Ep 6: Ashley Dean - First Artist of the Royal Ballet (UK) - a podcast by Ling Yah

Ashley Dean is a South African dancer and a First Artist at the Royal Ballet in London, which is the premier ballet company in the UK. 

I was just blown away by her love & talent for dancing, her grit, her bravery in dropping out of school at the age of 15 in pursuit of that dream, her love of family and unwavering trust & faith in God no matter what came her way. 

Ashley, I’m in awe of you & feel so privileged to be able to feature you on this podcast!

Who is Ashley Dean?

Ashley Dean grew up in Johannesburg, where all the little girls did ballet as a hobby. But it was an international competition she attended at the age of 15 that proved to be a turning point for her. She realised that if she was serious, she would need to put in a serious amount of hours practicing, and even dropping out of school with no guarantee of even entering a ballet company! 

English National Ballet

We talked about the experience of applying for ballet schools & also the experience of moving all the way to London to be with the English National Ballet.

And thereafter, how she got into the Royal Ballet and being on the pilot scheme of the Aud Jebsen Dancers Program, which was a complete miracle! 

Life at the Royal Ballet

The life of a professional ballerina is quite unlike any other career I know of! And we talked in depth over:

• Dealing with perfection, when it is something expected from you every single day;
• Handling the injuries & constant pain that are part and parcel of a dancer’s life
• The way she manages her diet given her strenuous schedule; 
• Balancing said career with her family life; 
• How she got into the Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Program;
• The magical backstage world that the audience never sees;
• Her faith; and
• How COVID-19 has impacted her & the ballet world. 

Bonus

Stick to the end of the interview to find out how you can get a free backstage pass to the Royal Opera House!

Show notes

https://www.sothisismywhy.com/6

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