Today we’d like to introduce you to Aurora Chernis
Hi Aurora, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in San Francisco. At 11 years old, I began rigorous ballet training at City Ballet School San Francisco. Under the strict yet inspiring tutelage of Galina Alexandrova, my love and passion for ballet blossomed through my teenage years. When I graduated high school, I decided to pursue ballet further at the University of Utah as a ballet major. My year in Salt Lake City expanded my world view and informed many of my current opinions of the ballet world. I began to find myself as an artist and understand the kind of impact I wanted to make. While at university, I was living in my dorm room and had to find healthy ways to fuel and nourish my body in order to keep up with the physical demands I was asking of it every day in ballet class. I revived an old food account on Instagram that I had started back in 2020 during the lockdowns in SF and began sharing my “college-friendly meal prep series” on @thatfoodieballerina_.
At the end of my freshman year in college, I signed my first professional ballet contract with Orlando Ballet’s Second Company. I was filled with immense excitement for this new opportunity, and I couldn’t wait to make my move across the United States. While employed by Orlando Ballet, I performed in my first two professional productions: “Romeo and Juliet” and “The Nutcracker.” We are performing “Giselle” in May, and I look forward to being on stage again so soon! This year, I began seriously posting on social media in hopes of pursuing it as a side career and have gathered an incredible community of young aspiring artists. My goal with my social media platforms is to educate dancers on how to healthily fuel their bodies. I spent many of my younger years struggling to accept myself, and finally, as I turn 21 this September, I feel like I have finally found true love with the way I look, dance, and overall exist as a human being. I know that wherever my career takes me next will be the right step on my unique journey, and I can’t wait to share it with my foodie fans every step of the way!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Growing up, I never had the “perfect ballet body,” and while that definition is changing as the ballet world diversifies, there is still very much considered an “ideal” body for a dancer. Of course, all dancers must be incredibly strong, fit, and healthy however, that version of healthy looks so different for every individual. I have always had very strong legs with notably more muscle than my peers. This used to be my biggest insecurity because I didn’t really know of any professional ballerinas who looked the way I did, and so I figured that because of the way I looked, there just wasn’t a place for me in the ballet world. I went through a few very rough years of hating my body and doing everything in my power to alter the way I looked to fit the ballet “standard”. And STILL, after all I did to try and change my body would never be “perfect” for ballet. Today I have grown into who I am and choose to celebrate my strength instead of being ashamed of it. I choose to be strong and condition myself to the highest level instead of being scared of building more muscle and looking bulky. I am so incredibly grateful for the struggles I have had because they have given me the perspective and stories that I share with my followers. My obstacles caused me immense stress and sadness in the present but the lessons they taught me going forward made every day I fought to love myself worth it. To any young dancer or artist out there, trust me, it is so much easier to learn to love yourself exactly as you are rather than hating and trying to change yourself every single day.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a social media creator, I feel that its my duty to share a unique and original perspective. I have always loved food and growing up my family viewed food as a way to fuel and nourish the body at the highest level. I was lucky enough to grow up in beautiful San Francisco, with farmers’ markets on the weekends and an incredible collection of farm-to-table and organic restaurants. I like to think that I take after my dad with my love for cooking (although my mom is also an incredible chef). Whenever I go back home to visit my favorite thing to do is cook for my family. Preparing and sharing food is definitely my love language and so at any chance I get, I’ll want to cook for you.
Building my online presence has allowed me to not only share recipes with my followers but I can also educate dancers and others alike on how to love their body and nourish it as if it is a temple to be worshipped. I dream of seeing a ballet world where eating disorders and body shaming are things of the past and instead, celebrate our individuality while simultaneously pursuing optimal health and fitness!
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something you may not know about me is that I love to crochet and used to play the viola. I grew up in a very creative education environment at the San Francisco Waldorf Grade School and high school and have always gravitated towards the arts. I would play my viola outside of a local grocery store growing up, especially around the holidays, and collect funds for food banks and other charities. I always felt deeply connected to my community when I did this, and my sister would play her violin beside me, making the whole experience a memory I’ll keep for life. I have also always been very entrepreneurial and had several small businesses over the years. During covid, I started a small online jewelry business and sold my rings and earrings on Etsy. While in college I picked up crochet again and sold crocheted headbands to friends, peers, and online customers.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatfoodieballerina_?igsh=MThsejU0MmdsbDBwYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thatfoodieballerina
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@auroraa.gracee?_t=ZT-8uqlLtRISNi&_r=1
