Laine Haboney

Share a bit about your journey in dance…

I’m a corps dancer with the New York City Ballet. I started dancing ballet and tap when I was 3 years old. I trained in ballet, jazz, tap and modern until I was about 11 or 12 then decided that I wanted to put most of my efforts into ballet.

I had many wonderful teachers growing up. One of the more influential ones was Shawn Stevens, who was a soloist with NYCB. She choreographed a contemporary solo for me to perform at YAGP in 2009/10 and since then we have been extremely close.

She staged the first movement of Serenade on the company at my home studio in Texas, and basically introduced me to Balanchine and the New York City Ballet. She inspired and pushed me to audition for the School of American Ballet summer course. In 2010 I attended the SAB summer course on a full merit scholarship and was invited to attend their winter term starting that September.

My family, teachers and I knew that if I ever wanted to dance in the New York City Ballet, or any major ballet company, I’d have to leave home. Thankfully, I have the most supportive family anyone could ask for and they sent me to New York at age 13! I started at the School of American Ballet that fall.

I went through levels B2, C1, C2 and about 2 months of the final level D before receiving an apprenticeship with NYCB in October 2013. I had just turned 17. I was an apprentice for a year and then got my corps contract in 2014!

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

I’ve had a pretty smooth career in the company so far, despite a minor injury that caused me to be out for about 2 1/2 months. Coming back from that injury, even though it wasn’t very long, taught me a lot about myself and ballet.

Being out I was able to attend the ballet a lot, which I never got to do once I danced with the company because I was always on every night. I was able to appreciate the art form all over again. Instead of it being this job like routine where I come in, rehearse, perform, leave, repeat.

Since then I’ve tried to fully take advantage of every moment I have onstage. One struggle I really dealt with, and honestly always have dealt with, was my body not being in shape the way I wanted it to be. I’ve always been very self conscious with this subject and not dancing for so long, and then coming back to not so much dancing at work really put me in some dark places.

One day though I finally decided I was going to accept that everyone is different, everyone has their own path, and having self deprecating thoughts and feelings will only make things worse. Comparing yourself to others is the worst thing any dancer could ever do. Anytime I start to think badly of myself now I just say no, you’re not going to sit and make yourself upset, you can do whatever you want, life is good, move on. Yes every so often I’m in bad mood or I’ll complain but I try to only let it last for a second, then I let it go.

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

To me, being a whole dancer means embodying the dance lifestyle, but also being your own self in the real world. We can get so caught up in what it takes to be a dancer that we forget that were people as well.

Being happy with who you are when you’re not dancing is just as important. And then for the lifestyle aspect, working hard in class and rehearsal, fueling your body well and cross training, I think are steps to making a whole dancer.

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

I have a very routined life. I think most dancers do actually, but its especially comforting for me to live like this. Every morning I sit with my heating pad and warm lemon water and just have a quiet moment before my day begins. I have breakfast and coffee after and usually read or watch a little bit of a lighthearted show on Netflix. Lately its been Our Planet, a series informing viewers on the different plant and animal species in the world.

On days off, I love to do face masks and to take my miniature poodle Poppy, on long walks. These calm mornings and practices are very important to me. They help me take time for myself in a calm, comfortable environment where I don’t feel any of the stresses of the world. I also always surround myself with an abundance of plants!

What role does cross-training play in your life?

Cross training is a huge part of my life as a dancer. Its a major injury preventer and helps you technically improve. I’ve always done many different forms of cross training, but my favorites are swimming and gyrotonics. I do the elliptical or swim on days where I haven’t done much cardio and go to a gyro session at least once a week. My gyro trainer also works with many other dancers in the company and comes to ballet often, so she knows exactly what each of us needs.

I’m also constantly doing stabilization and pt exercises. I think a dancer is born with a facility and natural ability, but its our job to maintain and build upon it. Cross training allows me to consistently improve and take more risks within my dancing. Plus it can be very therapeutic!

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

I practice an everything in moderation mindset, and love to eat seasonally and locally. I enjoy so many different foods and kinds of foods, that I don’t ever want to restrict myself. That only leads to self guilt.

Feeding my body fresh and nutritious foods while also responding to cravings, helps me keep a positive relationship with food and my body.

When I know I’m giving it the best it can have, how can I not be positive? Of course every so often I’ll indulge in something not so healthy, but I never let myself feel guilty for it. I have a major sweet tooth that I can’t ignore.

Photos : Kenneth B. Edwards, Paul Kolnik, Erin Baiano

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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

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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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