Growing Dance, Growing Community

This summer was so immersive and educational. The main message from this summer is to keep growing, and keep doing more.

My Time in France

My experience in France was more than a trip — it was a shift in how I see art, history, and myself. Paris showed me beauty that can’t be captured in photos, a city that speaks through architecture and detail. In the countryside, I slowed down, rooted in spaces where history and sustainability live side by side.

Through the artistic residency and quiet village streets, I learned to sit with creative questions instead of rushing through them — to begin without knowing all the answers. The resilience of abbeys, châteaux, and towns reminded me of dance’s own foundation: discipline, elegance, and endurance beyond passing trends.

But perhaps most importantly, France deepened my awareness of connection — between people, between body and movement, between the past and what we create now. It gave me time to breathe, to reflect, and to rediscover what it means to create with intention.

This trip left me with important revelations: I do have a place in the world of ballet. My appreciation for the art form, and the light that shines through me, are enough to secure that place. I’ve learned the importance of talking openly about artistic vision—because dialogue shapes creation, and insight from others sharpens expression. And above all, I’ve been reminded that dance truly livens our lives. Even the smallest performance has the power to bring people together, to celebrate life, connection, and art—and that is always worth celebrating.

Next steps- continue creating. I already feel supported as an artist, but my goal is not to create and perform for myself. I want my students and my community to share the passion of creating and participating in dance. It’s not enough to perform in 2 ballets a year. That’s no way to truly celebrate what we spend several hours each day working on!

Why is it important to have professional dance in our community?

Professional dance matters in our community. After attending a residency in France, setting work in Iowa, and performing in new pieces, I’ve learned that we have so much more capacity for movement than we realize. We need more workshops, more small, intimate performances, and more outreach. Too often, when I tell people I’m a professional dancer, I hear: “There’s dance in Bend? Where do you perform?” That tells me we need more visibility, more celebration, and more opportunities for people to witness and join in.

Because dance belongs to all of us. And our community deserves to know that professional dance is here, alive, and ready to grow.