Working from home in 2020 definitely makes life a bit different. Instead of your standard cubicle or desk, you’re now just a few steps away from the bed you left that morning. For some, work-from-home life is a bit more complicated, especially when it’s time to kick things into high-gear.
b.glenish! represents a space for dreamers and doers, and pro-ballerina, Jennifer Grace is a shining example of both. Jennifer is currently a soloist for Colorado Ballet. With some down time for reflection in the past 9 months, Jennifer knows keeping the fire burning is tough sometimes.
“I would say I’m someone who dreams big.”
“But I would say that all dreams are big, and that anyone can be a dreamer. It’s more about what you do with these dreams. You’re either letting days pass you by, longing to do something, or you’re looking for ways to actively pursue these dreams.”
How big can you go? Jennifer is a testament to the idea that limits really don’t exist anywhere past the mind.
“I’d say I aim high, because it’s just a part of who I am. If we’re looking at something I’m passionate about, like dance, I’m going to strive to do it to the best of my ability. No matter what.”
Oftentimes, we aren’t sure what we want out of life from a very early age. When you’re looking to take something far, it all starts with inspiration, and thinking about the steps it may take to get there.“I remember being 6 or 7, watching PBS. Pacific North West Ballets’ Romeo and Juliet performance was broadcasting, and I remember just thinking, “Wow, I would love to do THAT. You could just feel the surge of energy, the dancers emotions, it was powerful. I knew right there I had to find a way to make that my own reality, too.”
Ballet shares so many similarities to the framework of art, and could even be said to be an art in-motion. One moment, you’ll be physically representing a sad emotion, and exuberance the next. Jennifer’s passion is to share these feelings and moments with the audience, allowing the flow of dance to make an impact on their day.
Creativity On The Move
We often watch dance, and performers of various backgrounds, wondering how much structure is built into their routine. To express yourself creatively and without bounds is something that keeps us grounded, and rooted to a clear vision for our life. Jennifer agrees, stating ballet, especially storyline ballet, allows her to add the O2 that makes her roles come to life.
“But in contemporary ballet, things are far more abstract. You’re portraying emotions, trying different things, it’s a roller coaster. In the moment you hear the instructor say, ‘That’s it.. That’s the move!’ You’ve found common ground, and it just feels incredible”.
Though COVID-19 may have cramped some space, it’s definitely not suppressing Jennifer’s passion and daily practice. According to Jennifer, the global pandemic has, “Definitely changed the shape of dance and performing arts. Just, period.”
“There were some tough moments, really just having to sit there and ask myself if and how much I really loved this. We’ve had Zoom rehearsals, but of course, it’s not the same. I’ll sometimes lift my leg and kick the couch”, laughs Jennifer.
Dancing Around Skin Issues.
Most athletes and sports performers aren’t going to be moving around with a full face of makeup. In dance, the story is a little different. For Jennifer, typical production weeks means ultra-long days. Sometimes, days stretch from 10AM-10PM.
“After a quick lunch, we’ll do an entire run-through of the ballet. If it’s something like Dracula, you’ll be in vampire makeup for the first act, having to scramble to wipe it all off and return to your human-form for the second. It’s constant madness, having to wipe everything off and reapply… you don’t get the opportunity to wash your face. And during production week, you do this everyday, sometimes twice.”
What. A. Whirlwind. Jennifer mentioned her skin normally leans towards the drier side, making matters that much more complicated and potentially irritating. Moving around and sweating sometimes causes clogged pores, as Jennifer notes that breakouts are no stranger in her skin’s history.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has been a bit nice to give my skin a break. I love using b.glen on my skin, I know what I’m using is really giving me a deep-cleanse, and the QuSome delivery system really pulls out the impurities, and delivers hydration and restorative ingredients my skin needs.”
“To me, skincare means more than just a freshly washed face. It allows me to find the space and time at the beginning and the end of each day to really take care of myself. It doesn’t matter what lies ahead, or what’s already happened, I’m committing this time to filling my own cup. And I think that’s incredibly important for everyone.”
Words of Advice for Beginners
Breaking into an industry, whether it’s dance, art, music… it can be incredibly intimidating, to say the least. While of course, anyone who has advanced in their career would advise you to never give up, Jennifer knows that it may take a little bit more than a word of hope to keep you pushing forward.
“You have to be open to not being right all of the time. There will be plenty of constructive criticism, and you can’t just have one-way thinking. Things (and times) are always changing, and you have to be willing to go with the flow, and change with them. Even as a professional, I’m still discovering something new all the time.”
From Scáfuri to Self Care: How Jennifer Keeps Balance
We give so much of ourselves to work, friends, family, and beyond. While this experience may sometimes be draining, to Jennifer, it fuels her fire. She mentions that she can’t wait for once things are safe, to continue giving to the audiences she performs in front of. And finding new ways to share more and more.
“Things have been so tough for us all. I really miss that almost sacred connection we all have on stage. It’s totally different from a normal conversation one would have with a stranger. During a performance, you have all of those flashbacks of the long days, trips and falls, come to you in seconds with one look across the stage.” Jennifer even takes her theatrical skill outside of dance, and hopes to improve and grow in this area too, once all signs point that it is safe to do so.
Music and dance compliment each other perfectly, and Jennifer loves to mix it up when finding a song to fit her mood. “My local Classical station is phenomenal. From Revell to Philip Glass, it’s so soothing. But sometimes, I’m in the mood for Metallica. The mood changes with the music, and vice versa.”
Female-Empowerment & Beauty-Biz
The beauty industry sometimes falls short to make women feel empowered, beautiful and strong enough to show up unapologetically as they are.
Feeling strong and empowered here in 2020 has made unshakeable confidence even more difficult. Jennifer shares that it’s her “most-draining shows” that leave her feeling strong. “You go from happy…to confused…to utter tragedy, it’s emotional turmoil”, she laughs. “Knowing that I can share and experience these emotions with an audience over 2,000 people, it’s incredibly empowering.”
“When it’s time for me to focus on my own well-being, I have to go all-in. Before COVID, I was dancing from 9AM-6PM, 5 days a week. My self care looked like a cup of peppermint tea, with some knitting when I could find the time. Now, it changes everyday. Sometimes, it’s a yoga class, others, teaching or cuddling up with a good book. As long as I’m finding space for that… I know I’ll be good, and strong enough to look forward to the days ahead.”
