with Olivia Mackinnon

New York City Ballet Dancer and Ballet Inspired Fitness creator Olivia Mackinnon shares how she is staying healthy at home during quarantine. Balance is key as well as recognizing that staying in performance shape isn’t necessarily realistic. Read on for some inspiration!

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

I’ve had to adapt to this new normal of not being able to dance with my company. This pandemic has allowed me to take a breath from my normal lifestyle I’ve had since I was 17. I’ve made many new relationships virtually, and discovered a new love for teaching, and creating.

How are you staying positive and motivated dancing at home? 

Having the ability to still connect with my colleagues each morning by taking class through zoom has helped continue my training, and keeps a consistent schedule each day for myself. I’m also able to see my pilates teacher each week. We work through ways of staying at my best even under the circumstances.

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

Because I’m not pushing myself to the limits onstage, I’ve adjusted my afternoon regime by not eating as much throughout the day. I started making smoothies around 1:30-2:00pm filled with greens, collagen protein, and flaxseed to keep myself full until an early dinner.

As a performing artist I’m used to eating a light protein filled snack before the show, and then a large meal after performing late at night once I’m home. I’ve been enjoying this treat of eating dinner early, and retiring to bed at a decent time!

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

I’ve grown so accustomed to my demanding schedule, and I have that type of personality that thrives off of staying busy, and fulfilled by work. As an athlete who’s career can go by quickly, it’s been difficult to have it put on hold for a year.

Instead of continuing to feel sad, I’ve tried to make my weeks filled with classes. Training for myself as well as teaching and helping others has helped.

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 have to remind myself that there is no way to stay in perfect performance shape without performing. However, there are so many other things I can do to keep myself in top form. On top of taking classes, and seeing my pilates teacher I’ve loved swimming!

I also launched Ballet Inspired Fitness in April. I’ve created classes for all levels that lengthen and tone the muscles. Teaching ballet privates, and group classes as well as teaching/creating my Ballet Inspired fitness has really kept me going.

Will you share about Ballet Inspired Fitness?

Once I started teaching ballet class privates I realized there was a need for a more inclusive way of exercising with a graceful quality.

There were so many ballet classes being provided online, but not many ways to help dancers condition their bodies in a way that translates into improving their everyday ballet class. I also wanted to make sure those who have never taken ballet were included, and that they would have the opportunity to learn positions and movements from the ballet vocabulary while moving their bodies.

All of the exercises elongate the body promoting long lines kindred to those of a ballerina. I started by teaching livestream classes on my instagram @oliviamackinnon and then transitioned to teaching Zoom based classes to build my clientele.

The Zoom classes provide my clients with more personalized attention, and it’s a fun way to meet and connect with new people from all around the world.

The goal is to have clients subscribe to gain access to a full library of classes. That way they can stream anytime, anywhere! I’ve also created tutorials explaining certain ballet movements you might see in my fitness classes. I want to make sure people understand how to perform them.

Follow Olivia Mackinnon on Instagram!.

Photos of Olivia by James Jin and Gabriela Celeste

The post NYCBallet Dancer Olivia Mackinnon “Healthy at Home” appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

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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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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As a native New Yorker, I was spoiled in my younger years. I had access to performances by some of the greatest dance companies and performers in the world. New York City Ballet has always held a special place in my heart and Deanna McBrearty is a dancer whose career I watched closely.

When a dancer you admire crosses your path in many ways – it feels like you know them. I got to watch Deanna not only in performances but also in the comfort of my living room via The New York City Ballet workout tapes and in Suki Shorer’s book on Balanchine technique.

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of connecting with her to chat about her new book Start with This and the many lessons she learned through her journey in dance. Start with This is part memoir, part field guide and will give you tons of “ah-ha” moments, whether you’re aspiring to dance professionally or you’re already in it. Her book will make you feel less alone (dancers have so many common experiences) and can support you in looking at things in a more positive light.

Check out my interview with Deanna here: 

In our chat Deanna shares so much wisdom – the kind that can only be found in a long career with a big company. Check out this interview, the advice is priceless.

