Relive Ballet Journeys
Inaugural Event
A Weekend with Gavin Larsen
A virtual Event for Everyone who loves Ballet.
Join Ballet Journeys for a weekend of Literature & Ballet, filled with emotional intelligence, love, and respect for a globally beloved art form that touched millions of souls across cultures and time.
Whether you are an Aspiring, Professional, Retired Ballet Dancer, or Ballet Teacher, our weekend with Gavin Larsen brings "Being A Ballerina - The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life" to everyone who cherishes Ballet.
Impassioned Ballet Patrons too will have a chance to watch and even virtually meet a lineup of amazing professionals and students while getting an inside glimpse of what it means and what it takes to live the life of a Ballet Dancer - on and off the stage.
If you are the Parent of a Ballet Dancer in training, this event will be invaluable to you and your young artist(s). You are invited to dive deep into a sense of legacy and belonging to the art while looking to the future.
Join us for a unique and heartwarming virtual on-demand event.
Special Guests
Not to be missed!
Join Ms. Gavin Larsen as she engages in authentic and unrehearsed conversations with her special guests.
Tickets available.
"A Weekend with Gavin Larsen" is a virtual event streaming ON-DEMAND.
Now Open!
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! IMPORTANT ! iPAD users please use this link to access the event (you will still need your Ticket Access Code) : Watch on iPAD
A heartfelt THANK YOU to our Sponsors and Patrons for their kind support!
Ballet Journeys Presents:
A Weekend with Gavin LARSEN
Shaping the Future of Ballet
One Story at a Time.
Watch Gavin's unique interviews with guests and enjoy connecting with new and old ballet friends worldwide.
Please enjoy all of the conversations via On-Demand Streaming
We also have opened a Ballet-Journeys TELEGRAM group for all of us to stay in touch! Join in.
INCLUDED Replays & Recordings
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: “Being a Ballerina: The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life”
Catrina Choate-Heretoiu & Gavin Larsen
BOOK READING BY GAVIN LARSEN
Ms. Larsen will read a few of her favorite fragments from the book she authored.
BALLET JOURNEYS CONVERSATIONS:
"The True Journey is Enough"
Gavin Larsen and Special Guest Dena ABERGEL
“We’re reading about the world that we love.” Join Dena and Gavin as they dive into conversation about technique, classroom vs. performing appreciation, the fear of injuries, and how to handle the pressure of a dancing life. The value of a life in ballet lives in all the little details.
BALLET JOURNEYS CONVERSATIONS:
"You're not alone"
Book Talk with Young Professionals (School of American Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Ballet Conservatory of Asheville)
Priyana Acharya, Philip Duclos, Dominika Afanasenkov, Jonah Bell, Iris Schriener
Join Gavin as she embraces these talented young professionals and students as they grapple with their dreams, fear, and dedication. Reading Gavin's book impacted them greatly and encouraged them in unique perspectives. From transitioning into company life to realizing that we're all in this together, this conversation is fantastic and not to be missed! Join this talented group to find out more!!
BALLET JOURNEYS CONVERSATIONS:
"Becoming Your Own Teacher"
Gavin Larsen and Jasmine Parente, Student (The HARID Conservatory)
Jasmine Parente is proof of student agency in action! Join this conversation to find out how Jasmine sets daily goals so technique class doesn’t become a “burned out burden!”
BALLET JOURNEYS CONVERSATIONS:
"MEDIA - A Bridge between Generations"
Gavin Larsen and The QUINER SISTERS
Gavin Larsen meets the Six Quiner Sisters -a Youtube and Instagram Ballet beloved sensation.
These dancing sisters loved Gavin’s book and talk about the importance and power of good mentorship. Gavin compares their Vlog as an active way of recording their memoir just as she did by digging through her memories to write her own story.
BALLET JOURNEYS CONVERSATIONS:
"Your Career is a Marathon, not a Sprint | Dancer Empowerment - Breaking the Silence"
Gavin Larsen and Steven HOUSER (Grand Rapids Ballet)
“It brings me back into myself.” Join Steven and Gavin in this riveting conversation about the importance of dancer empowerment, promoting dancer agency and career direction, and questioning the role of an artistic director. Can a director be selfless in the shadow of ballet and act as a steward for the dancers, the company, and the art form? Find out more with Steven and Gavin!
