We had the good fortune of connecting with Jaclyn Levine-Nail and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jaclyn, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Funny story…my business literally fell into my lap. I was teaching at several ballet schools in the Phoenix area; Scottsdale School of Ballet, under the Direction of Donald and Sibylle Acatos-Dadey, and Master Ballet Academy, under the direction of Slawomir and Irena Wozniak. One day, an 8 year old girl, Alexandra, walked into a ballet class that I was teaching at Scottsdale School of Ballet. She came up to me and said, “I’m new today, I’m a figure skater and my coach said I need to take ballet to become more graceful.” I welcomed her, and assured her that she was in the right place for that! As time passed, Alexandra’s mom realized how difficult it was to juggle a dance studio schedule and a skating schedule, so she asked me if I could do some private lessons to better accommodate their schedule. I agreed to this.

Alexandra’s coach, Karen Gesell, was starting to notice a difference in Alexandra’s skating quality and asked Alexandra’s mom who she was working with. Alexandra’s mom said, “Jaclyn Levine, over at Scottsdale School of Ballet.” Karen then sent a few of her other skaters over to work with me. It didn’t take long before a couple of the other coaches caught on, and we started a group ballet class that was just for the figure skaters.

In 2010, I got a call from the head of the Ice Den’s figure skating department, Julie Patterson, and she said, “What would you think about the idea of being the Ice Den’s resident ballet coach? We have so many skaters going to you already, and if you resided at the Ice Den, your business could multiply, and your services would be available to all of the skaters. We would love to have you as part of our program. We have heard wonderful things about you.” This was a huge opportunity for me, and a special niche within the Ballet World that I never dreamed would eventually become my full-time career. I jumped at the opportunity!

My business started out small, but quickly grew through word of mouth. In 2014, the Ice Den opened a second location in Chandler and at that point I realized that the potential of my business could double. It was then that I made the decision to leave the ballet schools I was currently working at, to pursue my ballet journey within the world of figure skating. I am grateful to have a job that never feels like work a single day of my life. I still get to share my passion for ballet, and make a difference in so many skaters’ lives by giving them the gift of artistry. It is my mission, as well as my business slogan, to “Find the Artist within the Athlete.” The thought process behind starting my own business was simply being at the right place, at the right time, and a little luck!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
“Finding the Artist within the Athlete” is what my job is all about. Figure skating requires so much athleticism that it’s easy for the artistic side of skating to just slip away. Now, more than ever, the sport has become so technical that sometimes there isn’t even enough time to get choreography into a skating program. However, I truly believe that the presentation, art, and performance can still be there! It just needs to be brought to the surface, and that’s where I come in!

I am not a figure skater. Actually, I have never really skated at all! I have learned so much about the sport from my students, and the coaches, as well as from the 15 years that I have dedicated to watching and working with the skaters. My “artistic eye” is uniquely my brand. (It comes from that village of people who collectively trained me in ballet.) I am very passionate, and I love my art. My mission, and career goal is to pass on this love, and to keep skating artistic! I may be a figure skater’s only exposure to ballet, and I want them to remember it as a positive experience! It is my hope that I can instill a lifelong appreciation for ballet in all of my students.

So, what makes my program unique for Arizona’s competitive figure skaters? And why would they want to invest in AZ Ballet For Figure Skaters and not just go to a local ballet school?

1.) I cut to the chase of what skaters need! Yes, I teach true ballet, with terminology and proper technique, but not all of ballet is entirely useful to a Skater, and some of it honestly, doesn’t translate to skating at all. Through the years, I’ve narrowed it down to where the focus needs to go. Ballet is not a figure skater’s primary focus so they don’t have the same amount of time to dedicate to it, as students training to be dancers at a studio.
2.) I welcome all ages (3 to Adult). If you are just starting ballet, or have years of experience, there is truly something for everyone! You can learn in a group setting, a private lesson, or a semi- private lesson. My program currently includes several levels of ballet for competitive skaters- based on the Russian Vaganova methodology. I also offer Adult Ballet, Pre-Ballet, and Stretch and Strength, as well as off ice and on ice artistic program work. I work or have worked with freestyle skaters, pairs teams, ice dancers, and synchronized skating teams.
3.) I have a loose dress code. You can come in workout clothes or wear your skating clothes to ballet! No tights and leotards and uniforms are required. I only require ballet shoes.
4.) No wasted class time preparing for recitals. My program is just technique. Dance studios all have recitals and often take class time to practice for this, if you don’t plan to perform, you will end up wasting time standing in the back of the class.
5.) A Skater doesn’t have to commute, I’m in the building. It’s so convenient!
6.) Affordable private lessons, and group class prices. You can pay as you go, and there’s no commitment. Work it into your schedule.
7.) AZ Ballet For Figure Skaters provides musicality, artistry, Port de Bras (arms and upper body), expression, balance, extensions, posture, strength, flexibility, body alignment, body awareness, grace, agility, turnout, pointed toes, presentation and performance quality.

