I had the opportunity recently to ask Alessandra Martinez some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Alessandra is an amazing dancer, she takes to the stage with incredible poise and grace. Her love for ballet is phenomenal. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I began ballet when I was four years old

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I currently dance at St. Lucie Ballet

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I have been on pointe for 7 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I currently wear Bloch Heritage pointe shoes

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

I had always been fascinated with dance, especially ballet. My step-dad took me to my first ballet class for Valentine’s Day and I instantly fell in love!

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

My favorite variation is Talisman

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I would love to work for Houston Ballet

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

My favorite memory is when I performed with my ballet family at Shake the Ground dance competition. We performed the Little Humped Back Horse and won first place within the whole competition. We had such a great time performing on stage together!

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

My ballet role models are Maria Khoreva and Marianela Nunez

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

The best advice I have ever received is to always keep working, for there is always something to be improved on. Nothing will ever be perfect!

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

I would tell the young version of myself to believe in herself and to be more confident, not lettting what other people think affect the way she dances

Q12: Best thing about being a ballerina?

The best thing about being a ballerina is The ability to tell a story through the music and movement, engaging with the audience

Q13: Hardest thing about being a ballerina?

The hardest thing in ballet is the feeling of frustration when things are not going well, or when you feel down. You just need to tell yourself to never give up and that things get better

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”?

Yes, and I believe it is one of the toughest things about ballet. Sometimes we get so down, that we feel like quitting, but we need to be able to pick ourselves back up and tell ourselves that tomorrow is a brand new day

Q15: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical tutu!

Q16: Have you ever suffered a serious injury?

Yes I have suffered a serious injury. I had struggled with plantar fasciitis a few years ago. I couldn’t dance for a long time, but I was able to do stretching and some floor barre.

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

My favorite thing to do outside of the studio is to spend time with my dance friends. I think that it is important for us to spend time together relaxing and doing activities. We spend so much time in the studio, it’s a nice change to spend time together is another setting.