Alya Cogur's Journey: Passion, Struggle, and Change in the World of Ballet
This passion is so powerful that you find yourself entering a realm of mental and physical training, struggle, and fierce competition. Whether you are 8 or 18 years old, it doesn’t matter. You change, your circumstances change, events in the world change, but the rules of this journey never change. You must first be willing, strong, determined, disciplined, and then definitely lucky. One day you can be at the forefront, and the next day at the back. Often, you experience so many emotions simultaneously that it is hard to describe them! Excitement, the stage, applause, the audience, joy, passion, strength, the pain that comes with injuries, psychological pain, disappointment, tears, weakness, anger... You live in a world where every possible contradiction exists. Outside of this world, you find yourself disconnected from your peers. The outside world feels like Mars to you. That is the intensity of this passion.
This world is filled with sharp ups and downs. The momentum begins from the moment you are selected in prestigious schools to receive a quality education. Each year has its own unique dynamics. The country you are in, the school you attend, your age, the identity of your ballet teacher or director, your classmates, the school physiotherapist, nurse, and doctor, family support, and any events you face (like a pandemic) play a huge role in your ballet education and career. Even if you study at the most prestigious school in the world, the sum of the components from that year is what truly matters.
For example, a simple health issue that was once overlooked, or even a normal condition, can suddenly become a serious problem with a change in the school doctor, potentially sidelining you from ballet classes for months. Consequently, both your technical development and psychological state may lose their routine and regress. In my experience, this situation differs in Turiye, in England, and in America. In Turkiye, dedicated teachers support your health problems with love and a motivating approach, while in England, the approach is much stricter. The decisions made by the school health team are unquestionable, and teachers cannot take any initiative in this regard. It’s not seen as a big deal that you can’t attend classes for weeks due to a “constipation” issue when just yesterday you were the best in class. This is your fate, especially when there are many others ready to fill your place. The approach in America is entirely different. Your health declaration is trusted, and all initiative lies with you, or your family if you are underage. There is a more trust-based, rational approach: "If you can dance, you are dancing. If you cannot, you are already aware of that and won’t dance." If you are observed to be falling behind due to a health issue or any other reason, you are given the opportunity to repeat the year you are studying.
Your rights will not be denied just because there are thousands of others waiting to take your place. Therefore, if you are determined to pursue your ballet education abroad, you must be well-informed about the approaches of the countries or schools you are considering. Having this knowledge in advance will enable you to take the right steps in the face of any problem and will mentally strengthen you. The advice and experiences of friends who were at the same school a year before you are valuable, but the dynamics of each year change. For this reason, it is crucial to concentrate solely on yourself and the process ahead. For a ballet student, the ability to cope with mental and physical problems, to make decisions, and to manage situations can, in some cases, outweigh technical and artistic skills.
Another topic is the changes in your physical structure. I am a tall ballerina, and my height aligns more with American norms than European ones. Having foresight about your future height can help you apply to the right schools earlier. Additionally, it is not expected that female students must be extremely thin, as ballet moms often believe. Since my BMI measurement was low, I was assumed to be anorexic, and I was not allowed to attend classes or even walk until I gained weight. Of course, I was not anorexic; I actually ate more than anyone else! I mentioned earlier that each year has its own dynamics; in that particular year, I happened to encounter a doctor whose approach made my weight an issue for the first time in my ballet life. After overcoming that year, the change in the doctor’s approach meant I didn’t face such a problem again, but unfortunately, I had fallen behind in my classes, and honestly, no one seemed to care.
Another significant factor was the pandemic, which was an unprecedented experience for many years. Two of my years in ballet training were affected by the pandemic. It was undoubtedly difficult for everyone. For some, this hardship turned into a great opportunity, while for others, it became a significant misfortune. Worldwide auditions could not be held, and students were directly promoted to upper levels. For those in intermediate classes who had to take online courses, it was a challenging time because I had to take exams immediately after the home education and regression period...
These examples are just a small part of what we have experienced. Pages would not be enough to describe everything. What needs to be done is to be able to step beyond each day and remain focused on the path ahead, regardless of what you face. Wherever you study, whether luck is on your side that year or not, there is only one force that will ultimately take you to the stage: the passion within you.
Closing and Thank You Note:
Alya Cogur's ballet journey is an inspiring story that demonstrates the powerful combination of discipline, determination, and passion. Alya is not only a great example for young dancers because of her talent but also because of her ability to cope with challenges and her determination to improve with every step. Listening to her story reminds us that the journey in the world of ballet requires not only physical strength but also mental and emotional resilience.
I wish Alya endless success in her future endeavors. For our valued readers who wish to closely follow her inspiring talent and updates, you can find her Instagram profile linked below. Watching Alya's achievements and progress is truly exciting as we accompany her on this journey. Until the next blog post, take care!
Author: Alya Cogur
Editor:Lagün Şengelen