Arts: An American at the Bolshoi - nytimes.com/video

[animallover2297]

She is way skinnier now...I wonder how she lost the weight. Well probably dancing like 8 hours of day and working out the rest of the day.. Haha

[1073kat]

You can find crazy physical hard russian teachers all over north america, just saying.

[phoen89]

you just have to love this girl for her devotion :)

[littledancerLivi]

Come on youtube! i wanted to see this but an error occured! I definantly want to see this. I want to become a prima ballerina!

[DesiFuyuko]

Wow, her story is an inspiration for me, such a HUGE inspiration, I mean, in my case, I really want to go to the United States to study in a University there, not ballet, but the Asian Languages. As a matter of fact, I'm super afraid inside of leaving my family behind, since I have never even been on a plane before. I admire this girl and I wish I had her courage and strenght and drive (and talent too! hehe) :)

[MeliiLynn]

Well, did she get it?!

[HanonVoice]

She's amazing and beautiful. I'm so glad someone paid for her operation! It would be such a shame for this girl who went for her dream to not be able to continue.

[ironicsubtlety]

i totally understand that feeling of smiling on stage and being in tears backstage, and coming back on stage to smile again. it's so true.

[Balletlove282]

you can hear the immense passion in her voice. It's incredible!

[girlthatlaughs]

She's doing really well! And she's only 15!

[Karen1andKaren2]

@girlthatlaughs well this year she is preparing to audition for the company at 16 or 17. she's not that young by ballet standards ;)

[Russia2010]

respect

[GaGa2812809969]

such pretty feet! and she has gorgeous legs too!

[KitCat074]

Did she Actually get the Lead role?

[cocolinabt]

what's the music on 4.45? can anyone help me? the pas de deux they're dancing

[contortionist104]

@cocolinabt I dont know the specific music but its from the Nutcracker

[odettekitri]

@cocolinabt it's from the sugar plum fairy pas de deux (adagio)

[arkdu]

HER NAME??



[danceboy101]

@arkdu Joy Womack

[arkdu]

God she its really amazing....i hope all the sucessful for her...BUT...in america its many amazing schools!!! i know how is go to a place that u doesnt understand the lenguage and the people or culture its VERY diferent...she is very strong cause (with ALL MY RESPECT) live with russian people is not easy!!! so CONGRATULATIONS!!

[nevroth]

Oh wow, I have tears in my eyes! What a wonderful opportunity and especially with the donor for her surgery. To be able to reach ones dream- so few of us get too. I'm so happy for her and wish her the best. I'm sure we'll see her name again. And it goes without saying, she makes me a proud American!!

[heyhayley6]

awww I know Joy and she is the sweetest, most driven girl I have ever met! She deserves everything she has gotten and I know she will go far

[makingpeoplelaugh]

She is so lucky to have his opportunity.

I dream about going and dancing in Russia.

But, I'm happy for her, she seems like a sweet girl who really deserves it.

[casadirossetti]

@makingpeoplelaugh fuckyou

[AFdancergirlio]

joy womack! yuuussss shes so amazing she trains seven days a week. lol im friends with her on facebook.... haha

[Orchiidify]

@AFdancergirlio  I'm too, lol, she'a really amazing

[AFdancergirlio]

@Orchiidify i know i look at her pictures and its like why can't i be herrr

[casadirossetti]

@Orchiidify heheeheheheheh

[hbanana7]

this video gave me much strength, although I am studying something completely different in a foreign country. The Russian teachers and classmates aren't the friendliest, but I think that is better than over-dramatized false friendship. They respect her, well-deserved too, since she works her ass off, and they all can see that. That story about her getting the money for her surgery after she went to church is really inspiring.

[sylvieguillemfanx10]

get it girl

i wonder if she got it

[EverlastingxHope]

I really liked watching this :)

[iInuYashaDem0n]

she soo lucky not only because she goes to bolshoi ballet but got the money for the surgery and the semester.......

[alkodjdjd]

What strikes me most is that a texas chick could have the courage to go to to a place his hick acquaintances can't even point in the map: this girl is really brave and deserving.

[scgalhjl]

What ballet was she auditioning for? Don Quixote? And did she get the lead role??

