Episode 63: Flexibility in Dancing Internationally — Elena Vostrotina

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Elena Vostrotina, principal dancer at the Zurich Ballet. Since 2003, Elena has been internationally performing for some of the world’s most esteemed dance companies and choreographers. Having been formally trained at the famous Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, Elena went on to achieve her dream of dancing at the Mariinsky Ballet, as well as the Semperoper Ballett Dresden and, currently, the Zurich Ballet.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Elena knows that flexibility is key for international ballet — both of the mind and of the body. It goes without saying that physical flexibility is necessary for ballet, but when travelling internationally, mental and emotional flexibility are critical for adjusting to new cultures and accepting new ideas. On the podcast, Elena, who is no stranger to living outside her “comfort zone,” walks through her dance journey and shares advice on taking on new cultures, ideas, and even languages with poise and grace.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Moving Quotes:</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If you decide to make a change, you have to keep your eyes wide open. Listen a lot. Be open to the change… Don’t build things the same way that you’re used to."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Many things can be challenging in our profession… Performing seems like moving a mountain, often… I think we have to work on those fears and just go out there and do it."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When you feel that you can’t do something, you have to master yourself. You must know how to deal with yourself to make things work the way you want them to.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“[When traveling,] take care of your body as much as you possibly can."</span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">3:41: Elena describes her current role as princip