Hannah Galway Q&A
Growing up in British Columbia, what was your first introduction to The National Ballet of Canada?
Coming from a smaller town, I had never heard of a prestigious ballet company before – I never knew that being a ballet dancer for a living was even a possibility. Luckily, when I was 11, I met a ballet teacher who changed my life. He saw something in me and made me believe I could have a future in ballet and he suggested I audition for Canada’s National Ballet School. What started as a fun activity at the age of four soon became my all consuming passion. I was shocked and delighted to be accepted to Canada’s National Ballet School for Grade 8. That was the first time I had ever seen The National Ballet of Canada perform. I couldn’t comprehend the size of the theatre and the amount of people who were there to watch the very thing that I love and would hope to do someday. Oddly enough, I actually can’t remember the ballet I saw the company perform, but I can remember the feeling it gave me when the curtain went up. I watched the dancing unfold from up in the fifth ring and was beyond amazed.
Going into your second season with the National Ballet, what piece of advice would you share with anyone new to the company?
Although it is my second year in the company, I feel a little unqualified to be giving advice to those who are joining us! I’m still learning a myriad of things, whether that be with regards to ballet itself or how to approach something new within the company. I guess I might suggest that if ever you have a question about anything at work, please don’t be afraid to ask. I know from experience that everyone who works at the National Ballet is more than willing to volunteer their time to help.
Congratulations on winning the Patron Award of Merit at the end of last season! After such a successful first year in the Corps, from travelling to Moscow and St. Petersburg on tour to performing a lead role in The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude, what are you hoping to accomplish this season?
In ballet, I’m not sure things are ever truly accomplished or conquered, but rather they’re thoughtfully explored by our bodies, minds and emotions. The magnitude to which they can be explored changes depending on the work and your own approach. This year, I hope to be a little more understanding of myself and more sensitive to the work I’m doing, to fully immerse myself and have fun navigating the choreography, the music and the relationships with those whom I have the privilege of dancing with. I’m looking forward to applying this to all the new works we’re performing this year.
Hannah Galway with Geneviève McKillop, Chair, Patrons' Council Committee, and Kota Sato after winning the Patron Award of Merit.