You’ll find out how injury can actually help you get ahead and what is really necessary from the perspective of strategy and mindset to move you forward in dance.

Like most great dance stories, Deanna’s had ups and downs that shaped her into the artist and person she became. Are you ready for some inspiration? Check out the interview!

If you’d like to learn more about Deanna, visit her website. To purchase her book – click here!

The post NYC Ballet Dancer Deanna McBrearty Shares Dance Career Lessons appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

Because City Ballet is one of my favorite companies, I’m very aware of their company dancers and Jenelle Manzi has been on my radar for a long time. She’s absolutely lovely to watch and now I’m happy to report that she’s a beautiful soul both inside and out.

Jenelle and I sat down to chat about her food blog but we also got into her journey in dance and how injury instilled a deep interest in “functional food”.

I hope Jenelle’s story with inspire you to get more curious about how the food you put in your body is impacting your body and it’s ability to heal and thrive. Everyone has different food sensitivities but with some investigative work you can discover what works best for you.

It’s so wonderful to see a dancer who has not only found a clear path for herself but who is committed to sharing her journey and recipes in order to inspire others. With recipes like “Maca Cacao Magic Cookies” and “Maca Mucuna Energy Bites”*, Jenelle’s creations take “indulgent, functional food” to a whole nother level.

*Maca is good for energy, stamina and endurance as well as balancing hormones*

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Depending on your current eating plan, cutting out dairy might feel impossible or maybe it would be easy. It’s helpful to assess our relationship with all food items. One of the biggest issues with dairy is how easy it is to over consume.

Lauren told me that the transition to Vegan eating was easier than she thought it would be. She’s going to share all the details on her transition to Vegan eating, what a typical day of food looks like for her and how Vegan eating might work for you! High level dancers, students, parents, teachers, and fans are all welcome! Purchase your ticket here!

You’ll also receive The Whole Dancer : “Going Vegan Getting Started Guide”!

The post Dairy : Should you eat/drink it? appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

Hi dancers! My name is Jackie Bologna and I am beyond excited to write a post for a platform as special as the Whole Dancer.  It is so vital to find communities that encourage you and share tips to make your training and career a positive experience and I truly believe that Jess is cultivating that with the Whole Dancer.

I am about to finish my third year in the Corps at New York City Ballet and I can finally say that I have found my own mental clarity and balance this year.  The jump from the school to company life was challenging in so many unexpected ways.

When I received my apprenticeship I was 17 years old and still living in the dorms at The School of American Ballet.  During my first couple of years in the company I had a lot of ups and downs.

Early in my first year in the corps I had to deal with my first serious injury.

Maybe the most challenging was figuring out how to navigate rest and cross training with our long and difficult hours, and probably the most important step for me was learning how to mentally adjust to the stress of what is expected of you in company life.

Up until this year I let the stress of trying to look perfect for the stage really negatively affect my life.  I was not in a good place mentally or physically and I found myself focusing on everything that was wrong in my life.  It was draining and exhausting in many ways and I constantly felt like a failure.

Although there were times when I wondered if I needed a drastic change in my life, like a break from dance, I never truly considered it a real option.

I started off the year reaching out to Jess and signing up for The Whole Dancer Program, which really set the ball rolling for some important changes that I didn’t even know I needed to make. After talking to Jess and doing a little bit of soul searching, something shifted by the time Nutcracker rolled around in the Fall.

I had also just spent a few weeks off at home with my family and my niece was born.  I started going to church again and rekindling my relationship with God.  I realized how lucky I was to have a healthy and loving family and that if nothing else I should be happy for that reason.

I started writing down things I was grateful for every morning when our season started again and I realized that it made a huge difference in how I viewed my day and myself.  In fact, I started to think less about myself, and more about what a gift it was to be in the room with the extremely talented artists I work with every day.

Taking the focus away from my internal struggles gave me the clarity I needed to remember how much I truly LOVE performing. 

