Jessica Ribera

He's credited with bringing ballet to the United States. And I was obsessed with him. I really loved reading about him, just artistically. And I found out it seemed like maybe he was a little bit obsessed with Western Texas culture. He choreographed a few ballets that are set in these saloon-y town, wild west, this man who grew up in Russia. And I thought that was so cool.

I felt like it legitimized me, that I was this girl from Texas, but if he liked it, then that was still okay, and I could still be a dancer. He's died the year I was born. But I went to his school, the School of American Ballet in New York City, and it was fantastic. And I learned about this ballet, learned more about it, called Western Symphony. It's the Saloon Ballet.

I felt like it legitimized me, that I was this girl from Texas, but if he liked it, then that was still okay, and I could still be a dancer. He's died the year I was born. But I went to his school, the School of American Ballet in New York City, and it was fantastic. And I learned about this ballet, learned more about it, called Western Symphony. It's the Saloon Ballet.

I felt like it legitimized me, that I was this girl from Texas, but if he liked it, then that was still okay, and I could still be a dancer. He's died the year I was born. But I went to his school, the School of American Ballet in New York City, and it was fantastic. And I learned about this ballet, learned more about it, called Western Symphony. It's the Saloon Ballet.

Fast forward, I came here to dance as a student with Pacific Northwest Ballet, and my first year in the program, I got cast to understudy in Western Symphony. And I was thrilled. I stood in the back of the studio doing my best to learn. And the policy at the time was that understudies had to come to the theater and check in backstage.

Fast forward, I came here to dance as a student with Pacific Northwest Ballet, and my first year in the program, I got cast to understudy in Western Symphony. And I was thrilled. I stood in the back of the studio doing my best to learn. And the policy at the time was that understudies had to come to the theater and check in backstage.

Fast forward, I came here to dance as a student with Pacific Northwest Ballet, and my first year in the program, I got cast to understudy in Western Symphony. And I was thrilled. I stood in the back of the studio doing my best to learn. And the policy at the time was that understudies had to come to the theater and check in backstage.

And when the curtain went up and everyone was on stage, then you could go home. Well, I didn't go home because I was new to town and didn't have a lot of friends and I was obsessed. And so I would just get a ticket and go sit in the audience. And I was watching Western Symphony, and I saw a girl go down on stage. She was clearly badly hurt.

And when the curtain went up and everyone was on stage, then you could go home. Well, I didn't go home because I was new to town and didn't have a lot of friends and I was obsessed. And so I would just get a ticket and go sit in the audience. And I was watching Western Symphony, and I saw a girl go down on stage. She was clearly badly hurt.

And when the curtain went up and everyone was on stage, then you could go home. Well, I didn't go home because I was new to town and didn't have a lot of friends and I was obsessed. And so I would just get a ticket and go sit in the audience. And I was watching Western Symphony, and I saw a girl go down on stage. She was clearly badly hurt.

Her partner, who was actually her real-life boyfriend too, picked her up and had to run her off the stage. And I was just like, oh, man, that sucks. And it wasn't my position. I had learned a different spot in the ballet. And within, I swear, it was like 30 seconds, I feel this tap on my shoulder. And they're like, come backstage. We need you right now. And I was like, oh my gosh, it's happening.

Her partner, who was actually her real-life boyfriend too, picked her up and had to run her off the stage. And I was just like, oh, man, that sucks. And it wasn't my position. I had learned a different spot in the ballet. And within, I swear, it was like 30 seconds, I feel this tap on my shoulder. And they're like, come backstage. We need you right now. And I was like, oh my gosh, it's happening.

Her partner, who was actually her real-life boyfriend too, picked her up and had to run her off the stage. And I was just like, oh, man, that sucks. And it wasn't my position. I had learned a different spot in the ballet. And within, I swear, it was like 30 seconds, I feel this tap on my shoulder. And they're like, come backstage. We need you right now. And I was like, oh my gosh, it's happening.

So... So I go running with him backstage and they're like, we're like putting my hair up into a bun. And, you know, I like, no one ever would have thought that like a peon like me was actually going to go on. And so I didn't have, you wear black pointe shoes for that ballet. I had to borrow someone else's pointe shoes, which if you know anything about ballet, that's just like crazy.

So... So I go running with him backstage and they're like, we're like putting my hair up into a bun. And, you know, I like, no one ever would have thought that like a peon like me was actually going to go on. And so I didn't have, you wear black pointe shoes for that ballet. I had to borrow someone else's pointe shoes, which if you know anything about ballet, that's just like crazy.

So... So I go running with him backstage and they're like, we're like putting my hair up into a bun. And, you know, I like, no one ever would have thought that like a peon like me was actually going to go on. And so I didn't have, you wear black pointe shoes for that ballet. I had to borrow someone else's pointe shoes, which if you know anything about ballet, that's just like crazy.

I had, I strap on these black pointe shoes that they're like black fishnets, this little like saloon-y looking outfit for this classical ballet and neoclassical, but still. So I'm standing in the wings and my friends like scrolling lipstick on me and the director of the ballet herself comes to me and she's like, Jessica, do you feel like you can do this?

I had, I strap on these black pointe shoes that they're like black fishnets, this little like saloon-y looking outfit for this classical ballet and neoclassical, but still. So I'm standing in the wings and my friends like scrolling lipstick on me and the director of the ballet herself comes to me and she's like, Jessica, do you feel like you can do this?

I had, I strap on these black pointe shoes that they're like black fishnets, this little like saloon-y looking outfit for this classical ballet and neoclassical, but still. So I'm standing in the wings and my friends like scrolling lipstick on me and the director of the ballet herself comes to me and she's like, Jessica, do you feel like you can do this?

And you know, I was like, totally, I can totally do this. And so I went on and, you know, Later on, three years later, I was badly injured in an accident on stage and it was career ending and totally a sad end to the long story. But that moment, doing Western Symphony, doing these steps, it was like one of the most wonderful moments of my life.