Bloor West resident carves out dancing career in New York

Bloor West resident carves out dancing career in New York. Ballet dancer Jordan Risdon is ahieving an almost life-long dream of dancing professionally in New York. The Bloor West Village native moved there after graduating from the University of Michigan in 2008 and is working for several dance companies. Courtesy photo

The Bloor West Village native's first foray into dancing was at four years of age after tagging along to her older sister Megan's classes. Megan, then eight, would perform impromptu routines across the family's backyard deck while Risdon recalls trying to upstage her. The siblings, who both attended elementary school at St. Pius X Catholic, would make the short trek to the Doreen Hayes School of Dancing, a fixture at the corner of Bloor Street West and Jane Street, after school.

It didn't take Risdon long to realize she wanted to pursue dance as a career. It first dawned on her when she excelled at her Royal Academy of Dancing annual ballet exam at Doreen Hayes each spring. Each dancer was issued a colour indicating what position they were in class.

"Pink was the leader; yellow was second and so forth. I remember I was always pink," said Risdon. "You're really proud of yourself, you think you're the best ballet dancer."

Just six years later, an 11-year-old Risdon was accepted to the prestigious Quinte Ballet School of Canada, in Belleville, Ontario. Her mother, Ann, credits one-time professional dancer Richard Sugarman, who took Risdon under his wing, prepping her for a pre-professional program. Risdon would go on to audition for and complete her high school diploma at the Virginia School of the Arts, which attracted students from around the globe. Despite a lot of pressure, said her mom, and boughts of homesickness, Risdon thrived with support from her parents, who would make the 13-hour drive to visit their daughter, and a strong bond she developed with the other dancers.

"She's the young person she is today because of that," said Ann, "a very confident young woman, but very humble."

After high school, a lot of Risdon's peers went into professional dance right away.

"We said, 'maybe it'd be better to get a degree - because dance could end just like that,'" said Risdon's mother.

And so, she attended the University of Michigan, School of Music, Theatre and Dance, graduating with honours.

Diploma in hand in the spring of 2008, Risdon achieved her long-time goal of moving to New York, the place to be, she says, for modern and classical dancers in North America.

"I love it here, I couldn't imagine being anywhere else," said Risdon in a phone interview from her New York dance studio.

Currently, she is a company member at Jessica Gaynor Dance. Risdon said she auditioned last summer, on Canada Day coincidently, and started working just a few weeks later with her first performance in August.

"It's been a really exciting ride," said Risdon.

After a rough first six months, Risdon's hard work and perseverance is paying off. In addition to the Jessica Gaynor Dance company, she is a collaborator with alexanDance Performance and a performer with the Sarah Council Dance Projects and the Ilana Weber Dance. "I love dancing. There's nothing I'd rather do," said Risdon. "I love being able to express myself through my art. It's cathartic. When I'm having a bad day, there's nothing like taking a dance class. I love to move, I love to learn new things. I'm always learning new things."

Life moves pretty fast these days. A typical day for Risdon starts with an hour-long run in the morning that helps get rid of any anxiety she may have. Then, she'll head home to get ready for ballet class, which begins at 10:30 a.m. followed by a modern dance class at noon. Dance is followed by work, which keeps her busy until about six or seven o'clock. On a rare night she doesn't have ballet, Risdon might take a yoga class.

"I'm the type of person who needs schedule and structure," she said.

Risdon, who shares an apartment in Brooklyn with two other dancers, said she loves New York for its bike paths, free summer concerts and Central Park where she'll lounge about with friends.

"I'll have those moments when I'll think, 'I can't believe I'm here,'" she said.

Risdon takes comfort in her New York neighbourhood.

"It's very much like Bloor West Village. It's got a real community feeling with unique, small businesses, yoga studios and clothing boutiques," she said. "There are lots of people walking around with kids and their dogs. It's nicknamed 'The Stroller Brigade.' It makes me feel safe."

Ann says her daughter has been "blessed and lucky" in New York, a place that's known as 'The City of Rejection.'

"She's experienced lots of highs and lots of lows. We said, 'sure, go for it, give it a year.' We were concerned," said Ann. "You don't like to see your child get rejected."

Risdon has no doubt she could not have succeeded without her parents' support.

"They've allowed me to take every opportunity I've had. For me, this is what I want to do. They're there with me. I really couldn't have done it without them," she said. "My goal is to stay here and dance. I hope I inspire people to go for it. It's certainly achievable if you give it your all - and everyone's behind you. That's the recipe for success. I've never been happier."