Q & A With Jackeline Valente

Jackeline Valente is one of our new teachers in Adelaide, South Australia. We presented Jackeline with our 13 questions, see below her answers:

1. In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?
Art, expression and discipline.

2. What would be your favourite ballet to dance?
Don Quixote. 

3. Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?
Not yet. Ballet can still feel quite exclusive, but I believe it’s slowly becoming more accessible as more people work to share it and open doors for others.

4. What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?
I believe that lots of people think that ballet is delicate and just "pretty.” But ballet is incredibly athletic, powerful, and mentally demanding.

5. What are you reading right now?
I just finished reading Michaela DePrince’s biography, and I’ve recently started a book called The Dance Cure by Dr. Peter Lovatt.

6. One thing that most people don't know about you?
I’m always chasing feelings in everything that I do.

7. Why is the work BWB do so important?
Because it creates opportunities and access for dancers who might not otherwise have them and that can completely change someone’s life.

8. Favourite ballet to watch?
Giselle.

9. If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?
Trust your destiny and don’t rush. Everything you’re working for is building, even when you can’t see it yet.

10. You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?
I’d keep it, give it a name, learn everything about how to care and treating it like part of the family