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Adrienne’s growth through support and hard work…

When I was little, I loved Hello Kitty, and my favorite Hello Kitty toy that I had was a ballerina. On my third birthday, my mom enrolled me in dance and I thanked her over and over again. As I got older, I realized that I needed to work hard in order to reach my full potential. It wasn’t until later that I started focusing my attention on ballet when I started going to North Ballet Academy.

Currently, my focus  is recovery from a foot injury and preparation for a show on Saturday!

My teachers are some of my biggest motivators. They inspire me to dance by encouraging and giving me ways I can improve myself. I also love to watch professional dancers when I lack motivation. Outside of dance, people who work hard to help others inspire me to be selfless as well.

A major turning point in my dance career was when I was first chosen to be Sugar Plum in our annual performance of the Nutcracker. This was only last year, but I really had to step it up in order to do such a challenging role.

There are often obstacles on a dancer’s path. A major obstacle that I’ve had to overcome is the thought of how easy it would be to just give up. I just keep reminding myself how far I’ve come, and how far I will go.

My eating routine includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a (pretty big) snack half an hour before ballet.  I eat a LOT of protein to sustain me and fuel my muscles. I already eat a lot of fruit, but I’m trying to incorporate lots of vegetables into my diet as well.

I have to eat every three hours due to a rare condition called non-diabetic hypoglycemia. My body metabolizes sugars very quickly and I have to keep up by eating frequently. Otherwise I feel super tired, nauseous, and shaky.

I think healthy dancing means knowing your limits. Everyone’s body is different and needs different nutrition. You also have to know that it’s okay to take a break and not push yourself too far, even though your brain will tell you that you’re being lazy. Sometimes rest truly is the best option to allow your body to heal.

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I do Pilates twice a week to learn how to use my core in ballet and practice correct hip alignment. It has helped me turn off my hip flexors and use the correct muscles when dancing.

When I have time, I like to meditate or practice deep breathing. It helps me calm down and take a break from my busy life. Through meditation, I am sometimes able to put my worries in perspective.

I have quite a busy life for someone my age, and finding balance has been one of the most difficult things for me. With all the things I have going on, sometimes I have to cut something out. Although it’s very frustrating and I just want to do it all, I have to tell myself that there are just not enough hours in the day.

My main goal in dance is to reach my full potential, and at that point I will see where it takes me. I’m still deciding if I want to pursue a career as a professional dancer or not. Outside of dance, I would really like to go to medical school and become a pediatric psychiatrist.

I would say that my mentor is Breanna Dvorak. From the time I joined North Ballet she has pushed me, encouraged me, and given me so many opportunities to dance in front of an audience. She has supported me every step of the way… I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without her.

If you’re a fellow aspiring dancer, I’d encourage you to find passion and self-love in what you do. Don’t compare yourself with others—go to technique class to improve yourself and try not to look at what others have that you don’t. Everybody is at a different level.

Although I may feel disappointed in myself for not being able to do certain things, I always try to find a way that I can slowly work toward doing that thing. Being able to do a triple pirouette en pointe or getting your leg behind your head takes time. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Whenever I’m feeling ashamed with where I am at a specific point in time, I think about things I’ve achieved through hard work, and how I’ll get there eventually.

Adrienne’s growth through support and hard work.

Jess Spinner

Jess is a former professional ballet dancer turned Holistic Health, Nutrition, and Lifestyle Coach for high level dancers. She founded The Whole Dancer in 2015 after identifying a greater need for balance, wellness and support in the dance world. Since The Whole Dancer was founded, Jess has worked with 100's of dancers worldwide at top companies and schools. She has been featured in or written for Dance Magazine, Dance Teacher Magazine, Pointe Magazine, and Dance Spirit Magazine.

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