I recently had the pleasure of asking Raleigh Ledford some questions about her progression as a ballerina. Raleigh is a wonderful dancer who dances so elegantly and with poise. Her dedication to ballet is fantastic. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

When I was 3 or 4

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

The Rock School for Dance Education

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

About 5 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

Russian pointe

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

When I was in pre-k I would never take nap time, so my mom put me in the ballet classes

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

Lawrencia variation

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I love Balanchine as well as classical ballet, so I would have to say NYCB or Royal Ballet

Q8: Do you have a favourite memory/moment in ballet?

When I was Clara in the nutcracker for the first time, and that was also my first nutcracker, and that was also my first pas de deux performance

Q9: Who are your ballet roles models? Dancers that inspire you.

My role model is Darcey Bussell

Q10: Best advice you’ve ever received from a teacher?

Don’t just take the corrections that the teachers give you specially, and take every correction that the teacher says

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical tutu

Q12: What do you like to do when you aren’t dancing (your free time)?

I like to spend as much time with my friends as possible because we have very busy schedules