IN HER WORDS
photo by Caroline Stelte
Carmen DeVora Felder OKLAHOMA ALPHA WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY OF WORK LOOK LIKE? I am a professional ballet dancer with Northwest Arkansas (NWA) Ballet Theatre in Bentonville, Arkansas. This is my second season with the company and my 11th year dancing professionally. My typical day of work consists of a ballet class, rehearsal and teaching ballet. I start early with a big breakfast, followed by my physical therapy exercises. I head to the studio about 30 minutes before class starts and I prepare myself for the day. Class is typically an hour and a half, which prepares my body for rehearsal and allows me time to improve my technique. Rehearsal can be anywhere from zero to six hours a day as I work on multiple ballets or various roles from the same ballet! These hours are the bulk of my workday. After rehearsal, I teach ballet classes to students aged seven to 70! I enjoy teaching in addition to performing as it’s a wonderful way to share the art.
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HOW HAS THAT CHANGED IN THE LAST YEAR? COVID-19 has certainly changed what my typical day looks like. The onset of the pandemic canceled multiple performances for me and moved all studio work into my living room. This sudden change was emotionally difficult. The ballet I was learning in March, prior to quarantine, was an incredible opportunity for me. Losing the chance to perform crushed my spirit. I also live on the second floor of my apartment complex and did not want to disturb the neighbors below me while dancing during the day. I had to learn choreography from videos and record the ballet on my own without any coaching. I produced and hosted a talk show to stay connected with our audience and community, which was a lot of fun. Dancing at home also meant not wearing pointe shoes, as the floor was not suitable for pointe work. Not having a sprung floor to jump on also meant not jumping for almost six months! I am back in the studio now but with masks and all recorded performances. Being able to have
