WHHS ballerina breaks barriers - Salome Tregre takes ballet stage by storm

Keegan Sullivan: How long have you been dancing?

Salome Tregre: 11 years.

KS: What company do you dance for?

ST: Cincinnati Ballet Academy.

KS: What brought you to ballet?

ST: I’ve kind of always been in it, since I was four years old. I’ve been in soccer, tennis and ballet. It was just a few years ago I decided to stick with ballet.

KS: What motivates you?

ST: It’s something I’ve always had a love for; it helps me bring any emotions out I’m feeling in that moment.

KS: Do you do anything else outside of school?

ST: No.

KS: How do you feel being thrust into the spotlight like this?

ST: It’s pretty cool, I’ve always wanted to be a big star. It’s okay. I never had a plan [for becoming famous].

KS: Do you want to be a role model for other young girls?

ST: Definitely.

KS: Is it hard being a minority in ballet, do you get along with everybody else?

ST: I definitely get along with tons of people. It’s not so much a matter of discrimination, it’s just that for this role there hasn’t been a first yet.

KS: Did you feel pressured being the first?

ST: Kind of, I definitely feel pressure but doing my best is all I really can do.

KS: How do your parents feel about ballet and this role?

ST: My parents are always supporting me; no matter what, they’re always with me.

KS: Have you felt any criticism for your role? From public or the people in the production?

ST: No, not that I know of.

KS: When you’re on stage dancing, can you feel the energy from the audience?

ST: Yes, all the time. It’s kind of an amazing thing where you’re just dancing. It may seem small for just dancing on a stage, but when you realize the audience is there just watching, it gets pretty big. I think the audience was about 1,000 [people].

KS: Now that it is over, how do you feel it has impacted you as a person?

ST: It’s definitely changed me a bit to realize that people of my color can do things like this. I just hope that I can keep moving forward with breaking barriers.

KS: Goals and plans for the future?

ST: I’m not sure yet; I’m okay with whatever is coming.

KS: Any dream roles?

ST: Clara was definitely a dream role. I’ve always wanted to be the white swan in Swan Lake, Giselle, the Sugar Plum Fairy.

KS: Role models, in or out of industry?

ST: In the industry, definitely Misty Copeland. Out of the industry, my mom. She has been through a lot of things. I just find it amazing that she has overcome all that stuff and I get to be her daughter.