BALLET JOURNEYS CONVERSATIONS:
"Army of Everyday Ballerinas"
Gavin Larsen and Cherilyn J. LEE (The Ballet Herald)
Join Cherilyn and Gavin as they reveal the importance of bringing connection and communication into ballet. They address the learned silence in ballet and the fear involved in speaking up as they each share personal experiences with being quiet for too long. Cherilyn dives in and asks Gavin, “What makes Gavin complete?” To find out, tune in to this engaging conversation!
BALLET JOURNEYS CONVERSATIONS:
"Know Why You Dance! What is the reason you were called to dance?"
Gavin Larsen and Josh Spell (Mental Health Therapist and Social Worker, Former PNB Company Dancer)
Gavin and Josh confront head on the psychological exhaustion that dancers often feel. They wade through the waters of fear over taking breaks or losing a sense of individuality. Both Gavin and Josh recognize the power of writing for therapeutic purposes and this conversation is a very special way to tune into the importance of mental health for dancers!
Photo Credits: Blaine Truitt Covert
Gavin Larsen
Gavin Larsen is a writer, teacher, and former professional ballet dancer. Born and raised in New York City, Gavin received her professional dance training at the School of American Ballet, the Pacific Northwest Ballet School and the New York School of Ballet.
Over the course of her 18-year professional career, she was a member of Pacific Northwest Ballet, Alberta Ballet, the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and Oregon Ballet Theatre, dancing prominent roles in ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Anthony Tudor, James Kudelka, Christopher Wheeldon and Paul Taylor, as well as the major classical works and numerous original contemporary pieces.
Being A Ballerina
In a series of 57 essay-like chapters of Being a Ballerina: The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life brings the reader inside the dancer’s world. Inspiring, revealing, and deeply relatable, these episodes, memories, and musings illustrate the realities of life as a dancer from earliest years through retirement from the stage.
As you journey with Gavin through the arc of her dancing life, you stand next to her at the barre, look out through her eyes as she rehearses an emotional pas de deux, listen to her inner dialogue as she performs an exhilarating ballet— and as an ankle tendon tears in the middle of company class. The reader learns how to sew a pointe shoe and do a partnered pirouette, and will also examine the forces that drive a person to dance and the sometimes tormented relationship between a dancer and her body, her craft, her job, and ultimately, herself.
From the unglamorous grunt work in the ballet trenches to a moment on stage that she thinks may be the apex of her life, Gavin’s story shows that the drama of ballet lies in the countless routine moments that are far from mundane.
This is the true story of all dancers, artists, athletes or any of those whose passion has compelled them forward through seemingly insurmountable challenges towards an elusive, amorphous goal.
READ THE BOOK before the "Weekend with Gavin Larsen" Event.
In a series of 57 essay-like chapters, Being a Ballerina: The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life brings the reader inside the dancer’s world.
“A luminous new memoir. . . . Poignant . . . Both a personal account and a universal take on the life of a professional ballet dancer.”
—New York Times
“There is power and perfection in this captivating memoir—the power of personal experience and the perfection of writing that carefully captures the life of a dancer. . . . Dancing ‘full out’ means going all out during practice rather than saving energy for the performance. In this memoir Larsen is writing full out, and we are the lucky audience of her performance. Balletomanes, dance students, and aspiring dancers will applaud this absorbing account.”
—Library Journal, Starred Review
“
“Everyone should dance. Everyone should let their soul sing.”
“Dance is impermanent, which I find to be a tragic blessing.”
“Putting one’s body up for scrutiny every day requires the toughest kind of inner strength.
Performing - with honesty, truth, and selflessness - means relying on that core, that foundational support, to shed ego. It requires knowing that what you dance will be loved by some and not by others. That it’s not about you. Remembering that the animal instinct to dance, the fire inside, never dies.”
Being a Ballerina
The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life
Illustrations by Wayne Rivard
Illustration by Wayne Rivard
Being A Ballerina
The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life
Experience what it means to live with dedication and join Gavin as she sits with chosen professionals to talk about her book, their reactions to her story, and the life lessons that are embedded in the process of Being A Ballerina.
Ms. Larsen will host a relaxed live get-together where you can ask questions, interact with others, and have a fun time with new and old friends.
Gavin
Larsen
Gavin illuminates her timeless story and the process of living a dancer’s life. Instead of focusing on the dark underbelly of the ballet world, she stays true to the path of being where the details are deliberate, the attention is clear, and the feeling is united in connection with passion for one's art.
