Monday, February 3, 2014

The Road Less Traveled (psst...is ok, too!)


The Road Less Traveled (psst...is ok, too!)


Ok, there is only one path to becoming a professional ballerina.  Start young, dance every day of the week, go to every summer program there is, and NEVER GO TO COLLEGE, you'll be too old when you graduate to get a job.

WRONG.  Sure that is a great plan for success, but who wants to do what everyone else does anyway?

In all seriousness, that plan is probably the best way to make it to the big leagues of ballet.  There were times, in my life, that I wish I had done just that.  People often ask me how I ended up at Ballet West.  I definitely took the road less traveled to Salt Lake City, making stops in places like good choices, bad choices, heartbreaks and triumphs.

I started ballet at the age of three (at least I got one thing right! ha) at the Parou Ballet Company in New Castle, Pa.. It was love at first sight! I remember being young and asked to run across the floor and pretend I was picking up a flower.  I knew at a young age that dance was a way to tell stories with my body and I couldn't get enough.  It came easy to me.  I could turn, jump and had high extension.  I was on pointe at 9 years old and dancing with the "big girls".  When I was 12, I moved to Pittsburgh from New Castle.  That meant a new school and new ballet school.  I started at Pittsburgh Youth Ballet and was given a part in Balanchine's Serenade the first day I was there.  All of a sudden, things started to change.  I had a hard time making friends at school and at ballet and I felt overwhelmed by all the changes in my life.  The following summer was the first summer that I auditioned for summer programs.  I was accepted to SAB and NCSA.  That summer my mother was also due to have my younger sister, Delaney.  Everyone was saying that I had to go to a summer program because it was the only way to get noticed and asked to stay for a year round program...the first step into a company.  I sat down with my Mom and told her I didn't want to go.  I waited my whole life for a sister (I had two bros up until that point) and I couldn't miss her being born.  That summer I took off from ballet and didn't go back until I was almost 17.

Yeah, I didn't do ballet at all for three years.  I didn't step back into the studio until I was 16 and a few months.  There was so much change happening in my life and I felt like the only thing I could control was quitting the thing I loved most.  I tried a lot of other things like cheerleading and drill team.  I went to high school football games and hung out at the coolest spots on Friday nights.  You know, did the "normal" thing. I was having a lot of fun, but wasn't feeling as fulfilled as I did in the ballet studio.  One random day when I was almost 17 I asked my mom if I could go back to ballet.  She about died waiting for this to happen!  I called PYB and asked them if I could come back and when I could start.  Everything was looking up! Until the first combination at the barre....what did I do to myself?!?!?

I lost my turnout, could barely finish a single pirouette and forget about extension!! I lost it all! It used to be so easy!  My body changed into a teenagers body without the refinement of ballet for those 3 years. I remember crying for months thinking I could never make it back.  But I made changes.  I started eating healthier because I was an athlete again and went to the gym to cross train.  I also applied to be the first student at my high school to take my academics early in the morning and leave to go to ballet the rest of the day.  It took almost a year to feel like I was getting back into ballet shape, but it did happen.  Two years flew by fast and it was time for me to graduate school.  I knew I wanted to dance professional but my parents were pushing me to get a college education.  I did take a lot of time off, and was still behind, so they thought it was a good idea to get additional training.  To my ballet teachers it was the final death wish.  I already pushed my luck taking so much time off, but now college?? I'd be too old when I graduated to get a job.

