training.

Along the way, they have also made their marks offstage. Both model and serve as ambassadors for Nikolay, and Ellary Day launched her own line of dancewear in collaboration with Five the Label. They also share performance and training content with a growing social media audience online. Much like their sky-high extensions, the Szyndlar sisters seem to have no limits.

Dance Spirit spoke with the duo to hear about their sisterhood in and out of the studio.

From left: Sisters Sylvie Win and Ellary Day Szyndlar. Photo courtesy Krista Szyndlar.

What’s it really like training and competing together as sisters?

Ellary Day Szyndlar: I love having her around during competitions. When we’re backstage before duets, we share a good luck handshake that gets us ready to perform.

Sylvie Win Szyndlar: Ellary has choreographed and coached some of my solos, and I won first place overall at The Dance Awards with one of them. Having her at that competition meant a lot to me.

Do you have any favorite dance memories you’ve shared?

EDS: I danced Clara in The Nutcracker a couple of years ago, and Sylvie performed it last year. It was really special watching her take on the same role.

SWS: We were both Mini Best Dancers at The Dance Awards. Ellary won the year before me and got to pass the title down to me, which was awesome.

What makes you love to dance so much?

EDS: When I dance, I can fully express my passion, and I hope it inspires audiences. I feel like I was born to dance.

SWS: I love performing all the different styles, like musical theater, jazz, and lyrical. It’s so fun because I get to express different emotions.

From left: Sylvie Win and Ellary Day Szyndlar at The Dance Awards. Photo courtesy Krista Szyndlar.

What’s your signature step?

EDS: I call my signature step a “butterfly.” It’s where you go from a tilt position holding your ankle and switch into a scorpion.

SWS: My signature move is a fouetté arabesque jump. When my teacher teaches it to other kids, she calls it the “Sylvie Win jump”!

What step is the most challenging for you?

EDS: In ballet class, I’ve always struggled with brisés. I’ve really worked to improve them, but it’s difficult to beat my legs in the air so quickly.

SWS: I struggle with pirouettes. Sometimes it feels so easy to fall out of them. I’ve continued practicing, and they’ve gotten a lot better.

From left: A young Ellary Day and Sylvie Win Szyndlar at San Francisco Ballet’s The Nutcracker . Photo courtesy Krista Szyndlar.

Which dancers inspire you the most?

EDS: I look up to Svetlana Zakharova, a principal dancer at the Bolshoi Ballet.

SWS: I look up to American Ballet Theatre principal dancers Chloe Misseldine and Skylar Brandt.

What is your go-to meal?

EDS: We both love Caesar salads with grilled chicken. They’re so good.

What are you watching or reading right now?

EDS: My favorite movies are How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and The Devil Wears Prada.

SWS: I love reading and writing. Right now in English class, we’re reading Esperanza Rising, and I’ve really been enjoying it.