5 to Watch 2022: Anoushka Zoé
We are excited to introduce Anoushka Zoé James Durão, one of our 2022 “5 to Watch” honorees!
Photo: Anoushka Zoé; shot by Chantal James of La Rampa
Anoushka, 15, is a ballerina from Brazil. She started dancing when she was 4 - an interest she credits to her mother, who was also a dancer at a young age. “When I was little, instead of watching movies we would watch recordings of full-length ballets like Giselle and Le Corsaire,” said Anoushka. “I enjoyed them so much and found them so entertaining that my mother took me to ballet class. I loved it.”
When she got a bit older, Anoushka’s teachers encouraged her to pursue formal training, quickly transforming her hobby into a serious commitment. Anoushka currently trains at the Petite Danse School in Rio de Janeiro.
Learn more about Anoushka’s relationship with ballet in her interview below!
What’s a dance accomplishment that you are proud of and why?
Winning a scholarship for the Princess Grace Academy Summer Intensive was a big accomplishment for me and I am proud of that. I was very young and it was the first time I won such a big prize. It made me feel special and believe in my potential.
What’s your most memorable dance moment?
Meeting Brazilian ballerina Ingrid Silva was incredibly special. She came to Rio to teach a Master Class and it was the first time I had a Black ballet teacher who was also a star! Her class was very different from the usual Brazilian ballet class. It was what I imagine is a more American style; faster and kind of zippy.
Everyone was sweating a lot and enjoying themselves. Afterwards, we had a "Bate Papo" (Brazilian slang for a heart to heart) and some of us Brown and Black dancers were able to share our struggles within a supportive space. Ingrid is a huge inspiration and role model for many Brazilian dancers.
What dance events and milestones do you have planned for this year?
This year I have many exciting plans. I got invited to the second phase of auditions for the Paris Opera in July. I will take advantage of the fact that I'm in Europe to audition for other schools. I am waiting to hear back from the Prix de Lausanne where I hope to participate in the European selection.
I feel like I need to make up for lost time due to the pandemic and knock on as many doors as possible. The situation for ballet dancers in Brazil is very precarious; there are few opportunities here. So I really hope to be accepted to a school in Europe so that I can continue my training there.
What does a day in your dance life look like?
I've been homeschooling for the last 4 years, which gives me a lot more flexibility for my dancing. During the pandemic, I felt really isolated, so when things got better, I started some in-person academic classes which I do three times a week in the morning. I study in the morning and my dance day starts at 2pm.
I have repertoire, pilates, physical preparation, or pas de deux, then do two ballet classes back-to-back to build resistance. I try to stretch and do abs during my breaks and also catch up with my friends. My last classes end at 8pm. I take the metro home and by then I'm exhausted. Sometimes I learn a new variation on YouTube or check out Instagram for ballet inspirations! My weekends are just Sundays. I spend a lot of time thinking and talking about ballet - it's my life!
What inspires you?
People who have resilience inspire me; they don't necessarily have to be dancers. People who beat the odds and break down barriers. People who are passionate and take themselves seriously even when others do not.
What’s your favorite part about being a dancer, or the dance industry in general?
Besides dancing on the stage, which I really love, my favorite part of dance life are my friendships with amazing, artistic and creative people. My dance friends understand me in ways that my non-dancer friends don't.
We share a reality, we know how hard it is, all the sacrifices and why we do it. Non-ballet friends don't always get why we go to class everyday and spend so much of our lives in the studio. My ballet friends share a love for movement, physical expression and the theater. We can talk about ballets, geek out with our dance language, and we understand each other!
If you could change the future of dance, what changes would you make?
I would make the dance world more inclusive and more accepting of different body shapes and ethnicities. Even though things are changing, they are changing very slowly. Ballet is still very elitist, and we have been brainwashed into believing that certain people have dance bodies or shapes and those that don't aren't welcome.
Ballet should be about the quality of movement, expression, line and storytelling. Also, today ballet is international, so it needs to reflect this. I would like to see more Black and Brown choreographers, teachers, coaches, company directors and judges. I would like classical ballet to tell stories that aren't only European. How about some Brazilian stories?
Is there anything else you want to share with dancers reading this article?
Many people feel left out of the dance world because they don’t have the right physique or not enough technique or flexibility. But someone once told me that there is space for everyone, so if you have a passion for dance, don't give up.
Photo: Anoushka Zoé; shot by Chantal James of La Rampa
Keep up with Anoushka’s dance journey on Instagram.
Every year, TaKiyah Wallace, the Founder of Brown Girls Do Ballet, handpicks five young dancers who are making a positive impact in their communities and/or great strides in their ballet journey. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring each of this year’s honorees right here on the blog, so make sure you check back in! In the meantime, connect with us on Instagram or Facebook.
Note: This interview has been edited for concision and clarity.