Q&A with Laurynas Vėjalis

In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

Passion, purpose, freedom.

What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

One of my favourites to dance was Albrecht in Giselle, I had an opportunity to dance the role when I just became principal dancer at Royal New Zealand Ballet and it had huge impact on my ballet career. I also loved performing and being part of the ballet Onegin and Nijinsky.

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

It depends. If you live in big cities, there are multiple opportunities to watch ballet or take lessons in many different schools, but it is hard to have same access to that if you live in more rural areas. Also, ballet is well established as an art culture in Europe for example, because of that, there is a lot of support from government, community and organization so that they can make ballet more accessible, but there aren’t many countries outside Europe that values ballet in the same way. I hope ballet can become more universally accessible.

What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?  

It is sad fact but I have to say when people say ‘that when you work hard, you will be

rewarded’ is not always the case in ballet world. Yes, I have seen many hard-working people succeed in professional ballet career, but also I have seen many talented dancers who don’t get same opportunity as others even when they put so much effort. Ballet is a beautiful art form but sometimes ballet world can be complicated place.

What are you reading right now?

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.

One thing that most people don’t know about you?

I’m a bit of clean freak. I am constantly cleaning something.

Why is the work BWB do so important?

Ballet can be very expensive thing whether you watching or dancing. That’s why I think many people are hesitant to reach out to this industry. BWB ensures that everyone should be given an opportunity to be introduced to this wonderful art form no matter what your financial status or background is.

Favourite ballet to watch?

I absolutely love Manon. Score, emotion, musicality and technicality of Pas de Duex, it’s just beautiful masterpiece. I also love watching Dances at a gathering by Jerome Robbins, William Forsythe’s works, Bolero by Maurice Bèjart.

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

Probably I will tell myself to see the bigger picture and try not to think too much or be afraid to fail. Everything will work out in the end. Enjoy the process.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

Hope I can have huge forest somewhere with other elephants, so that elephant can thrive in their natural habitat because that’s where they belong and they deserve the best.

Q&A with Franziska Rosenzweig

Franziska Rosenzweig, founder of Holistic Ballet® and creator of the Holistic Ballet DVD series, was born in Berlin, East Germany. After graduating from the State Ballet School in Berlin, she danced with the German State Opera Berlin (now Staatsballet Berlin) and the Peter Schaufuss Ballet in Denmark. In 1998, Franziska relocated to London, transitioning from a freelance artist to a ballet teacher, concurrently adding Gyrotonic®, Pilates, and yoga to her skill set. Her teaching engagements spanned locations like India, and included professional dance companies like Random Dance, Richard Alston, and Ballet Prejlocaj. Presently, Franziska teaches amateur dancers at Pineapple Dance Studios and her studio in East London.

In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

complex, challenging, life-changing

What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

My favourite part of dancing was Tchaikovsky pas de deux. I loved the female solo the first time I saw it and I was fortunate to be given that role a few years later. I wish I could have danced it with the knowledge I have now to make it even more enjoyable.

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

I believe the UK has varied outreach programmes for school children. However, to attend more serious ballet training without being on the path of a professional dancer and a scholarship may be very costly.

What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set

straight?  

As I am in the field of amateur adult ballet training, the most common misconceptions are that one has to be young and flexible to attend ballet classes, and probably female too.

What are you reading right now?

I just started reading ‘Determined: Life Without Free Will by Robert Sapolsky. I am not sure whether I will manage to read the entire volume but as I am also a trained hypnotherapist, I am fascinated by the way our minds work. That’s another thing I wish I had known more about during my active dancing career.

One thing that most people don’t know about you?

My great dislike for chamomile tea.

Why is the work BWB do so important?

There would be too many things to list. But to name a few: every child should have the right to explore and express themselves kinetically through dance. Moreover, movement and dance education help to counteract the negative physical and mental consequences of our sedentary culture and screen time addiction. In our current society, where anything that does not promise immediate measurable profit is seen as dispensable, we need organisations like BWB to challenge these ideologies and show how crucial movement and dance are the the development of children’s social skills and their evolving brains.

Favourite ballet to watch?

I was absolutely mesmerised by Sharon Eyal’s Half-Life that the Berlin Staatsballet streamed for free during lockdown. I usually find it difficult to watch dance on a screen but this piece and the incredible dancers drew me in completely. I hope to get the chance to watch it live one day.

