THE DANCE ENTHUSIAST'S A TO Z: A for Chelsea AINSWORTH & Maria AMBROSE

Ainsworth:

I used to beg my parents to dance. Sometimes I would fake being asleep — in a split — so they could see I was flexible. Once they put me in dance, there was no turning back. It was my first love and still is. I had no choice — movement chose me.

Ambrose:

I’ve always been drawn to big, athletic movement. When it came time to decide what I wanted to pursue in college, I could not imagine my life without dance and that thought made the decision for me!

Ainsworth:

Zvi Gotheiner. He taught me how to physicalize being in flow with my life.

Also, my father, who used to review my competition tapes with me in the carpeted living room of my childhood house. We would practice until I felt confident. He taught me to love working.

Ambrose:

I can’t choose just one! I have to say both of my parents. They have completely different personalities. One is calm and quieter, and the other is a ball of energy all the time. But both have this refreshingly fun and grounded outlook on life. Whenever I need a perspective shift, I think back to a lot of what they’ve shared with me.

Ainsworth:

Coffee, yoga, and my golden retriever.

Ambrose:

I can always rely on my puppy Maple to cheer me up!

Ainsworth:

Taking a bath or going to the Russian and Turkish bathhouse on 10th & 1st, New York, NY.

Ambrose:

With a professional dance job, it's easy to 'take work home' mentally — sometimes the notes, a performance, or a rough day at rehearsals can keep the brain spinning, even after hours. I try to keep really strong boundaries with myself here by practicing shifting my thoughts to other activities, people, or memories that bring me joy and relaxation. Even when I’m talking to friends in the industry, I try to limit the amount of time I sit and talk about dance or work. For me, self-care is letting all parts of me get a chance to shine and breathe, not just the dancer in me. I think that also helps me keep a powerful sense of self and not just identify as a dancer. That’s always been very important to me.

Ainsworth:

BOTH!

I love how golden retrievers, specifically my golden Mona, show endless love. Mona has the most amazing paws.

I do also love gardening, as it’s an incredible form of meditation, and food grown from your own hands, at your home, tastes different.

Ambrose:

Oh, hard question for me, because my boyfriend designs rooftop gardens! We have so many plants, but I am 100% an animal person. I’d have to say pets. I have a puppy named Maple and a rescue cat from Brooklyn named Elizabeth.

Ainsworth:

I don’t cook, my husband does. I bake. So I guess eating out? My favorite meal is chips, salsa, and red wine, so cleary I don’t cook.

Ambrose:

Cooking! And this also relates back to the self-care question. Cooking is one of the most soothing acts of self-care for me. My favorite meal to make is homemade pasta. I find the process so satisfying.

Ainsworth:

Neither, I love my life and all of its adventures

Ambrose:

I would relive moments from the past. I wish I could spend more time with my grandparents and savor moments I didn’t necessarily appreciate when I was younger.

Ainsworth:

Put myself in their shoes, assume I can’t fully understand how they feel, come to a creative solution after listening.

Ambrose:

Establishing boundaries and priorities. Understanding when something is about the other person and their life or day, and not about me. Knowing that it’s okay not to absorb everything and let it roll off my shoulders. I also try not to react to difficult situations right away. I think taking a step back to breath and assess (easier said than done, sometimes) can actually let things work themselves out naturally. 

Ainsworth:

I used to believe that I had to do everything all at once. Now I understand that some things take time. The pandemic stretched my understanding and pacing of time. It forced me to slow down and understand the reality of projects and work. I also take a bath every morning because of the pandemic.

Ambrose:

This question makes me smile because I could not fit the entire explanation of how it’s changed into this questionnaire! But the change that I think will forever alter my life is how I’ve learned to communicate and prioritize my needs in a personal situation. The pandemic stopped my life in a way that required me to really come face to face with how I interacted in my personal life.

Ainsworth:

I built a theater, started a dance company with my best friend, currently teach at two universities and Zoom became (and still is) a platform for teaching — everything has shifted. But mostly, I understand that people are my meter. If the people I’m making art with are having a good time, growing and learning, it’s worth it — it’s all about the people.

Ambrose:

The pandemic was the first time since I was four that I wasn’t dancing almost every day. I missed it so much. When we returned to Lincoln Center in 2022 for the first time since 2019, I was bubbling with so much gratitude and appreciation. There was a newfound trust in myself and my presence on stage. We all lived a lot of life in a short amount of time, because of the hardships of the pandemic, and in ways, it changed my approach to performance — I enjoy every second.

