New York City Ballet principal dancer Mira Nadon answers questions about dance and the arts, career and family, her likes and motto.
When did you start dancing?
I started dancing when I was five.
Why did you start dancing?
My parents always say that I would be waving my hands around as a baby in my crib, then dancing around the house when I got older. So, they thought I would like ballet classes.
Which dancer inspired you most as a child?
As a child I did not know much about the professional ballet world. As a teenager, I started to learn more and loved watching Tiler Peck and Sara Mearns.
Which dancer do you most admire?
Roman Mejia. His physical and technical abilities, his stage presence, and most of all his kindness to everyone around him.
What’s your favourite role?
Too hard to choose one. I think my top three would be the Walz Girl in Serenade, the first Aria in Stravinsky Violin Concerto, and Diamonds.
What role have you never played but would like to?
Odette/Odile in Swan Lake.
What’s your favourite ballet to watch?
Stravinsky Violin Concerto.
Who is your favourite choreographer?
George Balanchine.
Who is your favourite writer?
Hanya Yanagihara.
Who is your favourite theatre or cinema director?
Luca Guadagnino.
Who is your favourite actor?
Cillian Murphy.
Who is your favourite singer?
Chappell Roan.
What is your favourite book?
Pachinko.
What is your favourite film?
The Worst Person in the World.
Which is your favourite city?
I really love living in NYC, but if I were to pick another city it would be Paris.
What do you like most about yourself?
I am resilient.
What do you dislike about yourself?
My impatience.
What was your proudest moment?
Anytime I’ve given it my all on stage and am left feeling exhausted and fulfilled.
When and where were you happiest?
When I am with my friends or when I am on stage. I’m lucky that I often get to experience both at once.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My family and friends.
What is your greatest fear?
Dying without experiencing everything I want to in life.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would make myself a little less critical and hard on myself. This is one I’m working on!
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Being promoted to principal dancer with the New York City Ballet.
What is your most treasured possession?
It is not technically my possession because I rent it, but my apartment. It feels like a little haven of comfort and peace. I have several paintings done by my grandmother and great-grandfather that decorate my living room walls, and I’ll always hold on to them.
What is your greatest extravagance?
I don’t tend to buy myself very many material items, but I do love to go out to dinner and eat great food.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
People-pleasing.
On what occasion do you lie?
Honestly, I am known amongst my friends for being honest to a fault, so I would say rarely. Maybe a white lie every now and again as a kindness.
If you hadn’t been a dancer, what would you have liked to be?
When I was little, I wanted to be a teacher but now I don’t think that would be a good fit. I could see myself running the administrative side of a business. I love organizing and getting things done.
What is your most marked characteristic?
I asked my roommate, and he said my tenacity which I think I would agree with.
What quality do you most value in a friend?
Honesty and a sense of humor.
What quality do you most value in a colleague?
Hard work and openness.
Which historical figure do you most admire?
Jane Austen.
Which living person do you most admire?
Suzanne Farrell.
What do you most dislike?
Inefficiency.
What talent would you most like to have?
To be able to speak many languages.
What’s your idea of perfect happiness?
Being surrounded by people you love and who make you happy.
How would you like to die?
In my sleep.
What is your motto?
Don’t overthink it, just enjoy.
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 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.