Acton, Ca., native, Gavin Abercrombie, joined Kansas City Ballet in 2016 as a member of KCB II. In 2018 he was invited to become an apprentice for the company.
Q: TELL US WHY YOU BECAME A DANCER?
A: My twin brother and I were always moving, so my mother enrolled us into a hip hop class. That Christmas my family went to see The Nutcracker and that made me want to sign up for my first ballet class. I was 8 years old. I’ve been doing it ever since.
Q: WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A PROFESSIONAL DANCER?
A: It’s an amazing experience. To be surrounded by so many people who share the same passion, and to be with an organization that allows us to be a part of so many different creative processes is truly something I’ll never take for granted.
Q: WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT DANCING?
A: I love to hike. I grew up in a very outdoorsy family and would go hiking and camping very regularly. I love that hiking still has that very raw physical element to it, but I’m most in love in with the places that hiking allows me to to see and enjoy.
Q: WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED?
A: The best advice I’ve ever received was to be a bold presence in the studio and not be afraid to take chances. Coming out of the school and into a company is a scary change and it’s easy to hide yourself in the back. But if you have confidence in yourself and take some risks, you’ll find that it usually ends up opening amazing opportunities for you.
Top Photo by Brett Pruitt & East Market Studios
