Month: September 2018

Q&A With American Ballerina Charlotte Westman

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I recently had the chance to ask Charlotte Westman some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Charlotte is an excellent dancer, she graces the stage with incredible poise, elegance and grace. Her passion and dedication for ballet is amazing. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

4 years old

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

BalletMet

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

Almost 4 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

Freed Classic Pro 90 Maker L

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

I don’t really know, my mom put me in it and I have done it ever since then

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

I have so many! But I really like La Fille m’a Gardé and Lilac Fairy from Sleeping Beauty

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I would love to work for New York City Ballet or San Francisco Ballet

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

I don’t really have one but I do remember when I found out I was going on pointe I was very excited!

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

Wendy Whelan, Misty Copeland and Victoria Jaiani and April Daily from Joffrey Ballet

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

Probably just to get out of my comfort zone and really go for it!

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

I love both so much I can’t decide!

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

I like to draw and take pictures

Q&A With American Ballerina Jenny Colavito

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I recently had the opportunity to ask Jenny Colavito some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Jenny is an incredible dancer, she graces the stage with poise and elegance. Her passion and dedication for ballet is unparalleled. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I started dancing when I was 5 so a little over 10 years now

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I currently dance in Maine at Thomas School of Dance and for the pre-professional ballet company Bangor Ballet

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I’ve been on Pointe for 5 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I wear custom Freeds by A maker

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

I started ballet just like most 5 year olds in a combination tap/ ballet class. Around 7 I was moved into a level two class, it’s funny for a couple of years I wanted nothing to do with ballet, but my oldest sister had a dancer friend that told me to stick with it and that everything would click. She was right and I can’t imagine a day going by without dancing ballet.

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

My favorite variation, ooh gosh that’s a tough one, there are so many. I really like a lot of variations from Bayadere I don’t think I can pick just one!

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I just want to dance! I’m 5’10” so a tall girl company. Maybe Ballet West, or PNB, or Nederland there are so many. Alonzo Lines is pretty cool too.

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

Favorite memory would be when I was given my first pointe role in the company, I was 11 and was a Flamingo in Alice. I also should have mentioned that my most recent memorable moment was participating at YAGP for the first time and making it into the top 12 at Chicago for classical. I’m looking forward to participating again this year

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

My ballet role models would be my very first instructor Ivy Clear, she has inspired all of her students and has given me the solid technical foundation that I have today. She was one of the very first company members of the original Joffrey Ballet.

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

Best advice, “If you rest, you rust” as well as “dance for yourself first and the rest will follow”

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical there is nothing prettier than a beautiful pancake tutu!!

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

In my free time I love to go to our camp and fish and swim. I also like to teach younger kids, it’s really rewarding to be able to give back. I also like to draw, play the piano and hang out with my friends

Q&A With Australian Ballerina Emilee Blake

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I had the opportunity recently to ask Emilee Blake some questions about her incredible journey as a ballerina. Emilee is a phenomenal dancer, she graces the stage with poise and grace. Her passion and dedication to ballet is unmatched. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I have been dancing since the age of 10 but have only don’t ballet for 4 years

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I currently train at Ballettshule Theatre Basel in Switzerland

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I stared pointe work when I was 13 so for 3 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I wear Freed Studio Professionals

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

I got into a school called John Curtin were I had auditioned for the dance program but couldn’t make the final round cause I was sick so I had to go to the ballet audition and I ended up getting in so that’s when I decided to start ballet.

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

Swan Lake Odette Variation

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

Definitely Dutch National as they take tall dancers and it is an amazing company

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

When I was performing at Yagp New York Finals

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

Definitely Svetlana Zakharova and Sylvie Guillem

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

Train everyday harder then before and believe and achieve your end goal

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical tutu

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

I love hanging out with friends, swimming in the river and eating ice cream 😂 ❤️

Q&A With American Ballerina Virginia Archer

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I recently had the chance to ask Virginia Archer some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Virginia is an amazing dancer, she graces the stage with incredible poise and grace. Her passion and love for ballet is amazing. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

9 years old

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I currently dance at Diane Partingtons

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

Almost 5 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I currently wear Freed Classic pro. My favorite makers are Castle, Z and V maker.

