I recently had the chance to ask Bella Northburg some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Bella is an amazing dancer, she graces the stage with poise and elegance. Her passion for ballet is phenomneal. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I started ballet when I was 3 years old, so I have been doing ballet for about 13 years. Originally I loved other styles of dance more than ballet, but I had a teacher named Daniel Simmons who inspired me to one day become a professional ballet dancers.

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I am currently dancing at Canyon Concert Ballet and at Denver Ballet Theater in Colorado, but I am looking into going somewhere year round next year.

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I got my first pair of pointe shoes when I was 10 years old, so I have been en pointe for about 6 years.

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I am currently wearing Grishko Nova Flex.

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

Ballet has been apart of my family for many years. My mom was a dancer when she was younger and attended the Royal Ballet School when she was 12. She decided to put my older sister in classes and I really wanted to dance as well. When I was old enough she put me in a ballet class and I fell in love with dancing.

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

I have a lot of favorite variations, but some of my favorites are Grand Pas Classique, Tailsman, and Balanchine’s Jewels variations.

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

There are many companies I would love to work for but my top companies are Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Ballet West, and PNB. I would love to work for a ballet company that does both a classical and contemporary repertoire.

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

My favorite ballet memory is when I got the opportunity to perform Les Sylphides and partner with the exceptional Adrian Fry, principal dancer with Ballet West.

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

There are so many breathtaking dancers that inspire me but some of my ballet role models are Isabella Boylston, Lia Cirio, Natasha Sheehan, and Tyler Donatelli.

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

The best advice I have ever received is to be confident and express yourself. Sometimes it’s hard to be confident when you are always comparing yourself to other dancers. My teacher always tells me not to be so hard on myself and to always be confident in my abilities. Also what really seems to set dancers apart is their performance quality. It is important to perform and express yourself whether you are on stage or in class.

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

I love both classical and romantic tutus, but I think classical are my favorite

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

I don’t have a lot of free time, but when I am not dancing I love spending time with my family, especially my little sister Piper. We love to ride our bikes, bake, swim, and watch movies together. I also love photography and drawing.