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I would encourage my younger self to find a confidant to talk to. As a teenager, I was extremely withdrawn and dealt with my problems on my own instead of seeking mental and emotional support.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

I guess, I would have to give up my life as it is, take my cat Herbert, and move to a place where Icould make a home for us and the elephant.

Q&A with The Whole Dancer

Jess Spinner is a former professional dancer and now a multi-certified holistic health, nutrition, and lifestyle coach for dancers through her company The Whole Dancer. She supports dancers to find a balanced approach to food, their bodies, dance, and life. Through coaching, dancers are able to prioritize their well-being and at the same time achieve their highest dance goals–paid jobs, professional school enrollment, exciting dance roles, and so much more.

1. In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

Joy, freedom, pain.

These days it’s mostly got positive associations however, it used to bring me a lot of pain, struggle and turmoil. So, I have to include that as well. 

2. What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

I missed out on Swan Lake due to an injury and it’s always been a favorite of mine. It would absolutely be a dream to perform and I’m not even interested in the leads. I’d just love to be a part of the swan corps!

3. Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

No. There are still a lot of barriers. That’s just the reality. Tickets to see ballet performances are at times totally out of reach for people. Many schools take dancers who all look the same and that leaves people feeling very left out. 

There are some simple ways to change but it does require that the heads of companies and schools take a good look at themselves and get really honest about where their biases lie. This takes really hard work. I actually wrote an article on unconscious bias in dance teaching for Dance Teacher Magazine online. You can check it out here: 

https://dance-teacher.com/unconscious-biases-dance-teaching-practice/

4.  What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?  

I think there’s still a pretty extreme misconception among young dancers and dance parents that only the smallest bodied dancers can succeed. This misconception exists in the public as well wherein people think they can’t dance unless they’re thin or a certain size.

All bodies can dance. That openness does need to be communicated in order for the art form to become more accessible. 

5. What are you reading right now?

I’m currently reading How to Be, Do, or Have Anything: A practical guide to creative empowerment by Laurence G. Boldt. It’s a great book and I highly recommend it. It’s very actionable, which I love. 

6. 1 thing that most people don’t know about you?

I’m a pretty open book. I share a lot about myself and my experience online, especially about my dance journey. Maybe, most people don’t know that I’m an Aquarius and I’m actually very into astrology. That’s something I don’t talk about all that much. I can often guess what zodiac sign my clients are based on our conversations. 

7.  Why is the work BWB does so important?

This work is essential. There are very real barriers to ballet being accessible. It’s something that can be enjoyed by many, even if they never go on to pursue it professionally. Dance students are the future patrons, donors, and supporters of the arts. If we want ballet to go on and to thrive into a changing future, we need to find ways to make it a more accessible, comfortable, and kind place. 

8. Favourite ballet to watch?

It’s back to Swan Lake for me! I particularly like Boston Ballet’s version. It’s pretty magical. 

9. If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I would go back to my early teen years. That’s the time I started to fixate on my body shape and size and to worry that my body wasn’t right for ballet. I wasn’t even able to acknowledge the physical attributes that were considered helpful for dance. It was also at this time that I started down a path of disordered eating patterns that lasted for over a decade of my life. I would tell myself that my body was fine. That I needed to allow it to go through the normal hormonal changes and maturation that were healthy and expected. I would let myself know that fueling adequately was what would yield the best dancing AND what would allow me to feel best in my own skin. I would share some of the amazing things I’ve learned and the ways I support dancers now through The Whole Dancer. 

10. You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

Hmm, my first impulse is to find a way to return it to the wild or to create some sort of sanctuary for it. I suppose if I can’t give it away I’d seek out donors to provide funds to build it a sanctuary. My goal would certainly be to find a way to make the elephant as happy as possible and to create a life for it that’s as close to its natural habitat.

Q & A with Vito Bernasconi

We had the pleasure of interviewing Vito, current soloist with The Queensland Ballet.

1. In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

Passion, Courage, Creativity

2. What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

Sir Kenneth Macmillan’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. While I’ve performed Tybalt, Mercutio, Lord Capulet and Lead Mandolin, I’ve never performed Romeo and hopefully one day I can experience the role.

3. Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

I believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form to watch and perform in metropolitan areas, and the more outreach we can undertake as a community, the more possibility there is to affect many more future dancers and performers in wider reaching areas of this country and the world. 

4.  What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?  

I have a few:

Ballet is not just for girls, it is for anyone and everyone. Ballet does not define your sexuality. MYTH: Ballet is easy. FACT: Anyone who does ballet requires a high level of physical, mental, psychological and emotional fortitude. It is an art form for the strong, focussed and determined. 

5. What are you reading right now?

I have just finished ‘What Doesn’t Kill Us’ by Scott Carney, and am excited to have begun reading ‘Mr. Einstein’s Secretary’ by Matthew Reilly. He’s one of my favourite authors. 

6. 1 thing that most people don't know about you?

I hate sand out of context. Unless I’m having a beach day and able to rinse it off, it really annoys me. 

7.  Why is the work BWB does so important? 

Everyone needs art in their lives and I believe that everyone deserves to express themselves creatively and passionately in any way they wish. With the mission of bringing ballet to as many people as possible, BWB is ensuring that more people have the possibility to have ballet enriching and enhancing their lives. 

8. Favourite ballet to watch?

I have always admired After The Rain by Christopher Wheeldon. The music, Spiegel I’m Spiegel by Arvo Pärt, and choreography have an incredible symbiotic connection and it has been a dream of mine to one day perform the main Pas De Deux.

9. If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I would go back to any time that I’ve had a big decision to make and remind myself, ‘Trust your instincts and follow your heart’. 

10. You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

I would call it Dumbo, Trunks or Stampy and wonder how I was going to get it up to, and fit in, my apartment! I would also be obligated to come into any awkward conversation to comprehensively and effectively express, ‘the elephant in the room’.

Q & A with Chloe Angyal

Meet Chloe Angyal, the author of Turning Pointe-How a new generation of dancers is saving ballet from itself. Turning Pointe is a book about the future of ballet, and a reckoning with all the forces – racism, sexism, elitism, and more – that endanger that future.

Chloe originally hails from Sydney and is now based in Iowa in the US.

In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

Tradition, progress, potential.

What would be your favourite ballet to dance?

I'd want to be a Wili! The corps work in the second act of Giselle is so intense and beautiful, and who doesn't want to belong to a sorority of vengeful ghost brides?

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

No. It's exclusive in so many ways: it's expensive to train and to watch, it's unaccepting of those who fall outside of a strict gender binary, and it's generally a hostile environment for dancers of colour, especially Black dancers and most especially Black girls and women.

What do you believe is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?

Inside the ballet world, I think there's a misconception that ballet cannot and does not change, and that's simply untrue. The history of ballet is a history of radical change; it's what has allowed the artform to survive as the world around it changes. Those inside the ballet world are too willing to call stagnation or oppression "tradition," and that threatens the future of the art form.

What are you reading right now?

Heartbreaker, by Sarah MacLean. I love a good romance novel.

Ballet without Borders aims to allow children from disadvantaged backgrounds to experience ballet- if you had ultimate power for a day what would you do to make this happen?

Strip tuition down to what's actually essential to pay teachers well and make sure kids get a safe and fulfilling experience. Put teachers of colour in every dance school, regardless of the racial makeup of the students, so that all ballet students grow up seeing people of colour as dance leaders and as sources of knowledge about the art form. Commission dozens of new story ballets that tell new stories from around the world, not the same old European fairy tales ballet has been rehashing for the last two centuries. Design and bring to market a safe, affordable, durable pointe shoe in as many skin tones as possible.

Favourite ballet to watch?

After the Rain, by Christopher Wheeldon.

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I'd go back to age 12, when I was told that my body wasn't right for ballet, and when I started believing that made me a failure. I'd tell myself that ballet technique has no moral valence, and that being good at ballet doesn't make you a good person. It just makes you good at ballet.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

In exchange for food and care at a sanctuary, I'd lend it for stud services, so that we can rebuild elephant populations in the wild.

