Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Viale.
Hi Sara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I was born and raised in Turin, Italy. I started Ballet at the age of 6, and it’s been my passion, love, and philosophy of life ever since. I spent a large part of my childhood in Monte Carlo at the Academie de Danse Princess Grace and the Accademia Nazionale di Danza in my home city. At the age of 19, I received my first trainee contract with Ater Balletto in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and I began my life adventure. The following year, I was invited to dance with Zurich Ballet, the largest company in Switzerland. I loved everything about that time in my life: I was dancing in a beautiful Opera House, I was
sharing the stage with my “heroes,” wonderful dancers from around the world. I was surrounded by dancers, opera singers and musicians, a dream come true!!!
I moved to the USA where Eldar Aliev (former principal dancer with the Kirov Ballet) offered me a contract with Ballet Internationale. My career as a dancer ended because of an injury, but I started a new wonderful chapter as a ballet teacher. Ballet Arte is now my family and my home. I share my passion with my students; many became professional dancers, many learned how to appreciate the discipline, the determination, and dedication you learn in the ballet class and apply them in their studies and professions…
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Transitioning from dancing to teaching. At first, I believed I would not be able to let go of the stage. The feeling you get when you completely immerse yourself in a character and forget everything else, the adrenaline rush…and the euphoria at the end of a performance if, and only if, everything went well. And the constant work to improve yourself as an athlete and an artist. But teaching this life skills turned out to be just as rewarding.
I enjoy my students’ successes, and I share their disappointment, because I have been thru all of them myself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the co-director of Ballet Arte. I teach ballet age 3 children to adults. At Ballet Arte our students become like our children: we want the best for them as any good parents would. We teach the love for this magical art and the passion for hard work.
They learn from a young age the importance of perseverance and resilience, qualities that will be helpful for the rest of their life.
Our students also build wonderful friendships and bonds. Many still come back after many, many years to visit us or to take a ballet class.
Often, they start dancing a when they are 4 or 5, and they are our students till they graduate; I always get teary eyes when they take their last bow at Ballet Arte, but I’m confident we sent mature and confident individuals out in the world.
During the last 20 years, my students placed at National and International ballet competitions, and Ballet Arte was honored with Best School and Best teachers award numerous time.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I have been lucky to be able to do what I love, even though it’s hard work and very long hours. Sacrifices were and still are necessary, but I would not change anything.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.balletarte.com
- Instagram: balletarteacademy
- Facebook: Ballet Arte