[laughingpantera]

she should try to enjoy it, since she has so much passion for dance... its true what her instructor says: strain can really harm her in every way and it will show in her dance. If she focused more on delighting in the experience of dance (which she obviously loves), the steps would just flow naturally. you're an inspiration, girl! its takes ovaries of steel to go halfway around the world, learn a language (and an alphabet :p) to do what you love!

[Hello2950]

ouch ouch ouch her feeeeet! D: But she's such an inspiration!

I'm truly amazed..

[iNowii]

where's the rest of the story lol ... do we need a drum roll to get it started ?!

[hikkoritikkori]

Awesome girl, you are an inspiration!

[kthananan]

She's a big inspiration to keep on fighting for the dream. Standing ovation!!

[GlenHelenGHOfeeder]

@ 0:14, is that Yuhui Choe, or however you spell her name, im talking about the soloist at the royal ballet

[Selene3210]

I want to say a huge BRAVO to this girl. She's only 15 and managed to cope with all the difficulties she faced. She was far away from home, all alone, to a vast country and did not back down. Joy well done, I hope you succeed in getting the role and achieving much more because you truly worth it! You are an inspiration. :D

[xoxowoahhennnyyy]

teach me joy! please )'';

[Liv2Dance22]

did she get the role!?!

[thegreendestiny]

She looks like Rachel Weiss meets Kate Winslet bumps Anne Hathaway.

[dogsrcool099]

I hope she gets the lead role!! She deserves it:):)

[dogsrcool099]

what an inspiring story!!!! she has a rare talent!!:) WELL DONE JOY:)

[Nathalie2905]

What a story!

[TicketToMe]

What an absolutely beautiful story!

[AvalonMorley]

Wow! How brave and gutsy, to go all that way, into that situation, and be so dedicated. Years ago, it felt scary and exciting going from N. Texas to New York City to study dance full-time, and then to Western Europe (Russia and the whole Soviet empire were so distant then), but this is a very different level! (I also experienced having injury & medical problems far from home--no fun.)

It looks like Joy came from N. Texas, & I'd be interested to know where she studied around here, if so.

[curlyhairfreak30]

at 2:22 its natalia osipova

[LesWilis]

Your body is the most magnificent possession you’ll ever own (which you prove through the joy of dancing). Some people cannot dance because they cannot walk. If your friend said to you, “Stop that, it hurts,” she wouldn’t have to tell you twice. Yet, you override your body's pain signal, when your body is looking out for No. 1. Doctors don’t heal you; your body does. No surgery will return you to your original perfection. No performance is worth damaging your foot. Pain is kind and wise.

[yonjooheero]

This video made me want to tear up because she's such a hard worker despite the hard circumstances she's been put in of not understanding the language and being so far away from home. It's so inspiring to watch and makes me want to work hard too.

I hope her foot gets better and she can finish her studies at the Bolshoi Academy. Best wishes! :)

[ittiebittiedancer]

what a wonderful story!!!

[lukebccb]

I'm surprised 60 minutes hasn't done a story on her.

[Yanaballerina]

She inspired my day! She is so mature for her age, so hardworking, so gifted. Wish her all the best. I am sure we'll soon see her on the big stage!

[HallieMac]

Just wonderful! Best of luck to her!

[palubob]

Wonderful!! Best of luck to her.

[threefourninetyfour]

This was good, but I disagree that you have to go to Russia to have a teacher give you physical instruction! I live in Texas and I've had many very tough teachers give instruction the way they do in Russia and Europe.

[KsiezniczkaTatusia]

wow, what a determination! good luck Joy!

[VampsAreLovee]

If you guys want to know what happened with her, etc check out her facebook page or you can see her in some videos from ilyaballet or ilyaballet1 youtube channel (:

[pinkblue114]

@VampsAreLovee hi would you mind telling me what videos ?

[MsFeliscatus]

@pinkblue114 just check out joy's youtube-channel, it's called reagan1233 :3

[msshaunawarren]

this was really good to watch

[bmsdancer310]

im 15 and i wish i was as good as her!

being 15 an accepted into that school is amazingggg!!!

GREAT JOB JOY!!!

[joydubyadee]

Wonderful story. God is good!  --Another Joy who loves ballet :)

[jhilleyful]

at the start of this piece I was thinking, "C'mon, there are plenty of great ballets in the US, but as I watched I learned this is where God lead this kid....WOW can't argue with that! An American at the Bolshoi!!! God Bless You, Girl!!!

