Next Chapters: Atlanta Ballet’s John Welker on Retiring from a Professional Dance Career

January 25, 2017 by Rachel Hellwig

John Welker in "Seven Sonatas." Photo by Charlie McCullers. Courtesy of Atlanta Ballet. — John Welker in “Seven Sonatas.” Photo by Charlie McCullers. Courtesy of Atlanta Ballet.

“No matter how a dancer feels about their retirement and what they felt they did or did not accomplish, it is important to know you do not have to retire from dance altogether.” – John Welker

John Welker just completed a 22-year career with Atlanta Ballet, finishing with performances of John McFall’s Nutcracker in December 2016. Retirement can be a challenging time for a dancer and Welker offers thoughts and advice for those who are going through the process, considering it, or just want a window into this period of a dancer’s life…

How did you come to realize it was the right time to retire? What advice would you give to dancers who are trying to determine if this is the right decision for them?

For me personally, I could feel the time to retire from dancing was coming for several years – so it wasn’t some singular “ah ha” moment, it was a gradual process. While my body was holding up without injury and I felt great physically, I also knew my interests were increasingly outside the dancing studio. So, when it came to a point when I could feel a sense of ease when thinking about a life without the daily stresses of dancing, I knew it was time to retire.

Everyone is different, so there is no common template or universal path to retirement, but I do believe in trusting one’s own intuition as to what is best for your career and life. Overall, I would say trust your heart first, then act with your mind.

What’s next for you? How long have you been planning your second career? How soon do you think dancers should begin planning their second career?

I’ve been working at a dance degree at Kennesaw State University since 2009, so I’m looking forward to completing my undergraduate education in May 2017. I also will be applying for graduate school in Business and hope to begin working towards an MBA as soon as September 2017.

No time is too early to begin thinking about a second career, especially for professional dancers. Although dancers shouldn’t add more stress to themselves when they are dancing (there’s enough hardship to go around), it’s best to start at least exploring second career options incrementally when you have the luxury of time ahead of you.

Tara Lee and John Welker in "Four Seasons." Photo by Kim Kenney. Courtesy of Atlanta Ballet. — Tara Lee and John Welker in “The Four Seasons.” Photo by Kim Kenney. Courtesy of Atlanta Ballet.

What aspects of retirement have been harder or easier than you initially expected?

It is the ease of a structured daily schedule that you become so accustomed to when dancing. To not have that can be both liberating and terrifying. Also, we as dancers take for granted the community of creative people that we are always surrounding ourselves with on a daily basis. To not have that anymore to such a degree is also hard.

What have these past few months have been like as you concluded your dance career?

I have just started my post-dancing life, as you could call it, so I shall see as I progress. But I do know that I want to take it with a sense of adventure, in that to be uncomfortable is not a bad thing and to put yourself in situations which you might feel out of your element can be a very good thing. Also, I also want to be sure I stay physically active in some capacity, I know that will be very important to my sanity and health.

What advice would you give to dancers going through the process of retirement?

Retiring from a life’s passion is such a personal decision. No one is the same, nor are the circumstances surrounding one’s retirement from dancing which can dictate or determine why one decides to move on. But no matter how a dancer feels about their retirement and what they felt they did or did not accomplish, it is important to know you do not have to retire from dance altogether.

It’s important to note moving on from a professional dance career is a process and not just a momentary happening that signifies a complete break. Also, I feel dancers should cherish and value their accomplishments and memories, for these are the things that are yours to keep and cannot be taken away.

I believe it is very important for dancers to find what they are passionate about as they navigate a second career choice. What are the things that give back to you and make you feel like you’ve accomplished something? There are so many ways, other than dancing, to further enjoy and support dance that can give you a sense of fulfillment.

Don’t size up or confuse your personal path with someone else’s. And, most of all, enjoy whatever you set out to do!

Dancers-John-Welker-and-Christine-Winkler-The-Four-Seasons.-Photos by Kim Kenney. Courtesy of Atlanta Ballet. — John Welker and Christine Winkler in “The Four Seasons.” Photos by Kim Kenney. Courtesy of Atlanta Ballet.

NYC > Minneapolis > Chicago: Adventures on the Road and Touring Tips

September 17, 2016 by Rachel Hellwig

By Samantha Hope Galler

Touring with a professional dance company is a maturing experience. The process tests you in many ways. Since joining Miami City Ballet, I have toured to Vancouver, Ottawa, New York City, Minneapolis, and Chicago. Every city is culturally diverse, but all share an appreciation for dance. I look forward to sharing several touring experiences with you from my recent three-city tour with Miami City Ballet…

It is a dancer’s dream to perform at Lincoln Center. As the home of George Balanchine and New York City Ballet, Lincoln Center has a high level of historical importance. The backstage area, dressing rooms, and even the elevator reminds a performer why Lincoln Center is so remarkable. Our week there included three dress rehearsals and seven performances. Every performance highlighted a piece that was created for Miami City Ballet. Liam Scarlett’s Viscera, Alexei Ratmansky’s Symphonic Dances, and Justin Peck’s Heatscape were among these works. The company also performed works by George Balanchine and Twyla Tharp. On Wednesday evening, we performed Balanchine’s Serenade. It was a high point of the tour. The company also performed Twyla Tharp’s Sweet Fields. This particular work by Twyla first premiered in 1996. It is extraordinarily spiritual onstage and was a true highlight to bring it to the Koch Theater. In fact, the audience reacted so well that we returned for a curtain call after each performance.

