with Betsy Mcbride

Betsy Mcbride and I met at the Kaatsbaan Summer Intensive many years ago. She was still a teen but already dancing professionally with Texas Ballet Theatre, I was one of her RA’s.

She was and is a beautiful dancer and after rising through the ranks to Principal at Texas Ballet Theatre, Betsy took the leap to American Ballet Theatre joining the corps de ballet in 2015.

I asked her to share a bit about her experience dancing from home during quarantine. Her words will hopefully make you feel less alone and inspire you to keep going!

Of course there are some things we’re all collectively experiencing but what have been the most major life changes for you?

For me the biggest change has been not having a schedule that’s packed full. This is usually my busiest time of year traveling for multiple tours domestically and internationally and rehearsing/performing most hours of the day.

It has definitely been an adjustment period not having scheduled routine but I’ve found that creating a new routine and schedule has helped keep my sanity. I also had to postpone my wedding that was scheduled for this August so that has been a big curveball trying to plan for our new date and wedding.

How are you staying positive and motivated dancing at home?

It’s definitely challenging because obviously there’s a lot less space and capability to do everything but I try to stay positive by keeping a routine of taking daily ballet class.

I love doing zoom classes with ABT, organized by ballet master Carlos Lopez. That way, I get to consistently see my friends and feel a little more normal.

I’m also trying to be less critical of myself than I would be in the studio because honestly there’s only so much you can expect from yourself when taking class at home.

Have you made any adjustments to your meal plan? Any favorite quarantine meals or snacks?

When we first went into quarantine I was definitely emotionally eating ha! So now I’m trying to reel it in and eat more nutritiously and cut out sugar (not entirely though).

I find that since I’m not training as hard, I’m not wanting to eat as much meat. I’ve definitely been leaning towards plant based meals. I’ve been enjoying making smoothies in the morning. My quarantine guilty pleasure snacks have been chocolate chip cookies and goldfish.

Are you coping with any anxiety or more challenging emotions? What are you doing to work through them?

Yes, I think most people are on some level with all of this uncertainty. Keeping a schedule and focusing on what I can do now rather than thinking about the future helps calm my mind.

Definitely staying active and busy helps too. I also took an Ayurvedic workshop, led by ABT ballet master Nancy Raffa. I’ve tried applying some Ayurvedic methods to my day to help reduce stress.

Are you worried about staying in shape? What would you say to dancers who are concerned about losing technique or “getting out of shape”?

I am a little worried about that, mostly because it’s so much harder to stay motivated on my own and in an environment with lots of distractions. However, there are so many resources available for people to stay in shape that it’s definitely doable with self discipline.

To dancers worried about this: there are plenty of ways to keep working on your technique. Taking many different ballet and other styles of dance online, doing pilates/yoga/ and other cross training exercises as well. It’s also a great time to focus on things you feel you want to improve and really work towards whatever that may be.

How are you filling your extra time?

I try to take ballet class daily. I’ve been going on runs a few times a week with my fiancé and taking some yoga, pilates, and conditioning classes.

I did the National Training Curriculum and got ABT’s teaching certification and I did a choreographic workshop with Jessica Lang for ABT.

I’ve been working on my athletic wear company, Rezonance Athletics, and I’ve taught a few virtual ballet classes. I’ve also been very busy trying to reschedule my wedding and deal with all that comes with that. For fun I’ve been reading a lot, watching Netflix, and learning to play the ukulele. Also, FaceTiming!

Will you share more about your activewear company? I’d love to hear more about how that got started.

Yes! Our company, Rezonance Athletics, was founded by my fiancé Simon Wexler, his sister Marina Hutto, his brother Brian Wexler, and myself.

We knew there were no fully eco-friendly and sustainable dance wear lines out there and we wanted to change that. After about two years of research and development, we came up with the first all eco friendly line of dance and athletic clothes for both men and women.

A lot of our products are made from recycled polyester which is made up from water bottles. One of my favorite leos of ours uses 7 water bottles!

The post ABT Dancer Betsy Mcbride “Healthy at Home” appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

Chamonix Bas

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

My journey in dance has been somewhat unconventional. I grew up doing competitive swimming, but unfortunately I quit when I was 11 because my parents, who both worked full-time, were unable to get me to the more advanced swim team practices. They still wanted me to do an extra-curricular activity though, and since my mom was interested in starting adult ballet, I started taking lessons once a week at the same studio.

Since our family didn’t have much experience with the world of dance, the studio I started at seemed great, but as I got older and started attending summer intensive auditions, we quickly realized that it did not provide the quality of training I was looking for.

I am SO fortunate because right around the time I decided to change ballet schools, my mom was also able to start working from home. This allowed her the flexibility to be available to drive me to ballet at any time and start homeschooling me, especially since I didn’t have the skills to move away to a dance school with housing.

I started dancing at Southland Ballet Academy in California when I was 14, and have trained there for 2 years.

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

I’m not a professional dancer yet, but starting so late with poor training has been one of the hardest challenges. Sometimes it’s hard not to compare myself with people my age who have had excellent training since they were three, but I have to remind myself that everyone blooms at a different time. Some dancers are ready to go professional after high school, but others are ready in their 20’s.

Even through dance is challenging, I love how there is always so much room to constantly grow and improve, and I do think being a late-starter has some perks. I feel that I have a greater appreciation for dance since it hasn’t always been a part of my life.

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

To me, being a whole dancer means being a person first and a dancer second. I think it is especially important to find your own worth as a human being, and not just a dancer.

Of course, as dancers, we spend a majority of time dancing or doing other dance-related activities, but I think it’s necessary to cultivate other areas of our lives as well and recognize what we excel at. Not only can this prevent burnout, but also give us a fresh perspective when we approach dance.

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

Some of my favorite self-care rituals include soaking in Epsom salts, reading, and cooking while watching an interesting movie. I especially like cooking because it allows me to do something relaxing and creative, and also allows me to have some great, healthy food available during the week when I don’t have time to cook!

What role does cross-training play in your life?

I’m still figuring out cross-training. I used to do the elliptical or swim for a few hours a week, which I think was a little extreme in addition to my dance schedule. I also tried pilates at a studio for a year, which did get expensive.

Now, I mainly walk my dog every day, do specific pilates/floor barre exercises I need for strength at home (there are SO many great exercises that don’t require a reformer or special equipment!), and sometimes do another form of cardio.

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

I think this question goes back to the concept of finding my worth as a person rather than just a dancer as well as creating balance in my life. Even though aesthetic pressure is a real problem in the dance world, finding things I like about my body as opposed to picking it apart, and focusing on technique rather than how I look in the mirror really helps.

There are consequences to abusing your body. Realizing that my primary goal is to be the best, strongest, and healthiest dancer I can be rather than the smallest, and possibly not-as-great dancer makes me want to take good care of the body I have.

Do you have a favorite recipe to share?

When I was younger, I thought all salads were boring and unsatisfying, but I have really discovered a love for them after I learned how great then can be with the right ingredients! Having a great dressing, some more filling ingredients, and your favorite combination of vegetables can make a salad exciting.

Here is the recipe for my favorite salad and dressing combination.

Find Chamonix on Instagram @aballerinasfood

The post Chamonix Bas – Healthy Dancer Feature appeared first on The Whole Dancer.