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

My family loves Ballet, so at 5 years old I went to see a ballet company perform Nutcracker and I absolutely loved it.

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

My favorite ones would have to be Aurora act 1 variation and white swan act 2.

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I would love to work for any European ballet company but I absolutely love Dutch national, Paris opera, or Royal Ballet.

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

My favorite memory was probably being asked to be Cinderella. This was my first time being a principal in a full length Ballet.

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

I absolutely love Anna Ol from Dutch, Sara Lamb from Royal and Svetlana Zakharovabt from Bolshoi

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

Always Dance your fullest no matter what you are doing. Because it can always help you for the stage.

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical

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

I love to swim, read and ride my bike during my free time.

Q&A With American Ballerina Grace Campbell

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I had the opportunity recently to ask Grace Campbell some questions about her amazing journey as a ballerina. Grace is an incredible dancer, she takes to the stage with incredible grace and elegance, her passion and love for ballet is unparalleled. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

When I was 3, I begged my mom to start!

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

Kansas City Ballet School

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

Since I was 12, so 4 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I’m currently wearing Freeds Gaynors and Suffolk. I have a hard time finding good pointe shoes!

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

I just really wanted to dance so I begged my mom for a year to let me start.

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

I have way too many! I love anything from Don Q or anything with big jumps and lots of energy

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

My dream companies are ABT and KCB

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

Being Odette was really amazing. It was so challenging and I was only 15 so it was difficult yet a wonderful experience.

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

I love Ashley Ellis and Erica Cornejo. They both use so much passion and have such an amazing presence and I hope to dance like them when I am older.

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

Everyone has bad days. Even Professionals. The difference is that professionals learn from their bad days and don’t let themselves get sad about it because that only hurts a dancer. They learn and grow from it and that makes a dancer. The sooner you accept and learn from bad days, the close you will be towards a professional dancer.

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical Tutu

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

I am so busy that I don’t have a lot of free time and if I do I typically am doing school. But I also like to read and hang out with friends.

Q&A With New Zealand Ballerina Kate Cockerton-Holmes

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I recenetly had the chance to ask Kate Cockerton-Holmes some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Kate is a phenomenal dancer, she graces the stage with incredible poise and grace, her passion and dedication for ballet is unmatched. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I started ballet at the age of 11.

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I dance currently at the New Zealand School of Dance.

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I started en pointe at the age of 12, so this is my 5th year dancing en pointe.

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I currently wear Bloch Sonatas and Bloch Heritage strong.

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

My friend did ballet and I loved the look of it. So I decided to try it and have loved it ever since!

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

My favourite variation is Odettes Variation!

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I would love to work for The Royal NZ ballet, the national ballet of Canada or the Royal Ballet. But I would be so grateful to be accepted into any company! 🌸

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

My favourite moment in ballet has to be when I performed my solo and the Alaina Haines completion on the St James theatre.

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

Dancers that inspire me are Svetlana Zakharova, Darcey Bussell and Sylvie Guillem. They are so talented and such inspirational people!

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

The best advice I have received is to be yourself you have to be the hardest working dancer in the room. You have to be persistent and determined if you want to get a job as a dancer.

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

I love a pure classical tutu!

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

I like to spend time with my friends, explore Wellington and eat a cute cafes.

Rhythmic Gynmast in Focus: Viktoria Bogdanova

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Any fan of rhythmic gymnastics knows and admires the stars of the sport, more often than not they are the incredible Russian superstars, however there are too many gymnasts who go unnoticed in the sport. Every gymnast regardless of where they are from, work incredibly hard for the most elegant sport in the world. Regardless of their placing at competitions, they appreciate and love encouragement and support, with every perfect performance comes an apparatus drop or point deduction and every gymnast needs a fan and friend to lean on and offer and give the wise and encouraging words. It might not be one of the powerhouses of rhythmic gymnastics but Estonia has been graced with an incredible talent in Viktoria Bogdanova.