To finish off the 2015-2016 season, we performed in Minneapolis and Chicago. Both cities presented new venues and different inspirations. Compared to the New York step of our tour, we presented similar programming which included Balanchine’s Serenade, Peck’s Heatscape, Scarlett’s Viscera, Balanchine’s Symphony in Three Movements, Ratmansky’s Symphonic Dances, and Balanchine’s Bourrée Fantasque. The audience stood on their feet after each performance.

Touring Tips on the Road:

While touring, learning to reset and refocus is important. Below are a few suggestions on how to approach touring with your best foot forward….

#1: Remember your goals. Touring is a very exciting element of company life. Usually, the first thing you want to do is explore the city, but, it is important to remember that you are there to perform and work.

#2: Plan ahead. I recommend researching the area around your hotel or near the theater so you have an idea of what is available. It is helpful to know where you can grab food quickly before or after the show.

#3: Stick to your routine. On tour, the theater, the distance to the theater, and the studio space are different. This means it’s important to stick to your regular routine for preparing for class and performances. If you usually spend 45 minutes warming up before class, make sure you do so.

#4: Eat! Be sure to bring good snacks for the trip so you do not get stuck trying to find something last minute. I like to have a variety of snacks like Cliff Bars, trail mix, and bananas. Check to see if there is a refrigerator at the venue or in the hotel. In this case, I would be sure to have yogurt, veggies, humus, or deli meat.

#5: Sleep! I recommend turning in a little earlier than usual.

#6: Keep you head held high and be positive. Touring is one of the most rewarding adventures a dancer can be a part of. Not only will you have the opportunity to perform in theaters around the world, you will also have the chance to be introduced to new audiences. A main reason I enjoy performing on stage is to bring audiences the emotion of our art form. So enjoy every minute and dance your heart out.

Dreams Come True... Samantha at Lincoln Center. Jonathan Taylor — Dreams Come True…Samantha at Lincoln Center. Photograph by Jonathan Taylor

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5 Tips For Getting The Most Out Of A Summer Intensive

January 17, 2013 by 4dancers

ballet students at barre — Students at Ballet San Jose’s School, Photo by Scott Belding

The Summer Intensive. Both exciting and a little frightening, this type of training can really be beneficial to you as a dancer. It can also be a little bit intimidating, offering a new environment, new teachers and students you may not know. For some dance students, it may also be their first time away from home.

Dalia Rawson, Principal at San Jose Ballet School has “been there, done that”. Not only has she attended summer intensives herself, but now she also hosts them at the school. Dalia was kind enough to take the time to offer 4dancers readers 5 great tips for getting the most out of a summer intensive.

Here they are:

1. Do your research.

Be sure to pick a Summer Intensive that offers what you need to get the most out of your summer of training. If you are an advanced dancer, and are looking to find an Intensive that will help you take steps towards a future as a professional dancer, you will likely want to attend a Summer Intensive at a School associated with a professional company. Some Intensives, including Ballet San Jose’s Summer Intensive, offer the chance to work with the associated company’s Artistic Leadership, providing excellent exposure to the people who will ultimately be choosing Trainees, Apprentices, and future dancers in their company.

2. Embrace classes in dance styles outside your comfort zone.

The more uncomfortable you feel in a class, the more important taking that class likely is for you. It can be hard for a bunhead who has never taken a jazz class before to be able to let go and move their pelvis, or for someone who has never tried to improvise to find the freedom to create their own movement vocabulary. But if it feels foreign and uncomfortable, take a deep breath, have a sense of humor about yourself, and give it a try!

The ability to adapt and have an open mind is critical to dancers working with new choreographers, and even if you never professionally end up having to do a musical theatre number, the ability to get over feeling uncomfortable and give it your all is a valuable skill to develop.

3. Give some thought to the challenges of living on your own that you may face for the first time if you are living in a dormitory. [Read more…]

Adult Ballet Student: Johanna Aurava

March 20, 2012 by 4dancers

Here’s our next Q&A with an adult ballet student…

1. How did you first get involved with ballet and what attracted you to it as an adult?

I saw Giselle when I was twelve years old and fell in love with ballet right there and then. But almost ten years passed before I took my first ballet class. A friend had wanted to try jazz dance, and asked me along for buddy support. A few months later my jazz teacher told me that there was a new adult beginner’s ballet class I could take. Up until then I did not even know adults could learn ballet! It was all very exciting, and still is. What I loved right away was the classical music, the structure of class, the concentration it required and the sheer beauty of ballet. There was so much to learn and to discover, about technique, steps and placement but also about the traditions of ballet, the culture and history.

2. How many classes are you currently taking per week?

Currently I take eight classes on five days of the week: five are ballet technique and three pointe classes. The amount varies from time to time, in my mid twenties I used to dance as much as 12 hours per week! These days I make sure quality comes before quantity, but three classes per week is my absolute minimum. I’m not getting any younger, and I just want to dance as much as I can!

3. What do you see as your biggest challenge as an adult ballet student?

Scheduling my classes around study and work used to be a big problem. I know this is a challenge for most adult students; how to fit work/study, family and ballet together. It’s not always possible to attend classes on a regular basis, and that can be very frustrating! But I’m very lucky, my current work schedule allows me to take as many classes as I want.

My biggest challenge right now is to be less demanding and critical of myself. I tend to focus too much on my flaws and faults, and forget how much I have already learned. The thing is, I chose ballet, but ballet did not choose me. I do not have an “ideal” dancer’s physique, and I’m not talking looks here, but anatomy. My turn-out is barely adequate and I have tight muscles and ligaments. You can’t change your skeletal structure, nor stretch your ligaments. In the beginning this did not bother me, but at my current intermediate-advanced level I’m much more aware of my limitations. I’m also not twenty-one anymore… [Read more…]

Touring Tips on the Road:

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