New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Sara Mearns talks performance preparation and finding bravery

When Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet Sara Mearns performs, she goes for broke, thus earning the nickname "Stage Animal" from famed choreographer Alexei Ratmansky. The star ballerina shares how she found the bravery to advocate for herself as a student at School of American Ballet, climbing the ranks to become a principal ballerina, and the advice Suzanne Farrell gave her to best prepare for performances. Sara explains how she has learned to maintain her physical and mental health, and her insatiable curiosity to explore modern and contemporary dance, thus earning herself another nickname from Alicia.

Love this episode? Watch another Moving Moments episode. Legendary dancer Misty Copeland is the first African American woman to be promoted to Principal in American Ballet Theatre's 75-year history. She shares how dance gave her a voice and provided the structure and discipline that she craved. Misty describes the high of a performance, how she broke into the commercial space, and life as a new mother, and shares her childhood nickname.    • Misty Copeland talks with Alicia Graf...  

And don't miss this Moving Moments episode. One of the most acclaimed dancers of our time, Wendy Whelan had a distinguished career for three decades as Principal Dancer at New York City Ballet, before becoming the first female to take on a leadership role with the company as Associate Artistic Director. Wendy and Alicia reminisce about taking classes together at Steps on Broadway, discuss Wendy's early struggles to be cast in a wider array of roles, and talk about Wendy's hope to leave a legacy of support for future generations of dancers.    • Wendy Whelan talks Restless Creature,...  

Photograph of Sara Mearns by Erin Baiano.

Show art by Andrew Eccles courtesy of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

The Moving Moments theme song is composed by Saul Gaunipa, for Videohelper.

Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

Episode copyright © 2023 Artful Narratives Media.