Lauren Fadeley

Where do you dance?

Principal Soloist with Miami City Ballet

Share a bit about your journey in dance…

MCB is the third company I’ve danced with. Originally from Orlando, FL, I moved to NYC at age 15 to train at SAB. A year later I was asked to join New York City Ballet, where I danced for 2 years. That was a little too much for me too soon, so at 18 I choose to go to college at Indiana University. I graduated with a BS in Ballet Performance with an outside field in Kinesiology. From there I joined Pennsylvania Ballet, where I danced for 9 seasons and became a principal dancer.

What’s a challenge you’ve faced in pursuing dance professionally?

My body and being “in shape”. I am naturally very broad and muscular and when I’m not dancing a lot, I don’t always fit the ballerina body aesthetic. I got my first “fat talk” when I was 15 and my most recent when I was 32, so has always been a struggle.

How did you overcome it?

I never fully overcame it, but have tried to find balance and peace with my body. When I was younger, I resorted to unhealthy means to try to achieve the “perfect” body, but after breaking my foot I realized how unsustainable that was.

Studying nutrition, anatomy and physiology in college helped me gain a better understanding and as I get older in this career, I never take my body for granted. During long lay offs, I just have to be more aware of how I’m fueling myself and stay active even if not dancing everyday.

What does it mean to you to be a “whole” dancer?

To be strong and confident. Though I will never look as thin as most of the other dancers onstage, I take pride in my strength and power that come across in my performances.

Do you have any special self-care rituals that help you feel balanced?

Yoga and gyrotonics are both good for my mind, body and soul and I try to fit them in once a week. I also love unwinding with a face mask and essential oil diffuser.

What role does cross-training play in your life?

Cross-training as become even more important to me at this stage of my career than ever. Pilates and weight training have helped with injury prevention and cardio to keep my stamina up for shows. When on lay offs, I try to change up what I do everyday to not get in a rut and stay motivated.

How do you keep a positive relationship with food and your body in the face of aesthetic pressure in dance?

It is very difficult and some days are harder than others. Staring at a mirror 6 hours a day can do numbers on how you perceive yourself, but I try to remember how fortunate I am that I have a strong body that enables me to dance and do what I love. With food, I try to think of it as the fuel needed to perform and how it makes my body feel.

Photo Credits:

Dances at a Gathering by Daniel Azouley

The Four Temperaments by Alexander Iziliaev

Diamonds by April Singleton

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Carly Herrmann

Share a bit about your journey in dance…

Hi guys! My name is Carly Herrmann, and I am the owner of Instagram account @carlysplate. On my account, I post all things from what I eat on a daily basis being vegan, workouts, healthy habit tips, and my ballet life! I’m 21 years old, and have been dancing for 19 years now.

I just finished being a trainee with the Charlottesville Ballet this past season, and will be going back to school in the ballet department this fall at the University of Cincinnati, I will be starting my junior year! Before dancing at Charlottesville, I trained locally in the Chicago suburbs at Dance Academy of Libertyville, the Joffrey Ballet Chicago’s Pre-Professional Division, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s High School Full-Time Program, and then started my first two years of school at UC.

What’s a challenge you’ve faced in pursuing dance professionally? How did you overcome it?

I’ve faced challenges over the years including tracking food, or getting “nervous” about foods that I would eat. Though I never eat unhealthy and am conscious about what healthy and fueling foods I put in my body, I would sometimes get antsy or anxious seeing numbers start to get higher on the app that I track my food on.

I ended up overcoming it by reminding myself that even though the number of calories might be higher on other days than others, as dancers we use our bodies everyday for hours. In order to power through long days of rehearsals, tech weeks, performance days, it is crucial to refuel your body and give it the right, nutritious foods that it deserves!

Food is fuel, and is so yummy, we shouldn’t have to get nervous over silly numbers! I always remind myself how important it is to listen to your body, and if you are hungry you should indulge in some yummy food! After being paleo for almost 2.5 years to now going vegan since the start of January, I have absolutely loved it so much, and I overall feel so much “cleaner” body wise, and have loads of energy! Plus, it is always so much fun finding new recipes.

What do you think it means to be a “whole” dancer?

To me, being “whole”, means finding a balance with ballet, food, cross-training, and also being a “normal” human and having a life! It is so easy to get caught up in so many things, but taking the time for yourself, and finding other things you enjoy are so important, mentally and physically. It is very easy to get caught up in the ballet world, being a bunhead.

Do you have any special self-care rituals that help you feel balanced?

Some special self-care rituals that I enjoy (besides drinking my coffee with almond milk everyday *winkwink) are practicing yoga when I have time in my busy schedule! Since it is so easy for us to get tight, hurt, etc, in ballet, it is so important to treat your body with the respect and love it deserves.

