Kendra Spreutels
Kendra Spreutels was born and raised in Northwest Arkansas. She started her dance training under the instruction of Catherine Bays and Melinda Tobian at Classical Ballet Academy. In 2012, Spreutels transferred to Northwest Arkansas’s Conservatory of Classical Ballet where she performed as a trainee from the fall of 2012 until the spring of 2017. As a trainee she had the opportunity to perform many different roles including Clara, lead Spanish, and lead Angel in The Nutcracker. During her time at The Conservatory, Spreutels was able to take part in the Vocational Royal Academy of Dance Exams under the instruction of Mariah Bordovsky ARAD RTS. She has completed and passed both the Intermediate, Advanced Foundation, and Advanced One Exams with Merit. To further her dance training, Spreutels attended a few different summer intensives including Indiana University Ballet Theatre (2015, 2016), American Ballet Theatre Alabama (2016), and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (2017, 2018, 2019). In the summer of 2019, Spreutels was able to be a part of CPYB’s summer residence life team as a resident advisor. Spreutels is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with Dance and Sports Medicine Exercise Science at Belhaven University, with an anticipated graduation in December of 2020. Since attending Belhaven, she has had the privilege of performing in classical works restaged by Ravenna Tucker Wagnon (Royal Ballet), and an original contemporary ballet created by Melonie Murray (Radio City Rockettes). She has also had the opportunity to perform original choreography in Belhaven’s Emerging Choreographer’s Concert. Spreutels is very excited to be in her third season with NWA Ballet Theatre!
get to know the dancer
Where are you from?
Rogers, Arkansas
In one sentence, describe your "discovery" of ballet. Or, what was your pathway to ballet?
As a young child, the only the thing that I ever remember wanting to do was perform ballet, and that passion has never stopped growing.
Do you remember the first ballet you ever saw? What was it and how did it affect you?
The Nutcracker, performed by Tulsa Ballet. I really enjoyed the acting in party scene, and that was the first scene that I remembered wanting to be in.
What do you like to do outside of dance (hobbies, interests, etc.)?
I enjoy spending time with family, friends, reading, and relaxing outside.
What are some of your other talents?
Archery. I learned how to shoot when I was twelve, and have participated in regional and state competitions.
What are some of your indulgences?
I love chocolate! One of my favorite pastimes is to also enjoy fictional literature and watch shows and movies.
What is your favorite role that you have performed? Have not performed?
I had the immense opportunity to perform Clara quite a few years ago, and I still remember almost every moment from it. I would love to someday perform the role of Giselle, from the ballet Giselle.
Do you have any pre-performance rituals?
Mentally going over the choreography, getting my mindset in the right place, and taking deep breaths to calm both my body and mind.
If you weren’t a dancer, what would you be?
Probably something along the lines of a physical therapist. Honestly though, there really is nothing else I would rather be doing right now.
How do you spend your summer breaks?
Getting physically stronger while also relaxing my mind from the school year. I have been learning more about cross-training over the past few years, so I spend a lot of time at the gym working on areas that I want to strengthen to help me become a better ballet dancer. I have also enjoyed being able to learn and grow by attending summer intensives. I have recently been a resident advisor for a summer intensive, which I greatly enjoyed doing.
If I could visit any country in the world it would be….
My family and I once visited Germany when I was very young, and I would love to go back!
What does Northwest Arkansas mean to you? Why is it special or different from other places you've danced/trained?
Northwest Arkansas is first of all, my home. I have grown up and trained here for the majority of my life. While I have had the opportunity to train and dance at many other places, I am so grateful to be in this area right now. The arts have grown drastically in this area, and I am so excited to be a part of it with this company! I feel like I have the best of both worlds; getting to live in my beautiful hometown, and getting to dance with an incredible and innovative company.
What are three things people might not know about you?
The first is that I have known how to shoot archery for many years now. Secondly, because of my family background, I have grown up spending a lot of time on farms and around horses. Thirdly, I have had experience learning how to choreograph, and I would love to continue choreographing in the future.