If you haven't read the book, or wish to purchase it as a Gift for a friend or loved one, you can use the code XM21 for a discount + FREE Shipping directly from the University Press of Florida. Valid through December 16th 2021!
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“ What is an everyday Ballerina? ” A Weekend with Gavin Larsen.
Ballet Journeys provides learning and inspiration through conversation, interviews, and physical workshops from some of the world’s leading ballet voices. It is a place to refresh ideas, renew your body, and synthesize future possibilities.
Catrina Choate-Heretoiu
Host
Gavin Larsen
Writer, teacher, and former professional ballet dancer.
Author, "Being A Ballerina"
PhotoCredit: Blaine Truitt Covert
Gavin Larsen is a writer, teacher, and former professional ballet dancer.
Born and raised in New York City, Gavin received her professional dance training at the School of American Ballet, the Pacific Northwest Ballet School and the New York School of Ballet.
Over the course of her 18-year professional career, she was a member of Pacific Northwest Ballet, Alberta Ballet, the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and Oregon Ballet Theatre, dancing prominent roles in ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Anthony Tudor, James Kudelka, Christopher Wheeldon and Paul Taylor, as well as the major classical works and numerous original contemporary pieces.
“We all deserve to feel our spirits expanding past the boundaries of our skin, to be powerful without needing to hold power over anyone else.”
“Dancing takes the most beautiful, extraordinary, and universal instrument - the human body - to its fullest, highest, most complete capacity.”
“Physical body, intellectual mind, emotional spirit, interpretive artistry all unite in even the simplest classroom exercise.”
“Everyone should dance.
Everyone should let their soul sing.”
Gavin's Special Guest
Dena Abergel
NYCB Children's Repertory Director
SAB Ballet Faculty
Dena Abergel began taking ballet classes at the age of six with Dorit Koppel at Progressive Dance Studio in Englewood, New Jersey. When she was twelve, she enrolled as a full-time student at the School of American Ballet, where she continued her training until she joined New York City Ballet at the age of eighteen.
Ms. Abergel pursued college studies while a member of New York City Ballet and graduated summa cum laude in 2001 with a B.A. in English from Fordham University.
During her eighteen years as a member of New York City Ballet, Ms. Abergel performed in numerous works by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. She originated roles in Robbins’s West Side Story Suite; in Peter Martins’s Chichester Psalms, Harmonielehre, Symphonic Dances, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Romeo+Juliet; and in Christopher Wheeldon’s Carnival of the Animals, Variations Serieuses, and An American in Paris.
Ms. Abergel performed featured and soloist roles in a number of works by George Balanchine, including The Nutcracker®, Firebird, Coppélia, Swan Lake, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet.
Upon retiring from performing in 2009, Ms. Abergel joined SAB’s faculty and became NYCB’s Assistant Children’s Repertory Directory. She was named Children’s Repertory Director at New York City Ballet in the fall of 2012.
Upcoming:
Virtual Nutcracker Workshops
Belvoir Ballet Summer 2022
Gavin's Special Guest
Cherilyn J. Lee
Editor-In-Chief & Founder
The Ballet Herald
A former Dancer with Hartford Ballet and Carolina Ballet, Cherilyn's lifelong passion for ballet has opened the door to the next chapter of her journey. Her strong foundation includes training at the School of American Ballet, being a featured dancer with Hartford Ballet and Carolina Ballet, and being co-director/owner of City Ballet Raleigh. She was granted the Affiliate Teacher Award after successfully completing the ABT National Training Curriculum®.
After her performing career, Cherilyn graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Spanish Language & Literature and a minor in Business Administration.
A professional career in the industry along with extensive global travel provide her with a unique set of experiences to draw upon as an audience member. Cherilyn is excited to be sharing her insight about ballet around the world.
Gavin's Special Guest
Steven Houser
Grand Rapids Ballet
PhotoCredit: Isaac Aoki
Steven began his ballet training at the age of six in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. He has studied at Metro Dancers, Portland Community Ballet, Arts and Communication Magnet Academy, and the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre. He also spent summers studying on scholarship at San Francisco Ballet School, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre.