The biggest challenge in my business is getting skaters to realize the importance of ballet as a vital part of their cross training. In the skating world, you don’t have to do ballet, and honestly, you can still get pretty far in the competitive scene without it. However, at the end of the day, a skater with ballet training will always look more Aesthetic. Their refinement, and performance will improve their grade of execution scores and ultimately they will place better in competitions. Ballet helps to make a skater memorable, the audience and judges will fall in love with them because the skater knows how to reach out and connect through their performance. Even though figure skating is a competitive sport, in my eyes it will always be a performing art too!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of my Favorite spots in the Phoenix metro area is Oldtown Scottsdale. It is home to world class art galleries, museums, restaurants, and retail shops. It has an exciting nightlife, and also a ton of history that dates back to the late 1800s. One of my favorite spots is the Hotel Valley Ho (I actually had my wedding reception there) built in 1956, and features some great retro, mid-century modern architecture. Even though I live in Oldtown Scottsdale, I love doing staycations, with my husband, at the Hotel Valley Ho. We really enjoy their pool, and ZuZu Restaurant. It is always a guaranteed great time!

Some of my favorite restaurants in Oldtown Scottsdale are Citizens Public House (I’m all about the Stetson Chopped Salad!) Kyoto for some super yummy Sushi and Teppanyaki, and of course Barrio Queen for Mexican. If I were to recommend a fun bar, I’d say head over to a new bar/restaurant, called, “The Ends.” It has great vibes for a fun get together spot with friends, or a romantic evening date night!

I really enjoy a weekend stroll through Scottsdale’s Civic Center Park, and there are some really great coffee shops around town! My favorites being Yellow Spruce Roasters and Alo Cafe! I love where I live, it’s definitely a destination vacation spot, and I’m lucky enough to get to call it my home!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There’s a song lyric from Jackson Browne’s song “For A Dancer” that speaks so true to a Ballet Dancer’s Life, but also just life in general;

“…Just do the steps that you’ve been shown
By everyone you’ve ever known
Until the dance becomes your very own…”

I feel that ballet dancers are a collection of their ballet teachers. Ballet traditions are passed down from generation to generation. Every dancer is influenced by the ones who danced before them, and then dancers find a style and approach to ballet, all their own. I believe that everyone we meet in this life leaves an impression on our soul, and that all of our experiences are necessary to prepare us for the next thing in life. I’ve lived most of my life by “signs”, rather than “plans”. In my experience, plans never really seemed to work out. I’ve learned that as long as you have forward momentum you can just let life lead you, and let your heart guide you, and you will ultimately live a life that you are proud of.

My biggest shoutout has to go to my parents. They are first and foremost responsible for helping me to get to where I am in life today. They did A LOT for me growing up (and still even now). Their efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement helped me to pursue my dreams. Honestly, they let me fail sometimes, and I had to learn how to get back up. They were there with hugs for my disappointments, and were my biggest fans when celebrating my achievements. They taught me how to be grateful for when life is good. My parents let me move away from home at a young age, in high school, to attend a ballet boarding school so I could further my ballet training and pursue my dreams. Their support was unwavering. I’m forever grateful, and I love them for all that they are!

My ballet teachers were the other main contributors to my success. These people all “showed me the steps” (just like in Jackson Browne’s song.) Here’s a special shout out to the people who influenced my life as a dancer and teacher; Pam Villeneuve, Dolly Haltzman, Jennifer Haltzman-Tracey, Maurice Brandon Curry, Roland Culler, Gloria Govrin, Alla Sizova, Alexei Tchernichov, Eleanor D’Antuano, Joan Kunsch, Kevin Martin, Scott Thyberg, Sharon Dante, Inna Dorofeeva, Vadim Pisarev, John White, Margarita De Saa White, Marilyn Budzynski, Adalhi Aranda, Clark Reid, Jen Levine, Chris Jones, Donald Dadey, Sibylle Acatos-Dadey, Slawomir and Irena Wozniak, Nadja Langenhorst, and Tzu-Chia Huang. Without your expertise, guidance, and example, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

A special shoutout goes to the entire AZ Skating Community. However, the REAL shoutout goes to Julie Patterson (former director of Figure Skating At the Ice Den) Your support of ballet, and your vision of how I could influence the Ice Den’s skating program truly sparked my entire career! I can’t thank you enough.

My last shoutout goes to my husband, family, and my friends. You have to deal with me trying to run a business, and trying to balance life. Your wisdom, advice, friendship, support, and love means the world to me. The same way my ballet teachers helped to shape my career, you help to shape me as a person! Each one of you has a very special place in my heart, and in my life story.

Website: www.azballetforfigureskaters@gmail.com

Facebook: AZ Ballet For Figure Skaters

Image Credits
Julia Hallman

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