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Writer's pictureCindy Case

The Dancer's Journey: Becoming a Professional Dancer

Victoria poses on stage in 5th position en pointe in a pale tutu and tiara.  Behind her, corps de ballet dancers lay in a semi-circle. Each is dressed in a green costume with a flower crown.
Photo by John Welch

Our most recent blog post explored a day in the life of a few of our dancers, but looking at a single day doesn't say much about the thousands of days that led our company members to their professional careers.


The path to becoming a professional varies greatly from one dancer to another, but it involves not only natural talent but also years of coordinated effort and study. Some dancers, such as company principal Victoria Siracusa, make the transition from student to professional by entering a trainee program associated with a professional company. Others, like company apprentice Lauren Anderson, balance a desire for an academic degree and a professional career by going to college for dance. No matter what path a dancer takes, their desired destination is the same. It's up to the individual dancer and their parents to decide how best to get there.


Did you know that Lauren was a student of the BTM Conservatory before she went to college? Read on to see how her journey brought her back home.


Lauren Anderson

Lauren smiles at the camera in her headshot photo. She has shoulder-length brown hair and is wearing a black leotard.
Photo by Clara Molina

I started my training at a small studio in my hometown, County Dance Conservatory. I actually hated ballet growing up and much preferred the other styles like jazz and tap. We did the same combinations at barre every class and I thought it was boring and wanted to quit ballet while still participating in my other classes. The studio owner wouldn’t allow this, saying that all the students must take ballet classes. At County Dance Conservatory we performed at many festivals and events like the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which I really enjoyed. 


Around age 9, I continued my training at Calvert Dance Conservatory where I participated in competitions and conventions as well as studied the Cecchetti method under Robin and Priscilla Mooradian. Around this time, my mom had taken me to see a performance of The Nutcracker and thought that I could do that too. With some research, she found The Ballet Theatre of Maryland, where I auditioned for their production of Coppélia. This was when I started to fall in love with ballet.


I continued to audition and perform in BTM’s productions including Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, and decided after a few years I wanted to join BTM's Conservatory. Then in 2019, I became a Trainee under the direction of Dianna Cuatto. Unfortunately, the pandemic happened and the world shut down so we never finished that season.


Luckily, I got all my college dance auditions done before the pandemic. I decided to continue my training at Point Park University. Knowing a lot of dancers that went to Point Park and looking into their prestigious arts program, I knew it would be a great school for me. As a dance major with a concentration in ballet, I took mostly ballet classes but also participated in many other styles like jazz, modern, and hip-hop. I also had the amazing opportunity to perform in many ballets including Serenade, Who Cares?, and Paquita as well as new contemporary ballet works.


Lauren poses in retire en pointe with her arms stretched out in a Cecchetti third arabesque. She has her hair in a bun and wears a black leotard and pink tights
Photo by Abby Barberio

These four years at university were formative years in my training. I learned a lot about myself as a dancer and a human which helped me cultivate my personal style and confidence. After graduating with my BFA, I decided to audition to be a part of BTM’s company because I loved the environment growing up and thought it would be nice to be around family. I am currently an apprentice with the Ballet Theatre of Maryland and am super excited to be performing with this company again!


Victoria Siracusa

Victoria smiles at the camera in her headshot photo. She has long brown hair and is wearing a black leotard.
Photo by Clara Molina

From a very young age, I knew I wanted to be a ballet dancer. My journey leading up to my professional years at BTM has not been the easiest, but the highs and lows have played a significant role in shaping my passion for ballet and the person I am today. I started dancing at the age of 3, and I bounced between recital schools before joining a ballet training school around the age of 9. Here I developed my strength for pointe and partnering. While at this school, I was pushed past my limits and constantly ridiculed, and it was not a healthy environment for someone my age. My teacher exhibited a toxic mentality, nearly brainwashing students with an unrealistic outlook on both life and ballet.


For a long time, I believed this was just how the dance world was and that it would always be difficult to endure. It wasn't until I was in high school that I broke free from this influence and I realized that there was so much more beyond these destructive ideas. I joined the Hartt School Community Division and trained under Samantha Dunster and Susannah Marchese. This positive environment was a breath of fresh air, and I am extremely fortunate for this part of my training. Otherwise, I may not have become a dancer at all. One of my fondest memories from my time at this school was performing the role of Wendy in Peter Pan, where I had the amazing opportunity to soar around the stage!


