Meet Victoria Manning

We were lucky to catch up with Victoria Manning recently and have shared our conversation below.

Victoria, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I think work ethic is a skill that you have to continuously work on and practice, not just something you’re born with. From a very young age, my parents instilled the importance of working hard and always encouraged me to do my absolute best. If I committed to something they ensured that I follow through with maximum effort. Growing up in the ballet world aspiring to be a professional ballerina we were trained from a very young age. By the time I was 10 I was taking class every day. As it is such a competitive field we were told if it’s something we want to pursue professionally you have to work hard and continue to grow.

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

I am a professional ballerina with American Contemporary Ballet here in Los Angeles. I perform in over 60 shows a year with our current venue being Television City. Performing in a sound stage provides an intimate and unique experience as a performer and for the audience.

Prior to joining American Contemporary Ballet I earned my bachelor of science in ballet performance and marketing from Indiana University, danced with ballet companies in Boston, New York City, Connecticut and Virginia and founded and directed a pre-professional ballet school for several years.

I consider my current chapter, my most exciting and artistically fulfilling. At ACB I am surrounded by the most supportive and talented artists who inspire me daily. I have the opportunity to perform a diverse range of repertoire that challenges me and allows me to continue to grow as a dancer.

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?

Three skills that have been the most impactful in my journey so far are learning how to know my worth, trusting my instincts, and practicing gratitude.

Knowing when you have outgrown a place or opportunity or recognizing that it’s time to move on if you are not being valued is such a powerful skill. It is liberating to find yourself in a place where you are valued and appreciated for who you are.

It is important to be fearless and trust your instincts. When my fiancé and I decided to move across the country from the East Coast to LA we had to make a rather quick decision. We followed our instincts and took the leap of faith, and it was one of the best decisions we’ve made.

As I continue to grow, I have found it very grounding to always remain grateful and think of how far I have truly come. It starts with acknowledging the small steps that you take each day to reach those bigger goals. We often reach milestones then immediately jump to the next thing that we want to accomplish, but it’s important to remember that we used to dream of being exactly where we are now.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

Almost every little girl wants to be a ballerina when she grows up and I was one of them. I started dancing when I was three years old and at the time my parents had no idea all that would ensue. Several years in it became very clear that ballet was what I wanted to do, and my parents did everything they could to support me in that endeavor. Whether it was researching the best dance classes in the area, then driving hours every day to the studio or bringing me to countless auditions for summer programs, universities and eventually professional companies they did it all without hesitation. The most impactful thing my parents have ever done for me is have the confidence that I could become one of the ballerinas I used to dream about.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.acbdances.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_victoria_manning_?igsh=dWM5cHpwajUxYW8%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits

Image 1 (on chair)
Photo by: Norman Jean Roy
Styled by: Alison Edmond
Location: Milk Studios
Courtesy of: American Contemporary Ballet

Images 2-5
Photo by: Dirk Reps Photography