Phoebe is from Omaha, Nebraska where she trained with both the Omaha Academy of Ballet and Creighton University. Throughout high school she performed with the Omaha Dance Project holding leading roles in various ballets including Les Slyphides, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake. She was also a member of a local modern company, Maya Taylor Dance. Phoebe has attended numerous summer intensives including North Carolina Dance Theatre, Ballet Austin, American Ballet Theatre, and Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet. In 2017, Phoebe graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in both Ballet and Modern as well as a minor in Psychology. During her time at UMKC she had the opportunity to perform with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in Memoria. She also got to perform in Phillip Jerry’s Our Town, and in Pas de Quatre as well as be featured in choreography by Deanna Hiett, Paula Weber, and Ronald Tice. After graduating she returned to Omaha where she continued her training and performed the soloist role of Venus in Ruthanna Boris’ (NYCB) Cakewalk. This is Phoebe’s first season with San Diego Ballet.
Who Influenced you most to become the dancer you are today?
My family and friends have been so supportive in my decision to pursue dance. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the constant love and encouragement from them.
What was the funniest epidoes(s) you’ve experienced in your career?
Most recently I was the character Venus in the ballet Cakewalk. The entire time I was dancing my solo I had a giant balloon that I had to hold on to. Towards the end of my solo I have a “trick” that I’m supposed to do with the balloon. I throw the balloon, but every time I throw it, it goes way up in the air and then it magically comes back to me. (Really there’s a long piece of thin elastic attached to my finger and the end of the balloon so that the elastic pulls it back when I throw it). I’m supposed to do this trick 3 times while dancing across the stage. The third time I threw the balloon I was shocked to see the balloon just continue to go up and up, all the way off into the wings. The elastic had broken and my trick didn’t work. The balloon was a very important prop for me to have as the solo ended because someone was supposed to pop the balloon. I panicked and had to run offstage to retrieve the balloon to finish up the solo. I just remember watching the balloon thinking “Oh no…it’s not coming back to me…oh no…what do I do?!”
Who would you most like to share the stage with (living or dead)?
It’s really difficult for me to pick just one dancer. I admire so many different dancers, but my overall favorite company is Nederlands Dance Theatre. Even getting to watch any of these dancers live would be a dream come true.
What goes through your mind just before you perform?
Right before I perform I like to think of the intent behind each piece that I’m in and the emotions that I want to convey through my dancing. Then I think about how I want to make the audience feel when they watch me dance. I really want to be authentic when I’m dancing, and make sure that the movement is telling the right story.
What do you like/admire most about San Diego Ballet?
Coming from a background where I focused on both ballet and modern, I really appreciate the unique and versatile choreography seen throughout the repertoire. I love learning new ways to do steps that I’ve been doing since I was a child, and Javier’s choreography really enables me to explore movement in ways that I wouldn’t have been able to come up with on my own. I’m excited to grow a lot as a dancer this year!