BALLERINA ALESSANDRA BALL JAMES delighted audiences in a staggering 750 performances over 15 seasons with Charlotte Ballet, including her repeated role as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Aside from watching her command the stage, you might know her from Instagram—her handle is @ burritojames—where she posted behind-the-scenes snapshots that allowed followers to peek into her life both on and offstage.
Although the Atlanta native has also danced professionally in Denver and Madrid, James’ seamless blend of the two worlds made the refined art of ballet seem accessible, modern—and distinctly Charlottean.
But in the middle of the endless chaos of 2020, James, 37, announced her retirement, a step that isn’t unheard of in ballet; the physicality of professional dance wears on dancers’ bodies just as professional sports force most athletes into retirement before 40. Another reason, she says, is her foray into entrepreneurship with a business, EveryBODIES Ballet, that James created with longtime friend and fellow dancer Sarah Hayes Harkins. EveryBODIES (@ everybodiesballet on Instagram) offers virtual classes, choreography, posture coaching, and more for dancers of varying experience levels. James also spends more time with her husband, Mike, and 7-year old son Charlie, a luxury after years of a ballerina’s unforgiving schedule.
Here is James in her own words. Responses have been edited lightly for length and clarity.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
‘This Is How We're Going to Make Your Child Better'
Pediatric neurosurgery is technically and emotionally complex—and traditionally dominated by men. As Novant’s first female pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Erin Kiehna Richardson has had to learn the intricacies of a demanding field and battle sexism along the way
The Dumbledore of CMC
A surgery resident wrote a series of children’s books and created a special kind of medical magic
LGBTQ HB2+5
Five years after the furor of House Bill 2, the LGBTQ community—in Charlotte, in North Carolina, and across much of the nation—fights attacks on new fronts
Oh, Snap!
New ‘selfie museum’ in Concord celebrates the 1990s
ALLISON LATOS
The WSOC anchor on her hard trek from one episode of loss and grief to another—and the meaning of resilience
GOOD HEALTH
For years, Charlotte has been one of the largest American cities that lacked a four-year medical school. The health care professionals who finally made it happen overcame a series of setbacks, false starts, and failures, and they plan to use their clean slate to create a new kind of community asset
Summer Partee
From woodwork to retail, the kindergarten teacher-turned-designer has learned how to do it herself
Uptown or Downtown?
Archives illuminate how long we’ve argued over the perennial question
NOW OPEN NOVEL ITALIAN
Paul Verica brings a simpler version of the city’s hottest food trend to NoDa
TOP DOCTORS 2021
The annual list you can't without