Steven joined Oregon Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in 2004, was made a company member in 2005, and was promoted to soloist in 2007. He joined the Grand Rapids Ballet in 2011, and became an assistant ballet master with the company in 2017, staging and rehearsing works by Penny Saunders, Dani Rowe, Brian Enos, Olivier Wevers, and Christopher Stowell.
Steven has performed nationally and internationally in Japan, Korea, Juneau and Anchorage, Alaska, and at the Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
Gavin's Special Guests
The Quiner Sisters
"6 Sisters Who Love To Dance"
We are 6 sisters that love to dance and display our art form! We enjoy choreographing our own solos and performing ones by top choreographers.
We have been featured in Dance Spirit magazine and Inside Dance magazine. Michelle and Rachel have danced as Clara for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. We have won over 10 national dance titles! We have won scholarships at various dance workshops including: NYCDA, Nuvo, Jump, 24 Seven, Radix, Adrenaline, West Coast Dance Explosion, Revive, and ASH. We have been featured on the news and have been to YAGP Finals. Our solos have placed first overall at many dance competitions.
Gavin's Special Guests
Young Professionals
Meet young professionals and students as they virtually chat during a Book Talk with Ms. Gavin Larsen.
Philip Duclos
School of American Ballet
Dominika Afanasenkov
School of American Ballet
Priyana Acharya - "Company Artist"
Oregon Ballet Theater
Jonah Bell
Ballet Conservatory of Asheville
Iris Schriener
Ballet Conservatory of Asheville
Gavin's Special Guest
Priyana Acharya
Company Artist
Oregon Ballet Theater
Born in Illinois, Priyana Acharya began her training at her hometown studio and continued training at the Joffrey Academy in 2016. For the 2018-2019 season, Acharya joined the Joffrey Ballet as a Trainee and performed in world premiere works by Edgar Zendejas, Tommie-Waheed Evans, as well as a work by Lar Lubovitch.
She has attended summer programs with The Royal Ballet School, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, and Joffrey Academy of Dance, among others. After joining Kansas City Ballet’s Second Company from 2019-2021, she performed numerous roles in Devon Carney’s The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.
Most recently, Acharya was invited to be a part of the 2021 Onsite Contemporary Ballet Performance Ensemble at Jacob’s Pillow. She performed in works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Amy Seiwert.
She joined Oregon Ballet Theatre as a Company Artist for the 2021-22 season and has most recently performed in The Four Temperaments by George Balanchine, as well as Jennifer Archibald’s Sculpted Clouds.
Gavin's Special Guest
Jasmine Parente
STUDENT
The HARID Conservatory
I grew up and received most of my dance training in the mountains of Asheville NC, and just recently transitioned to HARID. I enjoy performing and emphasizing artistry when I dance and working with the music to create authentic expression has been my newest ballet goal.
Gavin's Special Guest
Josh Spell
Mental Health Therapist & Social Worker
Former PNB Company Dancer
My wish is to provide a warm and welcoming space that allows clients to be vulnerable and take emotional risks in the service of self-discovery and healing. At times, we may lose our ability to trust our intuition. We may feel like imposters in our relationships, jobs or within ourselves.
Flexible Mind Counseling provides a bridge back to understanding your authentic needs.
We will develop an understanding of the structures at play in our daily life that construct and uphold self-doubt and lay the framework to trust our intuition.
Executive Producer
Catrina Choate-Heretoiu
Ballet-Journeys Founder
Ballet Educator, Feldenkrais® Practitioner
Catrina is a somatic practitioner and dance educator who works with recovery and learning through movement. She is the co-founder of Soma Studies which includes online/live somatic classes and is the creator of Ballet Journeys.
While young, she trained at the prestigious School of American Ballet and then continued to dance professionally with Miami City Ballet, Carolina Ballet, and Miami Contemporary Dance Company. Catrina thrived in her performance career but she also understood movement from a healing perspective and chose to nurture an academic and somatic path.
Catrina has a B.A. Degree in English Literature from Florida International University, an MFA Degree in Dance from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, and is certified in The Feldenkrais® Method of Somatic Education. She has taught all levels of ballet and Feldenkrais® at many conservatories throughout the U.S. and Europe such as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Dance Department, Northern California Dance Conservatory, and Sacramento Ballet.
Throughout Catrina’s life, movement has been the trusted language of communication and she understands that a somatic conversation through movement can reveal unexpected experiences that can promote learning, growth, relief, and ultimately connection.
“Movement is everything and
everything is movement.”
