Q: When did you start dancing?
A: I began dancing when I was three years old. My family was in Ohio for the summer, and my mom found a school that had ballet classes. I’m the only girl, both of my brothers played baseball and my mom grew up a softball player…so she was wanting to get me involved in something other than sports. After I saw Romeo & Juliet in Florida when I was 6, I knew I wanted to be a professional dancer.
Q: How did you end up at Kansas City Ballet?
A: Growing up I always liked the Kansas City Ballet. As a trial run of auditions during my junior year of college, I decided I wanted to audition there. When I received an apprentice contract I knew I was ready to move out of the college scene and into the professional company scene.
Q: Is it difficult completing your college degree while being an apprentice here at KCB? How do you keep up with both?
A: It is a little difficult. While I was at school I was able to take more academic classes during a semester, but here I really only have time to take one class. On breaks from rehearsals I try to get as much schoolwork done as I can so I don’t fall behind in my class.
Q: What are you most excited for this year with KCB?
A: I am most excited about getting the opportunity to learn the different repertoire. KCB has a wide variety of ballets, and each ballet has something a little different that I can learn from.
Q: You’ve only lived in KC a few months now, what are some of your favorite places you’ve been so far?
A: Trader Joe’s is one of my favorite places. Growing up I had always heard about the food that they have there, but I never had the chance to go. Now I live 15 minutes from one. Also, the Royals ballpark is beautiful. My dad is a pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians Organization, so I grew up around baseball.
Q: What are you hoping to gain from your experiences here at KCB?
A: I am hoping to gain versatility in my dancing. With the repertoire at KCB being so vast, I’m excited to get the opportunity to really learn and perform different styles.
Q: What do you keep in your dance bag?
A: I always keep a book with me in my dance bag. On breaks I like to read; I’ve been reading all the Nicholas Sparks books over the summer so I’m finishing up some of those right now. My favorite Nicholas Sparks book is “Safe Haven.”
