Catching Up With Cover Model Search Finalist Reed Henry
We’re elated for our Cover Model Search winner, Iyanna Jackson—but we also love our two runners-up, Kayla Mak and Reed Henry! We chatted with Reed about what’s new since the last time we spoke to him.
Hi, Reed! What have you been up to since your trip to NYC?
I’m back at San Francisco Ballet School, and right now we’re preparing to perform in SFB’s Nutcracker. I’m a page and a mouse, and I’m also the dragon in “Chinese.” I’m excited to get back onstage for the first time since March of 2020. But mostly I’m working on variations for auditions.
What was your favorite part of the Cover Model Search experience?
I loved meeting new people and networking. I thought it was so great to have new friends from all over. It was also really inspiring to see the words from my teacher, Mr. Ambrose.
How do you think you’ve grown since your trip to NYC?
I think I’ve grown as a dancer and as a person. I’ve been working so hard on my technique, and I also have a really strong friend group.
What was your campaign strategy?
It was mostly to repost things on my Instagram story and feed, and then to tell my friends and teachers here at SFBS about it.
What are your goals for the coming year?
My goals for this year are to get stage experience again, and then hopefully to get a trainee spot at SFB. But if not, to audition and go to a second company or studio company.
What’s your advice for Cover Model Search hopefuls?
My advice is just to be yourself and don’t be afraid to loosen up, because I feel like it’s more relatable that way.
Photo by Nathan Sayers
Dance Spirit gave me such a great opportunity to express myself as a dancer and a person. I was given a platform to initiate a conversation around negative stigmas in the ballet community, as well as things that are important in my eyes, like making ballet a more inclusive art form. One of the highlights of the Cover Model Search process was to hear my teachers at San Francisco Ballet School talk to Dance Spirit about my training and work ethic. Dancers work so hard with little satisfaction, so it was encouraging to know my teachers recognize the work I’m putting into my dancing. The most important thing I would like to share with other young dancers is that all of the discipline, technique and training means nothing if you’re not in love with what you do, so don’t forget to find the fun and freedom within your dancing, because no one wants to watch a robot do ballet…unless it’s a ballet on robots.
Thanks so much again for this amazing experience!
Reed Henry
