A leap of faith: Amanda Ovitt reflects on her UNCSA journey

With every new role, challenge and mentor, School of Dance Ballet graduate Amanda Ovitt learned to trust not only her training, but the journey that molded her into a dancer prepared for the professional stage.

What began as a childhood dance class sparked a passion that would carry her all the way to the stage of the Stevens Center, where she performed a featured role in UNCSA’s beloved production of “The Nutcracker,” and eventually to a professional contract with Richmond Ballet’s studio company.

School of Dance Class of 2025 ballet graduate Amanda Ovitt. / Photo: Andrew Bowen

A 2022 graduate of the UNCSA High School Academic Program, Ovitt has been drawn to dance from the very start—a calling that has guided her every step.

Discovering a passion for dance

“I started dancing at a really young age,” Ovitt recalls. “My parents put me in dance, and it was just something that I loved.” She dabbled in several sports including gymnastics, tennis and even golf, but nothing felt as right as dance. “I focused on dance and gymnastics but they both got so time consuming that I had to pick between one or the other,” she recalls of balancing the two activities. By the end of elementary school, Ovitt had made her choice: “I started dancing all day, every day.”

Even then, without knowing it, she was learning to listen to what inspired her most, which is a skill that would carry her through the many decisions ahead.

Ovitt’s pursuit of dance excellence took her through an arts middle and high school in Florida. But like many artists her age, her plans were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking for summer opportunities during that uncertain time, she and her mother discovered UNCSA.

“I applied for the summer intensive and the high school program for my senior year,” Ovitt says. “When I was accepted into the program—I loved it so much that I wanted to continue on and finish through undergrad.”

Embracing the UNCSA experience

That decision shaped the next four years of Ovitt’s life. Now, as she prepares to graduate, she reflects on her time at UNCSA with deep appreciation. “It’s bittersweet,” she says. “I’m ready to move on to the next chapter and the next adventure in my life, but my time here has been... a lot but in the best way.”

Among her many accomplishments, Amanda says dancing in “The Nutcracker” stands out as a highlight. “My very first Nutcracker here, my senior year of high school, I danced in both Flowers and Snow,” she says. “Then I worked my way up and danced the Sugar Plum Fairy, and then Dew Drop. It’s been a fun experience to dance different roles.”

“Coppélia” and mentorship

Ovitt also starred in this year’s Winter Dance in one of her most treasured roles: Swanilda in the “Coppélia” suite. “That was one of my favorite experiences and moments here,” she says. “I got to be coached by Miss Zerbe on the variation, and I really enjoyed working with her one-on-one. I also worked with Misha Tchoupakov on the pas de deux. That whole experience was incredible.”

Ovitt as Swanilda in "Coppelia Suite," a part of Winter Dance 2025. / Photo: Luke Jamroz

Faculty mentorship was a key part of Ovitt’s growth at UNCSA, especially under the guidance of Jennet Zerbe. “I’ve been in her class for the past three years now,” Ovitt says. “She’s helped me grow so much in my dance technique and in my confidence. Just the transformation from when I started in her class to now—it’s been tremendous.”

Exploring Interdisciplinary Inspiration

Ovitt credits UNCSA’s performance opportunities as a major advantage of studying here. “There are ample opportunities to perform,” she says. “I’ve gotten to perform Balanchine, classical ballet, neoclassical work—it’s a wide variety that I don’t think you can get just anywhere.”

Offstage, Ovitt also found value in her academic classes, particularly through the Division of Liberal Arts. She recalls a favorite class, Paths to the Present with Reagan Mitchell. “I enjoyed the environment and the group projects, especially because they allowed me to work with students outside the School of Dance,” she says. “It was really interesting to hear different perspectives and creative approaches from students in other conservatories.”

I feel like UNCSA has helped me get to where I am and has prepared me for this next step
Amanda Ovitt

Despite a rigorous schedule, Ovitt made time to experience the broader artistic life on campus. She fondly remembers seeing the School of Drama’s production of “Heathers” and attending several symphony orchestra performances. “I really enjoyed the music performances,” she says. “On campus or off at the Stevens Center—they were something I always looked forward to.”

Navigating audition season

Not every moment was easy. Ovitt says the most challenging time during her college career came during her final audition season. “The dance industry is very small, and there’s a shortage of jobs,” she says. “Trying to navigate that and figure out where I’m supposed to be can be difficult. It was a stressful time with so much uncertainty about where I would end up after graduation.”

Ovitt relied on perspective and patience to get through that period. “I found that taking a good walk was really helpful,” she says. “And just stepping back and looking at the overall picture—that it’s only a blip in time and that it will pass. That helped me a lot.”

Amanda Ovitt in "Joplin Dances" from Winter Dance 2024. / Photo: Luke Jamroz

What’s next: Richmond Ballet and beyond

That sense of resilience paid off. Ovitt recently signed her first professional contract and will be joining Richmond Ballet’s studio company this June. “It’ll be very exciting,” she says. “I feel like UNCSA has helped me get to where I am and has prepared me for this next step.”

As she looks ahead to a professional career, Ovitt’s goals are grounded in longevity and joy. “I just want to be able to dance for as long as I can,” she says. “I love performing—it’s what I really enjoy about this art form.”

Advice to future artists

For those following in her footsteps, Ovitt offers heartfelt advice: “Be confident in yourself. Once I was able to really believe in my technical abilities and capabilities, it helped me grow both as a dancer and as a human. Don’t let the negative talk get in your way—just go for it.”

And if she could speak to her younger self at the start of this journey?

“That the time will go by extremely fast,” she says. “Someone told me that, but I didn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Oh, I have four years ahead of me.’ But it goes by in a blink. Take in every moment—whether it’s in the studio or just hanging out with your friends on campus. Enjoy everything while you can.”

Once I was able to really believe in my technical abilities and capabilities, it helped me grow both as a dancer and as a human. Don’t let the negative talk get in your way—just go for it.
Amanda Ovitt

One of Ovitt’s favorite spots on campus is “the hill,” especially in springtime. It’s a peaceful place where she often took walks—pausing, reflecting, and reminding herself of the bigger picture. With graduation on the horizon and the next chapter about to begin, Ovitt is stepping forward with purpose, poise and the kind of quiet strength that comes from years of dedication.

And like so many moments before it, this one will soon become a memory—another graceful step in a lifelong dance.

In a career so often focused on the next milestone, Amanda Ovitt’s journey is a powerful reminder that the true magic lies in the middle—in the quiet, consistent steps that shape who you are and who you’re becoming.

By Melissa Upton-Julio

May 12, 2025