In many ways, Ms. Ash has come full circle. “When I left City Ballet, I left the whole reason I was fighting so hard to be something in the ballet world behind,” she said. “And so the drive in me had died.”While in the company, Ms. Ash was a glamorous presence who danced with strength and a luxurious musicality. But she had started ballet after first studying jazz, tap and lyrical dance — she had Broadway ambitions and won competitions — and she said it felt like she was always playing catch up with her technique. When she told him about becoming a waitress, Ms. Ash said, “He just looked at me and he was like, ‘No you are not, darling.’”

Source: New York Times August 13, 2020 15:56 UTC