I am a BallerinaFirst and foremost, I am a dancer and performer. I met ballet when I was 13 years old, so I was fairly late to the dancer's game. In a class of 8 and 9 year olds who were already friends with each other, fluent in the language, and wearing the appropriate leotard and tights outfit, I took my first ballet class with 20 unfamiliar faces, without knowing a word of French, and in a T-shirt with shorts and socks. It was embarrassing and frustrating to say the least, but something about the whole experience had me hooked, and I wanted more.
I continued training with Cincinnati Ballet for 6 wonderful years. During my time there, I participated in performances such as Swan Lake, Bolero, and Romeo and Juliet, while progressing through the school's seven levels. I also attended several ballet summer intensive programs that lasted a few months each, and unfortunately pushed myself too hard at one in 2010. As a result, I permanently injured a ligament in my left foot. After some time off to let it heal, I completed the last couple levels at Cincinnati Ballet, and graduated from my high school Saint Ursula Academy. After graduation, I moved on to being a ballet major at the University of Cincinnati's prestigious College Conservatory of Music (CCM) program. I trained there for one year before my persistent foot injury became too much to handle. In addition to that, I had decided that I didn't need to have a degree in ballet to pursue my career in dance. I knew I could find another way, and I needed time off. But, wasting my time was not on the agenda. So during my time healing, I decided I would pursue another, slightly more practical career that still utilizes my theatrical skills. Read more. |