It was also around Nutcracker that I started listening to the Bulletproof Podcast.  Obviously, even though I let go of the negativity I had towards my body, there is always room to improve.  This podcast was a new way of approaching nutrition that made complete sense to me and sparked a deep interest that I never knew I had.  I started thinking about my body in terms of health and prevention instead of just outward appearances.

It made me aware of the quality of my food and the more I learned, the more information I wanted.  It’s now a secret passion of mine and I recommend the book Deep Nutrition by Dr. Catherine Shanahan to anyone who will listen!

I’ve also taken allergy tests so I know what my body is sensitive to.  Obviously no one can eat perfectly all the time but I now try to stay away from anything that is processed or has too much sugar or vegetable oil.  Those are the three biggest things I’ve learned to avoid.

I’ve also become obsessed with my biweekly strength training sessions. 

When I look back over this past few years I realize how much I’ve learned and I feel ready to tackle whatever the rest of my dance career has to throw at me. Some of the things I’ve learned and would share with you if you’re just starting your dance career are to work hard and work quietly, know your understudy roles to the best of your ability, and really try your best to enjoy the little things when you can because it does go by way faster than you think it will.

When you first get into a company people will notice your work ethic and the way you present yourself. One way to really test that is by going out of your way to know the ballets you understudy. You never know when the ballet master will need you to step in and there is nothing worse than feeling unprepared. It can actually be extremely rewarding and thrilling to go on last minute, but only if you’re not scared to forget the steps!

Every time you go onstage it’s a chance to improve and have fun trying out new aspects of your artistry. It’s hard to remember that when you’re tired or hurting or just in a bad mood, but I sometimes take a minute in the wings to remind myself that it won’t last forever.

It truly is a fleeting career so I tell myself to make it good while it lasts, no matter my circumstances.

I realize how much I’ve learned and I feel ready to tackle whatever the rest of my dance career will throw at me.  In many ways I am very happy that I’ve had some good learning experiences and struggles early on in my time in the company.

I believe it’s the lessons I’ve learned after experiencing the hard times that have helped me find what it is to be a “Whole Dancer”.

This past spring and summer I’ve felt more joy during performances than any other time in my life.  It is a complete connection between mind, body, and soul that is hard to describe in words.  I am constantly aware of what a blessing it is to be a part of my dream company and get a chance to be included in some of the best ballets in the world.

For me, being a “Whole Dancer” means opening your eyes to how good you have it and trying your best to learn from your hardships.  It means focusing on the relationships and community around you, and supporting your friends because only you can understand what they’re going through.

It’s easy to let ballet become your “end all be all”, but in my experience you’ll love it a lot more if you let it be what it really is; an incredibly beautiful and disciplined art form. Ballet is a very prominent part of my life, and I believe finding joy in other areas outside of the studios is one of the best ways to enhance it and become a “Whole Dancer” and maybe even more importantly, a balanced person.

The post Being “Whole” in the Corps of a BIG company… appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

“Ballet is a very specific design of movement and physicality. You can master it for a certain amount of time to a certain degree. But then, it will end. You might not necessarily know when that’s going to happen.” ~Wendy Whelan

Wendy Whelan’s dancing is hauntingly beautiful. I had the privilege of experiencing it for the first time from the 2^nd row of the theatre at Lincoln Center when I was just 15.

The focus with which I watched her is something I still remember. It’s a focus that she gives back when you see her on stage. She kept me on the edge of my seat.

Watching Restless Creature brought me back to my feelings watching Wendy Whelan on stage. It also gave me a new insight into the devotion of a Principal dancer at a company like New York City Ballet.

One of the things I found most inspiring was Wendy’s journey back from major surgery. If you’ve ever been through the physical and emotional pain of injury – watching Wendy go through it will pick you up and motivate you to keep working.

And most dancers can relate to the emotion behind Wendy’s journey to the end of her career as a “ballerina”.

She brings fresh thinking however to what it means to be a “dancer”.

Maybe you won’t be a ballerina on pointe for any longer than Wendy (she really pushed the limits) but it doesn’t mean you have to stop being a dancer.

