Meet Alexandra Lister: Ballet Dancer & Graduate Student

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexandra Lister and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexandra, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is a topic that has truly shaped how my life is today. Though risk may seem scary, it is a very important factor in attaining your goals, hopes, desires, and dreams. I committed to a plentiful of risks after graduating undergraduate college. I risked moving to a new place across the country. I moved to San Diego to pursue a career in dance with the San Diego Ballet. With the onset of the pandemic, I found my career in dance laid off. It is then I decided to take a risk and apply for Graduate school. I now find myself enthralled with graduate school as a Master’s student in marketing. As I continue on life’s adventure, I find that risk isn’t so scary after all. Risk is the driving factor in all my pursuits whether it be dance, marketing, health, wellness, and more!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I find my path to where I am today a bit unordinary compared to the average individual. Growing up in a life that is highly focused on dance and academics has been a challenging one, but without it, I would not be me! In pursuing a career in dance, I needed to start dedicating myself intensely to my training at the mere age of 14. Upon graduating high school, I decided that college would be the best fit for me and my academic/dance training needs. My time at Butler University was no doubt memorable but not always easy. Taking over 20 credit hours per semester on top of a social life while maintaining my grades, dancing, and friendships is extremely challenging. Though, I’d like to acknowledge that these experiences are the reason I am able to have a full schedule that is prioritized, organized, and manageable. Once attaining a job with San Diego Ballet, it seemed like smooth sailing –until the Covid-19 pandemic made unexpected impacts on my life. Because of the challenges this now presented to me and my career in dance, I decided to enroll myself in graduate school. Though I am still dancing on a project-by-project basis at the moment, I get to explore other creative areas that I have found enjoyment in! Delving into a world of marketing, mostly online, mobile, and social media marketing has proven that I can find a passion in something else that is still creative yet meticulous. I look forward to what’s to come this year. I just want everyone to know, especially dancers, that even if you think you have an undying passion for one thing and one thing only, that’s not entirely true. Take the time to explore other areas and passions in your life because I’m telling you…it’s worth it!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, you can’t really go wrong with many of the places that you visit in San Diego. A few of my favorites revolve around nature, food, and atmosphere. First off, I love that San Diego so many has areas to hike! My favorite two are Torrey Pines Hiking Trails and Cowles Mountain. These can easily be hiked in a matter of few hours–perfect for showing a friend around since a San Diego visit itinerary is undoubtedly full. Of course, I may be a bit biased since this is my place of work, but I fully recommend a visit to Bay Park Fish Company for some fresh and delicious seafood. Macadamia crusted halibut, specialty oysters, and plenty of sushi is the way to go if bringing a friend to the west coast for a visit. Lastly, I would 10/10 recommend a sunrise painting session. Yes, you must fit in a classic San Diego sunset trip, but the sunrises are beautiful too. Wake up about an hour before the sunrise, grab your painting supplies, a bunch of blankets, and maybe a cup of coffee, and go paint! Creativity flowing this early in the day sets you up for success and gets those serotonin levels flowing for an overall happy day. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to thank all the support and encouragement I have received from those at Butler University and National University, San Diego Ballet, my strong support system at Bay Park Fish Company, and especially all of my friends, family, and loved ones who have cheered me on and have had my back up to this point in my life.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexlister/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-lister-557563145/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alex.lister.129/

Image Credits
Maximillian Tortoriello, Sam Zauscher