Success Story: Claire at Ballet West
Dear dancers and parents,
This week, I am thrilled to share Claire Wilson's Success Story, which shows there is not one perfect way to navigate your journey as a dancer. I know you will learn from her experiences and hopefully expand your understanding of what a path to success can look like!
Hello, I am Claire Wilson and I am currently a company artist with Ballet West. Being part of a professional ballet company has always been my dream, but the path to achieving it wasn’t as straightforward as I envisioned. My journey has been unique, filled with ups and downs requiring self-awareness and a mindset focused on long-term success rather than short-term gratification.
I would love to share a bit of that journey with you, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to becoming a professional ballerina, and every journey, no matter how it looks, is something to be celebrated.
Elizabeth and I began working together in 2013 when I joined Ellison Ballet’s professional training program. Initially focusing on nutrition, our work together evolved into something more profound. At just 15 years old, having moved to NYC by myself and transitioning from ballet as an after-school activity to intense full-time training with online high school, Elizabeth’s coaching provided me with invaluable tools to navigate the high-stress and challenging environment I experienced. I credit her guidance for aiding me in achieving and maintaining the mental strength and perseverance to graduate from Ellison Ballet.
When it came time to audition for companies, Elizabeth guided me every step of the way. I had had the full audition experience sending a multitude of emails and applications, auditioning in companies across Europe, as well as the iconic large-scale NYC open auditions. It was from an open audition that I landed a second company contract at Colorado Ballet and I was ecstatic.
I moved to Denver in 2016 where I was catapulted into a professional career at Colorado Ballet dancing in the corp of every major production such as Swan Lake and Serenade and a few repetoires solely for the second company. I adored every moment on stage with the incredible repertoire, however, something was amiss.
In school I was used to training all day and only having two performances a year, with a few opportunities in ensemble pieces at YAGP. It was a shock to the system to switch gears into company life solely focused on performances. While the repertoire and performance experience was enriching, I felt a decline in my technique and motivation, prompting a search for a new environment.
I decided to take a visit to Ballet West, a company I had always been interested in but was not able to audition for the previous year, to see a friend of mine who danced in the company, watch the company perform, and attend their open audition in SLC.
The moment I saw the company perform, I knew I wanted to dance at Ballet West. I attended the open audition and after the class, Artistic Director Adam Sklute spoke with only two dancers and dismissed everyone else, myself included.
I could not let this opportunity pass without making the most of it, so after Adam spoke to the two girls and everyone filed out of the studio, I walked right up to Adam, held out my hand, and with a firm handshake said, “Hi, I am Claire Wilson, and I would love to dance here at Ballet West.”
To my surprise, as I have never been so bold, Adam’s response was great. He informed me that the only positions they had available were in the trainee program, the highest level in the academy, and the reason he did not ask to speak to me was that he assumed I would not forfeit a second company contract at Colorado Ballet for a trainee position at Ballet West.
I expressed that if trainee positions led into their second/main company I would love more information as this company was my goal. After further conversations and a few emails, Adam offered me the trainee position with a scholarship.
As confident as I was at that moment, I began to process my next moves and was struck with fear. Was I completely crazy to give up a perfectly fine, paid position at Colorado Ballet for an unpaid trainee position at Ballet West?
Elizabeth, myself, and my family worked through the pros and cons. What drew me to the trainee position was that it was the perfect hybrid of training and performance opportunities.
Ultimately, deciding to take the trainee position taught me one of my biggest life lessons. Short-term gratification should not be the goal; you must work towards long-term success which sometimes means taking a step back, taking the harder route in the moment, and swallowing your pride.
Now in retrospect, I can speak confidently on this, however at the time it was a scary choice to make as I could not predict what my future would hold. In the end though, as far as the butterfly effect goes, that one big choice was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.
At Ballet West, I spent two years as a trainee learning from global teachers, performing in incredible works such as Bruce Mark’s Lark Ascending and Balanchine’s Walpurgisnacht. I also learned the true art of corp de ballet and understudying work.
That understudy work was put to the test when I got notice only 2 hours before a performance that I would have to dance in Swan Lake as a corp swan with no walk-through or rehearsal before. I absolutely called Elizabeth at that time and we worked through the mindset I needed to approach the moment!!
The shows were an incredible success! Shortly after this, I was offered a second company contract in Ballet West II. In this position, I danced the lead roles in Ballet West’s family series productions such as Snow White and Cinderella. I also contributed to major ballets like Balanchine’s Rubies and Diamonds, as well as Giselle.
When it came to joining the main company I was honored to have skipped the ranks of apprentice and was offered a position as a full company artist. Not only that, but the director Adam told me how he had never forgotten how I walked up to him after that open audition and introduced myself.
He said he admired my confidence and that the positive impression was long-lasting. In that moment I felt I truly made it - that all of the hard work and my unique path had paid off to get me to that point.
Now in my third season as a corps artist, I must say the “oh my goodness I have really made it" moments just keep coming. Some of these moments for me include performing twice at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on tour with Ballet West, as well as this year debuting as the Snow Queen in the principal pas de deux of William Christensen’s The Nutcracker.
I love that my path led me to live in Salt Lake City, a place I call home, and share my life with my husband Shawn whom I would not have encountered if I did not come to Ballet West.
Whether it is ballet or life, Elizabeth has been my rock through every twist and turn. There are few better feelings than sharing in one’s success with the people who helped you get there, and Elizabeth is one of those people.
I have been using Claire's story of shaking Adam Sklute's hand after the audition for years! And my dancers always squirm with discomfort, but there you have it: it made a lasting impression and was one of many things that set Claire up for success at Ballet West. Seeing Claire thrive at Ballet West and find her way, not just onstage, but also in life, has been such a wonderful experience for me as a coach. Thank you, Claire, for sharing your story.
You can follow Claire on Instagram @wilsonhour and see more Success Stories on my Instagram: @easull.
If you've been inspired by her story, and want support in your work, please be in touch! I am coaching dancers at all levels of their training and into their careers, and I might be a good fit for you. Our first phone session is free of charge and can be scheduled here.
Be well,
Elizabeth
