Tag: Pointe

Q&A With Australian Ballerina Paris Doyle

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I had the opportunity to ask Paris Doyle some questions about her experiences as a ballet dancer. She is a phenomenal dancer who continues to strive for greatness, she’s such an elegant dancer poise and grace. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I started when I was 4

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I’m currently dancing at Melbourne City Ballet

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I’ve been en pointe for 9 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I’m currently wearing Bloch European Balance ( I’ve recently changed to them, I think they’re the ones)

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

My mum put me into ballet classes because I used to prance around the house all the time

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

Grand pas classique

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I would love to work for the National Ballet of Canada, or the Scottish Ballet

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

The first time I ever performed a full length ballet, it really set in stone for me just how much I loved to dance

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

I’m really inspired by Lucia Lacarra, her movement fluidity and lines are dreamy! Also Natalia Osipova, she is flawless!

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

Quality will always be more valuable then quantity, so take it slowly and perfect the smaller steps before leaping into the more complicated compilations.

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Definitely classical

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

I love too go to yoga and let my mind relax but I also love to spend time with my friends and family whether it be at home or out shopping

Q&A With British Ballet Dancer Ella Hicks

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I recently had the chance to ask Ella Hicks from Britain some questions about her journey as an aspiring ballet dancer. She is a wonderful dancer and her photos are amazing. Below are her responses.

Instagram: ella_enpointe

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I started dance at 4 but only proper ballet at 9 when I was accepted as  a Royal Ballet School Junior Associate

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I train at The Hammond which is a full time vocational dance boarding school in the UK

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I have been enpointe since I was 10, so for 5 years

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I wear Grishko Dreampointe. I live Grishko shoes, my first pair were Grishko Pro Flex 2007 and this year I was lucky enough to be selected as an ambassador for the company.

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

I loved to dance as a small child so my Mum sent me to the local dance school where the teacher thought I had potential.

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

I don’t really have a favourite, there are so many that I love to watch, it’s too hard to choose!

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I really love to act as well as dance so the company I would most enjoy working for would be Matthew Bournes New Adventures, I love their productions so much!

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

Being accepted to train at The Hammond with a full scholarship must be one of my best memories, I have been there since I was 11!

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

My inspirations are Dusty Button, as she is so incredibly strong and Iana Salenko who is just awesome.

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

Always treat corrections as a compliment, it means your teachers believe you can improve

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical every time!

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

I really love to sing and I’m teaching myself to play piano. I’m also a bit of a rollercoaster junkie! 😊😂

Q&A With Incredible Australian Ballet Superstar Audrey Freeman

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I had the opportunity to pose some questions to Australian ballet sensation Audrey Freeman. Audrey is a phenomenal dancer who gracefully owns a stage when on it and is an incredible and elegant dancer. The 14 year old’s determination is unparalleled and her desire to achieve her goals will never be stopped. Audrey previously split her time between the stage and the carpet as a rhythmic gymnast however recently decided to devote all of her time to ballet. She is a kind, considerate and thoughtful person.  Audrey recently gained the opportunity to move to the UK for further her development as a ballerina. She is a 2 time YAGP gold medal winner, Prix de lausanne candidate and also a Genee challenge winner.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I started ballet at 3 years old

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I currently dance at Tanya Pearson Academy

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

Since I was 10

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I wear Capezio Donatella

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

For physical activity

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

My favourite variation is Gamzatti

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

The Royal Ballet

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

When I won the Youth American Grand Prix

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

Svetlana Zakharova, Marianela Nunez & Iana Salenko

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

“Be Audrey”

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical tutu

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

Pilates, cooking & movies x

Ballerina in Focus: Mattison Bedinghaus

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Watching someone overcome adversity is definitely inspiring and uplifting. My very good friend Mattison Bedinghaus is a great example of this. No matter the obstacle, Mattison made sure nothing held her back from achieving her goals.

Our friendship starts in 2015, from first messaging her on Facebook, it become obvious very quickly that she wasn’t like any normal dancer on Facebook, Mattison was a kind, considerate, strong minded and determined person and this was the first thing that was apparent when speaking to her. Our friendship continued to flourish over the years since. Mattison joyfully received a parcel from me with a few typical Australian things which was a total surprise to her.

Mattison began ballet at a young age and very quickly set her sights on her goals of being a professional dancer, with guidance from her incredibly knowledgeable mother, Treva, Mattison’s talents, determination and love for ballet became infectious. The joy that Mattison gets from being on stage is wonderful. From leaping across the stage to effortless pirouettes and pointe work, Mattison is an incredible dancer.

