15 Questions with Brown Ballerina Alisha Peek
Throughout the year, we asked our Brown Ballerina Ambassadors to share reflections, experiences, and wisdom from their dance journey. The ambassadors, aged 10-17, spilled the tea on challenges they’ve overcome, advice to their younger selves, college prep, and so much more! To conclude the year, we connected with 25-year-old professional ballerina Alisha Peek. In her Q&A below, Alisha answers everything we asked our ambassadors from an adult’s point-of-view. Read along to learn more about Alisha and the wisdom she has to share!
Related: 11 Takeaways from 2021's Blog Posts
Photo: Alisha Peek; shot by Myron Fields
Dance Travel
Q: What is your experience with dance travel?
A: As a pre-professional, I traveled to various summer intensives throughout the country to not only enhance my technique but to hone-in on my artistry. I attended summer intensives at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (Chicago), American Ballet Theatre (New York), Boston Ballet (Boston), Dance Theatre of Harlem (New York), and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (New York) - just to name a few. Regarding my professional career, I have had the honor of performing and teaching both domestically and internationally, traveling to places such as Poland, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, etc.
Q: What was your biggest challenge while away from home?
A: My biggest challenge while I was away from home was not having a home-cooked meal while I was on tour. I did not realize how much I took advantage of having a home-cooked meal until I did not have it for months at a time because I was on the road traveling and performing so much. I am not one to cook a lot—ordering out is one of my favorite things to do, but on tour, that could get old quickly.
Q: When packing your suitcase for dance-related travel. What’s one thing you can’t live without and why?
A: I cannot, by any means, live without my dance booties. I wear my booties everywhere, while I am in rehearsals, in the theater and in the dressing room. They are particularly good for keeping my feet warm, especially in preparation for a performance or if a theater is cold. They are one of the first things I throw into my suitcase when I am getting ready for dance-related travel.
Related: Discussing Dance Travel with Brown Ballerina Ambassador Kennedy George
Resources for Dancers
Q: Why do you think it’s important for dancers to have a mentor?
A: I think it is imperative for dancers to have mentors because they can help you navigate the industry, share resources, and provide insight on shared experiences. Furthermore, it is great to have someone in your corner who is or has been where you want to be.
Q: How has the experience of being mentored helped you as a dancer, or just in general?
A: My experience of being mentored has helped me as a dancer because not only has the wisdom that I have acquired helped me to make informed decisions, but it has also shaped how I move within the field. Additionally, mentorship has offered me the capacity to ask questions, be transparent about my aspirations and seek guidance on how to achieve my goals.
Q: In your opinion, what are the most essential college prep tips dancers should follow?
A: I think the most essential college prep tips dancers should follow are writing down what you may want out of a college dance program and asking current students about their experiences within these prospective programs. By doing this, you are ensuring that you will not only be fulfilled by the program but also have the ability to recognize whether you see yourself growing within it. It would also be great to attend a performance put on by the school, that way, you can truly determine whether that college is going to be the best fit for you.
Related: Brown Ballerina Ambassador Jaivyn Beauford Discusses The Importance of Having a Dance Mentor
A Dance Teacher’s Influence
Q: Have you ever had a dance teacher who made a positive impact on your dance experience?
A: A dance teacher who made a positive impact on my dance experience was Nancy Turano (I have never told her this, but she changed my life). Ms. Turano taught ballet at the Ailey School and she was one of the first people, I felt, that truly saw me. I will never forget how much she pushed me in class, even on those days when I felt like I could not give 100%. She knew I could be better and would never let me settle. Additionally, she would often pull me aside after class not only to check-in, but also to express how much she believed in me and how it was important for me to find that same confidence within myself. I will never forget how much she poured into me and will forever cherish the wisdom she was able to provide me with.
Q: Looking back, what’s something you learned from her that you will carry with you throughout your dance career?
A: Something I learned from Ms. Turano and that I have tried to carry throughout my dance career is that I am enough and that the possibilities are limitless once you set aside your insecurities and just go for it. Furthermore, be the change you seek to see, as you never know who is watching.
Q: As a dance student, what tips or feedback would you give a dance teacher who is struggling to connect with their students?
A: Some feedback I would offer to a dance teacher that is struggling to connect with their students is to find some sort of common ground with them—reflect on your experiences as an aspiring artist and what challenges you may have faced along the way. These experiences can help to inform the best way to approach your students and offer insight on ways in which you can best connect with them. We have all gone through some of the same things within our field; it is not only important to have empathy but also to offer a safe space where students can feel supported.
Photo: Alisha Peek; shot by Shoccara Marcus
Reflecting on Being a Young Dancer
Q: Tell me about a significant dance-related experience, memory, milestone, or challenge you remember from when you were younger.
A: When I was younger, I auditioned for Debbie Allen’s “Brothers of the Night”, which was to be performed at the Kennedy Center. Unfortunately, I got cut and to say I was crushed would be an understatement. After that audition, I began to question my dance abilities and started comparing myself to many of my peers, many of whom ended up performing in the show. Although I was rooting for my friends, I felt an overwhelming sense of sadness because why wasn’t it me?
Q: How do the lessons you learned from your experience show up in your present-day life as a dancer?
A: Although I was disappointed about getting cut, I only allowed myself 24 hours to be upset about it—this is something I continue to practice. It is important not to dwell on the NO’s because that one YES will trump everything. I also wholeheartedly believe that what is meant for you will be for you (I am also saying this for myself so I can practice what I preach!). It is easy to discard that sentiment when you are faced with disappointment, but trust, your time will come and when it does it will have been worth the wait.
Q: What’s one piece of dance advice you wish you could tell your younger self?
A: Trust your journey, perfection is unattainable, and rejection is just redirection. I wish I would have learned these things a lot earlier in my dance career, but I am grateful for the life experiences that have taught me these lessons.
Related: Advice for Our Younger Dance Selves
Your Purpose in Dance
Q: What impact do you hope to make on yourself, your family, your community, or society in general through your dancing?
A: I hope to empower young artists to take risks and to dream infinitely. I also want to be able to equip them with the tools and knowledge necessary to be successful.
Q: So far on your dance journey, what strides have you made toward fulfilling this purpose?
A: Aside from performing, I have had the opportunity to teach and choreograph throughout my dance journey. During these times, I have not only encouraged dancers to push beyond their limits, but also to discover and explore new possibilities. Furthermore, I act as a mentor, sharing the knowledge I have gained with my mentees as a way to help them navigate their own journeys.
Q: Why is it important to have a purpose as a dancer?
A: Having a purpose will serve as the driving force behind trying to achieve your goals. Without a purpose, there is no clear trajectory.
Related: Brown Ballerina Ambassador Nia Rackley on Inspiring Black Dancers
About Alisha
Alisha started dancing at the age of 3, and truly fell in love with it when she saw the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform at the Kennedy Center at age 5. “I not only saw myself in those dancers, but I could envision myself performing and eventually wanting to make it my profession,” she said. By age 7, Alisha began her pre-professional training at the Washington School of Ballet, the Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency Program, and at Kirov Ballet Academy. Although she trained heavily in ballet, she gravitated towards modern dance shortly after attending a summer intensive program at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2012.
After graduating from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in 2018, Alisha joined Ailey II, the junior company of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic cut her contract short, but since then, she’s had the opportunity to work on many projects with former AAADT company member Hope Boykin, and choreograph for a short film produced by Beats by Dre. Alisha currently resides in New York City.
“One thing that I would like to share with my fellow artists and young creatives is that you are more than enough and do not ever forget that,” she said. You can connect with Alisha and follow her dance journey on Instagram.