Well, I have been on DDN for a few months as 'grishkogrrl' and recently changed my username, and am starting from scratch. I realized that I never postes here, so now's as good a time as any.

I started dancing at a late age(12) but quickly discovered that it was my calling. I worked hard, took all the classes I could in my small town and quickly excelled and became my teacher's assistant and substitute.

She soon realised that I needed more competition and advanced training than she could offer in the small school and referred me to a pre-pro school where I joined the student company. I continued assisting and dancing at my small town school, and danced Fri, Sat, and Sun at the Company.

I'm not using 'names' here because I had a pretty bad experience at the Company re: the AD sexually abusing sttudents, one of them being a close friend(more like a sister) of mine. I then turned to Mansur Kamaletdinov, who I'd worked with before, but his studio closed down due to financial difficulties. I went back to the old Company, where the abusive AD had been ousted, but his wife had some questionable ethics as well, and I became disillusioned and abandoned any dreams of a pro. career in ballet.

I did enjoy teaching however, and taught a couple enrichment programs at local schools, and worked independantly as a coach to faith groups and taught adult classes.

Restlessness and feeling a bit lost, as I had always thought I'd be a ballet dancer, I travelled for several years internationally and throughout the US and lived in New Mexico for a couple of years studying Yoga and Modern.

I became a single mum (long story), and moved back to Virginia when my daughter was 1 year old, and began teaching at the school where I had started at age 12. It was great to be back there, as my first teacher, Debbie, is like a mother to me still. Soon, I took on the role of Studio Manager and as an Assistant Director and Choreographer of the student company, Bayside Youth Ballet. I taught there for about 5 years until I moved. I also worked as a counselor and advocate for abused women & children for those years until I decided to go back to college last spring semester.

Now, I am the new Ballet Mistress at a fairly well-reputed Richmond VA studio, only, it's reputation is based on tap and jazz. So, I'm trying to beef up the ballet department a bit. I don't have a degree or certification, but am still an effective and knowledgable teacher and seem to have a way with my students.

I am still in school, aiming for a BA in English, and love every minute of my studies.

My daughter and I live with my unofficial 'fiance' who makes my life easier and supports me in all my endeavors. It should become 'official' as an Xmas prezzie.

I am 30 yo, love my dogs Rudy and Katie, love indie film, french baroque opera, and punk rock!

Cheers,

NadiaLadida

~formerly known as grishkogrrl~