After watching Wendy in my teens, I got to meet her in person in my 20’s. I was dancing with the Louisville Ballet, in Wendy’s home state of Kentucky. I got to see her in the studio and once again see her on stage in Louisville. She came to the restaurant where I was a hostess and I got to serve her scallops and grits (she cleaned her plate).

The gorgeously humble and kind person you’ll see in this documentary is who Wendy truly is. I feel honored that I got to experience that first hand but also so glad dancer’s can take it in forever through this film.

Restless Creature is a much watch for all dancers. For those of you who are in the beginning stages of your career, it will give you some essential insights into the winding trajectory of a dance career. For those later in your dancing lives it will help you to see that there is more to come.

Watching life progress to her last performance with New York City Ballet you’ll feel all the passion, the pain, the pleasure of what a life in dance can be.

A life in dance really is a beautiful and admirable pursuit. Even if you don’t make it to Wendy Whelan status (and most won’t) the joy is so worth the pain.

Wherever you are in dance, take a tip from Wendy – let your dance career and your life be about exploring. The end of ballerina – ing is not an end but a progression.

The post The Grace and Pain of a Ballerina’s Career Transition appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

At the age of 10 I wrote a school paper about what I hoped my fifteen minutes of fame would entail. Having achieved this dream, I can now share with you what 10 years as a professional dancer has taught me. 

“If I had fifteen minutes of fame, I would be doing a beautiful ballet. It would be an extremely hard dance. I’d be doing some of the hardest steps in the world. I’d be doing pirouettes and turn around four or five times.”

Dance is hard! There are always steps that seem impossible and require endless hours of practice. They will rarely be perfect.

For a career with longevity, it is important to appreciate the imperfection; it allows room to grow and improve as you continue to challenge yourself.

A strong work ethic is important to overcome the technical requirements of dance, but getting caught up in the perfectness of the steps inhibits artistic interpretation and personal growth.

Relish the imperfections, they are what give you the ability to grow and learn things about yourself that you didn’t know before.

“I’d be in New York City on a beautiful stage with very comfortable seats in the audience. Everyone would be silent when I dance. No one would make a peep.”

Many dancers aspire to perform with a renowned company in a magnificent theater for a captivated audience. While this sounds ideal, it is  so important to find a company that is the right fit for your goals, and one where you can thrive.

Large companies often have the benefit of more performing opportunities and a massive repertory to pull from.  On the downside, more dancers results in increased competition for featured roles, and long performing seasons can cause extreme fatigue and even burnout.

Smaller companies are beneficial for being able to provide more personalized attention, a manageable workload, and a more intimate connection with the audience members

“I’d be in the spotlight the whole time.”

Performing principal roles is something almost all dancers aspire to. As a professional dancer, a lot of time is spent in the corps de ballet before moving up to more featured roles. Watching peers get better roles can be so frustrating.

Rather than allowing jealousy and exasperation to become bitterness and spite, it is important to find creative ways to stay inspired and continue working on yourself instead of focusing on other people.

Looking back, my times in the corps de ballet were some of my best; I was able to perform difficult dances but in the company of my friends and peers.

This group energy is something you can thrive on. The sense of community and togetherness that comes from dancing in unison with others can be even more rewarding than tackling a difficult solo alone.

“I will feel very nervous and excited.”

Having a lead role in a ballet is otherworldly; you alone are the focus of the entire audience. This can be both exhilarating and intimidating, and the need to live up to expectations can be overwhelming.

Nerves can be some of the hardest things to overcome, and an extreme self-­‐confidence must be cultivated to vanquish feelings of unworthiness.  

It can sometimes seem as though the world is against you; peers can be overcome with jealousy, directors can treat you as though you are not capable enough for the role, reviewers call out your incompetent technique or dislike your artistic interpretation of a role.

You must be your biggest supporter, and never stop believing in yourself. 

“I might feel a little happy after its over.”

Enjoy it!

This is the most important thing I have learned, and it is always enjoyable to watch someone who truly loves what they are doing. A dance career can be extremely fulfilling and satisfying despite the pitfalls that hinder some dancers along the way.

The post Inspiration from New York City Ballet Soloist Lauren King appeared first on The Whole Dancer.