Scott is the priest in this photo from a Dracula performance a few years ago.
This week’s profile is of Scott, who runs a blog called In The Wings as well as LoveBallet89. Make sure you check it out and look for guest posts from Scott on Adult Ballerina Project soon!
Adult Ballerina Project: When did you start doing ballet as an adult?
Scott: Hard to believe six years ago at the very ancient age of 39.
ABP: Did you ever take lessons as a kid?
S: I took lessons as a teenager and danced in college. Gave it up partially because I’d grown up, and part because of what people thought of me as a guy dancing. Regretted quitting.
ABP: Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?
S: Partly because I wanted to live a healthier lifestyle. My younger sister died of cancer. My father started having heart problems when he was in his younger 40s. I was standing in the lobby of the studio where my daughter took classes and realized the fever to dance never really went away.
ABP: Where do you take classes?
S: Huntsville Ballet School. It is a pre-pro school with about 300 students that takes teaching adults seriously. It is my home away from home, my place of refuge in stressful times.
ABP: What is your favorite part about ballet?
S: Seriously, everything. But if I had to nail it down, grande allegro is my favorite part of class. Doing tour jetes make me feel like flying. I love it all. It’s a challenge, it’s battle for perfection. Finally nailing a combination I’ve struggled with, there’s nothing like in in the world.
ABP: What is your least favorite part?
S: The fact that I only get to dance ballet three days a week, which is down from five the last couple of years. And the challenge of buying dancewear when you are a male dancer.
ABP: Who/What is your ballet inspiration?
S: My teachers. My original teacher, a woman named Sherrie Seibert, instilled a love in me for ballet that will never go away. Our artistic director and ballet mistress and other teachers at Huntsville Ballet because they challenge me everyday in class. They’ve danced with some of the top companies in the country like New York City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet and we get to learn from their knowledge. I have a teacher who danced under Balanchine, how cool is that? My fellow adults also inspire me. There were the ones who encouraged me to stick with it when I returned.
ABP: What motivates you to keep dancing?
S: I love it. I cannot fathom a life where I’m not taking a ballet class. I want to be the best dancer I can be. There are more hills to climb, more pirouettes to do, more combinations to perfect.
ABP: Do you take any other dance classes?
S: I take a hip-hop class with company kids. I also take an adult jazz class at a smaller studio in the city I live in. And I occasionally drop in on a modern class. But ballet is my first love when it comes to dancing.
ABP: What are your hobbies outside of ballet?
S: I like sports. I also write. I’m now back in school and have fallen back in love with painting and drawing.
ABP: What advice would you like to give to those who want to start ballet or have just started?
S: Be patient. Ballet is a marathon, not a sprint. Some steps, some combinations take take years to perfect. Don’t compare yourselves to others. We all learn at our own pace. Just go in and have fun and enjoy the experience.
ABP: Anything else you’d like to add?
S: Don’t be afraid to try ballet because of your age. And if you’re a guy, don’t let what other people think rob you of the joy you get from dancing.
Other great profiles to check out:
- Ballerina Profiles: Ashley of Ballet Shoes and Mickey Ears (adultballerinaproject.com)
- Ballerina Profiles: David Wilson of Dave Tries Ballet (adultballerinaproject.com)
- Ballerina Profile: Chris from Leotards and the Buns in Them (adultballerinaproject.com)
- Ballerina Profiles: Isabelle Roybal of thespicymermaid.com (adultballerinaproject.com)
