New Mentorship Students at CBJ: Meet Laura Lynch

CBJ is welcoming three new mentorship students this season: Chloe Bruce, Kendra Haskett, and Laura Lynch. The Mentorship Program is a one-year intensive program for select graduates of George Brown Dance’s diploma program. Mentorship students are immersed in the life of a professional company dancer as they take part in CBJ rehearsals, creation processes, performances, educational programs, and tours. Get to know CBJ’s 2019-2020 mentorship students in this three-part interview series.

 

Why did you decide to pursue a mentorship with the company?
I decided to join the mentorship program so that I could continue training in a professional environment and become more comfortable and confident with my abilities. I was mostly self-trained before receiving my formal dance education through GBD. I wanted to continue with my training in an environment that will prepare me for the future.

What will you be working on this 2019-2020 season?
I am super lucky to be working on Anne of Green Gables – The Ballet™ with the company this season. It’s really exciting to be part of the process of creating a new ballet. This is also the first time that I will be involved in The Nutcracker, which is huge for me. Most people who train to be a professional dancer have participated in The Nutcracker many times as children. I am twenty-two and have never participated in The Nutcracker because I am from a very small town where ballet isn’t always appreciated. I also never got to see a live performance of The Nutcracker until I moved away from home. For me, and for many other dancers, I think that being involved in The Nutcracker is a rite of passage into the ballet world, and I’ve been dreaming of this my entire life.

“For me, and for many other dancers, I think that being involved in The Nutcracker is a rite of passage into the ballet world, and I’ve been dreaming of this my entire life.”

 

 

 

“Being in the mentorship program means that I am constantly surrounded by the talented company members of Canada’s Ballet Jörgen.”

What do you hope to gain from this experience?
I’m hoping to see more growth within myself. Being in the mentorship program means that I am constantly surrounded by the talented company members of Canada’s Ballet Jörgen. This pushes me every day to work harder so that I can dance as easily and as confidently as they do someday soon.

Describe a typical day in the life of a mentorship student.
A typical day for me is similar to a day in the life of a company dancer. I take class with the company and then we rehearse and create for the rest of the day. We are here from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. As a mentorship student, I have to make sure I know all the different roles in case someone is missing. I need to be ready to jump in at any time.

Interested in pursuing a mentorship with Canada’s Ballet Jörgen? Graduates of GBD’s P105 Dance Performance Program are eligible to apply. To learn more about your pathway from GBD to a mentorship opportunity, click here.

Written by Victoria Campbell Windle, CBJ Communications Contributor.

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