My name is Amrita, and I am currently a ballet and physics double major at the University of Utah. My previous training includes the Ballet School of Chapel Hill, Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, as well as private training under Lizzie Harlen and Anton Pankevich. In addition, I have spent summers training with the Carolina Ballet, Ballet San Jose, the Joffrey Academy, Chicago, and the Bolshoi Academy, NYC.

Though brief, the year I spent at Los Gatos ballet was pivotal to my career. Every teacher has the experience and knowledge to train dancers at a professional level, and each teacher has different approaches and emphases to their classes, so that the technical training is incredibly well rounded. The teachers also have a loving investment in each student so that they push students to their physical limits in a sustainable way. I find that the ballet world can often be brutal in order to “push” dancers, but this can be detrimental to both mental and physical health. Los Gatos Ballet has found a beautiful balance between pushing their dancers and nurturing their minds and bodies.

Not only do students at Los Gatos Ballet receive an excellent training in ballet technique, but an education that creates well-rounded artists. The Allegro program is a weekly program available to advanced students that offers everything from mental health seminars to improvisation to yoga. This program helped me immensely in preparing for college, as the college dance education is similarly versatile, especially in the realm of improvisation, choreography, and overall creative movement. Kristin D’Addario, the director of the allegro program, approaches every class with a certain caliber of method and attention so that they were very effective, which truly catered to my growth as an artist. I find myself attacking my college classes with more confidence because of the tools that are now under my belt from the Allegro program.

The Beyond choreographic showcase is also a wonderful opportunity for artistic growth. Students can submit a proposition for a piece they to choreograph with the song, number of dancers, and a few other details. Los Gatos Ballet provides a cast, studio space for frequent rehearsals, and eventually a theater for the final performance. In 2019, I choreographed a 14 dancer piece with a pas de deux, a soloist, and a corps de ballet. The program is set up so that the choreographic process is pretty independent, but help or feedback was offered whenever needed. Though I have choreographed in the past, this experience gave me a taste of what it’s like to choreograph in the field. From learning how to audition and cast dancers to designing the lighting and lighting queues, I now feel ready and excited to choreograph elsewhere.

One of my favorite parts about Los Gatos Ballet is the community of students. From day one, I was welcomed with open arms by everyone, and I cherish the friendships I have made through my time there. Los Gatos Ballet helped me grow my passion for ballet, and it holds a special place in my heart.