Three children fly in the air in a production of Peter Pan. In the middle, a young Vicky wears Wendy's nightgown. The boy on the left carries a teddy bear, and the boy on the right an umbrella.

After I graduated high school I knew that college wasn't the right path for me, but it was challenging to diverge from the traditional route that many of my peers were taking. I auditioned at various places and was thrilled to receive a full trainee scholarship to Charlottesville Ballet in Virginia, marking my first company experience. As a trainee, I was presented with numerous opportunities, including performing in The Nutcracker and Snow White.


I am grateful for the experiences with Charlottesville Ballet, but at 18, I felt something was missing in my dancing and I was eager for new challenges somewhere else. I moved to Sarasota to train with The Margaret Barbieri Conservatory in Sarasota during the summer of 2016. I was informed that the director did not want me to be part of the Conservatory because I didn't look like the other dancers in the Conservatory or the company. I understand that I don't fit the typical image of a ballerina, as ballet often emphasizes a tall, lean body type, while I was the complete opposite, shorter and with a more athletic build. This news crushed my dreams. I found myself in a difficult situation—having moved to Sarasota and now without a job lined up, I wasn’t sure what to do next.


Victoria poses in attitude derriere en pointe. She wears pink tights and a black and tan leotard, and is looking over her shoulder to smile at the camera.

One day, I attended a performance by the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School and realized what I was missing; artistry and showmanship. I decided to join the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School and trained under Ariel Serrano. As a 19-year-old dancing with younger students, it was intimidating but also very rewarding. The discipline required to dance at a Cuban school is indescribable, but the lessons learned were worth the effort. During this time, I was faced with a choice that no dancer wants to make: my parents gave me an ultimatum to either secure a paying job as a professional ballet dancer or quit ballet and go to college. 


I auditioned for many ballet companies up and down the East Coast, and though I faced numerous rejections, I was committed to keep trying. A former coworker suggested I audition for Ballet Theatre of Maryland, a company I hadn't heard of at the time. I auditioned in 2017 when Diana Cuatto was the Artistic Director. During the audition, she explained that there were open contracts available, and she could hire me as an Apprentice with the possibility of promoting me to Demi-Soloist later in the year after reevaluating my progress. I was thrilled to finally be wanted by a company, especially one that saw potential in me. When I received my contract, I was astonished to find that she had hired me directly as a Demi-Soloist. While I was incredibly grateful, I was also nervous, knowing I would be joining a new company as an inexperienced 20-year-old Demi-Soloist.


Vicky reaches one arm to the sky as she holds a 4th position en pointe en stage. She is wearing a tutu and a tiara.

Despite my nerves, Ballet Theatre of Maryland quickly became my home, and I began mastering the skills I had been taught from the Cuban school. Although I was ambitious, it took self-reflection and humility to recognize my shortcomings. Since I have been with the company, I have strived to become a better actress on stage while also consistently training outside the studio to be a stronger dancer. My career as a dancer has been filled with ups, downs, and turbulent times, but I am so grateful for the journey that led me to a company where I’ve flourished into the dancer and artist I always aspired to be.


Vicky peeks under her arm as she poses in a tendu front. She is dressed as Princess Aurora in a pink tutu and tall crown.
Photo by Joseph Mazzara
 

As Lauren and Vicky's stories both show, the road to becoming a professional ballet dancer may have many twists and turns. Especially for dancers who are the first in their family to pursue dance, there is a lot to learn! The success of a dancer's career may seem inevitable in retrospect, but that confidence is something the individual dancer might not feel until much later. Each one of us is grateful for the support and guidance we received from parents, teachers, and loved ones throughout our journey.


To take part in this journey with us, join us for Napoli! This sunny story ballet set in the city of Naples is full of humor, romance, and energetic dancing. Visit our Napoli blog post to learn more or purchase tickets today.


Two ballet dancers dressed in peasant costumes leap in unison in front of a green background. They are overlaid with the title "Napoli"

Photo by Joanne Marie Photography

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