In this episode, I talk to Jonathan Chmelensky, a professional dancer. We cover topics such as the importance of hard work, challenges of being a professional dancer working today, the ways to keep being engaged with our craft, how to tackle the hard moments on our professional path, and much more.

Biography

Jonathan Chmelensky is a Paris-born ballet dancer, currently based in Copenhagen. As a ballet student, Jonathan traveled around the world to compete and to perfect his skills, and that journey took him to train in Paris, NYC, and in Havana at the National Ballet School of Cuba. In 2007, at the age of 19, he was recruited to join the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen and has been with the company ever since. In 2013 he was promoted to soloist and in 2018 to principal dancer, which is also his current title.

Selected Links From the Episode

• Jonathan Chmelensky’s Instagram
• The Royal Danish Ballet
• Cuban National Ballet School
• Neil Strauss
• Wayne McGregor
• La Dame aux Camélias
• John Neumeier, Choreographer
• Open: An Autobiography: Andre Agassi
• Swan Lake
• The Audo
• 3daysofdesign

Show Notes

• Introduction [00:00]
• Episode Introduction [00:52]
• The Importance of Hard Work [02:30]
• Routines of a Professional Ballet Dancer [06:27]
• Challenges in the Dance Industry [12:48]
• How to Develop As a Creative Professional [15:16]
• Short Episode Break – Support the Podcast [17:48]
• Jonathan’s Current Challenges [18:31]
• How to Stay Motivated Through Hard Times [27:39]
• How to Be a Better Creative Professional [30:51]
• Episode Outro [32:42]

Full transcript and more at https://creative.voyage/