Page 6 - ATD05March2016

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U.S. NEWSSaturday 5 March 2016

American Living:

Oregon teen pursues ballerina dream at Russia’s Bolshoi academy

LYNN BERRY are alike in some way in U.S.-Russian relations and emy, outnumbered among apartment two blocks from
Associated Press how they approach what the strong anti-American the foreign students only by the academy, which has
OREGON/MOSCOW (AP) — they do.” sentiments in Russian soci- the 28 from Japan, with the allowed Harper to move
Among the dozen 15-year- The Bolshoi took notice of ety. rest coming from 22 other out of the dormitory.
old girls in lavender leotards Harper during a summer Harper, though, says she countries. Some of the for- At the end of each day,
in Tatyana Galtseva’s class program it held in Con- feels accepted by her eign students took part in Baumann talks to her
at the Bolshoi Ballet Acad- necticut and offered her classmates. Her teacher the spring concert on Thurs- daughter about what she
emy, one is different. And a place in the Moscow concurs, noting that just day evening, and Harper learned in class and logs
it’s not just because of her academy. She knew her that morning some of the was among the few girls onto Skype so Harper’s fa-
long, swan-like neck. teachers would be tough other girls had brought her from her class chosen for ther can join the conver-
She is Harper Ortlieb, an and that it would be a a skirt to wear over her leo- two of the dances. sation from their home in
“Preparing for a perfor- Mount Hood, Oregon, 11
In this photo taken on Thursday, March 3, 2016, Harper Ortlieb, from Mount Hood, Oregon, warms mance, it’s all you think time zones away.
up for a performance at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia. Among the dozen 15-year- about. It kind of overtakes In addition to her dance
old girls in lavender leotards in Tatyana Galtseva’s class at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, one is dif- your mind,” she said. “Pre- classes, Harper has Russian
ferent. She is Harper Ortlieb, an American, who left her small town in Oregon to move to Moscow paring for exams, I’m al- language lessons every
to follow her dream of becoming a prima ballerina. ways very nervous. There’s day at the academy. For
a lot of stress. But with that her other subjects, she does
(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) stress, you know, comes online classes in the eve-
happiness and you feel nings and on weekends.
American, who left her challenge to be so far tard because they were ex- overjoyed when you’re On Sundays, her only day
small town in Oregon to away from home, but it has pecting a visit to the class dancing, you forget about off, she and her mother of-
move to Moscow to follow been even harder than she by foreign journalists. everything, you forget ten explore their new city.
her dream of becoming a expected. In her Moscow neighbor- about the sacrifices you They also have already
prima ballerina. “It’s been very difficult, but hood, the women in her make, you forget about the seen more performances
The prestigious academy with that comes strength favorite grocery store have pain, or the tears. Dancing at the Bolshoi Theater than
has 84 foreigners among its and with that I improve,” taken a shine to the deli- is what makes me happy, most Russians see in a life-
721 students, but few are Harper said. “I feel like I cate American teen, help- no matter how much you time.
accepted when they are came here to get better, ing her pick out fresh fruit have to sacrifice.” Harper started ballet at a
as young as Harper and to improve, not only tech- and keeping her favorite Her teacher believes Harp- local dance school when
few are integrated into the nically but emotionally so almond butter stocked. er has what it takes to be she was 3 years old. When
regular Russian program. when I dance people see And in the local Starbucks a classical ballerina, pos- she turned 11, she was
“She is a very gifted girl. She something.” they have learned to spell sessing not just the neces- accepted to the School
is all ballet, all inspiration,” One concern for her par- her unusual name on her sary physical and aesthet- of Oregon Ballet Theatre
Galtseva said. “When chil- ents in the decision to send cup. ic qualities but the will to in Portland, a three-hour
dren are talented, regard- their daughter, then 14, to A total of 17 Americans learn. roundtrip journey that she
less of their nationality, they Moscow was the strain in study at the Bolshoi acad- “She is extraordinarily at- and her mother made six
tentive,” Galtseva said. days a week.
“She is always smiling. Such “Being 3 in ballet class, it’s
a sweet, wonderful girl.” fun and games,” Harper
If Harper wants to be one of said, smiling at the recol-
those rare foreigners who lection. “My teacher was
receive a diploma from the wonderful, it was so much
Bolshoi Ballet Academy, fun. And then once I got
she has three more difficult more professional I realized
years ahead. But now she how much you have to
has her mother back by her sacrifice, and how difficult
side. it is.”
Harper’s mother, Layne She talks about learning
Baumann, made two trips to deal with the pain of
to Moscow after she and wearing pointe shoes and
her husband, Tim Ortlieb, the constant feeling of
dropped off their only child doubt that she’s not good
in September. In Febru- enough.
ary, Baumann decided to “And I’m not good enough.
move to Moscow at least I mean, I’m not,” Harper
for the rest of the school said. “We have to wait. I
year, and she now rents an have to work harder.”