Dancer Chapters

Claire Lonchampt, a professional ballet dancer, shares her journey from training in Paris to dancing with companies in Zurich, Finland, and the Netherlands, before finally finding fulfillment at Malandain Ballet Biarritz in France. Despite facing challenges such as grueling audition schedules, cultural adjustments, and self-doubt, Claire's experiences have taught her the importance of following her heart and prioritizing her mental health. Her story emphasizes the importance of patience, self-awareness, and courage in pursuing a fulfilling career and life.

Weronika Frodyma’s path to becoming a soloist for the Berlin State Ballet involved self-development, overcoming physical and emotional challenges, and prioritizing personal growth over ranks. A severe injury served as a catalyst for change, resulting in a more resilient return to the stage and a shift from self-destructive to constructive criticism. This growth inadvertently led to a promotion to a soloist position.

Iori Araya earned a scholarship to the Australian Ballet School, danced for the Singapore Dance Theatre, and, overcoming visa and height obstacles, joined the New Jersey Ballet and Ballet Memphis. She attributes her success to perseverance, risk-taking, and timing.

Sean Bates, a devoted ballet dancer, began his journey at the age of three. Although he faced hurdles such as homesickness at The Royal Ballet School and a severe back injury, his fervor for ballet never faded. Even during his stint at a call center due to his injury, his dreams of ballet remained intact. He continues his ballet journey and looks forward to what the future holds.

Transitioning to the Junior Company was smooth but disappointing, leading to auditions for other companies. Initial offers fell through due to budget issues, returning the individual to the Junior Company. After a few unsuccessful auditions, the individual finally landed a contract with the Czech National Ballet, where they are currently in their second season.

Professional ballet dancer, Mia Heathcote, outlines her journey from a ballet family to the Queensland Ballet. Despite pressures, she pursued ballet due to her passion for it. She faced anxiety, self-doubt, and injuries, but prioritized health and personal growth. She highlights trusting instincts, embracing discomfort, and continuous learning in her career.

In part 2, Nae Nishimura shares her deepened understanding of artistic expression, growing beyond just technique. The experience of auditioning for over 35 companies has shaped her resilience, enabling her to tackle new challenges with grace and confidence. Her story serves as a testament to her dedication and passion for dance.

Despite her height and body type challenges, Mari Kawanishi pursued ballet, apprenticed with Dresden Semperoper Ballett, and joined Staatsballett Berlin. She highlights the importance of self-confidence amidst the ballet industry's competition.

Following a tough journey and year-long visa process, Hannah Carter finally joined the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Despite missing the first season due to visa issues and proving their suitability, she stayed determined.

Nae Nishimura, a dancer with the Norwegian National Ballet, recounts her journey of resilience and self-growth through many auditions. Despite initial setbacks, she auditioned for 18 companies and was cast as Gamzatti in La Bayadère. She learned that auditions are about artistic expression, not just technique.

Samantha Canedy, an ex-ballet dancer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The University of Texas, has extensive experience in performing arts and business development. Currently, she's an account manager at Pivot Pointe's consulting pillar.

Patricia Keleher, a former ballet dancer, shares her experience of transitioning from ballet to project management. She discusses the challenges she encountered, the limited support for career planning in the ballet industry, and the opportunities that arose through networking and exploring new interests.

Emma White, a former dancer from New Zealand, discovered the benefits of Pilates for preventing and aiding injury while conditioning the body. Now, Pilates is still a part of her life, and she enjoys sharing her knowledge and helping clients incorporate movement into their daily lives. We asked Emma to reflect on her career transition.

Paul Sóvário shares his 15-year audition experience, highlighting the stages and opportunities it brought to their dance career.

Charlotte Edmonds, a talented choreographer, received her first commission at sixteen and has created many works. She has studied at top ballet schools and worked with famous companies. Her recent projects include exploring dance and dyslexia, making a short film about depression, and directing and choreographing a new dance film.

Nikki Johnson's story highlights the importance of prioritizing overall health and routine check-ups. After experiencing a urinary tract infection, she was diagnosed with stage 1 bladder cancer. Learn more about monitoring your health to catch potential issues early.

Aya Okumura's rise to the top involved being unexpectedly let go from a company, negotiating her way into a new company, and ultimately believing in her value as a dancer.

Ballet dancer Lewis Gardner shares his journey from Elmhurst to Royal Ballet School, to Singapore, and finally to Universal Ballet in Korea. He dispels misconceptions about ballet in Asia and proves its universality.

Netherlands Dans Theater's Madoka Kariya writes about her career and her new experiences outside ballet.

Lynne talks to Pivot Pointe about all things 4Pointe.