Ainsworth:

I’m very picky about dance. I saw Crystal Pite at The Joyce; that’s the first thing that comes to mind.

Also, Coldplay at the MET Life Stadium in New Jersey. There were 10,000 people there and it was awesome.

Ambrose:

I know this doesn’t exactly answer the question, because I’ve loved many shows since I’ve seen this one, but hands down, the show that has greatly influenced my life the second I saw it was People, Places, and Things by Duncan Macmillan. I’ve seen it three times. It’s been so long, but I need to give it a shout-out in case it comes back! I think about it and the performances almost daily, and I’m not exaggerating!

Ainsworth:

As a performer: Breathe, drop my weight, and listen to the music (thank you Risa Steinberg),

As a spectator: Dinner and drinks — you never get to do that as a performer.

Ambrose:

I like to get ready as quickly as possible and get on stage. I get very nervous about shows — I always have! I like to gently mark through each piece that I’ll be performing, even if I’ve performed them many times before. I use the time to think about how and when I want to dive deeper into moments, and finding the use of my nervous energy helps ground and center me. As soon as the curtain comes up, I feel calm and less nervous, but the review helps me be extremely present and aware.

Ainsworth:

Honestly I would’ve loved to be in the room for any dance scene from Singing In the Rain starring Donald O'Connor, Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds — brilliant.

Ambrose:

I’d love to have sat next to Paul Taylor when he watched Esplanade at its completion for the first time. Even if I literally was a fly on the wall, because he loved insects. 

Ainsworth:

I always have fun performing David Parker’s NutCracked, (ballet/tap/modern), Zvi Gotheiner’s Dabke (contemporary), and Johannes Wieland’s Shahrazad (dance-theater).

Ambrose:

Paul Taylor’s, of course!

Ainsworth:

Book: Verity by Colleen Hoover, because it’s so consumable; I read it in just 4 hours.

Podcast: Anything by NPR because, well, it’s the best.

TV: The Great British Bake Off because I LOVE BAKING, and I love watching this show with my friends.

Ambrose:

I recently read They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey. It’s a beautiful, haunting, deliciously written story. I related to so many moments as a dancer, but I think any human being would be moved by the writing and the story. It’s one of those that really stays with you, in my opinion. 

Ainsworth:

Mexico. The colors, the food, the people, the warmth... Frida Kahlo’s house was incredible. Art is a way of life in Mexico — it’s on the streets, in the architecture. It’s just beautiful and so natural.

Ambrose:

I loved the museums, art, and architecture in Santa Fe. We’re touring there this Spring, and I can’t wait to go back and explore more. But my all-time favorite city for art (and maybe anything) is Paris. 

Ainsworth:

Instagram, I guess.

Ambrose:

100% a millennial here, so Instagram. Although TikTok has grown on me.

Ainsworth:

Be a warrior! And a nice one. If you want to dance, you are an athlete of God, and have to constantly work at it. Be nice to others, have people’s back, and let your inner animal out. The fiercer the better. Never stop learning.

Ambrose:

My advice is to really accept that your path isn’t going to look like anyone else’s. You have your own path, so stay open. Be teachable. Understand and learn how to take notes, because they come with the territory. When it gets tough, which it will, it helps me focus on what I keep returning for. The joy, the thrill, the movement, whatever it is you genuinely love about the field.

Ainsworth:

Come see shows at Arts On Site. We produce artists who are up and coming, have an entire festival series to represent artists who are deserving yet overlooked, and we strive to grow a sense of community in NYC. Plus, we’re run by women!

Otherwise, get involved in the arts community and get to know your fellow art-makers. That way if anyone asks if you know anyone, you can recommend those artists in need.

Ambrose:

Invest. Invest time and money in them, and help make their art accessible and get it seen. Share it by word of mouth or through the many social media outlets we have now. They’re incredible tools for sharing what we’ve seen and who is creating new work. 

Ainsworth:

I dance. Lol.

I also teach dance, I create dance, and make sure to speak positively about dance to others, even when I’m feeling defeated.

Dance is the most amazing and the hardest at the same time. I want others to know how fortunate we are as dancers and what an amazing community it is.

Ambrose:

I spread enthusiasm by pouring my heart and soul into every performance! Sharing the life dance brings to me unapologetically, and being the most significant, grandest version of myself on stage.