We were lucky to catch up with Evelyn Febuary recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Evelyn, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

When I was 13 years old, I went to my very first ballet summer intensive. It was about two weeks long, and it was with a professional ballet company. One of our classes was a lecture series where we had the opportunity to go behind the scenes – to see the costumes and props, where the pointe shoes were kept, into the dancers’ lounge. We also spoke with the people who worked in the various departments and some of the professional dancers. It was my first look into the inner workings of a professional company. I remember thinking to myself, “Wait, I could actually do this as a career.” From that moment on, I took every opportunity I could to improve so I could reach my goal.

Evelyn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I grew up in a small town in central Louisiana. I was an only child and very shy. At age three, I was not interested in taking dance classes. It wasn’t until I saw one of my best friends perform in her dance recital that I decided I wanted to try dance classes.

I started taking classes at the age of four and was hooked immediately – so much so that, at age five, I decided to participate in a local youth company production of The Nutcracker. I participated in that production of The Nutcracker for the next 12 years.

Until the age of 16, I studied, jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, and lyrical. Throughout that time, ballet remained my favorite genre. At the age of 13 I started taking my ballet training more seriously. I participated in summer intensives around the United States, took private lessons, and even started traveling an hour and a half each way to take ballet classes in a conservatory-style program twice a week.

I knew I needed to find more advanced training in order to meet my career goals. At age 16, I moved to New York City to train at the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet. After one year there, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee to train with the Nashville Ballet for the next three years. Training at Nashville Ballet was a full circle moment for me. That was where I attended my first summer intensive and decided that I wanted to become a professional ballet dancer.

During that time, I got the chance to work in the Adaptive Dance program as both an assistant and later as a teacher and also as a teacher’s assistant in the School of Nashville Ballet. Teaching then became another dance-related passion of mine.

After three years in Nashville, it was time for me to pack my bags once again and move to Boise, Idaho to become a member of Ballet Idaho‘s trainee program. The two seasons spent at Ballet Idaho were very informative. That was the first time that I was able to work so closely with a professional company. I was challenged both technically and artistically, and I was given the opportunity to build my résumé performing works by some of the world’s leading choreographers.

During that time, I was also given the opportunity to dive into the creative process of choreographing. I had one of my pieces, “Hush Little Baby,” performed by the Ballet Idaho Youth Company in their 2023 showcase. I hope to learn more about the process of dance-making and choreograph more in the near future.

In 2023, I received a trainee contract with Diablo Ballet and moved to California. I had the opportunity to perform in every company show of the 2023-2024 season, in some cases even being cast in featured roles. I recently signed a contract as an Apprentice Dancer with Diablo Ballet and am very excited for the upcoming season.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

After three seasons in Nashville Ballet’s Professional Training Division, I found out that I would not be promoted to trainee for NB2, Nashville Ballet’s second company, for the upcoming year. I was invited to continue in the PTD program, but I was also encouraged to find a different place to dance because I was no longer considered a “good fit” as a candidate for future promotion. To say I was devastated is an understatement. I had dreamed about working my way up through the ranks of NB2 and the company. Nashville Ballet felt like home, but suddenly I was lost.

A year prior, COVID-19 had hit. It had been a very difficult year – being in quarantine for months, taking zoom classes in a very small dance space, transitioning back into the studio, and dancing while social distancing and wearing masks. In January of 2021, I caught COVID-19. I wasn’t terribly sick, but I felt the repercussions for months as I tried to get my energy back up to previous levels. Dancing was harder than ever.

And, suddenly, I had to find a new company to train with at the last minute. I worked to scrape together an audition video and prepare materials to send out. For most companies, it was already past their application deadline. I honestly thought it was the end of my career before it had even really started.

I sent my materials out to the few places that were still auditioning, and I got a few replies. One of the companies that replied was Ballet Idaho. They had started a trainee program the year before and were eager to have me join the program. Even though it was a scary moment in my life, I am grateful for it. If one door had not closed, the door to Ballet Idaho would not have opened. I would not have found a place that felt even more like home, I would not have met some of the most amazing people I know, I would not have learned the lessons I learned, and I would not have been in the correct place mentally, emotionally, and physically to find my new home at Diablo Ballet.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Sharing my art with others is so rewarding! I have always loved performing, and I love connecting with the community through performance. Those weeks before a show are exhausting as we all work tirelessly to perfect each piece. Then being able to let go and connect with the audience, seeing all that hard work come to fruition – it gives me such a rush!

I also love teaching and community engagement projects. I have the chance to inspire the next generation of dancers, just like I was inspired by my idols when I was a young dancer. Passing on some of what I’ve learned adds another layer to the experience of being a dancer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Evynfebuary.com
• Instagram: Evynfebuary
• Facebook: Evyn Febuary

Image Credits

Rachel Neville Photography