Meet Trey Lawrence | Ballet Dancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Trey Lawrence and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Trey, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My balance with my dancing (work) and my personal life has become more separated this past year. During your training years, you start online school and ballet becomes your whole life and all you think about 24/7, it’s very easy for it to completely absorb you and become your whole identity

As I become an adult I’m starting to realize this career path isn’t the only thing out there for me and I can still be a human with a personality and other interests and not be ashamed of it.

I’ve had teachers tell my class that ballet has to become your whole life. Let me tell you when it does become your whole reality that’s when I’m doing the worst, mentally.

Letting myself detach my work from my identity at the end of the day is something that can be very beneficial and let’s me feel more human and able to enjoy the other opportunities life has for me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Ballet, I would have to say is an industry a lot of people don’t know about or understand. It definitely isn’t a mainstream career and come with a lot of “that’s your actual job?”

I’m in a place in my “career” where I’m transitioning from a student to professional. Im doing everything that a pro dancer would just without the salary of theirs or I guess the title of a “professional ballet dancer”

Up to this point I trained in around 5 different schools all across the country. My recent schools were CPYB (Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet) and MCB (Miami City Ballet School) I definitely grew the most, technically while at CPYB and enhanced my artistry and partnering skills while at MCB.
It definitely was not easy getting even to where I am today but dancing for up to 6+ hours a day for the last 11 years has something to do with it for sure.

I had a very unfortunate childhood and was adopted when I was 2 and grew up with a big family of 12! Most dancers would say I started my training late (age 10) and even though sometimes I feel “behind” in this industry I have to remind myself of how far I’ve come from potential homelessness or worse.

On hard days I tell myself that I have to keep going with this career path I’ve chosen because if I can one day be a living example of not giving up and chasing your dreams and if I can inspire kids that may have had the same childhood I had. I think that is one of my main purposes of being a part of this insane industry.

No matter your past or where you come from if you start creating, living, and manifesting like the life you want, it will happen. The universe is literally at your fingertips to create and mold into your own reality

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I moved here back in June, I wish I could say I know the best places to go but I haven’t really gone too far out of my way to explore as much as I should. But I really enjoy going to cool coffee shops and enjoying all the art there is downtown. Radi8 hot yoga is also a great place to align your chakras and have a great sweat. Phoenix always have a lot of community events. Their farmers markets are a great way to find a good handful of local artists and businesses that are always super cool and have beautiful products coming from themselves.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people and schools that have gotten me where I am today. Definitely my mom has been a big supporter in my ballet journey. All of my teachers in the past that really shaped my technique and spent countless hours helping me improve myself. I don’t think I would still be dancing if it wasn’t for all of my amazing friends I’ve made along the way. There can be a lot of bad days when dancing and to have your piers that know how you feel and what your going through is something we shouldn’t take for granted.

Instagram: Trey_lawrence

Image Credits
Ashley Lorraine Baker (Dance belt Nude photos)