I ended up applying to schools and not auditioning.  I spent four years at Indiana University, Bloomington.  They have an amazing ballet program! My first year I got cast in Swan Lake as a Tall Swan and Balanchine's Four Temperaments and was coached by Julie Kent, Susan Jaffe and Susie Pillare.  Unfortunately, my sophomore year I got caught up in the "college experience" and almost blew it!  I'm telling you these things because I think it's important for young kids to understand that you will make mistakes along away and it's OK, it's what you learn from your mistakes that build your character.  I got in a lot of trouble from the ballet directors.  I didn't take care of my body and got out of shape.  In return I didn't get cast in many ballets. I was not ready to audition for companies come graduation time and was told point blank to forget about ever becoming professional.  I believed them. I ruined my own chances, again. I was happy that I would end up getting a degree because I was going to definitely need it now that my chances of being a dancer were pretty slim to none. While home in Pittsburgh the summer before my last semester at school I started to take open classes at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.  I was asked if I would be interested in training at their Graduate Program.  I could not pass up the opportunity and agreed to come, finishing my last semester at Indiana online so I could graduate.  The decision to go to PBT changed my life.

It was so hard for me at first at PBT.  I was the oldest, at 23, when everyone around me was no older than 19.   I also was severely out of shape and could barely get through variations in class.  I was most definitely the underdog.  Luckily, 23 was the year I came out of my shell!!  I was tired of hearing the word "NO" and I was determined to make my dreams come true.  I danced from 9-6pm everyday and taught ballet until 10pm every night.  I waited tables on the weekends to save money for auditions.  I never worked harder in my life then I did that year.  There were days that I felt discouraged, but I wasn't going to look back at my mistakes; I was keeping focused on this opportunity to change the path my life was on.  From January-March of that year I drove to NYC every weekend for every cattle call audition there was.  I'd get cut and didn't care, it wasn't stopping me.  A few times I heard I was too tall and few times I did hear I was too old.  I heard "NO" a million times, but it didn't matter because one "YES" was all I needed! 

Come April, I got the call from Ballet West!!!!! I was asked to join the company as an Apprentice.  Opening night of my very first professional performance was my 24th Birthday.  I was told it was never going to happen for me and there I was, ON STAGE.  In seven years, I have now worked my way up to being a Soloist. 

I am a firm believer that you are in charge of your own destiny.  I have made so many bad choices in my life but a lot of good choices, too.  I know I am very blessed to be where I am today but I assure you I was not handed any of my success.  I made mistakes, learned from them, made changes and worked my butt off to get to where I am right now at 30 years old.  A lot of you ask if it's too late for you to live out your dreams.  What's too late to you?  An age? There shouldn't be a time limit when finding happiness.  Every one's journey is different.  Mine was long and sometime hard, but I made it which means you can too!!  Everyone will have an opinion, but when it comes to you, your opinion of yourself is what matters most!! Find CONFIDENCE in who you are, gain the STRENGTH to maintain who you are, and live your life with GRACE.  To living the dream!!!

xoxo
Allison



Photo by James Glader

27 comments :

  1. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us, Allison! My daughter (almost 12) was just accepted into her first Summer Intensive and while I'm so excited for her (and proud) I can't believe she'll be gone for three whole weeks! She's been dancing her whole life but we only recently got her into a local school. She loves it and has given up every other sport she previously played to dance more. I'm looking forward to reading more here and will definitely miss seeing you and the rest of Ballet West on my tv each week. Best of luck to you!

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    1. Good luck to her and you!!! She'll will be great! :)

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  2. What a great role model for young girls no matter their dreams! Persistence and hard work will get you to where you want to be in life. Love it!

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  3. I love "Roads Less Traveled", I take them all the time. I see students who do the same, some choices are good, and some we learn from. It is nice to know that one or two less favorable decisions did not stop you from following your dream. I think I will have to save a copy of this for use in my classroom. Thanks so much.

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  4. Congratulations on how far you've come. I danced when I was younger and had to give it up. Ballet is such a beautiful art form and I have so much admiration for artists like yourself and how you pour your heart, life, and soul into something that you know you were meant to do. It's rare to find something in life that you can truly be so passionate about. I'm currently struggling to find my place in the world in my mid-20s and wish I had something in life that I could pour my heart and soul into, something that brings me the joy that ballet brings you. I hope to get a chance to watch you dance in SLC one day!

