Courtney Catalana and Halliet Slack spend most of their time at the barre—the ballet barre, that is. Both are professional ballerinas at Dayton Ballet, as well as students at Sinclair Community College who give credit to their ballet training for being driven to accomplish anything that is pirouetted their way.
“The mental work is probably the most challenging. It takes a lot of thought and mental preparation to do what we do,” Catalana said. “You have to remember a lot of choreography and you have to think quickly on your feet all the time.”
Not only is there a significant amount of stress put on dancers bodies, but it is also a test of how strong they are mentally and emotionally, according to Catalana. It’s not just about strength and motivation—it’s also about grace.
“Life as a dancer is very demanding physically, mentally and emotionally; it can also be stressful and competitive,” Slack said. “I would say that it is as demanding as it appears to outsiders.”
Pursuing a career as a professional dancer is fast paced and short, according to Slack. Many dancers don’t dance past a ten-year career because of how demanding it is on the body; however, Slack is one who is going against the odds. She has been dancing professionally for 18 years.
The majority of professional dancers start dancing at a young age. Catalana said she started at the age of three, but didn’t get serious about ballet until the age of 10, and then began her professional career at 18.
“When I was about 14, I realized that I wanted to dance professionally. Before that, I didn’t think I would be able to do it because of how competitive it is to get jobs, but around 14 my drive became so intense that I told myself that I would do whatever it took to try to dance professionally,” Catalana said.
Dance navigated Slack’s decision about how she spent her time and who her friends were, which resulted in her attending an arts boarding high school to further her dance education and technique.
“I realized this is what I am going to do with my life,” Slack said.
A normal day for Catalana and Slack typically starts at 8:30 a.m. with an hour and a half ballet class to focus on technique, while warming up for the rest of the day. Following the ballet class is a five to 6 hour rehearsal schedule for upcoming shows, which are normally performed at The Victoria Theater or The Schuster Center.
“A normal day is waking up three hours before class begins to eat breakfast, ice feet, heat my back, and then show up to the studio to warm-up before class,” Slack said. “After the work is done at the studio, I head to the gym and then home to eat, ice injuries, and study or do homework.”
Catalana and Slack agree that it’s becoming more common to go to college because of the wide opportunities it offers, but it’s still considered to be non-traditional for dancers, especially professional dancers.
“I think it’s important to start focusing on a career when you realize how short the career of a professional dancer is—also, injuries happen and you never know what circumstances can take you out of the field,” Catalana said.
Slack, a Health and Science major, who hopes to pursue a physical therapist assistant degree, and Catalana, Liberal Arts major, both agree that earning a degree can open the door to other opportunities.
“For me, working professionally right out of high school has helped me to learn better communication skills and to make better choices,” Slack said. “Hopefully, [getting my degree] will help me to retire from the world of ballet and transition into the next stage of my life.”
Working toward a degree and dancing full-time requires a lot of self-discipline because of the requirement of mental work, according to Catalana. However, she finds enjoyment in the challenges she faces. She said she thinks many people find dance to be glamorous because of the tutus and tiaras, but it’s much more than that—it’s truly blood, sweat and tears, along with pushing yourself beyond the limits.
“You get home at night or on your day off and all you want to do is relax. But it is nice to work on something else and learn about new things,” Catalana said. “I think going to school at this time of being a dancer only helps to make you more well rounded as an artist and person. “
Aside from the obstacles, Catalana said her favorite part about dancing is telling a story through movement and music—not words.
“There is so much chatter in life and dancing is a way to express without words,” Catalana said.
Throughout all of the mental, emotional and physical obstacles that not only dance throws at their way, but also life, Slack and Catalana still find the beauty in ballet. The integrity and the challenge of the ballet world have helped both become better people in general, while learning how to face their fears, as well as truly expressing themselves.
“The most rewarding part about dancing is that I am able to do it as a career,” Slack said. “It is an art form that keeps you honest, makes you face challenges with yourself, and can help you escape, grieve or rejoice.”
Gabrielle Sharp
Executive Editor