I also take Apple Cider Vinegar every night before bed. It’s almost like a gut “resetter” and I always feel a lot better in the mornings! Going to the gym is also so important to me, and I love blocking an hour out of my day to just focus on myself, jamming out to some music and making myself stronger!!!

What role does cross-training play in your life?

Cross-training is a HUGE part of my life! If I could be a personal trainer, I absolutely would. I have an Apple Watch, and I am so obsessed with it, and love tracking all my activity on there!

I try to go to the gym every day, either before of after rehearsals. Typically, I do about 30-45 minutes of cardio on the elliptical or treadmill, followed by some sort of functional training. I love doing internal training like HIIT or anything body related, where I am able to use my own body weight for my workout.

However, on days that I am really tired, or sore, I won’t push myself and will only walk on the treadmill just to get my steps in, or Pilates! I always remind myself that as a dancer, my body is my tool and that if I push it too hard one day, I need to take it easy then next, and listen to my body and what it is saying to me.

Do you have a favorite recipe?

On my Instagram, I post a ton of yummy vegan recipes! If you guys have been following me for a while, you’ll know that this is one of my favorite combos ever! With Silk almond milk vanilla alternative yogurt, I love to throw in some sort of fruit like blueberries, a banana, or an apple, with some peanut butter, broken up pieces of a Cliff bar, topped off with some cinnamon!

The peanut butter mixed in with the vanilla alternative yogurt is hands down one of the best tastes ever, which is why I’d say that this is one of my favorite meals ever! Usually, I have something sweet like this in the mornings or for lunch because I usually crave savory meals like a stir fry and big nourish bowl for dinner!

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Alexandra Hoffman

Share a bit about your journey in dance…

Currently, I am in my fourth season with American Midwest Ballet. I grew up dancing in Cleveland, Ohio under the instruction of Ana Lobe of Cleveland San Jose Ballet. I started my professional career with the Louisville Ballet in 2010.

I danced there for four seasons before joining AMB in 2015. Since then, I have had the opportunity to dance some amazing roles such as The Sugar Plum Fairy, Dew Drop Fairy, and Snow Queen in The Nutctacker, the principal girl in Mariana Oliveira’s, Death and the Maiden, Fee in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and a Cygnet in Swan Lake.

What’s a challenge you’ve faced in pursuing dance professionally? How did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge I have faced in my career was a knee injury that occurred during my first season with American Midwest Ballet. I remember the exact moment it happened, and trying to brush it off as something that would fix itself in a few days time.

Unfortunately, my leg was no longer able to bear weight, making my leg give out. I had microfracture surgery as soon as the season ended, and spent all summer rehabilitating my leg. Learning how to bend my knee again, was definitely the most painful and frustrating part of recovery. The surgery was not a guaranteed fix, and I was afraid it was going to cost me my career.

Thankfully, I had a great surgeon and team of physical therapists that kept me motivated throughout the process. I’m thankful to have made a full recovery since then!

What do you think it means to be a “whole” dancer?

For me, being a whole dancer means being healthy, physically and mentally. I spend many hours a week cross training to keep my body strong to avoid injuries as much as possible. Fueling my body with the right kind of food is also super important to me. I cook as much as I can for myself, so I can control the quality of ingredients that go into my meals.

Do you have any special self-care rituals that help you feel balanced?

Wednesday’s are my only nights off from teaching and rehearsing. I use that night to de-stress with an epsom salt bath and a face mask. I also like to use that time to plan out all of my meals for the following week. I love looking at the sale ads for grocery stores, and finding as many coupons as possible! I try to revolve my meals around the sales to help me stay on budget!

What role does cross-training play in your life?

Pilates, physical therapy exercises, and swimming are crucial for keeping my knee tracking properly. I want to dance for as long as I possibly can, so cross training is just as important as refining my dance technique.

How do you keep a positive relationship with food and your body in the face of aesthetic pressure in dance?

Cooking is definitely another passion I have in my life. I love trying to “lighten up” classic dishes in my kitchen, as well as indulging in comfort foods. Sticking to a strict and restricting diet has never been appealing to me. I think keeping a healthy balance of foods in my life is the key to keeping me both healthy and happy.

Food is a dancer’s fuel, so if I’m hungry, I know I need to eat! It can be difficult to eat a bigger meal during a strenuous rehearsal day, so I make sure to eat a really filling breakfast, and have plenty of smaller snacks to get me through the day. Dinner is always my largest meal of the day to help replenish my body with as much nutrients as I can possibly get!

Do you have a favorite recipe?!

This recipe is one of my go-to recipes during tech weeks! Throwing everything on a sheet pan, and letting the oven do all the work is my ideal kind of meal when I have zero time to meal prep. This recipe is filled with lots of good fats, and carbohydrates that I definitely need to  perform my best on stage! I hope you like it as much as I do!

