Millicent Simmonds on Training with Ballet West Academy for "Pretty Lethal"
Millicent Simmonds is featured in Pretty Lethal, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. In preparation for the film, Millicent trained with Ballet West Academy Director Evelyn Cisneros-Legate and Principal Faculty Stacey Mahan.
Have you danced before?
I had never really danced before. I was more of a soccer girl growing up so it was a whole different world to me. It was very difficult to learn how to hold myself, the names for different movements, the music, but the feeling I felt while dancing was very unique.
I felt like I was a flower moving through the wind. I loved that feeling. What surprised me the most was how strong and resilient the dancers are. From afar, the movements look delicate and soft, but I was so wrong. Every inch of their body is controlled and flexed. Every movement is so intentional. From the top of the head to the neck, to the fingertips, to the toes which is insane. They have all of my respect!
How did training with Ballet West Academy come about?
I was learning on my own then enrolled in a local ballet class, until William Tuckett, the choreographer for the Royal Ballet and for Pretty Lethal found Ballet West and had me reach out to Evelyn and Sarah at Ballet West Academy. I was already familiar with Ballet West from growing up in Utah.
I also had friends that attended and took classes there, so I knew how incredible they were and the reputation they had, so I was pretty nervous but excited to get to work with them.
What was it like working with Ballet West Academy Director Evelyn Cisneros-Legate and Principal Faculty Stacey Mahan?
I was very fortunate to learn from such great teachers Evelyn and Stacey. Both of them were very understanding, patient, but also knew when to push me when I needed it. I could tell how much passion they have and how much they love ballet just from hearing them talk about it. They would exude grace and elegance when they danced. I hope I was able to do them even a little justice and make them proud with my movements and how I held myself.
What was your most memorable experience preparing for the film?
I remember a specific day that I was really struggling. I was looking at the other girls and remember feeling that my body and movements didn't look like theirs. I felt like my body was not responding to what I was wanting it to do. I was dancing with women who were professionals and I remember feeling like an imposter and that I didn't belong. I was trying to copy their movements exactly.
Will immediately saw what I was doing and pulled me aside. He told me to try to think of a picture or painting where I'm reaching out for a bird or a flower on a branch. He told me to feel my own music, whatever that sounded like for me and to bring out "Millie the dancer."
We started to work on my form again and this time it felt light, strong, and confident. That's the best way I can describe it. I was stunned. From then on, I didn't compare myself again. I was solely focused on myself and what felt right to me.
That feeling is truly unbeatable and made me want to keep at it and work harder. It was a blast dancing along with my cast mates. I learned so much from all of them.