There's no question that life as a dancer can be difficult—long hours, rigorous rehearsals, and the risk of rejection and injury can take a toll. But dancing also gives us so much to be thankful for! In honor of Thanksgiving, we asked nine dancers to share what they're most grateful for this year. From overcoming adversity to new artistic opportunities to growing families, these artists have a lot to celebrate.
Kathryn Boren, American Ballet Theatre
"I'm thankful for the opportunity to perform my first full-length principal part ever: the title role in Giselle, with Ballet Frontier of Texas. It was terrifying but awesome, and was made even more special because my family lives nearby. It's easy to forget how nice it is to have your parents around when you're living away from home. My mom drove me to and from the theater and completely took care of me—I didn't have to worry about anything except my performance. Plus, my grandparents got to see me dance for the first time in about 10 years."
Natasha Overturff, Giordano Dance Chicago
"I will forever be indebted to my dance company for helping me through this year. The night before our 55th-anniversary gala in February, my mom fell and suffered a traumatic brain injury. I immediately drove six hours home in a snowstorm and ended up spending six months by her side. It's been a slow recovery, but it's a miracle that she lived through this. My company sent me care packages, cards, and constantly checked in with me. And I never had to question that my job would be there for me when I got back. My mom actually brought me to study with Giordano when I was 8 years old because it was my dream company. But I never imagined that it'd become my second family."
Dalay Parrondo, Boston Ballet
"This year, I'm thankful to have become a U.S. citizen! In May, after living here for 14 years, I was part of the first naturalization ceremony ever held at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. To me, this represents the freedom to pursue my dreams. I feel so lucky to have danced in a company with people from many nationalities. I know I'll always remember where I came from and keep my family's Cuban traditions alive."
Evan Moody, commercial dancer and choreographer
"I'm especially thankful for my healthy new son, Aiden. In the months leading up to his birth, I was touring the U.S., so I had to rely on phone calls with my fiancée, which was hard. But I loved buying clothes, toys, and sneakers for my son in different cities. I traveled a lot growing up, and I want my son to have similar experiences. Being able to provide souvenirs from around the world was a good start."
Jaimie Goodwin, commercial dancer
"Over the past eight years, I've been through three reconstructive knee surgeries, which gave me a lot of time to sit and listen to myself. That helped me realize that my value didn't depend on whether I was able to book the next cool job. Now I walk into the studio the way I did when I was a kid: with gratitude and passion, regardless of how I'm doing physically. My injuries also opened up a brand-new avenue for me. I've learned a lot through physical therapy, and I've always loved anatomy and teaching. So I'm now certified in Sugarfoot Therapy's injury-prevention conditioning program, and I'm getting my bachelor's degree in kinesiology. I used to think that dance was my only option, but I'm thankful to now know exactly what my next job could be."
Kimmie Dobbs Chan, Deviated Theater
"In 2016, I was diagnosed with grade-four osteoarthritis. I couldn't walk, and I couldn't even think creatively because my body hurt so much. I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to dance again. Still, I tried to put together a show—and that led to burnout. I took time to heal after that, and by the beginning of this year, my strength was returning and the fire was back. I'm extremely thankful for all the dancers, fans, friends, and family who stuck with me; for the resiliency of the human spirit; for time; and for feeling like myself again!"
Paige Krumbach, "Hamilton" national tour (Angelica Company)
"Being cast in Hamilton has held the number-one position on my dream list ever since I first became familiar with the show. It's so rewarding that it's now a reality! I'm thankful for all the people who never lost faith in me, who were there for all the dance classes and to help me through the 'nos' when I started auditioning. I'm hoping that this experience will help me learn to trust myself more—not to compare myself to others, but to realize that every dancer has something to offer."
Trevor Naumann, Ballet West
"This year I'm exceptionally thankful for all the people who came together to be at my wedding to Katie Critchlow. The months leading up to the wedding were stressful. Between dancing, applying for choreography projects, looking for summer gigs, and planning the big day, I went a bit mad. But life has a way of teaching you how to handle more and more as it comes. Seeing our close friends make the sacrifices necessary to be there warmed our hearts to no end."
Katie Critchlow, Ballet West
"The best thing to come out of my dance career this year is definitely my husband, Trevor. I used to have a policy about never dating another dancer. But from the first time he looked me in the eyes, all my self-imposed rules flew out the window. I'm one lucky girl: Not only is he a beautiful artist, but he's also a lover of gastronomy. Trevor cooked our entire rehearsal dinner—seven courses for 70 people!"