Gavin Larsen

Gavin Larsen, a former principal dancer with Oregon Ballet Theatre, lives in Asheville, NC, where she teaches and writes about dance. After training at the School of American Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet School, she danced with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Alberta Ballet, and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet before joining OBT. In addition to regular contributions to Pointe, Dance Spirit, and Dance Teacher, her writing has been featured in Dance/USA’s journal In the Green Room, Oregon ArtsWatch, Artslandia, and literary journals the Threepenny Review, Page&Spine, and Kyso Flash. Her memoir, "Being a Ballerina: The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life," was published by the University Press of Florida in 2021.

Michelle Martin, wearing a gray shirt and black pants, stands with her arms held low in front of her, wrists crossed, and her shoulders at a slight angle. She looks into a mirror (not shown) at two lines of female dancers behind her, who make the same pose while standing in B plus. The dancers wear various leotards and short skirts, pink tights and pointe shoes.

Audition Advice

What Happens to Audition Materials After You Press “Send”?

Gavin Larsen

Audition Advice

Overcoming Feelings of Intimidation at Summer Intensive Auditions

Gavin Larsen

Marja Miller, who wears a white tutu with pink and floral trim on the bodice, brown tights and pointe shoes, and a red rose on the right side of her low bun, dances on stage in front of a dark backdrop. She pliés on her right leg and brushes her left leg into degagé devant in effacé. She extends her right arm to the side, flexing her wrist, puts her left hand on her hip, and looks down at her pointed foot with a smile.

Pointe+

How to Work Through a Plateau

Gavin Larsen

Miko Fogarty does a large saut de chat onstage during a ballet competition. She lifts her arms in high fifth and holds a tambourine in her right hand, and looks up with a triumphant smile. She wears a classical tutu with a blue bodice and blue and white ombre tutu with pastel yellow, green and dark blue trim. She also wears pink tights and pink pointe shoes.

Pointe+

Trendy Variations: Should You Base Your Competition Selections on What’s Popular?

Gavin Larsen

Shot of a young female ballet dancer sitting on the ground rubbing her injured foot. Her face is not shown. She wears a brown leotard and black tights and has athletic tape on several toes to protect them from blisters.

Health & Body

Minor Ache or Injury? Why You Shouldn’t Keep Summer Intensive Pain to Yourself

Gavin Larsen

A ballet dancer works at the barre in the studio. She stands in first position with her left arm on the barre and her left arm raised slightly in second, as if about to plié. Her reflection can be seen in the studio mirror.

Pointe+

How to Find Motivation When You Realize You Need More Advanced Training

Gavin Larsen

Close up side view of a pensive young woman sitting near window holding her smartphone and awaiting audition news.

Audition Advice

Audition Advice: How to Deal When a Company Isn’t Getting Back to You

Gavin Larsen

Xuan Cheng and Taras Domitro rehearse a passionate pas de deux in a large dance studio. Cheng kneels on her right knee and arches back, her left leg extended, and wraps her right arm around the kneeling Domitro's shoulder as he holds her by the waist and presses his head to her chest.

Onstage

Xuan Cheng, Splitting Her Season Between OBT and Hong Kong Ballet, on the Joys and Challenges of Multi-Tasking

Gavin Larsen

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