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  5. <3 Thank you for coming out of your shell and into Ballet West xoxo

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  6. Hi, I'm from Germany and my English is not really good, so please look over my mistakes away.
    Thank you for this honest insight how you became a ballerina. I dance ballet since I was 5 years old, but I never had the body for a Profesional career. However, I can´t imagine a life without dancing.
    It´s my passion and when I´m at class, i can forget everything else, just focus at me and my exercise. I´m exsited to read more from you Alison.
    Greetings from Germany

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  8. Thank you so much for posting your inspirational story. I also started dancing at age 3 but I had to stop in high school when I fractured my spine. This past summer I had spinal fusion surgery, and it feels like I'm starting over in ballet class. Seeing Ballet West perform in Chicago and reading your story inspired me to continue dancing and taught me that my dream isn't dead just because it got sidetracked. Thank you <3

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  9. I'm honored you kicked off your blog by answering me! LOVED reading this story, you're definitely an inspiration. Great lesson on attitude and determination for dancers and anyone else chasing a dream career! Thank you Allison!! xoxo!

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  10. Very inspiring, I love how you shared your struggles of dance too. It just shows that if you work hard and dream big, it can happen. ♥

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  11. Thanks for sharing your amazing journey to Ballet Soloist. I already admired you in Breaking Pointe, now I still admire you more, since I know how hard you've worked to achieve your dream. You have to be really strong, passionate and determined to never give up like you. I wish we all had a bit of your determination :)) and thanks for starting this blog, I love it!!

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  14. I didn't start dancing until I was 24. I was told I couldn't do pointe because I have a limited flexibility in my big toe and I don't have great flexibility through my ankle point. I found another instructor that thought I could and I have been doing pointe for 4 years. I'm not great since I only take the pointe class once a week, but I am as good as any of the other girls in my class. I don't think many adults would want to start pointe at 28.

    PS, those are my feet in my profile pic. It was taken 6 months after I started pointe.

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  15. Hooray for your new blog! And what a wonderful way to start things off. It's so easy to assume that just because we see someone who is successful and professional that things have somehow been "easy" for them. It's great to be reminded that everyone's journey is different and that success takes choices, hard work, and dedication. Congratulations to you on your continued success! I'm sad that we won't get to watch "Breaking Pointe" anymore, but I'm glad that we can still keep informed via social media. All the best to you, Allison!

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  16. Hooray I love the blog and love watching you dance. For someone from Ohio, the reality series was a great way to make us fans. My 15 year old daughter will be attending the summer intensive at Balletwest this summer. I know you're teaching, but have to wonder at the length of the intensive. She is hoping to follow a path similar to yours. Thanks so much for sharing

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    1. HI! I don't know what part of Ohio you are from but Feb. 28th Rex and I will be dancing together at the Ballet in Cleveland Gala in Cleveland and Rex, Chris Ruud and I will be teaching master classes the next day! Check out their website for details! www.balletincleveland.org

      xoxo
      Allison

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    2. We're in the Columbus area, but if we can make it, Morgan will be there! Safe travels with all of this wicked weather.

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  17. Holy Crap!!!! I am so excited that you have started a blog. :) This post is so amazing.

    I started ballet around 6-7th grade and am told that I am a natural. However, being in Guatemala the training is not amazing. I am actually a junior in High School and I miss ballet so so much. I decided to focus on SAT prep and keeping a high GPA to get into a good college. it makes me so sad to think that I will never be a professional ballerina. My teacher was super disappointed that I left...and it's hard to know if I am making the right decision or not. I always want ballet to be a part of my life. But right now I don't have much faith in myself as a ballerina. I already feel like I've lost a lot of what I had....and I can never regain it. (im also only 5'4....pretty small for a ballerina)

    But this post has given me confidence. Maybe I WILL be a ballerina and maybe i won't. But I think it's okay to take a break right now and look at other options.

    What do you think? Thanks for Sharing Allison. I'm really going to miss seeing you on the show, since it was cancelled.

