One of the things I love about Interview En L’air is that I can present many artists at different levels in their career. I believe that inspiration can come from young and older alike…. notice I said older! Not old. I have been searching for the right person to introduce this idea and finally, I have found her! Actually we found each other. Besides the fact that her name is unforgettable, I first read about Precious Adams in this article about her experience at the Bolshoi school. I found her story interesting… What it must be like for a black ballerina at the Bolshoi? Then her name came closer to home when I heard it in Basel. I always chat with Amanda Bennet in the Basel theater hallways. She is the current director of the Prix De Lausanne, and I always asked about it. When she mentioned some of the contestants names, I heard Precious’s name as well, which got my attention right away. She was at the Prix? WORK! I was curious at how she was as a dancer so I asked Amanda, who looked at me and said proudly “She won a prize!”

Precious began seriously studying ballet at the age of 9 with Sergey Rayevskiy at the Academy of Russian Classical Ballet in Wixom, Michigan. Three consecutive summers, Precious participated in American Ballet Theater’s (ABT) summer intensives once in NYC and later in Hamilton, Bermuda with Kevin Reeder under the direction of Franco de Vita. Additionally, Precious was twice the recipient of the Catherine Zeta Jones Scholarship. At the ages of 11 and 12, Precious studied at the National Ballet School (NBS) in Toronto, Canada under the direction of Mavis Stains. It is at NBS where Precious also began to study French language. Precious was then selected to study at The Princess Grace Academy of Classical Dance in Monte Carlo, Monaco with Roland Vogel under the direction of Luca Masala at the ages of 14 and 15 and she continued to study French language.

In 2011, Precious was selected to participate in the The U.S. State Department Sponsored NSYL-I Russian language and Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Program. During the 2011-2012 school year, Precious studied at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia with Natalia Igoravich Reivich under the direction of Marina Leonova. In the summer 2012 and 2013, Precious attended the renowned Ellison Ballet summer intensive studying under Edward Ellison. Later in the summer of 2013 she performed in the 6th annual Stars of Russian Ballet Gala performance in Michigan. This coming September Precious will return for her third and final year at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia with Irina Syrova. Precious also received two prizes at the 2014 Prix De Lausanne in Switzerland. She is currently a professional artist with the English National Ballet in London, England.

Seeing the answers from her perspective is interesting! I am excited to present to you Precious Adams. I wish you the best in your career…you are on a good way. Thank you for your inspiration.


When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you always want to do what you’re doing now?

I think when I was little I wanted to be a school teacher, but when I was 10 I officially decided I wanted to become a ballerina.


Precious’s Favorite Things


Favorite Things to eat?

I love Asian cuisine right now, my “favorites” are constantly changing ….but I always love seasonal fruit and almonds.

Favorite Books?

Love in the Time of Cholera, Fahrenheit 451, The Host.… but I generally like page turning fiction and love stories.

Favorite Movies?

I really love films so it’s really hard to narrow it down. Still Center Stage is my all time favorite dance film of all time, it’s classic. But I guess right now my top three: Fight Club, The Breakfast club, and Love and Other Drugs.

Favorite Dance Piece or Show/Musical or both?

Radio and Juliet Choreographed by Edward Clug and The Book of Mormon by Matt Stone and Trey Parker.


I like dancers who…

…aren’t just dancers but artists from the inside out and their true passion shows when they perform.


I am afraid of…

…dying….and cockroaches.


A dance piece should…

…have me on the edge of my set, in tears, laughing, or in some other way intrigued.


Something you like to do other than your current job?

I enjoy reading, but I miss going to the independent theater near my house.


What is your most embarrassing moment?

Well I would have to say in my amateur career, but probably when I was a student at The National Ballet School of Canada and I went on stage for the end of year performance and I was still wearing my warm ups with my costume, (I didn’t even realize it the whole time I was dancing).


One of the happiest moments in your life?

Since I was 12 I have wanted to go to Prix de lausanne, so receiving the awards at Prix this past Saturday was the biggest accomplishment of a goal in my life so far.


One of your most unusual or coolest experiences?

This is a hard one so I would have to say the most unusual experience would be my first year in Moscow all together. The coolest, moment in my life so far would have to be Young Arts week in Miami in January of 2014. I met so many talented, amazing and passionate artists (of all different disciplines) from all over America. We all showed cased our art form throughout the week and participated in some interdisciplinary workshops. The whole experience helped me grow as an artists and I have so much more respect for all the other art forms now simply because I worked with passionate artists my age, so we could all really relate to one another.


Who has been the most influential person/people in your life? or Career? and why?

The most influential person in terms of life, my mom. But in terms of working towards my career goals Roland Vogel, (my teacher from Princess Grace) he taught me more about being a dancer and an artists than anyone.


Do you have any goals you still wish to achieve?

One day I want to be Principal in a major classical or neoclassical company, amongst other things, I want to be a film and theater actress….


 

A question you would like to know the answer to?

I have always wondered where babies come from? No, I am just kidding…In all seriousness, I want to know who I am. This is a question I ask myself and sometimes discover an answer for; I am always changing so I feel as though that is a question I will never “know” the answer to but I am constantly searching for.

 


Dear aspiring artists,

Hard work will pay off, and you must always believe in the artist within you.

— Precious Adams

Photo Journal


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To find out more information on Precious , check out her website at www.preciousadams.com Have you worked with Precious? Have you seen her perform? Help me say thank you by sharing your stories in the comments below. Thank YOU for reading!


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