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Mattison continued to flourish as a dancer but then came a situation that would take everything she had to battle through, Mattison sustained an injury that sidelined her from the studio and stage for almost a year. Throughout this time, she never lost sight on what her ultimate goal was, to sign a contract with a professional ballet company. With encouragement and support from her amazing friends and family, Mattison made a recover and returned to ballet.

As an admirer of her strength and determination, it was a joyous occasion when Mattison fully recovered from her injury and once again put the pointe shoes and tutu back on and stepped back into her domain. Ballet is Mattison’s number one passion, she lives and breathes it, and this is an astonishing quality Mattison has. Nothing ever will get in between her and her goal. Her drive and passion is astounding and is something anyone facing obstacles can look up to.

Mattison recently had the opportunity to sign a contact with Sarasota Ballet in Florida for the 2017/18 season, she had been able to realise her goal of being a ballet dancer. With this accomplishment, the amount of unwavering amount of support for Mattison continued to grow. Her dedication to ballet led to her completing her schooling ahead of time with fantastic results. Ballet flows through her veins and the joy she conveys to anyone watching her is awe inspiring and profound.

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It is a pleasure to call Mattison one of my good friends even if she is so far away. She is such a kind, compassionate, courteous and thoughtful person. Watching her continue to grow as a dancer makes me happy and talking to her is a delight. I hope to watch Mattison dance in person one day and no doubt she’ll gracefully own the stage like she always does. Mattison will no doubt continue to grow as a dancer and strive to reach her goals regardless of any setback that may arise. There is nobody more graceful on the stage than Mattison. She always works incredibly hard, never gives up and always continues to improve and amaze people with what she does.

Q&A With Australian Ballerina Jazmin Marquez

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I recently had the opportunity to ask my Facebook friend Jazmin Marquez some questions in regards to her journey as a ballet dancer. Below are her responses. Watching her grow as a dancer has been incredible, I definitely hope she can strive and reach her ballet goals. She is such an elegant and graceful dancer who makes it look effortless with every leap, pirouette and arabesque.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I started at 3 years old

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I am not at a dance school currently

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I have been on pointe since I was 10 which was 8 years ago

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I wear energetiks pointe shoes (Almaz)

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

I enjoyed the show Angelina ballerina and it lead me into ballet

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

My favourite variation is lilac fairy

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I would love to work for Houston ballet or Washington ballet company

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

Meeting some of my closest friends in ballet class

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

Some role models are Misty Copeland, Dusty Button and Kylie Shea

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

Best advice would have to be is fight, fight through every obstacle to get to your goal

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical Tutu

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

I enjoy spending time with my family and friends

Q&A With Australian Ballerina Ashleigh Bennett

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Time for a slight change, I decided to ask some of my friends and dancers I follow on Instagram some questions about ballet. Ashleigh Bennett is an incredible dancer from Australia and is a wonderful person, I had the pleasure of asking her about her incredible journey as a ballet dancer. It has been a joy watching her continue to grow as a dancer, strive to reach her dreams and make me hungry with her incredible baking.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

i started ballet when I was 10 years old

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I have been working for the West Australian Ballet for the last 3 years, but I am about to pursue my career overseas.

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I started dancing en pointe when I was 12

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I currently wear custom Bloch shoes in the heritage style, although I have also worn freed in the past

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

I started ballet after seeing a small local production of the sleeping beauty. I was about 7 at the time, but there wasn’t a dance school close to where I lived. as soon as I moved close to one, I started lessons

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

I have so many favourite variations it’s impossible to choose! one that is special to me is the prayer solo from coppelia, because this was the first variation I performed on opening night, with a professional company

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

I would love to work for the wiener Staatsballett in Vienna. My grandfather was born in Vienna, so it would be incredibly special for me to dance with this company

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

One of my favourite memories is when I performed as the queen of the dryads from don quixote. I had performed this ballet when I was younger, so to revisit the ballet and be given a soloist role, was very special

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

My ballet role model is Svetlana Zakharova. I was trained in the russian style, and so find her strength, control and the characterisation she gives to her roles, something that I aspire towards

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

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was actually from my mum, who is definitely not your typical dance mum. she never pushed me, just provided me with so much support and encouragement. she used to tell me to be the best version of myself that I could. Not to try to mimic or be like anyone else. She would say that the world already has those people, what they need is an Ashleigh.

Q11: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical tutu definitely!

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

When I’m not dancing, I love to bake! I’m a very methodical person, so I love following recipes. being in the kitchen is my happy place when I’m off the stage, and I love seeing the enjoyment on my friends and family members faces when they are eating my baked goods! I also love to read, or take my puppy for walks