I had the opportunity to ask Isabella Boyd some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Isabella is a phenomenal dancer, she takes to the stage with incredible poise and elegance. Her passion for ballet is incredible. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

3 years old

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

The Royal Ballet School

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I have been on pointe for about 5 years now

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I predominantly wear Grishko pointe shoes but I also wear Freeds

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

I first got involved in ballet after seeing my sister, Grace, in dance classes and I decided I wanted to try it as well

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

I have a lot of favorite variations, but my all time go-to variation would have to be Giselle

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I would love to work for the Royal Ballet or the American Ballet Theater but making it into any company would be a dream❤️

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

One of my favorite moments in ballet is running a variation for the first time all the way through. I love seeing how each variation is challenging in its own way and putting together different sections to make up a whole

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

Some of my ballet role models are Marianela Nunez, Isabella Boylston, James Whiteside, Natalia Osipova, Skylar Brandt, and Katherine Williams (but the list can go on and on).

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

The best advice I have ever gotten from a teacher was to lose myself in the music and to play with dynamic in movement. This means that making even the simplest steps like a Tendu have more meaning and rhythm

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

One piece of advice I would give to a young version of myself is to find a new way to enjoy myself in class everyday. Whether it is playing with different character roles or imagining you are on stage, the simplest mindset change can make the biggest difference

Q12: Best thing about being a ballerina?

The best thing about being a ballerina is the freedom that comes with performing and moving your body

Q13: Hardest thing about being a ballerina?

The hardest thing about being a ballerina is the constant demand and high expectations from your environment/teachers/classmates. It is also just as physically exhausting as it is mentally exhausting

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”?

Everyone has days where they second guess their career, but the important thing is to remember the feeling you crave most about ballet. For me, I remember how amazing performing feels and I remember that without the bad days, there are no good days

Q15: Classical or romantic tutu?

Romantic

Q16: Have you ever suffered a serious injury?

Not yet🤞

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

I love to cook and bake in my free time but I also enjoy going on walks, meeting with friends, and watching Netflix 🥰