Dance Student Spotlight: Ava Ramirez

My name is Ava Ramirez, 11, from Columbia SC. I go to Columbia Conservatory of Dance/Columbia City Ballet.

@firstavabesque

Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.

I started dancing when I was 2 because my mom is a ballet teacher, and my dad was a professional ballet dancer. My first performance was when I was 2, and I was hooked. I got really serious about training around 7, and I haven't looked back. I train during the daytime and evening in ballet, pointe, variations, conditioning, and contemporary for around 25 hours each week. My teachers are Mariclare Miranda and William Starrett. I have been Clara in the Nutcracker for the last 3 years, touring to multiple cities with Columbia City Ballet. I also was Victoria Harker in William Starrett's Dracula. I have gotten 1st in Classical at YAGP this season and last season and cannot wait to attend Finals this season! (UPDATE: I won 1st in Classical and Contemporary 2020 and the Hope Award in 2021 Regionals!) When I grow up, I want to basically be Marianela Nunez. She is the most perfect human. I would like to attend ABTJKO, Academie Princess Grace, NBS, Ellison, or Royal Ballet School and then get into ABT or Royal or San Francisco Ballet.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?

The hardest part for me has been not having friends my own age. My classmates are not 11. They are 13 and 14. Sometimes I feel left out, but they do a really good job of including me. Since we started the daytime program at our ballet studio, we have gotten a lot closer. I am thankful to have them. The other hardest part is remembering you can only control yourself, keeping your head down and working. I try to do that.

What personal limitations if any did you go through in your young career?

I think my personal limitations are mostly my turnout not being 180 and my knees struggle to fully straighten sometimes. I have been pushed a lot (thankfully) to do a lot of steps that most 8-year-olds are not doing. So then I have to kind of go back and make sure I am doing them as clean as possible with the best placement possible. I am still working on that. I think that struggle will follow me haha.

Has anybody ever tried to limit you on what you could do? If so how did you fight it?

I have had teachers who have believed in me fully. I am so thankful for them, Ms.Mariclare and Mr.William particularly. They have never let my age dictate what I could or could not do. And because they push me, and I find success with them, I believe in myself. I have had other teachers who have thought I was too young to do things. I gravitate towards people who push me, place trust in the training I am receiving and back me up. That's how I fight being told that maybe something is not right for me. Do it, prove them wrong. Just because someone is not being trained/taught the way you would train them, does not make it the wrong approach. Incredible ballet dancers come out of all types of training programs all the time. There is no ONE path to becoming a ballerina. There is only your path.

How do you conquer negative talk?

Kind of like the above...IGNORE. I try hard to be kind always. I also try to distance myself from anyone who is not.

What is your favorite quote?

I have two:
"I've always seen myself as a star, I wanted to be a galaxy."-Twyla Tharp
and
"Every night you go outside to see the stars, but don't you know? They come out to see you."-Gaby Compres

So, what’s next? Any big plans?

YES! Universal Ballet Competition is in two weeks! I am so excited to perform my 4 solos. Then a couple of weeks to get ready and then YAGP finals. Once we get back from Finals, I will do some local summer intensives at our studio and at IBA in Cary. We decided this summer, with everything being so unpredictable with the pandemic, that staying local is the safest option. I also was accepted to Washington Ballet, ABT, YDW, and Bolshoi. I cannot wait to be 12 so I can audition for and *hopefully* attend some of my dream intensives.