Jun 8, 2021
This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Deanna Seay, ballet instructor at the School of the Richmond Ballet. Deanna was trained at the School of Richmond Ballet and the North Carolina School of the Arts. Upon graduation, Deanna joined the Miami City Ballet, where she enjoyed an incredible 21-year tenure and was promoted to Principal Dancer of the ballet in 1998. In 2010, Deanna began teaching full-time at the Cary Ballet Conservatory and, later, at the Boston Ballet School. Now, she has come full circle and is investing in students at the School of the Richmond Ballet, where her entire journey began.
Deanna’s career is unique in a variety of ways, and because of this, she can share a rich and unique perspective on life, both on stage and off stage. On the podcast, Deanna generously shares her wisdom along a variety of topics, including how dance has changed over the past few decades, why it’s important to stay “present” and enjoy every moment, how to build a marathon career at one single dance company, and so much more.
Moving Quotes:
"Savor every moment. Savor the good moments. Savor the bad moments. Because the day will come when you look back on it as a really meaningful part of your life."
"Everything has its time. You can't push any faster than what's going to happen. You can work hard. You can work smart... But you have to trust the people who are there — your director, your ballet mistress... That they will see you when you're ready and use you to the best of your ability... That's a hard lesson."
"Ballet is something elemental. It's like math. It's the underlying language of so many things."
"Dance will always evolve and reflect the current mood — something that's going on in our lives at any given moment. That's why I'm interested to see what comes out post-pandemic."
"When you're teaching while you're dancing, you're still focused on yourself. When you stop dancing, your focus changes."
"If you can speak the language
of dance clearly, then you will be able to communicate what you
want to say clearly. And you can reach the widest number of
audience members possible."
Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:
3:13: Deanna talks through her journey as a dancer and how she eventually ended up where her journey all started.
7:22: Deanna discusses how the School of the Richmond Ballet has changed over the years, both physically and in terms of curriculum.
11:08: Deanna explains how an academy adheres to the traditions of its parent dance company through the years, while still innovating.
13:41: Seay discusses how dance is core to all of us and reflects what’s going on at any given time — which is why she’s excited to see what comes out, post-pandemic.
17:49: Seay, who experienced a lengthy career at the Miami City Ballet, shares the key to sticking with one company for an extended period.
22:07: Seay discusses her transition from the stage to the classroom and speaks to the overlap when she was teaching while still dancing.
27:35: Deanna explains what’s next for her and for her students, post-pandemic.
30:37: As she looks back at her long and fruitful career, Deanna shares some veteran advice for anyone aspiring to or currently living in the dance industry.
Bullet List of Resources –
Deanna Seay
The Richmond Ballet