At the age of two, Georgia Fuller was already dancing all around her house so much that her mother had no choice but to put her into a studio to foster her free spirit. Fueled by her passion for dance, Georgia’s dance career blossomed at KCB, transforming from KCB School student in 2014 to a full-time company dancer beginning in 2022.
Tell us about your ballet journey and how you got to KCB. Can you elaborate on how the process has been for you?
My ballet journey began at the age of two, in a small, local studio in Cincinnati. I spent around five years there before my teacher recommended that I enroll at Cincinnati Ballet to begin more serious training to keep my passion for dance alive. I followed her advice, and I believe it was at that exact moment I truly fell in love with ballet. I first met Devon Carney, Kristi Capps, and many of the current and retired dancers of Kansas City Ballet from that experience as well.
I continued to train intensely at Cincinnati Ballet until I was 17, when I was offered a contract during the 2017 Summer Intensive in Kansas City. I spent about two and a half years in the second company, two as a trainee and only half a year of being a KCB II before the Covid-19 pandemic started. During this time at home, I was promoted to Company Apprentice and spent two years with this title, having the opportunity to perform amazing roles in ballets such as Wunderland by Edwaard Liang and Serenade by George Balanchine.
Since then, I’ve been promoted to a full company member. I’m honored to have performed the roles of Winter Fairy in Devon Carney’s Cinderella, Moyna in Devon Carney’s Giselle, Snow Queen in Devon Carney’s The Nutcracker, and Petite Mort by Jiri Kylian. It’s truly been such a unique and special process to grow under Devon’s tutelage over the years, as he has certainly been a part of my journey since the very beginning.
Through this long process, what tools have you learned that have contributed to the dancer you are today? What advice would you give to other dancers who are in the early phases of this process now?
I’ve learned many valuable lessons that have contributed to the dancer that I am today, but one of these lessons — and perhaps the most important — is to keep viewing dance as a passion and not just my job. In this profession, the days are very long and oftentimes difficult. It’s both mentally and physically draining to push your body to the limit every day, which makes it easy to get stuck in a routine of going through the motions.
When I’m in the middle of a challenging program, I try to remind myself that while this is my job, it is also something that I simply love and enjoy doing. I find moments in my busy day to appreciate the fact that I am in a beautiful studio, participating in incredible live art, and spending time with people that I adore. It’s important to step back every once in a while, to get some perspective. That is what keeps me grateful, focused, and inspired. I would encourage dancers who are in the early phase of this process to just keep working for themselves. As dancers, it’s second nature for us to be intense people pleasers and that can cause us to lose sight of our innate artistry and unique personality onstage. Remember who you are and why you started ballet and let that passion shine through your dancing.
What was it like to teach at KCBS as a former student?
It’s an absolute delight! Sometimes I’ll have moments when I’m teaching where I get déjà vu. I can see myself as my younger students, excited to be dancing in such a beautiful facility and spending time just dancing with my friends in class. There is a simplicity to being a student that is so beautiful because when you are that age, there is no pressure to perform or any exposure like there is when you are in the company. Your life is just taking ballet class every day, every week, constantly working and fine-tuning your technique in pursuit of a bigger goal. I remember going through that process as a student, so now I always try to encourage that simplistic love for dance in my own students. One of my favorite things to do is watch how my students grow over the course of a year!
What makes KCB a special place to dance?
It sounds simple, but KCB is a special place to dance because it’s full of people who truly, authentically want to be there each day. Being a ballet dancer is certainly not a typical job, and it’s not something that you can approach like you would any other 9-5 occupation. There is a dedication to this art form that requires physical maintenance, long hours, an immense amount of energy, and a lot of mental strength. If we didn’t love it so much, we wouldn’t put ourselves through that! Everyone at KCB, regardless of what sphere of the company or school they work in, is passionate about this art form and it shows. Every day, we all come into work grateful to be doing what we are doing, happy to go through this process together, and excited to bring dance to the Kansas City community (and beyond!).
Anything else you would like to share?
Come see Creative Intersections this summer at the Hyde Park Butterfly Garden August 13th and 14th! It’s a free outdoor performance put on by our very own company dancer Cameron Thomas and features performances by local KC choreographers and dancers.
Georgia’s story reminds us that a child’s early passion for the arts (or anything) has the potential to transform into a viable career. Despite the long rehearsals, grueling hours spent travelling to various competitions, cuts and bruises, it’s a beautiful triumph to pursue your passion.
If you loved getting to know Georgia’s story, read more about some of her previous profiles and performances in our archives.