Q&A with Callum Linnane

c. Jeff Busby

This month we had the pleasure of interviewing the recently promoted principal artist of The Australian Ballet, Callum Linnane. Callum was accepted into The Australian Ballet School in 2008 and graduated dux with honours. He joined The Australian Ballet in 2015; he was promoted to coryphée in 2017, to soloist in 2018, to senior artist in 2021, and to principal artist in 2022. Callum was recognised as Telstra’s dancer of the year in 2016 and has delivered incredible performances as The Prince in Alexei Ratmansky's Cinderella and Vaslav Nijinsky in John Neumeier's Nijinsky amongst many others.

In 3 words, what does dance mean to you?

Necessity, expression, truth.

 Favourite ballet to dance?

My favourite ballet to dance is probably John Neumeier's Nijinsky. It holds a special place in my heart as it was the first full-length principal role I performed. I loved the movement vocabulary and having the opportunity to dive into Vaslav's psyche.

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

I believe there is still work to be done in this area. For example, if you grow up in a remote area, there may not be a ballet school close enough to attend a class. And even if you do, ballet class can be very expensive for families considering the class cost, uniform, shoes etc. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as the exposure to sports one gets at school. You can send your child to school, and at lunchtime, they can kick a footy around, they can play some basketball, or they can pick up a pen and paper and draw something. I wish it were a little easier to access ballet in everyday life. The one positive is that it's easy to watch ballet online and through social media.

What is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?  

That it's entirely feminine. Ballet requires strength and discipline. Moving your body to music has nothing to do with femininity or masculinity - it's just expressing oneself however that may be for the person.

What are you reading right now?

"Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris.

1 thing that most people don't know about you?

I love listening to ASMR. It’s so calming.

Ballet Without Borders aims to allow children from disadvantaged backgrounds to experience ballet- if you had ultimate power for a day what would you do to make this happen?  

I would arrange for every single child to experience a ballet performance. So in every little town, everywhere, there is a world-class ballet performance that is free to go and watch. Maybe that will inspire the next generation of dancers who may never have even crossed paths with ballet.

Favourite ballet to watch?

This changes all the time. But right now I would happily watch The Lady of the Camellias by John Neumeier or Shoot the Moon by Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon.

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I would tell my 12 year old self to stretch more! No, I would also tell my teenage self to go lightly. Don't get so emotional about things. If you take the emotion out of things, you can approach things with a clearer mind and not get so upset and angry. This applies to life in the ballet studio and outside of the studio. And one more thing, stop worrying about what other people think.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

I care for this elephant, this elephant and I become the best of friends and live a happy life together.

Q&A with Vicki Attard

This month we have an interview with Vicki Attard. Vicki has had an amazing professional career including former principal artist with The Australian Ballet and having had the role of Interim Director of the Houston Ballet Academy. Vicki has been instructing at many major Sydney institutions over the past 21 years and has produced her own unique pointe programs, entitled ‘My Beginner Pointe’ and ‘My Pointe’, which are all- encompassing programs specifically designed for young dancers and dance teachers alike, covering the safe dance practices and aesthetic components involved in the instruction of pointe work.

In 3 words what does ballet mean to you?

My whole world!

Favourite ballet to dance?

Romeo and Juliet (Cranko), In the Middle Somewhat Elevated (Forsythe), Madam Butterfly (Welch), Jardi Tancat (Nacho Duato). It's impossible to choose just one favourite and I may just give you different answers tomorrow!

Do you believe that ballet is a readily accessible art-form?

Yes, I believe ballet is a readily accessible art-form, because in the true sense of those two words, it is 'within reach' or 'easy to get to'. Is it affordable? No, it most certainly is not. Going to the ballet is an expensive venture, however from a different perspective, running a large ballet company involves a grand scale of exorbitant costs, which must be considered in relation to the ticket cost. There is the company's extensive payroll as well as visiting artists for each ballet requiring remuneration as well as lodgings and per diem for the length of contract required. Not to mention Theatre rental, marketing, promotion and associated touring costs.

What is a typical misconception about ballet that you would like to set straight?

That if you work hard enough, you can achieve your dream of dancing professionally. There are simply too many variables involved to think that this can be a steadfast reality. Simply wanting it and working hard for it, is just the start, a very important start, but unfortunately just the fundamental beginning of becoming a professional dancer.

5. What are you reading right now?

The Opposite of Fate.

A thing that most people don't know about you?

I left school and accepted an administrative job with Mackay City Council working in a Typing Pool for 2 years, before undertaking an offer from the Australian Ballet School for its three-year diploma course.

