This week’s profile is of Krishna, who in addition to being a dancer herself, taught a ballet basics class to visually impaired women in NYC at Visions at Selis Manor last summer and teaches ballet to her sports medicine clients.
This photo was taken by Chinese photojournalist Lijie Zhang as part of a photo essay about Krishna last summer.
When did you start doing ballet as an adult?
I had always been a ballet dancer, however while I was a college student, I developed a very aggressive form of glaucoma and lost a significant portion of my sight. I was too afraid to dance at all for years. When I finally got up the courage to begin dancing again, it took me over a year to find a teacher who felt comfortable even having a visually impaired dancer in the classroom. I have been studying seriously again for the past two years.
Did you ever take lessons as a kid?
Yes!!! I started ballet when I was three years old. I never wanted to take my ballet slippers off, and the local moms would tattle on me for running around in my technique shoes.
Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?
I have always been a very physical person, a person who uses her body, so during the time period when I was not dancing, I took up weightlifting (hey, it’s just up and down!) and loved it so much that I decided to become a sports medicine trainer. My course of study was so physically intense — just as much time pumping iron as time listening to lectures — that I became a lot more confident in my body’s abilities. I learned so much about anatomy and physical adaptation, and I really became convinced that I could try ballet again. Starting ballet again as a visually impaired person was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done.
Where do you take classes?
My home studio is Steps on Broadway, where I study mostly with Kathy Sullivan and Marguerite Wesley, but I also will take class at Ballet Arts and Broadway Dance Center if I have the free time.
What is your favorite part about ballet?
Ballet is the perfect combination of physical challenge, mental challenge, and artistry. I feel like it makes me smart!
What is your least favorite part?
My least favorite part of ballet is probably hurting myself, which as a dancer with a disability, probably happens to me more often than other dancers.
Who/What is your ballet inspiration?
My ballet inspiration is my sports medicine clients. I work with young people with disabilities and the patience that they have to exercise in order to learn new skills is such an inspiration to me. I can never get impatient with myself or give up if my young clients keep pressing on. I love my work!
What motivates you to keep dancing?
Ballet is a self-rewarding system. I don’t need anything external to motivate me at this point. However, I am aware that I am continually at risk for losing more sight, so I make sure that I study consistently to help me form strong muscle memory just in case this happens to me.
Do you take any other dance classes?
I have studied some Horton Method and some West African dance. I also love contact improv and did the Pilobolus workshop last summer in Connecticut (and might do it again this year!) I am also currently doing a ten week workshop with the choreographer Heidi Latsky, where I will be working on performance skills. Heidi Latsky is an amazing choreographer whose work I have been admiring for so long, and she works extensively with dancers with disabilities, which I think is amazing. My dream would be to dance with her company.
What are your hobbies outside of ballet?
I have a million hobbies. I study Feldenkrais Method with my teacher Lucia Campoy, which is a system of education that helps people cultivate their body awareness and beneficial movements. I play the piano (badly!) I love cuddling and playing with my pet rabbits, Lexy and Monk. I enjoy writing long works of fiction that nobody reads. I have also recently discovered (through my young clients!) this thing called Rainbow Loom and have basically become addicted to it. My husband and I love to read books about science together. I am always busy and never bored.
What advice would you like to give to those who want to start ballet or have just started?
Find a teacher who feels comfortable working with you. My teacher Kathy Sullivan had taught several visually impaired dancers before I came to her class, so she never makes me feel like I’m in the way, or as if I am not worth teaching. She knows how to explain things clearly to me, and I know that she wants me to do my best.
Anything else you’d like to add?
If you want to do pointe, I recommend wearing Correct Toes toe spacers between classes. They alleviate pressure points and help prevent bunions and soft corns. Right now I wear Freed Classic Pro (thank you for making my shoes, Mr. F!) and even though they are a great fit, I have to take good care of my feet!
__________________________________________________
