“Ballet is art. It’s not about winning, it’s about creating movements that are compelling but look effortless. Football players have pads, tape, helmets and braces to protect them. We’re out there on our own. Of course, in the corps, there’s teamwork. Everybody has to be in sync and on the right count. Within that, you have a chance to express yourself.” After nearly eight years of dancing with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, do you still get excited when you go onstage? “Always. It’s always an adrenaline rush. I always think, ‘Time to go.’ It’s why I rehearse six hours a day, run, lift weights and bike, to train my muscles and push to extend what I can do: All of it is for the performance.” What will you do when you retire? “I hope I can teach ballet. People say that the greatest dancers don’t always make the best teachers. I’m not one of the great dancers, but to get to the level I’ve achieved I’ve had to figure out how the body works and be able to break steps down to learn them. I ha