We had the good fortune of connecting with Leyna Doran and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Leyna, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Success is subjective; we define it based on cultural, familial, and societal ideals. As a child, my dream wasn’t to be in a position of leadership for an artistic nonprofit. So, personally, I don’t look at my current situation as “success” – as in I achieved my long-held dream – rather, I see it as a gift. A special opportunity that came when I least expected it.
When I look over my life and my career, from where I was to where I am now, I see how little decisions and moments paved the way for the next thing. In retrospect, I can connect the dots and see how baby steps I took over time grew into something more substantial. And with these remembrances, I see that the biggest factor into my current position was fully investing myself in the opportunities I was given. For example, at the age of 14 I had the opportunity to lead and teach a troupe of dancers from ages 3-10 years old. I would create a weekly class schedule, lesson plan, choreograph dances, and organize performance events within the community. This was all small-scale: new students gained by word-of-mouth, scheduling documents created on Microsoft Word, performances at nursing homes and churches. But I loved it. I loved interacting with the dancers, instilling new information about movement and their bodies, creating dances that would bring joy and hope to all who watched. And then much later, when at the age of 27, I was given opportunity to direct and run a professional ballet company to keep it from folding, I see how the abandonment with which I threw myself into one opportunity directly influences my ability to take on the next. Directing/creating/teaching at 14 has influenced me to lead/sustain/grow the current company I am with. Whenever a new opportunity arises, I greet it with excitement, with passion, and with the inkling of thought that this may be a path to something new.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Ballet Hartford is Hartford, Connecticut’s professional ballet company. Our vision is to be “art for the city”; to curate performances showcasing excellent art that is life-giving, full of hope and inspiration. With professional dancers from across the country, an affiliate pre-professional training division, and a diverse and caring staff, we hold to a standard that joy and excellence can work in unison. We cultivate an atmosphere that is warm, transparent, and supportive of each other. We believe that our art form – the hours spent creating, rehearsing, reshaping – is done to be shared. We dance to give to the community around us.
I began as a dancer for Ballet Hartford when the company was founded in 2016. When an unfortunate series of events occurred in 2019 that had the company on the brink of folding, I was given opportunity to step in as Artistic Director and keep the organization alive. Though I have been passionate about the art form of dance since I was young, the position of director was not a goal I was aiming toward. It took me by surprise, but I felt a serious sense of commitment to step into this role. I had experienced firsthand the ways this company had been an incredible artistic outlet for me through the past few years. With whatever knowledge and power I had, I wanted to keep it going in order to offer other dancers the same opportunities I had been provided with.
While I had some idea of the responsibilities of an Artistic Director, I quickly learned that there was much, much more to the position than I anticipated. I dove into the world of nonprofit organizations, boards, tax exemption, grants, festival applications, event curation, contracts, choreography and more. Each day that passed brought a new element, a new hurdle to overcome. The process was slow-going. At times, I felt so burdened by the weight of everything, I was tempted to throw up my hands and say, “I tried! But it’s too much!” During these early difficulties, I had an incredible support system within my family and from the previous director of the organization. As time went on, and I learned, was humbled, and learned some more, I began to see the fruit of the labor. I started to see healthy relationships and community form; I experienced the beauty that comes from dancers moving in confidence and freedom; I received wonderful feedback from the community of the ways our art was impacting them. These small victories were cause for celebrations. Taking time to revel over a small win made the difficulties in getting there worthwhile. Pausing to express gratitude gave me the strength and courage to keep going.
And now, though I am a few years into this role as Artistic Director, there are still challenges I am met with, new things to learn, and many more ways I want to see dance restored in people and the community. It’s the moments of pause, the small celebrations, and continual heart of gratitude for the platform I was given that allow me to move forward with joy and with excellence.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Connecticut’s capitol is a historic and beautiful city. There’s a beautiful park, Bushnell Park, that has an incredible outdoor stage (where Ballet Hartford performs in the summer), playscape, pond, walking areas, and indoor carousel. There’s history with the unique and fascinating Mark Twain House, Harriet Beecher Stowe House, and Noah Webster House. There’s a beautiful Riverfront walk that connects public parks overlooking the CT river. We would check out the Colt building, a historic factory complex that once manufactured firearms, but now is home to office/commercial space and beautiful loft apartments. We would grab smoothies at Juiced Up Juice Bar or grab something to eat at Parkville Market.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am grateful to be surrounded by an incredibly supportive, albeit large, family. I am one of seven children and fall into the lineup as the second oldest. My parents have always set an example of unconditional love, sacrifice, and encouragement to all of us. Especially in pursuit of an art form that always seemed just out of reach, the courage I gained from parents and siblings that believed in me was invaluable. My parents, in particular, have been great sources of friendship and mentorship as I have grown older. Their care for me matched with the wisdom life brings have shaped the woman I am today. I am tremendously thankful for the shining examples they are to me.
Website: ballethartford.com
Instagram: @ballethartford
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leyna-doran-6a2462237/
Facebook: facebook.com/ballethartford
Image Credits
Ian Christmann photography