Artists statement

Me and dance have always had a complicated relationship. When I was young I loved it more than anything, it was always the thing that made me happiest and as it turns out I had a natural talent. As I got older I quickly turned my hobby into a passion and I was at the studio every single day for most of my young and teen life. Growing up a ballerina is hard work, since I was young I was told to critique myself and others in efforts to make me a better dancer. I developed body dysmorphia and my anxiety skyrocketed from the expectations I held myself to, and soon dance became something I had to do instead of something I loved to do. Despite the love I had for dance, I decided I needed to take a break and get back in touch with my brain and my body which was a hard decision but ultimately right for me. Despite all of this, dance has always held a very special place in my heart. I think it is so beautiful how dancers can train to move their bodies in such articulate ways. I enjoy ballet contemporary pieces the most, for me those dances are the ones where I can really express myself. Emotional expression through dance is one of the most crucial parts of being a dancer in my opinion, I want the audience to feel whatever it is that I am supposed to convey to them. Whether it is sadness, love, anger or all of the above I want to show the audience that this dance is more than just steps to music. Now I dance with the purpose to feel free, I dance in big, long movements and I don't hold myself to the expectations that stopped me before.