Finis Jhung Workshops

Finis: Well, I just saw that DVD, and you'd never know you had sprained your ankle. What has been your best stage experience?

Robert: Performing in a Dance Festival in Sicily. Maya Plisetskaya, the legendary Russian ballerina, was the guest of honor, and danced, but we were the main focus. We opened with the beginning of Pacquita, and then others danced, and then we finished with the Coda. Maya was in the wings, cheering me on as I did the fouettés. She said she loved our Pacquita, and that we were better than the usual female cast.

Finis: That's a lifetime compliment! What do you see in your future?

Robert: I'm still dancing. My body isn't telling me it's time to go, and I'm kind of spoiled with this job. I have no inclination to go elsewhere. But in the future I would like to begin to teach, because I love dancing, and I think I will be able to share what I know with my students. I also think that perhaps I would like to be connected with running our Company.

Finis: Is the Trocks a Union Company?

Robert: No, we are not. If we belonged to a Union there would be a lot of rules that would curtail our activities. We wouldn't be able to work as much as we do. It might be good for us as dancers, but not for the company itself.

Finis: But are you paid well enough to not have to a side job?

Robert: Yes, and at the rate we're going, we really couldn't do any more work than we're already doing. Our company, along with Pilobulus and a couple of other, is always working .

Finis: Your audience keeps expanding, doesn't it?

Robert: Yes, it does, and that's another great thing about us. We're not geared toward just the ballet-ballet audience. We're geared towards children as well. Our main focus is to make sure we put out a quality product, and it's always classy.

Finis: So, are you living your childhood dream?

Robert: I will have to say yes. When I was introduced to dance, my mother had never even seen ballet, and didn't know a thing about it. But she wanted my sisters and I to have a cultural life, so she let us dance. From day one, I couldn't wait to get back to class.

Finis: Any advice to young dancers?

Robert: Live your dream. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't. It's always possible.

Finis: And you are living proof of that. Bravo!

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