I have been in love with ballet since I was 3 years old and I have made it my mission to empower dancers to take control of their career by providing the tools, knowledge, and support to thrive in any professional environment.
One of my first ballet classes
I danced professionally for over two decades for Sacramento Ballet, Washington Ballet, and Smuin Contemporary Ballet. I was fortunate to get to live my dream and have a career with incredible opportunities: performing fulfilling roles, working with inspiring choreographers, and discovering more about myself every day in the studio. I loved being a dancer, but I also struggled through many difficulties and disappointments: not getting cast, constantly being told I needed to lose weight, and even having to take a year off due to illness. Through all of this, I fought my way forward and was able to create a career I am both proud of and grateful for, but knew this wasn’t how it worked out for many dancers.
With Artistic Staff at Smuin Contemporary Ballet
Photo by Chris Hardy
Alongside my performing career, I began choreographing on companies across the country - including ones I danced for - and found myself in the front of the studio, coaching and rehearsing dancers. I loved getting to help dancers find more within themselves and found often what dancers needed most was having someone believing they were capable of greatness. When I decided to retire from performing, I put this passion into action by becoming the inaugural Trainee Program Director for Ballet Idaho. I had the honor of being able to build the program from the ground up, allowing me to create an environment where dancers felt understood, supported, and positively challenged as they successfully navigated their transition from student to professional. I made it my mission to make sure that every dancer I worked with left with more self-awareness, understanding, and passion for dance than when they began.
One of my final bows as a professional dancer
I now find myself in the unique position where I have lived the career and helped others navigate and succeed in it. I’ve experienced the stress of auditioning and have sorted through hundreds of audition packets. I have experienced the highs and lows of casting and have been a part of process with artistic staff. I understand the incredible desire to succeed as well as what dancers truly need to thrive in a professional company. While the career of ballet can be filled with uncertainty and disappointment, I full-heartedly believe that dancers have more control than they know and can begin building the skills and mindsets necessary to succeed in the career starting today. So I have taken my decades of experience and expertise and created Keep Dancers Dancing: a neutral space where dancers can feel supported and empowered to take control of their future and keep dancing.
Photos by Keith Sutter
Photo by Chris Hardy