Tiler Peck answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Dancers’ Edition
When did you start dancing?
At the age of 2.
Why did you start dancing?
My mother owns a dance studio, and I was practically brought up there. As soon as I started walking, I was up trying to dance in the back of her studio.
Which dancer inspired you most as a child?
My mom, my first teacher
Which dancer do you most admire?
Marianela. I admire her work ethic and just pure love for dance.
What’s your favourite role?
Ooo, that’s so hard. I think say something different each time someone asks me depending on what I have danced recently. I would have to say Allegro Brilliante, Tchai Pas, Theme, and Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #2 are definitely always at the top of my list. Look at that all Balanchine!
What role have you never played but would like to?
I would absolutely love to dance Manon and Diamonds.
What’s your favourite ballet to watch?
I love watching Giselle.
Who is your favourite choreographer?
George Balanchine.
Who is your favourite writer?
Shakespeare.
Who is your favourite actor?
Julia Roberts.
What is your favourite book?
Any Stephen King novel.
Who is your favourite singer?
Taylor Swift and John Legend.
What is your favourite film?
The Notebook.
Which is your favourite city?
Taormina.
What do you like most about yourself?
I love how loyal I am.
What do you dislike about yourself?
I am very impatient.
What was your proudest moment?
Being able to give so many people joy during Covid by giving my free #turnitoutwithtiler classes on Instagram for 9 months.
When and where were you happiest?
I feel pretty happy with where I am right now – personally and professionally.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My family.
What is your greatest fear?
Being without loved ones.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
To slow down and relax a little bit 😊 I am a bit of a workaholic.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Becoming a Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet.
What is your most treasured possession?
My doggy Cali.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Lots of high heels.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
A brownnoser.
On what occasion do you lie?
I try not to lie as much as possible.
If you hadn’t been a dancer, what would you have liked to be?
A lawyer or country singer.
What is your most marked characteris3c?
My dimples or hard worker.
What quality do you most value in a friend?
Honesty.
What quality do you most value in a colleague?
A generous partner.
Which historical figure do you most admire?
Amelia Earhart.
Which living person do you most admire?
My mother.
What do you most dislike?
Dirty hotel sheets.
What talent would you most like to have?
Be able to really really sing.
What’s your idea of perfect happiness?
Being on a beach with my family and dancing.
How would you like to die?
Next to my love.
What is your motto?
Live in the moment and focus more on what’s ahead then behind.
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Italian ballerina Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