One Pan Lemon Roasted Salmon, Roasted Potatoes and Parmesan Asparagus

Prep Time 10 min

Cook Time 30 min

Total Time 40 min

Serves 4 people

Ingredients

• 1 lb baby potatoes, halved if large
• ¼ cup olive oil, divided
• Salt + pepper, to taste
• 1 lb skin on salmon
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
• ½ Tbsp each, dried parsley, thyme, and oregano
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• ¼ tsp cayenne (omit if sensitive to spicy foods)
• ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
• 3 lemons-zest of 2 lemons + 1 sliced for roasting
• 1-2 bunches of asparagus, ends trimmed
• ½ cup grated Parmesan

Basil Chimichurri

• ⅓ cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 cup fresh basil
• ½ cup fresh cilantro
• 1 clove garlic
• Pinch of crushed red pepper
• Salt to taste

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
2. On a large rimmed baking sheet, combine the potatoes, 2 tablespoons olive oil and salt + pepper. Toss well to evenly coat the potatoes. Place in the oven and roast for 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, the honey, garlic, parsley, thyme, oregano, paprika, cayenne, basil and lemon zest in a bowl.
4. After 15 minutes, remove the potatoes from the oven. Add the salmon to the center of the pan. Rub the spice mixture onto the salmon, making sure the salmon is well coated.
5. Add the asparagus to the pan and toss with the potatoes. Sprinkle both the asparagus and potatoes with parmesan. Scatter lemon slices all around the pan and on the salmon.
6. Place in the oven and roast for 10-20 minutes or until the salmon has reached your desired doneness.
7. To serve, remove the skin from the salmon (if desired)  and cut into 4 pieces. Serve with potatoes + asparagus and the basil chimichurri.

Basil Chimichurri

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until combined and pesto like. Pour into a bowl or glass jar.

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Leanna Rinaldi

Where do you dance?

I started my career at Miami City Ballet and danced there for six years and I am excited to start dancing with Ballet Austin for the 19/20 season!

Share a bit about your journey in dance…

I began dance classes at the age of 2 and a half. I started getting serious about dance when I was about 13 while training at Chamberlain Performing Arts in Plano, TX. As a teenager, I attended summer courses at The School of American Ballet and Miami City Ballet School.

My path was pretty much chosen for me because I didn’t get into the college I wanted but I received a scholarship to train at the Miami City Ballet School year round. And I’m so glad I went. In the school I began dancing with the company and after two years of that I was hired as a company apprentice. The next year I was hired into the corps de ballet and got to perform many wonderful ballets in many amazing places!

What’s a challenge you’ve faced in pursuing dance professionally? How did you overcome it?

The dance world has never been easy for me. I don’t have a typical “ballerina body” which I hate saying because there shouldn’t be one body that defines a ballet dancer. But I don’t have super hyperextended legs or whacked out feet and I was always self conscious about my thighs.

To offset this, I use my strengths like jumping, turning and performance in my face and port de bras. I have been body shamed in my career and emotionally abused but I overcame it by staying true to my values and telling myself that I am worth more.

One person’s opinion does not define you as a dancer. And through this challenging time in my life I was questioning my love for dance. I had to remind myself that I became a professional dancer for a reason and I reached outside of my messed up mentality to find my love for dance again.

My love for dance never left, I just had to switch my perspective and have an attitude of gratitude for what I get to do everyday!

What does it mean to you to be a “whole” dancer?

Being a whole dancer for me is having a balanced life. You can’t be ALL ballet ALL the time or you will burn out. By that I mean you have to get out of the studio and find things in life that fulfill you and bring you joy, while also working hard in the studio. Go outside. Go on adventures. Visit family. Go on a walk. Anything that you enjoy that is not dance related, do it.

Do you have any special self-care rituals that help you feel balanced?

I always try to have a nourishing breakfast every morning. I also try to journal and write down things I’m grateful for. By starting my day on a good note I find more often than not that I have a better day. I also meditate to calm my mind, reflect, and re-center. After a really hard day I light some candles and take an epsom salt bath.

What role does cross-training play in your life?

I do a lot of different kinds of cross training. I love to do yoga when I want to have a good sweat and stretch out my body. I also love to do different physical therapy exercises in the morning before class to get my blood flowing and prepare for the day.

I usually incorporate some Gyrotonics into my exercises. Whenever I have a long break I spend some time on the elliptical to keep my stamina up. On Mondays, which is usually our day off, I take an intense pilates class with an instructor that used to dance with MCB!

How do you keep a positive relationship with food and your body in the face of aesthetic pressure in dance?

