Meet the NEXT STEP Artist: Malena Ani

Malena Ani is from Los Angeles California. She studied with Olga Tozyiakova, Natalia Sinitsyna, and Zippora Karz, and at Pacific Northwest Ballet School. She attended summer courses at the Chautauqua Institution, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. Ms. Ani joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice in 2020 and was promoted to corps de ballet in 2021.

Read on to learn a little more about Malena with some of her answers from The Proust Questionnaire! See Malena Ani’s first new choreographic work for NEXT STEP on May 25 & 26 at On the Boards.
Click here for more information and to buy your tickets.

NEXT STEP is PNB’s annual choreographic workshop where Company dancers have the opportunity to create original works for PNB School Professional Division students. NEXT STEP provides opportunity, infrastructure, and support to grow tomorrow’s choreographic talent while providing a performance opportunity to our most advanced students.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Experiencing the present moment free from judgment or expectations.

What is your greatest fear?
I have many fears. So I guess my greatest fear is letting myself be imprisoned by them. All of them are real but not all of them are true.

Which living person do you most admire?
I can’t pick one person that I admire. I admire anyone who has the courage to be vulnerable. 

On what occasion do you lie?
I can’t lie! I am so bad at it. I wouldn’t mind being better.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
A sea creature 

What is your favorite occupation (i.e. thing to do)?
My favorite things to do include: Being alone, listening to sad music even when I’m happy, thrifting, making art, and being close to water. 

What is your motto?
Surrender. 

What is your present state of mind?
On one hand, it’s a jumbled mess that I am trying to put in order. On the other hand, it’s an awareness of the mess and being okay with it.

Headshot © Lindsay Thomas.