Champions of Change: Sasha De Sola

Meet Sasha De Sola, HIA #124 and principle dancer for the San Francisco Ballet.

Having started out at the esteemed Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C., Sasha joined the SF Ballet in 2006 where her talent was both recognised and fostered, leading to her soloist promotion in 2012 and principal dancer in 2017, one of the most prestigious ranks in ballet. Illuminating the stage of many an iconic ballet, including Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and Giselle, Sasha’s grace extends far off the stage and into her generous nature.

We had a chat with her to gain better insight to the intellectual mind behind her elegant moves.

Hi Sasha.

Hello Marcus.

Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that defined your path as an athlete?

There were a series of moments that really defined my path as an athlete and as an artist. What stands out most to me are the moments when I experienced generosity from others to support me towards my dreams. This generosity came from family and friends as well as strangers alike. What may have felt like seemingly small support in the moment became colosal for me, without which I would not be where I am today. I forever feel sense of deep gratitude and responsibility. I want to pay that generosity forward.

Who has been your biggest inspiration in sports or life, and why?

My parents: for their tenacity, integrity, and consistency even when facing challenges. All of these qualities have proved instrumental to me in my career. Thank you mom and dad!

What’s the best piece of advice you've ever received?

Improve on your inherent strengths. In ballet and in sports alike, we consistently receive feedback on how to improve our weak points. It’s easy to get caught up in our weaknesses. However, our strengths are what differentiate us! Lean into what you are naturally good at and allow it to help you stand out in a field of talent.

Sasha in her studio in San Francisco.

What does a typical training day look like for you?

Most days, my day will begin around 9:30AM. I will do light cardio and stretching to prepare my body for daily ballet class. Daily class, which runs from 10 to 11:15, covers a wide array of training from warm up, coordination, flexibility, turning, jumping, etc. This is where we not only warm up our bodies for rehearsals, but also hone in on our technique. Afterward, I will generally have anywhere between 2 and 5 hours of rehearsals to prepare for performances. After a few hours break, I perform in the evening from 7:30 to 10:30 PM.

What’s the strangest yet most effective training that's worked for you?

I’m not sure I can think of any particularly strange training method, as ballet tends to stick to very traditional methods of training. However, something that I had to learn the hard way was remembering the value of rest. There was a period of my career early on where I felt that the more I worked, the greater my results would be. Overtime learned the value of quality over quantity and that rest is part of healthy and balanced training regimen.

Do you have a pre-game ritual, song, or meal?

My pre-performance rituals include visualization of my performance and using the Normatec compression boots to get fresh blood flow into my legs. I listen to music (of all genres!) to help me get into the mood of what I am about to perform.

How do you stay motivated?

I think it can be easy to lose motivation if you feel burnt out or have certain expectations of specific outcomes. Motivation is something that I believe to be almost like a muscle that can be exercised. Even through those difficult moments of self doubt or lack of desire, simply getting in the studio and putting in the work allows me to connect back to the reasons I love what I do. As soon as I can connect to that, I find new paths toward authentic intrinsic motivation. Consistency and desire is so much more effective than simply talent alone!

What techniques do you use to stay focused and composed?

Goldfish mentality. Something that I have had to learn over time is staying fully present and releasing the desire for perfection. Embrace excellence instead. Knowing that perfection is impossible allows me to simply stay connected to what I am doing in that moment. I love when I feel that I am in a flow state and when I manage to feel that, I perform my best.

What has been the biggest challenge you've faced in your career and how did you overcome it?

I’ve faced numerous challenges throughout my career. These include everything from serious injury, self doubt, and failure to meet my expectations. The most important thing throughout these challenges is to keep moving forward. One step at a time, one foot in front of the other. With time you’ll look back and realize you’ve managed to overcome what might have felt in surmountable at the moment.

What is it about your mindset that's enabled you to succeed in your sport?

Gratitude is something that is incredibly important and omnipresent for me. I think it has been helpful for me to remember to never take a moment for granted. A gratitude mindset makes space for a positive outlook. A positive outlook translates into better performances.

Thank you for sharing some of your wise words with us Sasha,
you’ve left us with a lot of food for thought.

You can next see Sasha on stage as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker in Florida over Thanksgiving weekend, 26 - 28th of November.

To follow Sasha @sashadesola