ALEXIS SEBRING
Life Assistant
“5,6,7,8 … 1,2,3,4”
Whoever is familiar with these counts has some idea of the technicality of dance. Dancing is a part of everyday life – whether on TV, in a club or on Broadway, it affects everybody in some way.
Freshman Brittni Ping has especially been impacted by this art. She has been dancing for 13 years because of the one day as a 5 year-old she saw a ballerina on TV. She thought she was beautiful and told her mom she wanted to be like her.
Born in Columbia, S.C., Ping took the opportunity to persue her dancing interest. She was exposed to different dance styles, and began “point” (the ballet used with satin shoes, made for the dancer to be on her toes frequently) at 10 years old.
At age 12, she had already been through a three-week intensive program with Tri District Arts, a dance company.
This experienced young woman has a love for the complex art of dance. Her opinions and stories about her past paint a beautiful picture about what dance is all about.
What were your younger dancing days like?
“From 5 to 12 years old I was part of a professional company called Columbia City Ballet. At about the age of 7, I had private lessons as well as working with the company. I stopped private lessons when we moved to Tennessee in 9th grade. And there weren’t exactly professional companies in Kingsport, Tenn.”
What kind of dance experience did you get in high school?
“I was with Center for the Performing Arts in high school in Tennessee, and even though it wasn’t a professional company it reminded me of why I wanted to dance in the first place. I really saw the joy of dancing in that company. I got to be some cool parts in the “Nutcracker.” My choreographer was a Radio City Rockette back in the day, so I got to learn a new form of dance which I’d never done.”
What is your favorite type of dancing?
“Probably classical ballet because it’s what I’ve been doing for most of my life and it’s the foundation for most dance styles. When you think of classical ballet you think of “Nutcracker” and “Swan Lake.” Anything with constant counts you can dance to and anything with an eight-count or three-four count can be danced to. Growing up I’m just used to the famous types of music like Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” and the music for ‘Romeo and Juliet.’”
Are you dancing here at Pepperdine?
“Yes, I’m currently in Dance in Flight. I just really wanted to continue with dance and this was the only way I saw how to do that. Even if I’m not going to do it professionally, it’s something I’ll probably do as long as I can. I got chosen to go into contemporary ballet which I’d never done before. Contemporary ballet mixes some modern and some lyrical ballet with classical moves.
Why don’t you plan on going into this field professionally?
Just because there’s lots of politics involved in professional ballet. Lots of things including weight issues. Like with eating, they don’t want you to eat hardly anything. And with pay, they don’t get paid hardly anything. Also a career for a dancer is usually only about 10 years max because after so much professional dancing you wear out. Either you get injured or are replaced by someone newer and better.”
Why is dancing important in your life?
“Dancing has always been my way to disconnect from stress and all the stuff in life. It’s important to me because it’s the way I express myself. It’s what I’ve always loved to do and am most comfortable with, and I guess it’s shaped who I am because it’s become my outlet for any emotion, joy, frustration, or whatever it may be.”
How does it benefit you physically?
“Dancers are very physically fit. Dancers have to have really strong legs and ballet dancers have to have really strong ankles. Ballet literally works every muscle in your body so it’s very beneficial physically, especially if you do it every day.”
Would you consider dance a sport?
“It’s not a sport in the sense that it’s not a competition – it’s more of an art form. It is about expression and telling a story as well as being technically advanced.”
Do you get nervous on stage?
“Right before I go on stage, I’m anxious at first but ready to get out there. But once I get on stage I completely forget about everyone. Dancers have stage presence, and they’re dancing from heart. Once you’re on stage you forget about anxiety, fears and you just dance.
See Ping perform in Dance in Flight at Smother’s Theater tonight through Sunday.
02-07-2008
