Dancer Spotlight: Isabella Granqvist
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’ve been dancing since I was about four years old! I began my ballet training with New Ballet (formerly San Jose Ballet) and joined their Studio Company while I was in high school. Afterward, I attended UC Irvine, where I earned a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in English.
I’ve always been drawn to ballet because I find it to be one of the most beautiful forms of storytelling. I especially love projects like Little Women Ballet’s full-length and immersive works because they combine my two great passions: dance and literature.
2. Can you describe your favorite dance or scene in Little Women and what makes it unique to you?
It’s hard to choose, but one of my favorite scenes in Little Women Ballet is Meg’s wedding. I’ve had the opportunity to perform this scene both as a member of the corps and as Meg herself, and regardless of the role, the moment always feels so joyful.
I love that everyone comes together onstage to celebrate, and that Marmee shares a special moment with each of her daughters. You can truly feel the love that exists within the March family—and within the Little Women Ballet cast as well.
3. How do you approach telling a story through dance movements and expressions?
With dance storytelling, clear body language and facial expression are key, since we don’t have our voices to explain what we’re feeling. When I portrayed Meg March during the 2025 Spring Immersive, I focused on subtle physical details to show how she evolves over the course of the performance—especially since the audience is so close to the dancers in an immersive setting.
When Meg first meets John Brooke, she’s excited but shy. I would often play with my hands, lower my head, and steal quick glances instead of meeting his eyes, to convey her nervousness. In contrast, during the wedding scene, Meg stands tall, makes direct eye contact, and moves with ease—reflecting her growth and newfound confidence.
4. What message or emotion do you hope to convey to the audience through your performance?
I hope to convey the same love and warmth to audiences that exists so deeply within the March family. Working with Little Women Ballet has introduced me to such a wonderful community of dancers, and I hope the audience feels that same sense of connection and belonging when they see the show.
5. How do you work with the choreographer and fellow dancers to convey the overall narrative of Little Women through your movements?
Emma often explains why she chose certain moments from the novel to highlight and what emotions or intentions drive each scene, which helps inform both our movements and our expressions.
In big group scenes like Sallie’s party or Meg’s wedding, the corps dancers and I also create our own mini backstories to help enrich the world of Little Women. For instance, the more fun we have as guests at Sallie’s party, the more apparent it becomes that Jo isn’t enjoying herself—highlighting how different she and Meg’s dreams truly are. We all work together to bring these relationships to life and tell a cohesive story.
6. What do you hope the audience takes away from the production after watching your performance in Little Women?
Stories like Little Women can sometimes feel distant because they’re set in another time and culture, but the emotions at their core are timeless. I hope audiences see that these characters’ dreams, relationships, and struggles mirror our own—and that they recognize pieces of themselves reflected in the story.
