“I started ballet at the age of 8. I knew I wanted to dance ballet professionally after I watched Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev dance in Don Quioxte. I have trained with Maple Conservatory in Irvine, Pittsburgh Ballet theater in their Graduate program, and Charlotte Ballet Academy. I am about to start my third year with Cleveland Ballet. My favorite activities outside of ballet include going on hikes and spending time with friends and family. My biggest advice for young dancers would be to have fun with ballet. This art form is so demanding and difficult, that beating yourself up every day only makes it harder. You have to love yourself every day and learn how to find joy even on the hardest days. I am a big advocate of “work hard, play hard”.

Thanks, Erin, for sharing these words of wisdom!  You’ll always have a home at Charlotte Ballet Academy.

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