News
Page 10
Street Roots • August 12-18, 2016
Inspiring
moves
Famed ballerina Paige Fraser
never let a chronic spinal
condition stand in the way
of her dream
BY ALEXANDRIA SPILLMAN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ou may recognize her from her
silhouette that danced across a dim
stage in the Intel Superbowl
commercial “Experience Amazing” that aired
in February, but Paige Fraser’s appearance
on nationwide television is only proof of her
claim to fame, not the root of the fame itself.
Fraser, a dancer of more than two
decades, was diagnosed with scoliosis during
her freshman year of high school - a pivotal
time period she described as “right when
you’re growing into your body.” Doctors told
her the curvature in her spine mandated
surgery and more than likely marked the
pnd of her dancing career. That was 13 years
ago and also when her first steps to fame
were planted.
Fraser and her family made the unpopular
choice not to follow doctors’ orders - a
choice she admitted is not right for
everyone, especially those with severe spinal
curvatures that create other serious health
problems. After researching on their own, .
she and her family found a chiropractor who
different ways to understand my body.”
performed adjustments and spine
After high school in New York City, Fraser
manipulations. Fraser also wore a back brace
went on to dance in college, first at
for years, and she learned to work with and
Dominican University of California in Alonzo
appreciate the body she was growing into.
King’s Lines Ballet BFA program. The Lines
“There are limitations I had and still have
Ballet was not her first choice, however; she
today,” Fraser explained. “My center of
had prepared for Ailey and Juilliard in NYC,
gravity may be off, I may not feel as strong,
but Fraser’s standardized test scores proved
or my back may be a little sore, but these
to be another barrier in her mission to
are all things that every dancer experiences.
establish a career in dance. She felt like she
That’s why I’m grateful that I didn’t get the
was supposed to be in California at Lines
surgery. It would have ended my career
Ballet when she arrived, but she knew this
before it started.”
would only be temporary.
Fraser persevered through pain and
Fraser put in the extra hours at practices
missteps, but she was not alone. Fraser
and studying in hopes of proving her test
gained strength and confidence in her body
scores wrong, and it paid off. With straight
with the help of mentors and loved ones.
A’s, supportive advisors, and an urge to
“I was lucky because one of my teachers
return to NYC, Fraser transferred to
in high school had the same condition,”
Fraser said. “She was able to give me a lot of Fordham University and soon entered the
Ailey II School. As a student and young
one-on-one coaching and help me find
Y
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NOHEMI MORAN FOR NOMEE
performer in the Ailey II company - already
a huge feat in the dancing community-she
traveled the world as a cultural ambassador.
Performing in the Ailey II Company is, by
design, a two-year commitment. Once
Fraser’s two years were completed in 2013,
she began her search for a more permanent
job. She knew that auditions in NYC would
be incredibly competitive with every New
York dancer aiming for the same Broadway
shows. Fraser opened up her options and
found Visceral Dance in Chicago. Even
though auditions were already underway
when she stumbled across the company, she
sent in her resume, cover letter and dance
portfolio to the artistic director anyway. A
Skype interview and three weeks later,
Fraser had landed a job and was packing for
See INSPIRING, page 11