I’m proud to be able to say I can call Viktoria Bogdanova a good friend of mine. I had the please of first communicating with her in 2013, Viktoria would have to be one of the most considerate, humble, thoughtful and kind individuals I’ve gotten to know. Her dedication and commitment to rhythmic gymnastics is outstanding. Countless hours of trainings alongside her twin sister and travelling to meets and competition never went unnoticed.

Viktoria started rhythmic gymnastics in 1999 at the age of 5, she trained with her twin sister Olga. She trains at GC Piruett in Tallinn Estonia. Viktoria joined the Estonian national senior team in 2010 and ever since has been a corner stone of the Estonian gymnastics and many up and coming gymnasts look up to and admire Viktoria. Viktoria had to overcome adversity in 2015 as she succumbed to a leg injury which meant she missed the 2015 world cup which was only a speed bump and her passion for rhythmic gymnastics got her back on the carpets more determined than ever before. Viktoria stated her reason for taking up the sport as “”I can express and portray what I feel.” Olympic representation and competing is still the dream goal of Viktoria’s.

Outside of rhythmic gymnastics, Viktoria studied at University majoring in Physical Education however rhythmic gymnastics is flowing in her veins with Olga and her holding workshops and masterclasses for junior and up and coming gymnasts to learn and train long side them which is a gratifying and rewarding experience. They even host their own rhythmic gymnastics event in Vinni, Estonia which is taking place on the 6th and 7th October.

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Viktoria might not reach the highs and get the accolades on the world stage like the major names in rhythmic gymnastics but every time she steps onto the carpets, her smile is infectious and is ear to ear. Her fight and determination is inspiring and something that many look up to her because of. Every time she steps onto the carpet, she does it with poise, grace and elegance.

Instagram: Olga and Viktoria

Facebook: OlgaViktoriaBogdanova

Q&A With New Zealand Ballerina Eve Claudia Condon

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I recently had the opportunity to ask Eve Claudia Condon some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Eve is an amazing ballerina, she graces the stage with incredible poise, grace and elegance. Her passion and love for ballet is incredible. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I first started ballet when I was three like most little girls do, but since then I have never looked back!

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I currently train at the New Zealand School of Dance! I am a first year classical major.

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I have been en pointe for about 5 years now!

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

Right now I am wearing Bloch Aspiration but I’m still trying to find my ‘perfect shoe’

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

My beautiful mother enrolled me so if it wasn’t for her I don’t know if I would be where I am today!

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

I really couldn’t chose my favourite variation because I simply love them all for various different reasons! But as of right now I love the Dying Swan!

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I would really love to work somewhere in Europe but I would be happy to be employed anywhere really, as long as I’m doing what I love!

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

One of my many favourite moments was when I was rehearsing a solo in front of my teacher and I once I had finished I looked up and saw she had tears in her eyes. And in that moment I knew I had made her proud.

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

I have had so many role models who have influenced my dancing in so many ways, my teacher Anneliese Gilberd would be one of my biggest inspirations along with Darcey Bussell and Sylvie Guillem who I also look up to in more ways than one.

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

The best advice I have received is ‘Everybody’s path is different so don’t compare yourself to others’, I absolutely love this as it just so true and I think we all forget this sometimes!

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Ooo I couldn’t choose! They are both so beautiful 😍

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

In my spare time I really love to bake healthy treats, go for long walks, do yoga, read books, and take photos to name a few! I feel it’s so important to leave dance in the studio and just be a ‘normal’ person in your spare time!

 

Q&A With American Ballerina Ever Larson

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I recently had the opportunity to ask Ever Larson some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Ever is an incredible dancer, she graces the stage with incredible grace and elegance. Her passion and dedication to ballet is phenomenal. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

When I was 2 and a half years old

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

Colorado Ballet Academy

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I’ve been en pointe for 4 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

Suffolk

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

I loved watching ballet so I told my mom that that was what I was going to do

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

Aurora’s birthday variation

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

Colorado Ballet

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

Dancing Odette in Colorado Ballet Academy’s production of Swan Lake

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

Marianela Nuñes and Sara Mearns

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

Don’t get small when you are on stage

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical

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

I love spending time with my family and friends