Laura Willis | Season in Review

One of our Ballet 5:8 traditions at the end of each performance season is to ask the artists of the company to share some reflections with us. A special thank you to the artists of the company for sharing about their experiences in the 2021/22 Season.

Laura Willis at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance

Q. Can you share a favorite moment from on- or off-stage?

A. It was very special to perform Todo Raba on the Harris Theater stage. It was my personal goal to be back for that performance after maternity leave, and dancing in this piece that was specifically choreographed by Julianna Rubio Slager for Ballet 5:8's Tenth Anniversary Season at a theater that meant so much to me, surrounded by friends and colleagues that I had missed dearly, was so special.

Q. Does any ballet you've performed this season stand out as the most meaningful or most notable for you personally? Why?

A. It has been fun to revisit Julianna Rubio Slager's Four Seasons of the Soul. It was one of the first ballets I performed with the company when I joined in 2015, and is always a pleasure to revisit. Performing it now with more life experience brings an added richness that I have enjoyed exploring.

Q. What or who has inspired you this season?

A. I've been inspired by other professional dancers who also have recently become mothers—through the power of social media, we are able to share our stories and find inspiration from each other. It is a true balancing act and huge adjustment in the life of a dancer, and to see other women be open and honest about the struggles and triumphs of a ballerina mom is hugely inspiring as I navigate this journey myself.

Q. What are you looking forward to next season?

A. I am looking forward to dancing more! I gave birth last October and took the fall season off to recover, and spent the spring season adjusting back to company life. I am excited to see what opportunities are in store for both myself and Ballet 5:8 as a whole in the 2022/23 season!