Of course, there were days where I felt like I couldn’t do it, or I needed a break, and so I needed to push through to develop my mental strength which I have learned is every bit as important as physical strength pushing through the hard moments builds character and artistry and I started to see and feel the hard work was paying off, and I started to have my choice of summer programs. So, for the next three years, I came to class everyday with an open mind and gave everything I had – I left everything on the floor every single day. Yes, I still had heaps of work to do, but I WANTED to do it, and I wanted to work. She confirmed what I had already secretly felt two years prior, that I was not working as hard as I should be – or I hard as I could – and that I would not grow to my full potential unless I made the decision to wholeheartedly commit and jump in headfirst.Īfter winter break, I came back a new dancer.
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My first midterm conference with the Dean was the single biggest turning point of my dance career, and it changed not only the way I work but the way I commit. I felt like I was by far the weakest, least experienced, and least mature one in the room. So, at 15, I switched dance studios back home after auditioning for and being accepted into The Colburn School. Watching the girls in the upper levels that summer really gave me something to strive for – the best of the best were right in front of me and it once again reignited my commitment. After attending that summer in Seattle, I realized not only that I was in competition with so many beautiful and unique dancers, but that I was not working nearly as hard as I could, or should – I realized the natural talent was only going to get me so far. I was only 14, but I really loved ballet and had worked so hard to get to where I was. Five weeks away from home during the summer felt scary to me. I started to slowly fall more in love with the hard parts of ballet, the long days, the soreness after class, and the competition in the studios.Īfter two more years of baseline hard work, I was accepted into Pacific Northwest Ballet’s five weeks summer intensive training program in Seattle, Washington. I felt a new sense of accomplishment, a feeling that I now believe every dancer craves. When I was 12 years old, I was accepted into the School of American Ballet’s two week summer intensive program. I loved to dance and had progressed over the years, so I started to work harder and harder with the hopes of getting into a program. Around the age of 11, my teachers encouraged me to audition for summer training programs because they felt I had natural ability and therefore, the potential to go far.
![pacific northwest ballet summer intensive pacific northwest ballet summer intensive](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7473/16163662729_54605c7f5d_b.jpg)
I liked the outfits and costumes that ballet dancers wore, and I liked the friends I got to meet in and out of class. I started dance lessons late, around nine years old, and was only doing classes occasionally for fun. Olivia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Jacobus.