Meet VANESSA ZAHORIAN | Artistic Director of Ballet School

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

Hi VANESSA, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I have always had a goal in my life. Before I got married and had kids my focus was on being a professional ballerina and a principal or the lead-in my ballet company. I met my husband while still dancing and it brought such joy to my life and as a dancer. Now I am the artistic director of a ballet school that my husband and I created. We came up with the name, helped design the studios and building. Plus we had two children all while still working full time. Our children have brought such joy to our lives and the extra motivation and drive to want to do better. I think the balance of work and life has such meaning now. Everything I do and think about is for my children and husband. For us as a family. For their futures. To make a better life for our children. My balance has changed over time because my focus was all on me before having my family but now I have an even balance. I focus on myself and with the balance of my family!

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.
The art of Ballet is so very special to me. I love to pass on my expertise to the next generation and to see their love and passion and progress from my coaching and teachings. I love to pass on the correct and proper training of what it takes to become a professional dancer just like I did and to succeed in my field. I am very dedicated 100% in the ballet studios to my craft and making the most out of my time with each student or professional ballet dancer. I am very detail oriented both technically and artistically. I work very hard am focused dedicated and driven to excel. I love creating new things. Coming up with new ideas. I love creating a production for the school and putting together performances and what the dancers will perform. I always focused on my end goal and achieved it. I was always able to balance many different tasks at once and to multi task. This is how I balance and get it all done. I love to stimulate my brain and to think with challenges. To overcome the challenges. I have learned to be patient from my dad and to let it happen. Not to force life. I want the world to know that I am here to help make a difference and change in the Ballet World. To help nurture and mentor dancers to becoming the best they can be.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take my best friend to hershey. I love hanging out in hershey at chocolate world, hersheypark, or hershey hotel at the spa. I also love camp hill where I live. It is a cute quaint area. We love going to west shore country club to the pool or for lunch and to sit outside and look at the beautiful golf course grounds. We love going to cork and fork to eat dinner or other local hot spots. We love the cornerstone for breakfast, lunch, coffees, or ice cream w our children. We love to go to Adams-Ricci park with our children. We love going to Pennsylvania Ballet Academy to work. Such a beautiful building and environment for the students.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family is a big support for me, My husband and my children but also my father and mother and sisters have always been a big support system for me. Shoutout to my family.

Website: Info@paballetacademy.org

Instagram: @paballetacademy, @vzahorian

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