    -Katie <3

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  18. Hey Allison!
    It was so nice to hear about how you started and your journey to get to where you are today.. It is really inspiring and it's nice to know that every dancer struggles and the road to success is more jagged than a straight arrow.

    I just had a few questions for you. I was wondering about Ballet West dancers (including yourself) and cross-training. I was wondering if you or any of the other dancers regularly cross train specifically with methods including yoga and gyrotonics? I am curious as I just started doing yoga frequently, but I wanted to know if some other dancers have found it beneficial to their work.

    Thanks so much!

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  19. Allison: I love your raw honesty. You are the quitessential intellectual ballerina. Cheers from Canada!

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  20. Wow thank you for such an inspiring piece. It is so so so true the path to where you want to go is never ever straight, nor easy!! I am 23 years old and have only just got a "apprentice" contract with a company. I am with girls as young as 19, but the fact that one director saw something in me he liked has given me the opportunity to dance and work hard at improving the things I need to work on. You becoming a Soloist at 30 makes me believe that if I work hard enough I can also get there!! You would make a perfect teacher as you understand how difficult it is to get where you want to go, you have made mistakes but I think that seems to have made you a very humble and down to earth person. thank you so much! I shall be following your blog from now on. I live all the way in Australia so I have not seen Breaking Pointe yet. All the very best xox

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  21. Thank you, thank you, a million times, thank you! What a spectacular story. Every dancer needs to read this, print it out, and post it everywhere. Their locker. Their bedroom. Their dance studio.

    I have a poem/quote thing that talks about being told all the things you can not do. It ends with "and you will tell them yes." Such an important lesson.

    While I don't know you personally, I am so very proud of you. What an amazing woman you are and I am so happy that my daughter considers you her role model. And I can't wait for her to meet you in Cleveland next week. I can't wait to write about the experience!

    Best always...
    Kristin

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  22. Hi Allison,
    thank you so much for this piece! Its really amazing. I did musical theater with Pittsburgh Musical Theater (PMT) for about 5 years, and just as i was about to graduate high school and graduate from PMT did i really feel my dancing starting to improve. I only danced once a week for a few hours, but going to college made me realize how big a part of my life that theater and dance really were, and how much i miss it. I have thought about taking some minor dance lessons here at school, but not sure that i have the time in my school schedule to take them. Reading this post made me realize that you should never give up on your dream or something you love, so thanks so much for that advice.
    I loved Breaking Pointe and am so sad to hear that it didn't get renewed. Unlike shows like DanceMoms I thought it really did a good job showing how hard the life of a professional ballet dancer is. I have a friend from high school thats a professional ballet dancer, who actually danced with Ballet West last year, and now dances somewhere else, but I love seeing her photos on facebook from dance. But what she doesn't show you is the time and dedication she puts in towards dance.
    So once again thanks so much for the piece, it has really got me thinking more and more about taking those dance classes.
    From one Pittsburgh girl to another,
    Genevieve

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  23. Thank you so very much for posting this. I, too, started ballet when I was 3 and then walked away when I was 14, because it just wasn't enjoyable anymore. 4 and a half years later, I'm in college and half just started back at it - and facing the exact same issues you did with the loss of turnout and not even being able to finish a single pirouette. Becoming a professional ballerina has been my lifelong dream, and your story gives me so much hope. I worry, though, because I only had 2 and a half years of pointe under my belt when I walked away, and I'm only able to take classes 5 days a week for an hour and a half. I'm concerned that that's not enough to catch up, and my college does not have a ballet department - and considering how I just started back 2 months ago, I'm not at the level I'd need to be to audition for another university which does. Do you think that dancing 5 days a week for an hour and a half and following along with master class dvds at home the other 2 is enough to catch up, at least until I'm good enough again to audition for uni ballet departments? I've been cross-training and eating right, I just don't have the opportunities to dance as much as you did when you were catching up.

    - Mariel

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