Brown Ballerina Ambassador Moriah Mitchell Explains the Impact of Being a Mentor
Moriah Mitchell is a 16-year-old ballerina who resides in Illinois. Moriah started formal dance training at age 3 and says she’s dreamed of becoming a professional dancer for as long as she can remember. Her parents would often take her to see ballet productions such as Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. Moriah believes these performances directly contributed to her strong desire to become a ballerina. At 8 years old, Moriah started her pre-professional dance training at the Ruth Page School of Dance, where she still studies today. She has trained in different styles of ballet including Vaganova, Cecchetti, Classical, and Romantic.
Photo: Calla Photography and Design
In her interview below, Moriah will discuss… her experience as a teacher’s assistant, where she’s had the opportunity to mentor young ballerinas in training. Moriah has also been mentored by her dance teachers and coaches, so she also shares the benefits and value of those relationships.
Related: Brown Ballerina Ambassador Jaivyn Beauford Discusses The Importance of Having a Dance Mentor
How Moriah Became a Teacher’s Assistant
To me, being a teacher’s assistant is one of the most rewarding parts of dance (aside from actually dancing, that is). I first became a teacher’s assistant at the beginning of the year to assist with virtual classes. I also assisted with classes from our summer program with students who were just being introduced to ballet. With all the students I have assisted and mentored, I have encouraged them and helped them boost their confidence in dancing.
Being a Mentor and a Mentee
I have been mentored by master teachers, coaches, and my parents. I would say without hesitation that it has impacted not only my dance career but also my life as a whole. The great thing about my master teachers is that they don’t just give me corrections about my dance. They also give little pearls of wisdom that I can apply to every area of my life. Being mentored has definitely affected my dancing and my life in a very positive way.
I think the most rewarding part about mentoring others is seeing the lightbulb go off. When I am assisting with a class or mentoring a student, sometimes I can see it click for them. Then as I watch them dance, it's like I see a whole different person. Just saying an encouraging word or giving a helpful correction changes not only their mood but also their dancing. Encouraging the dancers to do their best is really rewarding to me.
Why Dancers Should Have a Mentor
I think it's important for dancers to know that there is a person that they can always come to for encouragement and advice with dance. I can't stress enough how important my mentors and teachers are to me. I can say that I would not be the dancer I am today without the wisdom that I have gained from them. Because of that alone, I know that every dancer could be greatly affected by a mentor. There is so much wisdom that you can gain from learning under a mentor that you can use all throughout your life.
When choosing a mentor, I think you should choose someone you can build a relationship with. A mentor should be someone that you are close to - someone that you trust to receive helpful advice and encouragement from.
Related: A Dancer's Guide to Seeking Mentorship
Other Notes about Mentorship
You don't have to have the label “mentor” next to your name to be one. You can mentor a fellow classmate or a younger aspiring dancer that looks up to you. Being a mentor is an action, not a label. Also, absorb all the wisdom you can from your mentors. You can really learn a lot of important things that can improve your dance and your life.
To follow Moriah’s dance journey, follow her on Instagram.
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.