Dancer Spotlight: Hanna Peddicord
Photography by Edie Tyebkhan
1. Tell us a little about your dance background, how long you have been dancing, and what inspired you to pursue ballet.
I started dancing when I was three years old at Centre Pointe Performing Arts in Baltimore, MD. I trained in a variety of styles, but have been most influenced by contemporary and ballet movement. In 2021, I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Florida State University.
Since moving to Los Angeles, I’ve had the opportunity to dive into the commercial dance world—performing in music videos and short films—while also joining Royal Flux and Little Women Ballet as a company member. I’m also a certified guide at Julianne Hough’s studio, KINRGY.
I love the rigor, beauty, and strength of ballet, but for a long time, I resisted pursuing it because I felt boxed in by the idea of being a “ballerina.” I knew people meant it kindly when they said I could or should pursue it, but fear of not being good enough—and of the darker sides of ballet culture—kept me away for years. It wasn’t until I began to see movement as a mutual exchange, one that embraces individuality and cultivates authenticity, that I fell back in love with ballet, just like I did when I was a kid.
2. What are the specific challenges of portraying your character through dance in Little Women?
I love the duet between Jo and Laurie—it’s even one of my favorite scenes in the movie. As a performer, it allows me to explore a wide range of emotions in a short period of time, which can be challenging but also deeply rewarding.
We repeat some of the steps throughout the duet, but the tone gradually shifts from playful to mournful. Without a word spoken, the audience witnesses the full evolution of their relationship. It’s also such a gift to have a partner like Chris, who plays Laurie—he’s an incredible collaborator and makes the scene come alive.
3. How do you approach telling a story through dance movements and expressions?
For a narrative-heavy performance like Little Women, I always come back to the questions: “Who is Jo?” “What parts of her are within me?” “Why does she feel empowered to make these choices?” and “How would this feeling translate into movement?”
As a dancer, I’ve often leaned into a more graceful, airy movement quality. But playing Jo has given me the freedom to be more grounded, raw, and instinctive in my dancing—less polished and more human.
4. What message or emotion do you hope to convey to the audience through your performance?
I hope my performance allows the audience to connect to Jo’s imperfections while also seeing the beauty in the process of becoming who we are. To me, Little Women is a story about growing up—about all the beautiful, messy, and sometimes heartbreaking moments that shape us along the way.
5. How do you work with the choreographer and fellow dancers to convey the overall narrative of Little Women through your movements?
When working with Emma and the cast, we focus on the intention behind each scene, tracing the emotional throughlines of every character and their relationships as the story unfolds. There’s a balance between honoring the precision of the choreography and staying true to how each character lives and breathes within our own bodies.
6. What do you hope the audience takes away from the production after watching your performance in Little Women?
I hope the audience leaves not only feeling the warmth of Little Women and the strength of ballet, but also reminded of the importance of connecting with those we love—and even those we don’t. Time is finite, and this story reminds us that we’re never alone in this life.
