On Pointe: Q&A with Dancer Maisy Gustaveson

“I want to help the audience feel something when they watch me dance, and the skills I learn from theater help me do that.”

At what age did you start dancing?

I started dancing when I was about 4 years old.

When did you realize you wanted to pursue dance?

I didn’t get serious about dance until my 8th grade year when I had the opportunity to play Clara in the Nutcracker. I fell in love with the feeling of performing and sharing this beautiful art with others. 

Who are your influences in general and in dance world?

My greatest influences are actually the girls I dance with. Each individual dancer on my company is so incredibly talented in different ways and I learn so much from training with them. 

Please share your favorite moment with your dance instructor.

I remember my first private lesson with the lovely Miss Dayna. I was so nervous. However, this wonderful woman treated me with so much kindness and positivity that I felt more confident in my dance than I had ever before. 

What is your favorite theater piece?

I believe that musicals with hardcore dance are just so powerful. One of my favorite shows to watch is Newsies. The use of choreography is marvelous and done so flawlessly. It always makes my heart happy.

Do you get nervous before performances? If so, how do you overcome it?

I actually get VERY nervous before performances, even if it doesn’t seem like it. I’m a hardcore perfectionist, so the idea of messing up is scary. However, before I step onstage, I always close my eyes and think about the people in the audience supporting me. I know that they love me no matter what, and the best I can do is go onstage and perform for them. 

What was the most challenging role you played in The Nutcracker?

For 4 years I had the privilege of being in the Arabian Coffee dance, and every year I got to partner. Partnering was very different than anything I had ever done before, and took a LOT of getting used to the first year. 

Does your interest in theatre influence the way you approach dance performances?

I always try to blend my two worlds of theater and dance. I believe that they can’t exist without each other. When you go to see a ballet or dance performance, a dancer’s expression is what moves you. I want to help the audience feel something when they watch me dance, and the skills I learn from theater help me do that.

What are your plans after graduating high school?

After high school I plan on attending Brigham Young University and majoring in Dance Education and Choreography. I want to teach and mentor little dancers and help them to grow into their love of dance. I’ve had two incredible dance teachers who have done the same for me, and the least I can do is pass it on.

Lisa Temple painting Maisy Gustaveson on the McKinney Cotton Mill grounds. November 5, 2022.