Meet Graduate Juliana Anderson

Photo Credit: Jeri Tidwell

Juliana Anderson - Dancer with New England Ballet Theatre

MEET THE GRADUATE

Juliana Anderson - Apprentice with New England Ballet Theatre

Welcome to exploring the World of Ballet beyond the spotlight and meet the dancer. In this series, we delve into the fascinating lives of ballet dancers, going beyond their breathtaking performances on stage to uncover the personal stories that shape them. Each edition provides an intimate look at the unique hobbies and passions that fuel their creativity and resilience. Join us as we celebrate the extraordinary lives of these artists, and gain a deeper appreciation for the dedication and artistry that define the world of ballet.

Essential item in your dance bag?
My foam roller! My muscles get really tight and sore so my roller helps loosen them. Sometimes if there is a knot in my muscle it will start to cause pain in other areas of my body so it’s important to roll those areas out.

Movie you can re-watch till the end of time?
Anna Karenina is one of my all-time favorite movies. I love Kiera Knightley and I feel like she suits the role of Anna well. The movie is also beautiful aesthetically, and I really like how it was filmed.

Dancer who’s inspired you?
They are all talented and unique in their own ways and it’s always amazing to see how other dancers’ work. Sometimes this opens your mind to a new way of interpreting things.

Song/artist/playlist you’ve been playing on repeat?
ABBA, I love their upbeat and catchy songs. They are also fun to dance to!

Least favorite dance step?
Petite allegro. I am not much of a jumper and having to jump quickly is tricky for me.

How do you like to spend your time outside of dance?
I really enjoy reading and spending time with family.

Dream role?
Raymonda - I love the ballet in itself but especially Raymonda’s part. All of her variations are soft and fluid but are very challenging to dance. I love the music and character influence in the choreography.

Essential before-show ritual?
A good warm up! A simple barre and center help get me in the right mindset alongside preparing my body to perform. I need to feel ready to fully use my body so I don’t accidentally injure myself.

About Juliana Anderson
It has been a month since I joined New England Ballet Theatre as an apprentice. This month has been filled with so many wonderful moments and learning experiences. I am extremely grateful that ABA has taught me good habits and lessons that I can take with me into my professional career. Being a part of a professional company is a huge shift from being a student, there is a lot of personal responsibility and times when you have to make decisions for yourself. I am so grateful that ABA helps prepare us for that through the environment created there. At ABA we were expected to review choreography and corrections in our own time so we were fully prepared to practice it. We were also told to learn pieces that we were not a part of, just in case you needed to step in. I have found all of this is exactly the same in a company. Most of the time there are multiple dances being rehearsed and choreographed at once, so there isn’t always time to run everything. Some dances can only be run once a week so it is vital that you make the best use of that run.

There is also the responsibility to take care of your body properly. In a company class it is up to you how much you want to push yourself. As a student, it is expected that you push yourself every day and teachers will push you as well. Cross-training is another part of taking care of your body. Just taking ballet class isn’t enough to keep you in shape and strong, so doing some form of cross-training such as Pilates, helps supplement your dancing. This also helps prevent injuries. If you are weak, you are more likely to get injured. At ABA I learned the importance of cross-training and they have Pilates and cardio classes. There is also the responsibility to take care of your body properly. In a company class it is up to you how much you want to push yourself. As a student, it is expected that you push yourself every day and teachers will push you as well. Cross-training is another part of taking care of your body. Just taking ballet class isn’t enough to keep you in shape and strong, so doing some form of cross-training such as Pilates, helps supplement your dancing. This also helps prevent injuries. If you are weak, you are more likely to get injured. At ABA I learned the importance of cross-training and they have Pilates and cardio classes. I have really loved my time so far as a professional ballet dancer and I am very excited for what the rest of this year holds. I am also so grateful to my teachers at ABA for their advice and guidance that has always led me in the right direction.