Dreaming Big with Brown Ballerina Ambassador Alyssia Duda
Representation is one of the many drivers of inspiration, especially for dancers of color. For many aspiring dancers, seeing a ballerina on stage who looks like them can be life-changing, unlocking the door to endless possibilities. Alyssia Duda, a 14-year-old Brown Ballerina Ambassador from Chicago, IL, is a prime example of a ballerina birthed from the inspiration of representation.
Alyssia has been dancing since the age of 3. Since then, she’s studied Vaganova, Classical, Cecchetti and Balanchine. In her interview below, Alyssia reflects on her experience attending a major ballet production and how it motivated her to become the dancer she is today.
Photo: Alyssia Duda; shot by Lenore Duda
A Meaningful Moment
I remember the first time I saw the Joffrey Ballet perform The Nutcracker. On Christmas morning my mother surprised me with tickets to the show. It completely changed my life. I saw children on stage with the company and knew at that very moment that I wanted to be on stage with them.
Lessons Learned
I realized that I could do anything if I worked hard. I have always known, because of my mom, that I could do anything I put my mind to. The next year after I saw The Nutcracker, I was too young to be a part of the production. But that following year I was a part of the cast. I was living proof that if you follow your dreams, it could happen.
A Thought for Dancers
Whenever you dream, always dream big!
Follow Alyssia’s dance journey on Instagram or visit her website!
Our Brown Ballerina Ambassador program is designed to create opportunities for young dancers in training to be seen as leaders and to eventually become mentors to other Brown Ballerinas in Training. To find out more about our ambassador program and how you can support it, visit our Ambassador/Mentorship Program page.
Be sure to check out our Brown Ballerina Blog, where we feature spotlights on our Brown Ballerina Ambassadors, updates from our organization, useful tips for ballerinas, interviews with dance professionals, and more!
Note: This interview has been edited for concision and clarity.