Month: October 2018

Q&A With Australian Ballerina Heather Warning

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

Q1: When did you start ballet?

At age 9

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

Cinevox Junior Company in Switzerland

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

Around 8 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

The Grishko Allures

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

I slouched a lot and ballet was to help my posture

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

Anything in Sleeping Beauty, especially in Act II!

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

RNZB, Queensland Ballet, Dutch National, all of them!!

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

Being on stage with a live orchestra

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

Isabella Boylston, Marianela Nunez, Maria Kochetkova, Svetlana Zakarova.

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

You never stop learning, there’s always a next layer

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical

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

Exploring the world, and the underwater world, whilst taking photographs!

Q&A With American Ballerina Ali Walters

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I had the opportunity recently to ask Ali Walters some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Ali is an amazing 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 when I was 4 years old.

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I currently dance at Olympic Ballet Theatre.

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?

I currently wear Grishko 2007s.

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

I was really active when I was young and had a lot of energy. I was constantly dancing around the house. When I was old enough I asked my mom if I could dance and that’s where it all began.

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

That’s a hard question. Right now my favorite variation is probably Satenella. But I also do really love anything Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, or Giselle.

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

My dream is definitely SFB. I love their rep and their dancers are amazing!

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

I have so many. Of course getting my first pair of pointe shoes and summer intensives. But I think my favorite was getting to preform as a willi in Giselle. It is my all time favorite ballet and it was such an amazing experience to preform it.

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

Maria Kochetkova is a dancer I’ve looked up to for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been amazed by her clean technique and the personality that she brings to every role she performs. My teacher has also always been a huge inspiration for me. I grew up watching her dance professionally and now being taught by her everyday is so motivating.

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

At the end of the day, ballet is so much more than perfect technique. It’s about your artistry and the emotion that you add to your dancing because that’s what makes you a true artist.

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

I love both, but my favorite would have to be a classical tutu. There is something so stunning watching a ballet where every girl, even in the corps, is wearing an elegant tutu.

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

When I’m not dancing I cross train and of course school. But for fun I love to bullet journal and hang out with friends.

Q&A With American Ballerina Cassie Van Wolde

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I recently had the chance to ask Cassie Van Wolde some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Cassie is a phenomenal dancer, she graces the stage with incredible poise and elegance. Her dedication and love for ballet is incredible. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I started dance when I was 5

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I dance in the Dutch National Trainee Program

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I’ve been en points for about 4/5 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I wear Soffolk Spotlights

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

My mom placed me in ballet when I was young because I had so much energy and then I fell in love with it.

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

My favorite variation is Giselle

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I’d love to work for any company in Europe but my dream is Het National Ballet

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

My favorite memory was performing in the Golden Swan Gala and seeing some amazing professional dancers perform from the wings!

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

One of my inspirations in Jessica Xuan

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

Work smarter not necessarily harder

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical tutu

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

When I’m not dancing I’m usually doing school so I can work on graduating early!

 

Q&A With American Ballerina Hannah MacLeod

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

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I did a year of pre-dance when I was 4, but stopped until I was 9. Then I did not dance seriously (more than two days a week) until I was 13. I began training with the goal of a career in mind when I was 14.

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I am currently training with the Manassas Ballet Academy, and I have attended the American Ballet Theatre (ABT)’s summer programs in California and New York City.

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

Since I was 11 and a half, so about 5 years.

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I wear Bloch Suprimas.

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

My mom originally placed me in pre-dance, but took Meyer out after a year because she didn’t think I would like it long term. When I was 6 I got to see the Washington Ballet perform The Nutcracker at The Kennedy Centre, and my biggest dream became performing in the Nutcracker. I begged my mom for three more years to put me back into ballet for that reason alone!

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

I absolutely love the Esmeralda variation! I performed it for YAGP last year and it was so much fun 🙂

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

Some of my favorite companies include ABT, Houston Ballet, and Washington Ballet, but I haven’t decided on any particular company yet. When I’m old enough to audition, I’ll try for different companies of all sizes and see if someone will hire me 🙂

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

It’s so hard to choose, but my favorite memory is probably the first time I was told that I’m talented. Teachers tended to ignore me because I danced so little until I was older, and no one had ever told me I was good at ballet, so I naturally didn’t think I was. By age 14 I was strongly considering quitting. But one of my teachers asked to coach me and told me that he thought I was very talented and could even become a professional one day (which I was totally shocked to hear), and since he began to coach me I haven’t looked back!

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

Misty Copeland, Isabella Boylston, Stella Abrera, Tiler Peck, and Sara Mearns.

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

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Always strive to be the hardest worker in the room.

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

I prefer a classical tutu, but it’s still a very hard choice!

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

I love makeup and fashion!! I love shopping, watching makeup videos, and playing around with clothes in my closet to see what kinds of outfits I can make. I also looooove tea and coffee and could drink them all day long!

Q&A With Ballerina Julia Conway

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I recently had the chance to ask Julia Conway some questions about her incredible journey as a ballerina. Julia is a phenomenal ballerina. She graces the stage with incredible poise and elegance, her passion and love for ballet is unparalleled. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I started with baby ballet when I was about 3 years old. But I began more serious lessons when I was 9.

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I’m currently with the English National Ballet.

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I went on pointe when I was 9 years old. I’m now 18, so it has been about 9 years.

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I wear freed classic pros.

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

Growing up in London, my mother always took me to see the Royal ballet and English National Ballet. I always pictured myself onstage like the beautiful dancers I watched.

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

There are so many beautiful variations. Of the ones I have danced, I really like Aurora act 1.

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I’m so lucky to be working in a company that I love. English National ballet has always been a dream of mine.

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

Dancing bluebird last June was very special for me because it was my first soloist role as a professional

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

I am so inspired by Marianela Nunez and Isabelle Guerin

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

To listen and take corrections while remaining true to my own way of moving and dancing. Not to get lost in what others want.

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 go to museums, go out for meals with friends and play with my cats