It’s really hard. I’m not going to sugar coat it. Having a positive relationship with food and your body is hard especially when you have to stare at your body in the mirror everyday and pick at what is wrong.

I try to keep it positive by telling myself that I am wonderfully made, a beautiful creation, and my worth is not dependent on how I look. Food is fuel and nourishment but also meant to be enjoyed. It is possible to have a balanced life as a dancer.

Do you have a favorite healthy recipe?

Lentil Coconut Curry with Sweet Potatoes and Kale

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. coconut oil
1 can Coconut milk
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup lentils (any kind but I use red lentils)
1 sweet potato diced
1 bunch kale chopped
1 yellow onion diced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 can chick peas (optional)
2 tbl fresh cilantro chopped
2 tbl curry
1 tsp tumeric
Dash of cinnamon
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Heat on medium-high 1 tbsp. of coconut oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add the sweet potato and garlic and coat with the curry, turmeric, and cinnamon. Sauté for 2 minutes. Stir in lentils for 1 minute. Pour the coconut milk and vegetable broth in the saucepan, bring to a boil and stir. Add chickpeas if desired and the kale, salt and pepper and let simmer on low until the sweet potatoes are soft and the lentils are cooked. This will be about 12-15 minutes. Add cilantro at the end and enjoy as a soup or over quinoa or rice. Enjoy!

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Alston McGill

Where do you dance? Share a bit about your journey in dance.

I am currently a corps de ballet member with New York City Ballet. I began dancing at age three in Savannah, Georgia. My long time ballet teacher in Savannah, Veronica Niebuhr, was like a second mother to me, and she fostered my dedication to and love for ballet. When I was 12, she encouraged me and my family to consider pre-professional ballet boarding programs, especially if I wanted to be a professional ballet dancer.

Knowing my love for ballet, my parents were incredibly supportive, and I went to the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia for one year. From there, I moved to New York and attended the School of American Ballet. I trained at SAB for four years. I was planning on returning to the school for my fifth and final year when I was invited to join New York City Ballet, and I have now been there for four years.

What’s a challenge you’ve faced in pursuing dance professionally? How did you overcome it?

Being a professional dancer is challenging on many different levels, but performing New York City Ballet’s repertory is so gratifying that any challenges are worth it. Injuries, unfortunately, are something most professional dancers have to deal with at one point or another during a career.

There is nothing worse than being unable to move and perform. I had a back injury two years after joining the company. I was unable to perform for 10 months, and after that time I still had to ease back into the company’s workload over another several months.

Only now, almost two years later, do I feel like I am able to really push my body again. During the time I was injured, not only did I have to diligently do my physical therapy exercises, but I also had to stay strong mentally. I had to find ways to keep myself engaged and positive during what felt like a very negative situation.

I focused on my small goals in recovery. I tried not to put pressure on a perfect timeline and rejoiced in every small step forward, like walking down the street without nerve symptoms or mastering a new stabilization exercise. I also had a wonderful support network of friends and family around me to make sure I never felt alone during the recovery process.

What does it mean to you to be a “whole” dancer?

To me, being a “whole” dancer means that I am a “whole” person. I am not only a ballet dancer, but I am working to create a full life and a balanced sense of self. Outside of ballet, I attend academic classes at Columbia, and I enjoy my social relationships with friends, some of whom are dancers and others who are not.

I think these things are so wonderful for mental health and allow me to bring a clear mind into the studio. Being a “whole” dancer also means that I take care of my body. I have Pilates privates, I see the company’s physical and massage therapists daily, and I make sure to do my daily regimen of physical therapy exercises that keep my back and body healthy.   

Do you have any special self-care rituals that help you feel balanced?

I love having a relaxing night at home to help me feel balanced and rested. I’ll start with an Epsom salt bath then lie on my acupressure mat, which always makes me fall asleep. After, I’ll do deep breathing and stabilization exercises on my Parasetter, and I’ll end my night by reading before bed.

What role does cross-training play in your life?

Cross training is so important for me! My muscles don’t like to hold tone, so I’ll do New York City Ballet’s strength and conditioning program with one of our physical therapists whenever my rehearsal schedule allows. Regaining my stamina has also been important in recovering from my back injury, so I do stamina drills with another physical therapist every other day so that I can make it through tough roles.

How do you keep a positive relationship with food and your body in the face of aesthetic pressure in dance?

Although it is still tough every now and then, I think that I have found how to maintain a positive relationship with food and my body. The main way is by not comparing myself to other dancers. We are all different with different bodies!

Do you have a favorite healthy recipe?

I absolutely love this ponzu salmon recipe from Healthyish. It’s easy to throw together, and it’s always a crowd pleaser when I have people over for dinner. CLICK HERE to check out the recipe!

Photos of Alston:
Top Rachel Neville
Bottom Paul Kolnik

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