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

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I started dancing when I was 5 or 6 absolutely non professionally and due to my dyslexia

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

This past school year I was studying at the Joffrey Ballet School but due to the pandemic I had to come back to Spain to my old school here in Valencia

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

For nine years on professional training

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I alternate between Grishkos 2007 and Freeds Studio Professional

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

I tried a lot of different sports and activities as a child due to my dyslexia and just fall in love with ballet

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

Satanella, Giselle and Raymonda’s Pizzicato

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

Joffrey, English National Ballet, Ajkun Ballet… but really there are a lot of wonderful companies

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

All the people I met throughout these years have been special somehow; I have lots of funny moments while partening or in the Russian Dance in The Nutcraker

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

Dusty Button, Marianela Nuñez, Olesya Novikova, Evgenia Obratszova, Steven Mcrae and Edward Watson

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

Tendu is the base for everything / Dance is not about pictures but movement

Q11: Advise you’d give a young version of yourself?

Keep doing it, it’ll pay off when it is meant to be

Q12: Best thing about being a ballerina?

The connection between your body and your feelings, all the emotions that can be felt and the reassurance of how amazing the human body is being able to do more than you expect

Q13: Hardest thing about being a ballerina?

Constant judgement both from in and out of oneself

Q14: It seems like such hard work, did you ever have days growing up where you were like “ugh maybe I’ll just pick an easier career so I can be like a normal teenager”?

Actually I was happy trying to balance it all because I was doing what I loved though there have been a lot of moments of burn out

Q15: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical

Q16: Have you ever suffered a serious injury?

Tearing of the Ischio has been the worst one so far

Q17: What do you like to do when you aren’t dancing (your free time)?

Reading, walking, playing instruments (piano and guitar) and crafting