I had the chance recently to ask Piper Panek some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Piper is a fantastic dancer, she graces the stage with elegance and grace. Her love for ballet is incredible. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

When I was 3 years old

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

West Point Ballet

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

About 4 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

Russian Pointe

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

My mom was a ballerina and she put me in ballet at a young age

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

I love Aurora act 1

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

Any would be a dream, but maybe Royal Ballet or American Ballet Theatre

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

One of my favorite ballet memories was when I was given the opportunity to preform in Italy

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

My teachers are a huge inspiration to me and my mom. A dancer that I love to watch is Sylvie Guillem, she is such an inspiration

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

Treat every day like it is your last day dancing

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

Always give it all you have and never give up

Q12: Best thing about being a ballerina?

I love dancing to show my art to other people that may not know what doing ballet is like or the dedication it takes to be a ballerina.

Q13: Hardest thing about being a ballerina?

It is probably the intricate footwork and the time that ballet takes up working in the studio

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, there was a time that I felt like giving up and wanting to have a normal life , but ballet is what I love so i stuck with it and I know that was the right decision

Q15: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical tutu

Q16: Have you ever suffered a serious injury?

No, lucky I have never had a serious injury

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

I like hanging with my friends and family when not at dance.