SFist Interviews: Ashley Muangmaithong, a Nutcracker Ballerina

Published Dec. 14, 2009 at 5:15 p.m.

AM: The French mirliton has its own challenge. You dance with a ribbon in this production, so you’re enjoying yourself, but at the same time thinking don’t get caught in the ribbon.
SF: In your opinion, what is the best part of this year’s Nutcracker?
AM: I love the snow theme. It’s absolutely amazing. There’s this transition after the fight scene -it goes black and then all of a sudden you just see this illumination of white and you feel like you’re in a snow globe.
There are a lot of magical things that we as the performers have to let the audience figure out. Like how did that happen? It even took me a long time to figure out some of the tricks of The Nutcracker but eventually I got it down.
SF: Do you get tired of doing The Nutcracker year after year?
AM: You don’t get tired because you don’t get tired of seeing all those smiles [in the audience]. Of course it’s physically demanding, no doubt. But that’s why this is our job. We’ve trained to do this and we know what we’re getting into.
SF: Speaking of training, how old were you when you started dancing?
AM: I was four.
SF: How did you decide to pursue ballet professionally?
AM: Part of it is one, do you want it? Ok, I want it. The second is can I make it? I knew that I could do it. [Ballet] is your first career. You can always have a second. Some will continue in dance with choreography and teaching. I might try some other things but definitely dance is my first.
SF: Were you always so certain about ballet?
AM: When I was maybe six, I quit for two weeks. It took a lot of time away from my friends, but then I realized I missed it too much and my friends were always there. It didn’t take you way from friends, you just had to manage time.
SF: You joined San Francisco Ballet School when you were 12. Why did you want to continue dancing with San Francisco Ballet Company?
AM: It’s important to be where you’re loved and accepted. San Francisco Ballet had that to offer. And they do for every single member. I wanted to always be here after learned that I could.
SF: How many dancers are in the San Francisco Ballet Company?
AM: There are about 70 of us. We have this beautiful blend of dancers from all around the world, yet we can still have dance as a common language. Of course the best is when you come into a studio and you hear about ten conversations going on in ten languages. And people are trying to correct each other in ten languages.
SF: This might seem like an odd question, but how do you watch a ballet? What do you look for?
AM: For each person it’s different. We have a blend of theater, which is acting and art and music, and a blend of athleticism. Some are just wowed by they tricks and some are wowed by the grace. For me I’m wowed by the fact we blend them all into to one, the athletics and grace. Because it’s not a sport, it’s an art.
SF: Do you have any advice for a first time ballet attendee?
AM: First and foremost, let it take you where it takes you. And second, start to see how it’s balanced out. It shouldn’t make you feel like, “Oh, is she going to make it?” It should seem easy. Even as hard as it is, we should make look like the person is just like gliding across the stage.

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