Meet Victoria Manning | Professional Ballerina & Dance Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Victoria Manning and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Victoria, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I think risk taking is a vital part of finding success. I wouldn’t classify myself as a blind risk taker but instead, as a calculated one.

When I founded a ballet school at age 22 it was certainly a huge risk, but I had poured endless time and energy into the planning, researching and development stages to maximize setting it up for success.

I take this mindset into my daily work as a professional ballerina. If while I dance I am “playing it safe” that is not as interesting or exciting for an audience to watch or for me to experience. That is why I challenge myself daily to take risks in my dancing to keep my technique and artistry growing and exciting.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I grew up in Plymouth, MA and training in Cambridge, MA through the end of high school. I then attended Indiana University, where I earned a Bachelor of Science in ballet performance and an Outside Field in marketing. Following graduation, I moved to northern Virginia where I danced professionally for a year before moving to Connecticut. In Connecticut I danced professionally and founded and directed a pre-professional ballet school for several years.

I now reside in Los Angeles, where I dance with the American Contemporary Ballet. I also teach ballet primarily through private one on one instruction both in person and virtually to students across the country.

While dancing is my primary passion, over the years I have also fallen in love with the art of instruction. Students who come to me want to be challenged, held to high standards and appreciate the honest and blunt coaching I offer. I find it highly rewarding to watch the growth and accomplishments of my students, and I treasure the ability to pass down the legacy of this art form to our future generations.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love being out in nature so we would definitely take my dog and do a few hikes. Runyon Canyon and around Griffith are of course a classic. We would also do a day or two at the beach, even in the winter it’s nice to walk along the sand.

For food we might head to Republique for brunch then Cobi’s in Santa Monica or Perch in Downtown for dinner. All Seasons Brewing would be a fun stop too!

They of course can’t leave until they’ve seen a show at American Contemporary Ballet! It’s always extra special to perform when we have friends in the audience.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I attribute so much of my success to my amazing parents, Beth-Ann & Stephen Manning. Ballet is something I knew I wanted to pursue from such a young age and they tirelessly encouraged me to follow my dreams.

My fiancé, Lawson Long has been by my side for every chapter of my career with unconditional support and is the most wonderful collaborator as a classical musician.

American Contemporary Ballet, the company I dance for, is a place where I feel valued and nurtured as an artist. I am thankful to constantly be growing and evolving in this art form alongside such talented and motivated colleagues.

I am grateful for the training and education I received at Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre (Cambridge, MA) and Indiana University (Bloomington, IN) that has supported me in pursuing this career.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_victoria_manning_?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Image 1 (of me on chair)
photo by: Norman Jean Roy
styled by: Alison Edmond
location: milk studios
courtesy of: American Contemporary Ballet

Image 2 (black and white upper body)
photo by: Scott Edwards
courtesy of: Kenneth Walker Dance Project

Images 3&4 (images in color)
photo by: Scott Edwards