Good To Be Back In The Gym

After an amazing summer traveling through Italy and Mexico, it feels so good to be back in the gym. I've always loved working out and being fit, it goes along with being a ballet dancer. Years ago I discovered that besides the regular routine of a dancer: class, therapy, rehearsals and performances, I also love to do a good old fashioned rip on the bench press. I've enjoyed it for a long time but as the end of my career as a principal dancer started to approach, I felt it was time to really hit it! A year and a half ago I began a diet and set out a rigid upper body workout. With my schedule at the theatre being as demanding as it was, it was hard to maintain continuity. My work on stage took priority so my fitness routine had to take a back seat in order to save my energy for the performances. Now that I am a freelancer, setting my own schedule, I hope to shred like never before. 

self portrait 2

I did a little test shoot by my self after 3 weeks of training in the spring of 2015. Unfortunately I had to drop the routine as the end of the season was coming and work at the theatre was picking up. I also had a summer of traveling ahead but I was hooked.

After the summer I began to pick up the pieces and hit the gym hard for almost 2 months. I also thought I would go to a professional studio photographer so I contacted my friend Paul Van Der Linde. We did the shoot last November just in time as my work on the stage began to pick up again. I was really happy with the photography but felt I needed to do much more work on my body.

Paul Van Der Linde

After a heavy performance schedule starting in December I couldn't begin my training again until April. I hit the gym like never before all the way until the end of the season in late June. Unfortunately my plan of doing another photoshoot with Paul fell through as I was just too busy setting up my life after leaving The Dutch National Ballet. 

Summer came and It was time to travel. First I was off to Italy with my family. They had never been to Europe before so the first stop after seeing my home in Amsterdam was Italy. 

- My Photography -

Next I was off to Guadalajara, Mexico to teach in the Pitouetteeando Summer Ballet Intensive.

I also had the opportunity to photograph The Despertares Gala of World Stars while I was in Guadalajara. It was so nice to see so many of my good friends in Mexico and to be able to photograph such an amazing event. 

- My Photography -

Then the summer really began. Two weeks of being "Indiana Jones," exploring mayan temples, swimming in cenotes, relaxing on tropical beaches and marveling at old spanish colonial architecture all over The Yucatan Peninsula. It was heaven! 

 - My photos from Mexico -

Now I am back in Amsterdam absorbing everything that has happened over the past year and wondering what adventures are coming next. I love traveling, dancing, exploring, photographing and spending time with great friends but one thing is for sure, I am back in the gym and loving every second of it. 

self portrait 3