IBA FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Close and Personal with Ms. Stephanie Saland

“I am a hole in a flute that the Christ's breath moves through.....listen to this music”

This quote from the work of Hafiz points to the elegance and opportunities in our pursuits and in life. It is as if the flute, our body in this lifetime, has a bean or pebble obstructing the free flow of breath. Our attention and work is to stay present enough to be genuinely interested and introspective with as much honesty as possible to clear obstructions, fear, unquestioned conditioning.
- Ms. Saland

Ms. Stephanie Saland

We are proud to feature IBA faculty member Ms. Stephanie Saland as we celebrate her 70th birthday and the journey of her incredible career. A former principal dancer for the New York City Ballet, Ms. Saland has been a mentor, coach, dance judge, and an inspiration to our community. With a deep understanding of her journey, we explore Ms. Saland’s impact on our Academy and how her legacy has shaped our dancers and students.

She reflects on her beginnings, her curiosity, and the importance of listening and asking the proper questions in our search for wisdom, as well as the circumstances that steered her to leading roles under the direction of Balanchine, who spotted her while she was a student at the School of American Ballet.

In her words, she believes in the importance of “Tenacity. Perspective. Curiosity. Discipline alongside the fear of not being good enough combined almost simultaneously with a certainty of a sense for theatre and desire to live onstage.”

For more than 20 years Ms. Saland has created incredible choreography and performed leading roles in Balanchine and Robbins ballets. A few to note in the Balanchine roster are Serenade, Jewels, Vienna Waltzes, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Apollo, Coppelia, and The Nutcracker. Stephanie felt very much at home in the Robbins repertory, performing in Dances at a Gathering, In the Night, Antique Epigraphs, Goldberg Variations, and  The Four Seasons. She had the wonderful opportunity to share the stage with Rudolph Nureyev,  at the Gershwin Theater in New York, as well as performing her first Giselle with Alexander Gudonov in Miami. Both dancers offered her a chance to step outside of the New York City Ballet and dance romantic ballets.

Since 1993, Ms Saland is a freelance instructor and one of IBA’s most beloved faculty members. When asked about her experience at IBA, she says:

“I am so happy to be on a faculty with such skill sets who are truly and deeply caring about each of the students in the Academy. As whole humans.

The experience as a teacher is always in flux. There are different group dynamics and within the group, we as instructors are always on a learning journey as well to stay open to the individuals in the group. Beyond the physical, we learn to observe our students to see what their learning style might be...what is needed at each phase in their growth and development. I love the element of surprise.”

Her modesty and graceful presence are unmistakable as her nurturing approach to teaching connects IBA dancers with the artistry of discovering emotions, body awareness, and the delicacy and uniqueness of each gesture that dancers aim to perfect in their own individuality. She continues to teach, coach, and mentor throughout the US and internationally. She is an avid reader and learner of life, with a mindful purpose to be fully in the present without predispositions, humility, and honesty.

When asked about her approach to long-lasting, she  gently reminds us how our journey is unique to our own circumstances, inspirations, and why’s :

“Find the ways in which the inner voice can remain supported and strong...remember how movement is generative and feeds the body and mind.  Feeling challenged and then finding ways to meet the challenge and find mastery takes years.  It is  critical to remind young dancers and people that it is an orientation of process. We are in a world and culture that is focused on outcome. If the emphasis is instead on the journey, then the journey stays fresh and the aspects of expectations and unmet expectations are no longer front and center. This is definitely a challenge as it is going against a cultural tide. But it is a worthwhile stance to take.”

Dancing With New York City Ballet

To learn more about Ms Stephanie, visit her website : www.StephanieSaland.com and other relevant articles (NYCC, Stephanie Saland website, YAGP, European School of Ballet).