Dancer Spotlight: Makenna Bolton
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 have been dancing since the age of 3, training in ballet, modern, pointe, jazz, tap, and contemporary. I grew up dancing in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, at Dance Education Center—a collegiate, technique, and performance-based studio with annual productions. As I grew older, I joined DEC The Company and the National Honors Society of Dance Arts. I also traveled across Wisconsin to train at programs such as the UW–Madison Pre-Collegiate Invitational Intensives, Wisconsin Dance Council, Wisconsin Dance Festival, and Showstoppers Convention.
I later continued my education at AMDA College of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, where I earned my AOS in Dance Theatre. Dance has remained a constant in my life through performances with dance companies, musicals, and my own choreography. Ballet was the first dance style I ever trained in—it became the foundation for everything else I’ve learned. It has not only shaped my technical growth, but also taught me lessons about resilience and artistry. There is something so captivating about looking delicate and effortless on stage, even though the audience may never know how much strength, discipline, and endurance it takes to make that beauty come to life.
2. What are the specific challenges of portraying your character through dance in Little Women?
My favorite dance in Little Women, although I may not be in it, is the duet between Beth and Grandfather Laurence. Their relationship is incredibly moving—Beth reminds him of his late granddaughter who also played the piano, and the two share a unique, tender bond. It reminds me of my own relationship with my grandmother, which makes the scene feel especially personal and poignant.
3. How do you approach telling a story through dance movements and expressions?
I focus on how a story makes me feel rather than what it makes me do. Only by connecting with a piece emotionally—through both the mind and heart—can we begin to visually express its deeper meaning.
4. What message or emotion do you hope to convey to the audience through your performance?
I never want the audience to feel that they must experience a specific emotion or follow a particular interpretation. Art isn’t about rules—it’s vast, messy, and unpredictable, yet it can also be calm and beautiful. Through my dancing, I hope the audience takes away exactly what their heart and soul need in that moment. My wish is that they discover something extraordinary within themselves and feel inspired to continue exploring that sense of wonder through art.
5. How do you work with the choreographer and fellow dancers to convey the overall narrative of Little Women through your movements?
Emma gives her dancers the tools and choreography needed to bring her vision to life while allowing us the creative freedom to explore and personalize our characters. Working alongside her and my fellow dancers, there’s a deep sense of trust—each of us contributes to the storytelling in a way that feels true to our interpretation, and together we bring Emma’s vision to the stage with heart and authenticity.
6. What do you hope the audience takes away from the production after watching your performance in Little Women?
I hope they leave with a sense of gratitude for the small but beautiful blessings in their lives—those moments we often take for granted. Little Women highlights how essential love, family, and friendship are to the human experience. Personally, it has reminded me that I am rich not in money, but in blessings: my supportive family, my caring friends, the chance to work in the performing arts, and the freedom to do what I love. I hope everyone who watches Little Women Ballet feels that same warmth and childlike joy that fills me every time I step onto the stage.
