THE BASICS
Name: Sarah Obuzor
Age: 23
Astrological Sign: Aquarius
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Role in C’ville Ballet: Company Member
FAVORITES…
Food: Oh…I have to pick one!? I love sweets, Mexican is always yummy, and sushi is delicious!
Color: Green, but blue is close behind.
Book: There are far too many to name but Memoirs of a Geisha and She’s Come Undone are two that stick out.
Movie: Seven Pounds– I saw it recently and enjoyed it very much.
Quotation: “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha
Spot in C’ville: River View Park- I love taking my dog (Gus) for walks there!
Business/Store in C’ville:C’ville Coffee (www.cvillecoffee.com)
NERDY BALLET QUESTIONS
Tell us about your dance background and training:
I was about four when my mama took me, my brother, and two sisters to our first dance classes at a small studio in Pittsburgh. After a few years, someone recommended we go to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) to further our ballet training. We took their advice. I was also taking gymnastics at the time, so there came a point when I had to choose between the two. I’m glad I stuck with ballet! I took classes at a musical theater school (mostly dance and acting…you don’t want to hear me sing!). However, PBT is where I continued the majority of my dance training. After high school I was accepted into their graduate/pre-professional program for two years. I also had the opportunity to attend summer programs at Ballet Met, Alvin Ailey, and Ballet Theatre of Maryland. I began my professional career at Ballet Theatre of Maryland. I spent three years there and am overjoyed to be joining Charlottesville Ballet this year.
What genres of dance do you enjoy?
CONTEMPORARY!!! I love the form and structure of ballet and the freedom of movement when it’s applied in a different way.
What kind of pointe shoe do you wear?
Bloch serenade
Do you have a favorite ballet:
Swan Lake is beautiful…Tchaikovsky’s music is utterly stunning! Also, I’d love to play Kitri from Don Quixote. I remember seeing it when I was young and loving it!
What’s your favorite ballet/dance step:
I have a love/ hate relationship with pirouettes. But my all time favorite is grand allegro. It’s like flying!
Tell us, why do you dance?
When I was about 10 or 11 my mother was driving through downtown and everyone was leaving work. They all looked like they’d had THE WORST day of their lives. It was then and there that I promised myself I’d never have a job that made me look or feel like that. Dancing doesn’t– it makes me happy every day. I love knowing that no matter how tired I am leaving the studio, I’m happy.
OTHER
What other jobs/activities/academic pursuits are you involved in? I work at Red Robin (YUMM) in Fashion Square Mall. I also teach ballet classes at Albemarle Ballet Theatre. Other than that, I like to try and stay active– especially over summers when I am home with my family… I love white water rafting and biking. In the winter I bake, mostly cookies.
What other talents or passions do you have? Baking. It started with Christmas cookies, but this past summer I got the chance to make two wedding cakes and I enjoyed it so much!
Anything else you’d like to express: “Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you!” -Christian D. Larson
Come see The Nutcracker Suiteon Saturday, December 18th at 3:30pm– I’ll be performing as a Russian Ribbon Dancer!!! (More info at www.CharlottesvilleBallet.org)
Sarah’s full professional bio can be found online at www.CharlottesvilleBallet.org.
Thanks for enjoying our “Meet the Artist” segment–
and look for a new Charlottesville Ballet artist profile next month!