Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaitlyn Riley.
Kaitlyn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in a small town in Washington State. I always knew that I wanted to do more with the things I was passionate about, but I wanted to have a secure plan before executing those dreams. My dream is to be a professional ballerina who dances in big companies like Dance Theatre Of Harlem and or Pacific Northwest Ballet. I spent a year at a college in LA, which was amazing, but I felt like within dance, there may be a different route for me to take. I took a break from college for six months and decided to live at home, take care of my mental health, and go to work. As time passed by, I knew I wanted to go back to college, but this time around, I wasn’t sure what this route would look like. I have a big heart for people, especially those who live in my community. So I did some thinking and research and felt like God was calling me to social work, and I am currently getting my bachelor’s. This originally was not my plan, as I have always dreamed of being on the big stage, but dance is engraved in my body, and it will never leave. I get the opportunity to do more with the things I love, and I can eventually be a social worker and teach young African American dancers how to do ballet.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not always been so easy down the road. Often, I felt regret for leaving my first college because I felt like I was throwing my dreams away by leaving. I had to realize that not all plans are going to work out, and sometimes it is healthier to pivot rather than to stay. Another struggle was trusting the process. A lot of times, I remember myself questioning whether social work was going to work out for me, or if I should go back to the dance school I was at, rather than just trusting everything was going to be okay, and accepting that change is good sometimes.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I grew up doing classical ballet and pointe, and it is something that brings me so much joy. I was in a dance school back home and got to perform in shows like The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Beauty and the Beast, and many more. I never played sports in middle or high school, as the only thing that I had a strong interest in was ballet. Being from a smaller town in WA, it was hard for me to put myself out there because I was too shy to. Now that I am an adult, my goal is to go to more open classes, audition for things, and promote myself more on social media. I am most proud of myself for staying when things got hard. I went to a predominantly white dance institution, and while being an African American woman, sometimes I struggled. I am proud that I continued to do what I love, despite feeling like the odd one out at times. It is important to set a diverse space for younger dancers in whatever space, so they can feel like they are capable of doing anything. I believe that by getting my degree in Social Work as well as being a ballerina of color, I will be able to encourage other students.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
A favorite childhood memory of mine was when we would go to Disneyland with my family and my grandma and my aunt would be there. I am not originally from California, so it was always a fun trip that we got to go on in the summer, and it was even better because we got to spend good quality time with family.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Kaleah Riley (ballet photos)
