Meet Aurora Chernis

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aurora Chernis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Aurora , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Developing my confidence and self-esteem came from struggling for many years to feel good in my own skin. Being a ballerina is one of the hardest paths you can choose mentally, physically, and emotionally. For me, the biggest struggle of those three has been the mental and emotional consequences of pursuing a ballet career. I’ve learned how to accept and love myself through situations where no one was rooting for me and how to believe in myself even if no one else does. Understanding that my worth is valuable even if no one except me can recognize it has simultaneously been the hardest and greatest skill I’ve ever had to learn. There are definitely days when I don’t feel as confident in my own skin or feel as though I’m not worthy, but working just as hard on days you don’t feel worthy as on the days you do, will slowly build your confidence over time and begin to prove to yourself and others that you ARE capable.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am first and foremost an aspiring ballerina, and I am currently dancing with Grand Rapids Ballet in their trainee program. I grew up dancing in San Francisco and then attended the University of Utah for one year to continue my ballet training. After completing my freshman year. I joined Orlando Ballet’s second company and performed in many incredible productions, including Romeo & Juliet, The Nutcracker, and Giselle. This year, I am dancing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and I am already loving it so much!

I am also a foodie content creator and Holistic Nutritionist in training. I struggled a lot growing up with food issues and my body. I wasn’t born into a “ballet body,” and for a long time, I thought that meant that I needed to change the way I was. After struggling for a few years and ultimately realizing I couldn’t change the way I looked without a slew of negative health complications, I began my healing with food. The path hasn’t been easy, and I still struggle and doubt my choices a lot. However, sharing my story on the internet has become a beautiful thing, and I’ve even built a business around it! I’ve now published 3 mini-ebooks and gained a total of over 100,000 followers across my platforms. I want my story to help a young dancer pursue a career in the path they love without feeling like they need to shrink to do so.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Understanding that our bodies are truly miracles that work for us every day has been fundamental in helping me realize the importance of food as fuel. For a long time, I used food as punishment and deprived my body of its basic rights simply because I believed I needed to be skinnier to pursue the path I loved. The more I learn about food and how different foods impact our performance positively or negatively, I can’t believe I ever saw food as a means of controlling my appearance. Obviously, as a dancer, health is always a priority, but there is a major difference between chasing health and chasing what you believe health “looks like”. Another piece of knowledge I hope I can share is that balance will impact your career positively. We are always a slave to our art, but I’ve realized that the more time you take to develop yourself as a human, outside of being a ballerina, the more vulnerable, humble, and greater an artist you will become.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

Whenever I feel overwhelmed or lost, I go outside. Nature has a way of silencing my anxiety and worries and reminding me that there is so much more to care about than daily distractions. I also love to spend time writing and journaling. When I am alone with my thoughts on paper, I always become so present and drop into the moment I almost forget what I was worrying about. Writing always helps me refocus my intentions and energy.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Zavesco Photography (dance images)

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