Luca Anaya

What significance does being part of PNB during the 50th anniversary have to you?
To start my professional life as a dancer with a celebration this big including the line-up of ballets scheduled for this season, it’s safe to say it’s all I could ever dream of.  

What are you most looking forward to for the 50th Anniversary season?
What I look forward to the most are the opportunities in which I’ll be able to perform, especially alongside some of the most amazing artists I’m proud to call my colleagues.   

How does your identity and background inform who you are as an artist?
My identity as a Latin American man means everything to me. Often in my work, when certain roles allow for it, I try to find a way to add a little extra spice and character to the roles I’m dancing. My grandparents, amazingly enough, were also ballet dancers at the Ballet Nacional de Guatemala.  

What is the most rewarding part of being a dancer?
The most rewarding part, hands down, has to be the high you get when taking your bows; there’s no feeling like it.  After all of the hard work and weeks spent rehearsing, the bows make it all worth it every time.   

If you could replay one special performance, what would it be?
If I could replay one performance, it would have to be the first time I performed Twyla Tharp‘s Waiting at the Station last season. I felt so much joy after performing, but I felt even greater joy while performing onstage. Everything seemed to fall in place the right way, as if I wasn’t actually dancing, but I was transported to New Orleans.  

Dylan Calahan  

What are you most looking forward to for the 50th Anniversary season?
I am most looking forward to continuing to learn more about what it takes to be a professional dancer and more about myself as a dancer. This career is something that many people work towards, so I realize how fortunate I am to be able to be a part of a company as prestigious as PNB. The rep this season has a lot of variety in it and it will be challenging in new and different ways for me, so I look forward to finding out where those challenges lie. 

What is the best advice that you’ve ever received?
One piece of advice that has always stuck with me throughout my training came from a former teacher of mine at SAB, Peter Frame. He had lots of phrases that he repeated to his students during class, but one always stuck out: “Attention, intention, commitment, recommitment, choice.” This goes beyond the classroom in the sense that you can apply it anywhere in your life. It is something I repeated to myself often throughout my training and during the pandemic when I wasn’t sure where I would end up dancing. 

What inspires you outside of the studio?
Nature is my biggest inspiration outside of the studio and for the most part, in my life too. When I’m feeling confused, anxious, sad, or even mad, I always turn to nature. While there are no answers to some questions we may have, spending time in nature leaves me with a sense of balance that I haven’t found anywhere else. 

Rosalyn Hutsell  

What are you most looking forward to for the 50th Anniversary season?
The Seasons’ Canon by Crystal Pite. I love her work so much, and I can’t even describe how lucky I feel to be able to perform such a powerful, emotional, and astounding piece of art.  

What is the most rewarding part of being a dancer?
I would say the process of seeing things from the start of rehearsals to when they’re on stage. I know for me, sometimes it takes a couple rehearsals for new choreography to get into my body, and being able to have those moments when you’re working and things start to click into place is so incredible.  

If you were not a dancer, is there an alternate career path you would have chosen?
If you were to ask younger me that question, she probably would have said “a farmer” or “a veterinarian,” but present day me would probably have to go with a career in acting. I have always admired the idea of being able to put on a different character and really become a different person. That’s also something I really love about dance.  

Do you have a signature dish that you make at home? 
I would probably go with this salmon I like to make. I cook it with a Dijon mustard sauce, and I normally just go with a side of roasted veggies or even sometimes risotto. It’s pretty good, and I make sure I never overcook the salmon. 

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Don’t let your fear overtake your passions. When I was younger, I remember being fearless when it came to trying things in the studio. As I’ve gotten older though, I’ve let the fear of failing at things stop me from wanting to try them in the first place. It took time to even realize it was an issue, but now that I have, I feel more of that childlike fearlessness coming back. 

Larry Lancaster

What are you most looking forward to for the 50th Anniversary season?
What I’m most looking forward to for the 50th Anniversary season is the wealth of wisdom I’m going to gain after a year of being a professional dancer. I’m so excited to be a sponge by learning from my colleagues pertaining to technique, the rehearsal process, working smarter not harder, finding out what works best for me to perform successfully, networking, and learning how to more vividly evoke emotions in audience members. 

What is the most rewarding part of being a dancer? 
The most rewarding part about being a dancer is the indescribable sensation of performing on stage for a live audience. Also, being able to create a legacy for the next generation of young black dancers to be inspired by.  

Do you have talents or passions outside of dance?
My passions and talents outside of dance are music, fashion, and poetry. Despite dance being my main focus, as a person I see myself as an all-encompassing artist. I have been passionate about music all my life, and my main focuses before ballet were playing the piano and musical theater. Every time I hear a beautifully written song that is able to encapsulate mine or others’ emotions, along with ear catching melodies and unique production, it evokes and inspires the artist in me. Fashion is a lifestyle for me that is implemented into almost everything I do all the time. I love to express myself through what I wear because how I present myself externally is usually related to how I feel on the inside. Considering how I feel on the inside is ever-evolving, it is fun to explore all possibilities while getting dressed as the days go on. I’m also immensely intrigued and interested in the process of fashion design and the pioneers of fashion who have affected the way we dress without us even realizing it. Lastly, poetry is just a fun way for me to get my feelings out and play with words in various ways. 

Destiny Wimpye 

How does your identity and background inform who you are as an artist?
My identity and background have informed who I am as an artist tremendously. I feel very lucky to have had my mom as an amazing influence in my life. She has raised me to be strong, confident, and resilient and I think those are qualities that you need as a woman of color in and out of the ballet world. 

What is the most rewarding part of being a dancer?
For me, the most rewarding part of being a dancer is being able to finally get on stage and just dance. I enjoy the rehearsal process, but there’s no feeling like being able to share what you love with the audience.  

If you were not a dancer, is there an alternate career path you would have chosen?
If I was not a dancer, I think I would still want to be doing something that kept me busy and moving! I have always had an interest in running track. I also really enjoy acting, so that is something I might have chosen to pursue more full-time.  

What is the best advice that you’ve ever received?
Some of the best advice I’ve ever received is to live in the moment. Every single day you spend worrying about what’s going to happen next, you are missing out on all the beautiful things that are in front of you right now!  

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? 

I would tell my younger self to believe in herself more. To have more confidence in her choices and feelings. Everything will work out for you in the way that things are supposed to. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you are less-than.  

What significance does being part of PNB during the 50th anniversary have to you? 

Being part of PNB during this time is truly an extraordinary feeling for me. I’m very excited to be a part of this company during a time when change is happening. I feel very blessed to be in an environment that is doing what needs to be done to open doors and push boundaries for all artists.