Whenever I come across a company that’s making real changes to prioritize dancer wellness, I want to celebrate and share it. This BalletX feature is particularly exciting to bring to you all because it also highlights a past client of mine, Minori Sakita. Along with Minori, you’ll get to hear from Christine Cox, BalletX’s Executive and Artistic Director as well as co-founder.
Read on to see how BalletX is providing a forward-thinking environment that supports dancers to advocate and care for themselves. Not only is the company expanding but they have also introduced year-round contracts for all company members. This is a company to watch, to celebrate, and to support.
Christine, how has your experience as a dancer influenced your directorship over the years?
My career as a professional ballet dancer deeply influences my decision-making as a co-founder and director. I pull from many different experiences with my colleagues and am inspired by innovative ballets that inspire a sense of community and excitement. I have been a student of classical ballet for the majority of my life and love working with dancers to help them strengthen their classical ballet technique and contemporary movement.
Christine, what role does health and wellness play in the operations of BalletX, and what are some things your company does that ensures your dancers feel supported (mentally and physically)?
We care deeply about the health and wellness of our dancers. Being a professional athlete is extremely challenging, and a healthy company needs a supportive environment.
I encourage every dancer to come in and talk to me directly about any challenges they are facing. In addition, they can also lean on Associate Artistic Director Tara Keating or our Rehearsal Director Keelan Whitmore. We offer massage therapy once a week, physical therapy twice a week, and a stipend for a full massage once a month.
We work closely with the dancers to set a schedule that is manageable for them and supports their growth. When there are mental health challenges that may require outside support, we encourage them to seek an experienced therapist. The ultimate goal is to have a supportive environment that allows everyone on the BalletX team to thrive and enjoy their work experience.
Minori, what initiatives do you see BalletX taking in order to support you from a dancer’s standpoint?
BalletX fosters an open-door policy with the artistic staff, creating a collaborative environment that encourages communication and mutual support. This allows the entire company to grow together. Additionally, BalletX offers gym memberships and reimbursements for massage and physical therapy, which are essential for our physical well-being.
Christine, what is your vision for the future of BalletX?
To create extraordinary dance experiences that inspire human connection. This is our vision statement, and it’s a lofty goal, but each and every day, month, and year, we step closer and closer to expressions that bring people together. We bring Artists together, we bring Communities together, we bring Students together — and we inspire them through dance.
Minori, what do you value in a workplace and what attracted you to audition for BalletX? How has your experience been so far?
I value a positive and supportive environment that challenges me to grow both as a dancer and as an individual. After spending a decade in classical ballet companies, I wanted a new experience.
BalletX provides the perfect blend of ballet and contemporary styles, promising to challenge me while showcasing my strengths. My experience here has been incredibly rewarding and inspiring.
Christine, what do you look for in a dancer when they are auditioning for your company?
I love working with dancers who are passionate about their craft, who love to express themselves through movement and are genuinely positive, uplifting people.
What is your favorite role or ballet you have performed or worked on?
Minori: My favorite piece I’ve danced is kiss. by Stephanie Martinez.
Christine: So many roles have stuck with me. It’s hard to name just one! Dew Drop in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, the Cowgirl in Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo, the Rum and Coca-Cola girl in Paul Taylor’s Company B and the Mother in Jerome Robbins’s The Concert are all favorites.
We all know that working in the dance world (in any capacity) can be very taxing. How do you both maintain balance in your lives within your respective roles?
Minori: Maintaining balance is a continuous journey for me, but I find that confidence plays a crucial role. Learning to trust in my abilities and prioritizing self-love and care significantly reduces anxiety outside of work. Also, recognizing that I am a person first, before being a dancer, enriches my artistic expression. The more life experiences I embrace, the deeper my dancing becomes.
Christine: I am so deeply grateful for the many different journeys I’ve experienced in the dance world. Dancing for 20 years professionally and now leading a company for almost 20 years has been such a gift. I am learning each and every day. I am always looking to grow and challenge myself to be an open, honest leader who can see both sides of the coin.
I am also a mother of two boys and have raised my sons while building a company. What I do to find balance is prioritize both my company and my family. I am a mother seven days a week, and I work on BalletX seven days a week. Something that helps immensely is keeping my physicality strong. I keep my physical health a priority, and that serves me immensely in keeping a healthy balance — and that is something I work on daily.
What is one change you would each like to see in the dance world?
Minori: I would love to see an end to body shaming in the dance community. Dance is for everyone, and what resonates with audiences is not the shape of a dancer’s body but the authenticity of their movement and emotion.
Christine: A global conversation on the impact dance has on the world — a unified voice that connects community to the power of dance.
What is your top piece of advice for a joyful career in dance?
Minori: Prioritizing your internal experience will lead you to a more joyful journey in dance. Focus on how you feel within the company rather than how your career appears from the outside.
Christine: You will have many ups and downs and probably more downs than ups, but what you do when things are not going your way will define your life. Work harder than anybody else in the room and push yourself to be the best version of you. Sometimes you have to let dreams go, but perhaps you can open up and carve out a new direction that is connected to dance — but bigger and bolder than you could’ve imagined. Never stop dreaming.
Photo of the BalletX Company dancers by: Vikki Sloviter
Photo of Minori by: DVM Dance Photography
