It is incredible how kids leave home very young to train at the prestigious SAB. How old were you when you left? How did you cope with leaving home so young, living in New York, going to school on your own, and training to become a ballet dancer?

I was fourteen just about to turn fifteen when I left to stay year round at SAB. Actually, it wasn’t that hard to leave home so young because for years I had been dreaming about doing exactly that. I loved and missed my family, but I knew that if I wanted to be a professional dancer I needed this training. It was my dream! And New York was so exciting – I have so many great memories from that time of my life. And many of the dancers I work with at PNB today, I actually met at SAB, like Lesley Rausch, Jonathan Porretta, Jordan Pacitti, Kiyon Gaines, Josh Spell, Kari Brunson, the list goes on.  Not to mention Peter Boal was one of my teachers there!

Did you aspire to be any professional ballet dancer when you were growing up?  If so, who and why?

I was always inspired by many professional dancers but never wanted to be a certain one. One dancer who made a huge impression on me though was Darci Kistler. When I was nine, the New York City Ballet came to Southern California with the Sleeping Beauty. They had auditions for the children’s parts, and I was one of the girls in the Garland Dance. Darci was dancing Aurora yet was so nice to all the little girls standing there staring at her, watching her warm up.  She took a few moments to say hello and chat with us and remembering how special that was, I always try to do the same to any aspiring ballerinas in our productions.

    What was the biggest challenge for you to transition from a student to a professional company member?

    I think that can be a hard transition for a dancer. For me, it was more about finding where I felt I fit into this company, where I could work, be comfortable, be a valued member of the corps. And it took a while to figure all that out. But especially since Peter took over, I feel like I’ve found my place here, it feels like home.

What has been your most memorable time while at PNB?

I think most dancers would answer this question with a certain role that they really enjoyed, and while I love performing, I would have to say my most memorable times at PNB have been spent in the rehearsal studio. There’s something about the process of working and pushing myself a little further everyday and the experience of working with so many other great artists, whether they be fellow dancers or choreographers.  Of course, there are frustrations along the way, but breaking through those and giving myself to the process is so rewarding by the time I make it to the stage. It’s those moments in the studio that I will always cherish.

You are a natural turner! What do you think about when you turn? How many turns have you ever done at once?

It’s funny, turning has always been very natural for me. The most turns I’ve ever done at once is eleven and it was a complete fluke. It only happened once and I’ve only gotten up to around seven or eight since. As for what I think about, I really don’t think, I feel. It’s hard to describe but turning is a movement and a feeling just like any other step. I just try to really focus on feeling my placement in the turn and being aware of my body and the turn takes care of itself.

    Could you discuss how you have dealt with having shin splints?   What advice can you give young students who may be suffering from this?

    I’ve been dealing with shin splints on and off for years. Basically, I naturally have shorter Achilles tendons and tight calves, which easily leads to my shin splints if I don’t take very good care of them. So, whenever I get overworked or my body gets stressed this is when I know I have to be really diligent about doing things like icing, therapy exercises for strengthening, taping, etc. to keep them at bay. As for advice, the ice bucket, as I call it, has been the best thing I have ever learned for my shins.  Take a clean, medium trash can, fill 1/3 with ice, the rest with water, and stick both legs in up to the knees. Scream, cry, I count, do whatever but don’t take your legs out for ten minutes. Don’t worry, they go numb pretty quickly. This works so much better than just setting ice bags on your shins. I’ll do this once or twice a day if my shins are really hurting me.

What is one thing you wanted to be or still want to be?

    A soloist.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Definitely in sunny California – I miss my sun up here. Doing what, I’m not quite sure. I’m interested in so many things that all those possibilities are exciting. For sure, I want to finish college, already got some credits through PNB’s awesome Second Stage program. Otherwise, I want to explore; I haven’t seen much of the outside world while being a ballet dancer. I want to see what else I’m good at, what interests me, what would make a good second career.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

I’m an avid reader. I go through books like crazy!