Check Out Olivia Jacobus’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Jacobus.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
A lot has changed for me since the last time I was lucky enough to speak with Voyage LA! For those who missed my last article, I am a ballet dancer from Los Angeles. I began my training in LA when I was nine and jumped around a few studios, training primarily with my childhood mentors and faculty at The Colburn School in Downtown LA. In 2021, I moved all the way up to Seattle to pursue my dream at age 19, and can now say that I have entered the professional ring this fall. I was lucky enough to have been offered an apprentice position by Devon Carney, the Artistic Director of the Kansas City Ballet in Missouri! Training through every level of the pandemic was mentally and physically exhausting but ultimately beyond reward as now, I am living out my childhood dreams. I never expected I would end up in a place like Kansas City being from such a hustle and bustle city like Los Angeles, but I have been constantly surprised at how much KC already feels like home. It has already been such a fantastic season, and I am having the time of my life growing and exploring in the studios here every day.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Breaking out of the pre-professional bubble was one of the most mentally challenging tasks I have ever taken on. The process of auditioning and applying for jobs is extremely stressful in general, but there is an added sense of vulnerability and fragility for dancers. It feels like your worth as a dancer hangs in the balance, as you are putting your whole self into every video you send in, awaiting judgment and then a consensus. Dancing is a very personal experience and indescribably different for every artist in this profession. So, when I sent materials to over 20 ballet companies and was returned with a reign of rejections over a span of four months, I went through many low periods of doubting my abilities. There were a scattered handful of acceptances as well, but none that seemed like the right fit for my personality, dancing, or ambitions. I had accepted that perhaps the 2022-23 season wasn’t in the cards for me and that everything happens for a reason sometimes I can’t see. And although I am lucky enough to be giving my all in such a wonderful and new environment this season, I was right that everything isn’t always what it seems. Those stressful days and emails were a necessary loss for me to put in perspective how much I love my job and how the opportunity I have been given is truly what I’ve worked my entire life for.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Being a ballet dancer comes with so many moving parts. You have to be a high-caliber athlete, an artist, a technician, and someone who isn’t afraid to face hardship head-on and push through. Someone who isn’t afraid to play the mental game. That mental aspect and idea of push is also partially what makes the artistic portion so beautiful. Often from pressure and push, something beautiful and unique is forged. I feel this is something that sets me apart from others in my profession. I was always the one who was a few years behind, constantly playing catch up, but the extra work and struggle I pushed through has made me someone who loves and appreciates the hard work. Welcomes the struggle. It has proven to always pay off, in a big way or small, and that to me is something I chase.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
In any profession, it is imperative to have a support system. Someone who looks out for you and will be honest with you. I’ve found that sometimes these people are in the places you least suspect, so it is important to always be perceptive and observant. I also heavily rely on my friends. People I know will be willing to help me when I ask and sometimes when I don’t. All that considered, your biggest advocate and mentor is yourself. Especially in a field such as dance. I have learned time and again that no one knows me and what I need better than myself, and no one else will do the work for me!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livonpointe/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@livijacobus?lang=en

Image Credits
Image credits: Gabriel Lorena Lindsay Thomas Elisabeth Snell