Interview with Ballerina Anna Trofimova

1. Describe your typical day in quarantine.
My quarantine day is not much different from my normal schedule. I’m definitely a night owl. I rarely get up early in the morning since rehearsals and performances usually take place in theafternoon and evenings. My “morning”—whenever I wake up— begins with a cup of sugar-free green tea — that’s not because ballerinas don’t eat sweets, I just really love it! And luckily, I’m not out of work. I teach ballet at a studio in my hometown, work as a photo model, and of course, teach classes online to American students. Because of all of these opportunities, quarantine doesn’t bother me. At first it was hard to social distance and live without daily physical activity, but I learned to cope. I know that all of my ballet friends from different countries have continued to practice at home. It’s held us together. For ballet dancers, it’s very important to stay in shape. Our health depends on it, both physically and mentally. However, being on the stage is where we experience the most amount of inspiration. We share our skills and emotions with an audience and their energy feeds us in return. It encourages us to move forward. This endless circle of artistic life lets us feel alive! I truly hope we’ll be back on stage soon.

2. How do you connect with family and friends?
Many of my friends live in other cities and even countries. You can imagine — to talk to a classmate who lives in China, I need to get up early. To speak to friends in America, I need to stay up late. As you know, it’s not a big deal for me because staying connected is important. With those who live in Ukraine, I’m in touch around the clock (specially with crazy ones who are awake at night lol)!