Dance Interview with a Professional Ballerina

INTERVIEW WITH BALLERINA – ADA GONZALEZ (FROM BUCHAREST NATIONAL OPERA)

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL BALLERINA?

I learned ballet from a very young age because of random circumstances (I’m the first performer in my family).

As I grew up, I realised I loved stage life or anything related to the entertainment business. I didn’t necessarily love ballet.

In Spain, we didn’t know that it was possible to have an actual career in dance, so I didn’t know I wanted to be a ballerina until I met my teacher, Roser Muñoz.

She taught me the reality of life as a dancer.

At the age of 12, I made a big choice, and every day, it became my dream more and more until I couldn’t see my life in any other way.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’RE FACING IN YOUR ROLE AS A BALLERINA?

I am on tour at the moment dancing Kitri in Don Quixote, and this role is very physically demanding and long (four acts!).

We are performing every day in a different city so there is a lot of travel time.

I’ve had to constantly adapt to different stages (smaller, bigger, bumpier, raked…) and manage my tiredness.

To avoid getting overwhelmed by these things, I try to focus on one thing at a time. This stops things from snowballing out of control.

I do my best to take care of my body after every show, including:

Although it’s challenging, I’m glad we are dancing Don Quixote.

Unlike Giselle or Swan Lake, Don Quixote is a very joyful and funny ballet. I think the others would be harder for our spirits when things are already tough.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE DANCE PERFORMANCE AND WHY?

I have many favourite performances and all for different reasons, but I will always remember my debut in Raymonda.

I had never been attached to the role and when I got cast, I had very few days of rehearsal (around 10 days).

Despite this, it felt fluid and easy to handle, so in a way I didn’t put too much pressure on myself.

The reaction of the company was honestly amazing. Everyone was super positive, and I didn’t expect it at all.

It was probably one of the shows where I wasn’t nervous and felt I could dance the difficult technique, and rich artistry, and feel very appreciated by my colleagues and teachers.

Now the problem is that I set the bar high (pardon the pun), and now every time I dance Raymonda, I feel I owe it to the role to achieve at least the same result and more, which comes with added pressure.

WHICH FICTIONAL CHARACTER DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH AS A BALLERINA?

I love them all.

I like to find things in me to identify with each of the roles I perform, but if I had to choose, I’d choose Juliet due to her vision of true love.

WHAT’S YOUR FUNNIEST MOMENT IN A BALLET AUDITION?

I wouldn’t really consider any situation ‘funny’ in auditions.

Rather, I’ve always found ballet auditions stressful and often disappointing. I do however remember one moment from my first ever ballet audition for the Staatsballett Berlin.

The director at the time, Vladimir Malakhov, was walking among us while we were at the barre. He stopped in front of me while the teacher was showing a fondu exercise.

He was blocking my view, so I couldn’t learn the combination, and all I could do was smile back at him (while he was observing my physique).

The music started and I didn’t know the exercise.

I was so embarrassed!

WHAT’S AN INVALUABLE LESSON YOU’VE LEARNT AS A PROFESSIONAL BALLERINA?

As a professional ballerina, it’s important to know yourself, your capabilities, and your limits.

It’s very scary to work on your defects, but with the right coach it’s important to try and push some self-boundaries.

At the same time, sometimes coaches can expect too much or suggest things that you’re just not capable of in the beginning.

I think it’s important to listen to your body, learn how you react and handle things on stage, and work on the rest little by little.

A steady development is often safer than trying to achieve everything in just one performance.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PERFORMANCE RITUALS OR SUPERSITIONS?

Strangely, I don’t do anything special.

I just like to make sure I have enough time to do my hair and makeup calmly.

Sometimes I play the music of whatever I will dance to go through some corrections or get in the mood, and other times I watch an episode of Friends just to relax and not overthink the pressure of performing.

BESIDES DANCING, WHAT ARE YOUR INTERESTS OR HOBBIES?

I have a little side business called “Tiaras by Ada“, and I make stage tiaras for professional ballerinas and students.

I’ll admit sometimes it takes too much of my time, but it is therapeutic. I just love being surrounded by the shiny beads and the pretty colours.

Aside from dancing, I enjoy a good series, the cinemas, and catching up with friends.

Five years ago, I also discovered Escape rooms, which I try to visit as many as I can, both in Bucharest and in Barcelona, when I return home.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?

Unfortunately with our dance careers, we never know where we’ll be or how long we’ll be able to perform.

What I want to believe is that I will still be connected to the stage or the studio in some way, maybe just not as a professional ballerina

I am too involved in the dance world to try anything else.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL DANCE ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

I would tell myself to not care so much about what other people think and do things for myself, rather than trying to please everybody.

There are many times in a dancer’s career where dancers have to be a bit selfish.

This is a lesson that has taken me many years to learn.

RAPID FIRE

Night in or Night out? Night in, 200%

Tea or Coffee? Coffee

Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty? Sleeping Beauty