| Q. |
When did you first know you wanted to dance? |
| A. |
For my entire life, I have always loved to dance. As a child, I would shut myself in my room with my record player blaring, and just dance around in seclusion for hours on end. But it wasn't until I was attending the Washington School of Ballet where I had the opportunity to perform in Balanchine's Serenade at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC that I knew I wanted to dance professionally. |
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| Q. |
When did you first know you had the right stuff? |
| A. |
That came early on, but not in the form of an epiphany or any such great moment of inner-realization. Basically, my first teacher, a tough, South Carolinian lady, told me I had talent. She also told me I was lazy and needed to work a lot harder if that talent was ever going to show. To this day, I am grateful for her honesty. |
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| Q. |
What was your greatest moment as a dancer? |
| A. |
That actually occurred rather recently. I had always been wary of dancing Odette/Odile in Swan Lake and had resisted doing so throughout my career. To me, I felt it was a part I just wasn't suited for. Well, I finally summoned up my courage and took the plunge (pun intended). It turned out to be such a joyous event for |
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me, and gave me a wonderful sense of personal accomplishment. So, I guess my greatest moment as a dancer came not so much for receiving praise, but for overcoming my own insecurities. |
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| Q. |
What was your worst moment as a dancer? |
| A. |
For several years I battled depression, which caused weight problems, which in turn made me more depressed. It was a horrible time in which I completely lost my love of dance. Fortunately, I rebounded. |
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| Q. |
What do you do to keep a performance fresh during a long run? |
| A. |
Again, two things: I remind myself that just over the footlights there is a new audience out there every night. Also, I listen very closely to the music-there always seems to be something new in the music for me every time I hear it, and I feel those unique moments translate to a fresh perspective in every one of my performances. |
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| Q. |
If you hadn’t chosen dance as your profession, what career would you have liked to attempt? |
| A. |
Hmmm, I love animals and I love to write. So, I'd have to say either veterinarian or writer. At this point in my life, though, veterinary school is probably not realistic, but one day I'd like to try my hand at writing. |
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