All Articles by Connie Flachs

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Connie Flachs

About Connie Flachs

Connie Flachs grew up in Massachusetts, studying classical ballet under her parents Rose and Charles Flachs at the Massachusetts Academy of Ballet. After graduating from high school she furthered her studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet under the fantastic tutelage of Margarita de Saá and Vaganova pedagogue John White. After winning the regional Grand Prix award and competing in the 2010 YAGP finals in New York City, Connie was offered a contract with Grand Rapids Ballet under the direction of Patricia Barker where she is currently in her 7th season. She has performed in a broad range of works, from classical to contemporary. Some favourite roles include Juliet in Mario Radacovsky's Romeo and Juliet, Clara in Val Canaparoli's Nutcracker, Spy in the Envelope, and the I Can Dream solo in Paul Taylor's Company B. Connie also recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from University of Massachusetts Amherst with a concentration in Food, Culture, and Sustainability, a degree she pursued while dancing professionally through UMASS Amherst's University Without Walls Program.

Everybody knows Nutcracker. Even those who have never seen a ballet in their life have heard the Sugarplum music piped over an Oreo commercial or listened to Waltz of the Flowers drifting through Target as they go about their December shopping. As dancers, we know Nutcracker in a very different way. For many of us…

Walking into the studio in the morning, the energy is different than the typical pre-class vibe. Normally bodies are lounging, splayed on the floor, knots gently worked out and coffee sipped as the dancers prepare for the day ahead. Today, however, bright colors are everywhere, laughter fills the air and the room hums with excitement….

I stood staring at the casting sheet.  I felt others jostling around me for a better look at the board, but I couldn’t bring myself to move.  Where was my name?  I had wanted so badly to be in this piece – I had been dancing all summer, I had felt strong in the audition,…