Ballet Without Borders aims to allow children from disadvantaged backgrounds to experience ballet- if you had ultimate power for a day what would you do to make this happen?

I think it would be most gratifying to organise 'a typical day in the life of' with their favourite dancer lasting from sunrise to sunset. This would obviously include participating in general company class mid-morning, watching rehearsals & playing dress-ups.

Favourite ballet to watch?

Romeo and Juliet. The music and story both lend themselves to the most tragic of all stories to be expressed through dance.

If you could go back to a point in time in your life, what advice would you give yourself?

I would remind myself to focus on the big picture, enjoy the moment, stop worrying about what could happen, remember every precious moment, and to keep a detailed diary so that when you get older you can remember it time and time again.

You have been given an elephant! You cannot sell it or give it away, what do you do?

I would sell my Sydney home, ship the elephant back to its original home and resettle with it. Elephants are highly intelligent with an impressive range of emotions that humans can connect with. They should be treated with the utmost of respect.

Pointe Shoe prep with Senior Artist Valerie Tereshchenko

For World Ballet Day 2021 - we have asked senior artist of the The Australian Ballet and BWB Board member Valerie to share her pointe shoe prep…

Q&A with David Hallberg-Meet the Australian Ballet's new Artist Director

Last year, we connected with the Australian Ballet’s newly appointed Artistic Director, David Hallberg. David boasts an incredible ballet career including being a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and Bolshoi Ballet, and as a guest artist with the Royal Ballet.

Check out the Q&A below and discover David’s favourite ballet to watch and dance plus his hot tips for upcoming dancers.

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How old are you? 38.

What companies have you performed with? American Ballet Theatre, Guest with the Australian Ballet, Former Principal with the Bolshoi.

When you’re not touring with a company, how do you stay in shape and what is your jet lag remedy? Jet lag remedy is Melatonin! And not thinking about the previous time zone.

We already know shaving is part of the ritual of getting performance-ready, any others? Nap. Eat well. Focus the mind!

A surprising thing people don’t know about you? I love a cold beer with my manager after a show in my dressing room.

A ballet you enjoy watching rather than dancing? Almost all of New York City Ballet repertoire.

Have you ever taught adult ballet before? Would you? I have not, and don’t find myself the best teacher.

When you are in the moment and it’s effortless and perfect, what word would you use to describe that feeling for yourself? As close to euphoria as possible.

What was the last gift you received and from who? Love and care. From my boyfriend.

What was the biggest mistake you have made during a performance? Not risked enough. Worried too much.

Do you have a tip that improves flexibility? Know your limits. Warm up properly. And flexibility doesn’t make a good dancer.

You are given an elephant. You cannot sell it or give it away. What do you do? Love it. Learn from it.

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To keep up with David’s journey, check out his social media platform here. Learn more about Ballet Without Borders and our 2020 impact here. Subscribe to our newsletter to get exclusive access to future Q&As and regular updates on our growth. Ballet Without Borders: helping all children experience the joy of ballet.

Story of one of our sponsored children-Daniel

Hello Readers,

During our Penrith workshop in April this year, we spotted a talented young boy and had the opportunity to sponsor him to go to his local ballet school, Glenbrook Ballet Academy.

Daniel loves ballet. He loved our workshop so much that he tried to teach his sister some moves! He has since sat his first Royal Academy of Dance primary ballet exam.

‘'I was so excited to hear that Daniel had won a scholarship from you. He came back from the class he took so inspired and ready to take on the ballet world.

Since then he has gone from strength to strength and has been working so hard for his Primary ballet exam. He really is such a talented young boy with so much promise and potential. He has incredibly strong legs and feet and beautiful turnout and he loves to jump, all the traits for a ballet master in the making.”

-Miss Ilona, Daniel’s teacher at Glenbrook Ballet Academy

We are so proud to have been able to support Daniel in his love of ballet and look forward to following Daniel’s ballet journey.

Winter School Holiday Workshops

During the winter school holidays BWB ran 2 more workshops in Liverpool and Penrith in collaboration with PCYC. 

We had a wonderful response including 6 boys at our Liverpool workshop! There were many laughs and many plies. The participants enjoyed themselves, learned ballet terminology, steps and choreography as well as fun facts about ballet and nutrition. 

More workshops and locations will be announced soon!