Prima Ballerina
Wednesday: January 28, 2015
I have been dancing since I was three years old, primarily ballet. I was born in Landstuhl, Germany and that is where I first began lessons, however once I was three and after my brother was born we moved to Zagora, Greece where I did not take any lessons for about two years until we moved back to Germany in Schweinfurt and I began dancing at an academy. My teacher was Russian but had lived in Germany for many years and spoke little to no English, and although nearly all Ballet terms are French, being a six year old who used to speak German but now spoke Greek and English, trying to decipher a Russian's French in German was well, rather complicated. However, I learned fast and even advanced to be with girls 3-4 years above me in grade school. I learned under this teacher until the age of about 12 and we moved to the States. I began lessons at a nearby Youth Center, but they lacked the technique and quality I had become accustomed to. Then we moved again and I attempted to dance through a studio in the town and again I was disappointed with the lack of professional teachings and lack of technique emphasis. I had come to realize that in the United States there is less of a focus on learning then there is competing or simply "getting the grade", if you will. Nevertheless, I lost my interest and passion for dance, but when I finally wanted to start back up again at an audition at the same studio, I ended up snapping my knee right before the audition, I tore my meniscus, was on crutches for a month, then had surgery, was on crutches for another three months, then had physical therapy for almost six months following. After that entire extravaganza, I participated in Watauga Arts Academy for theatre and voice, but ended up taking music lessons and to my enthusiasm, dance lessons as well. Since the camp was at the local university, all the faculty were from the university and my phenomenal ballet instructor, reignited my passion for dancing. After the academy ended, I signed up for that professor's ballet class through the Community School of the Arts which allowed non-students and even adults to take dance lessons. I have been dancing again since end of August and I have loved every single second of it. The strong learning environment makes me want to better myself and my technique as much as I possibly can and even prompted me to sign up for other classes this semester such as Jazz and Modern. I've been a dancer since I was three years old and I can not give up that passion again. <3
These pictures were taken yesterday before my ER visit and injury.
These pictures were taken yesterday before my ER visit and injury.
Katya Podkovyroff
"The September Journalist"