Gay ballerina

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Do whatever. It was after their deadline had technically closed but I was like fuck it I’m still going to try. It’s a really bizarre thing.

I work in film and I’ve often been the only trans person in rooms and it’s that thing where you feel a little crazy. He was also dancing at the time. I knew they wouldn’t do me dirty. (laughs) Because they were there with us for so long! And there are a lot of people doing really cool fucking shit. But you’re like… you don’t seem comfy!

I mean, that first Swan Lake on PBS, of course, but I imagine that was even before your earliest memories?

Shaelynn: Yeah. Since I was a kid, I had pictures of Heather (Ogden) and Jurgita (Dronina). They’re like, oh I’m not uncomfortable. (laughs)

Swan Song is now available to rent.

There’s a scarcity of out ballerinas.

It’s kind of typical, but at least for me it feels like the stakes are higher when it’s Dawson. I’ve always loved this company. My mom worked at my ballet school as a receptionist, so that my brother and I could train. But it creates a culture. I was a little worried, because fuck I know who I am. I know I’m not the most sociable or the quickest to make friends.

At nine years old, I started doing privates. This was when we thought it was just a series so it was like six or seven of us as subjects. That’s really what it is.
Drew: But that’s also what makes these things so challenging. I was like oh my god okay.
But them being there and filming was so awesome. It was Bolshoi Theatre, Paris Opera, and New York City Ballet.

Stuff like that made me feel like, okay good.