Addison Ector, Soloist, Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Where did you grow up and how did you get interested in dance?
AE: I grew up in Los Angeles, CA. What made me interested in dance was a mixture between Dance Dance Revolution and the 2004 Olympics Gymnastics Team.
How did your background and your family's background; affect your passion for dance?
AE: My family could always tell I had a joy/happiness for dance that I did not even know. There was only one family member who counted as a dancer, but was really just a cheerleader.
What career would you have chosen if you could not have been a dancer?
AE: At this very moment I could not tell you. I do remember I had a great interest in aviation, Air Traffic Controller to be exact.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started dancing professionally?
AE: That ballet technique is extremely important. At 18, I was accepted int he Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive and the Bolshoi Intensive. I chose Ailey, but now I wish I chose Bolshoi since I'm in a contemporary ballet company.
Of all the roles you have performed, which role helped you grow the most as an artist?
AE: I've danced a few Alvin Ailey ballets and a lot more Dwight Rhoden works. At the moment, the one piece that really put me in check is "Choke". The music is set to Vivaldi, The Four Seasons. I would describe it as a Complexions version of a classical ballet variation.
If a child told you they wanted to be a dancer, what advice would you give them?
AE: I would tell them to stay focused and dedicated. There are so many dancers out there, figure out how you can differ yourself from them.
How has social media changed a dancer’s status and what is required of them?
AE: Social media is my best friend in the dance world. I have a strong belief in self marketing and I definitely strive to get my name all around the world with the help of Facebook, Instagram and more.
Do you have one moment in your career that you remember most fondly? Or one moment that you feel really defined your career or the trajectory of it?
AE: The one moment I remember fondly was the very first month of working with Complexions. I was an apprentice and I had 3 weeks to learn two thirty minute ballets and then tour to Seoul, South Korea. I was surrounded by a group of experienced, incredible & inspiring artists that had been in the company long enough to be able to pass the torch to me before they moved on.
Who would you like most to have a coffee with (could be dead or alive)?
AE: I would like to have a coffee with Aailyah.
Who were some of the people who influenced you the most in your career?
AE: Definitely my bosses and coworkers are my main influences. Complexions brings together a diverse group of artists from many different backgrounds. When we all learn the same steps and choreography, everyone interprets in their own way which is amazing to see.
What do you most value in your friends?
AE: No matter what is going on in your life, I will always be there when you need me and even when you don’t need me.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
AE: My idea of perfect happiness is 1) Acceptance of yourself 2) Great Food 3) Someone who has your back 100% (Friend, Lover, Pet)
If you could be an animal, what would animal would you choose and why?
AE: If I could me an animal, I would be a hummingbird. They are quick, elegant, unique & small just like me.
Which person (dead or alive) would you most want to dance with if you could?
AE: I would love to dance with my best friend, Alyssa Harrington (Principal Dancer with Dallas Black Dance Theater). We call each other “Twins” for we dance exactly alike and we both are flexible. We have not yet been able to grace a big stage together as professional artists.
What is your greatest indulgence?
AE: I love Honey Buns. That’s all haha.
What are your worst fears (professionally or personally)?
AE: My worst fear is figuring out what I will do after dance is over.
What was your biggest mishap in a performance?
AE: Biggest mishap in a performance had to have been when I wore a black dance belt underneath mesh white pants. I was very unprepared.
Is there a special meal you have before performances?
AE: Gum is my best friend when it comes to dance. I usually have a stick of Orbit Sweet Mint before every ballet. Some dancers smoke cigarettes… I chew gum.
What is the one thing you wished more people knew about dancing?
AE: I wish people knew that dancing professionally goes hand-in-hand with sports/athletic. The training we put our body through is just as enduring as a football player training on the field.
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