I am a quitter. At least, that’s what my artistic director wanted me to believe. May 2016 marked the conclusion of my final season as a professional ballerina. I went to my artistic director’s office for the annual contract meeting. As we evaluated the season-to-date and I was given the floor to express my future intentions, I explained my desire to leave the art, illustrating I wanted more in life, including a college education. The artistic director’s reaction was one of shock, saying to me she thought it was all, “Just a phase”, and that , “You will flounder.” What she did not understand is the fact I had not floundered at all to this point professionally. But, that is one of the oddities of being a contracted ballet dancer - it is rare
