Q: Do you plan to pursue ballet professionally?
A: Yes. I am taking a year off to dance with the Ballet Company [of Boston] and dance as long as I will or want to or can.
Q: How much professional ballet have you done in the past?
A: I am dancing in the Nutcracker this season. The season starts in December, is on the verge of beginning rehearsals and will be performed at the Emerson Majestic Theater from the second week in December through January. Nutcracker is a funny ballet, because it's what people associate with ballet, but if you're an actual dancer, it's one of the easiest, most irritating ballets to do every year. It's almost a circus act. You're just wearing pretty costumes. It's not the ballet role of a career, but it's fun anyway.
Over the summer I was in a show that was a mix of different works by the choreographer who directs the Ballet Theater of Boston, Jose Matte. All the professional dancing I have done has been at the Ballet Theater of Boston, except this summer [when] I worked on something called Jacob's Pillow and I danced in the Ballet DeVille under Peter Anastos, which was a good experience for me. That's really the only professional dancing that I've done.
Q: How have your parents molded your ballet experience?
A: My parents have been incredibly supportive and are not going to discourage me from taking time off because they have seen how much of my life I have put into this. Also, for them, they have devoted so much time and money to see me get to this point that it would be a shame for it to just end. They want it just as much as I do.
Upcoming Dance Events:
Two master classes with Clara Ramona: Saturday December 5th, at 3:30 p.m. Monday December 7th, at 2:30 p.m. Both classes are going to be presented in Agassiz, but have limited enrollment and require pre-registration with the Dance Office at 495-8683.
The Mainly Jazz Company is performing in Agassiz on December 11th and 12th. Call Dance Office for further information.
The Nutcracker is being performed by the Ballet Theater of Boston in December. Call 262-0961 for further information.