[MrPaveljg]

this shld read joy sorry

[MrPaveljg]

very inspiring story good luck joe and please lets see you dance in australia with the bolshoi one day. will follow yr story from sydney australia

[KarmaNicole94]

I seriously just almost cried.

[tedsler]

Has there been a follow up to this? Or will it be? This is truly inspiring, like so many people say.

Joy, I admire your commitment and drive and I hope your foot injury was the only your career will ever see and I wish you all the best in the future!

tx

[Farennah]

Hi Joy! How are you? Jesus loves you! God bless!

[RONIDC1979]

she is beautiful.

[nonavee3]

This entire piece moves me so much. I've watched it before and still every time she explains how someone gave her the money for her surgery, I cry! I really understand her love of ballet, and her fascination with Russia. If you ever read this, Joy, hold on to your faith in God and keep following your dreams!

[dancerxliz]

What a lucky girl!

[weeniesaurus]

i aspire to be like her!! :'D

[padawan96]

oh thats beautiful! i mean, that girl is so determine to do it! thats amazing, keep  going :)

[bogocraze]

Is her pas de deux partner in the video that boy from Britain who was featured in a BBC doc about his experience at the Bolshoi?

[AriaInTheSky]

@bogocraze Henry Perkins? Yup!

[SuperBalletgirl101]

She is such an inspiring and talented girl.

[XxBallerina4ChristxX]

this is soo inspiring... She is soo beautiful and talented!! :D

God Bless!!

[RONIDC1979]

@XxBallerina4ChristxX dont you just Love how Jesus pulled throughand got the money to her!! jehovah jirah!!

[Ery1112]

OMG she is soooo amazing!!! Im sure she'll get the role, you go girl!!!

[LolliPopsAndBibs123]

OMG!! So inspirational and makes me want to progress as a dancer... I would love to have the chance to meet her or go watch a show! <3 :D

[luvtodance1016]

She is so talented! A very inspiring story!

[OsipovaFan20]

where did she get the money from?

[AAndrejevic]

Joy is an exceptional individual with an exceptional story! I wish for her many, many successes!

[IndiaHicks1]

An amazing aspireing story in my opinion.

[IndiaHicks1]

WOW eighteen thousand dollars a year ffor foreigners oww wee that's crazy but I would do it if i had the money.No lie.They produce some of the greatest dancers though I beleive but that's a great sacrrafice she made.

[IndiaHicks1]

I Looooove the Bolshoi ballet company as well as i wish I could be in the school but you have to be really really great.Im just great that's it.

[1313dancer]

I KNOW HER!!!!!!

[dariaozga95]

I love it :)

[NKValo]

she's so strong and talented ^__^ I love that ^__^ <3

[bobosqueakers]

please try to relax. Desire at maximum volume is not the only solution. Your talent is beyond what you know. It will come out if you allow it.

[xSugarplum]

@bobosqueakers "Desire at maximum volume is not the only solution"

This is why Joy doesn't feel at home in the U.S. and only wants to train in Russia. Americans are too lazy to get it.

[bobosqueakers]

@xSugarplum what I'm saying is she needs to relax a little bit. If you're going to wreck yourself trying to get to your goal, you'll never get there....

[xSugarplum]

@bobosqueakers She doesn't seem to be wrecking herself at all. She seems to be a very fortunate 15 year old who has passions and goals, as well as the talent and drive to actually get there. Most people her age get their first part time job at 7-11 and don't care about anything at all.

[LuckyLizLoves]

good luck Joy! i envy your talent

[pachnixi10]

All we need is this kind of attitude to success like Joy :D

[X0X0studios]

I almost cried...

[sunshinelizard1]

Inspiring! I want to be able to follow whether or not she gets the lead role next year. Please keep the story going with updates!

[scgalhjl]

@sunshinelizard1 Me too!

[balletlover70]

congratlations! this girl deserves to succeed! i'm sure she'll become what she has dreamt of! I wish her luck and godd health!

[tahnolikessharing]

Inspiring. Joy's story gives me hope that I can make it when I move out of the country, following my own dream.

[gmgmr2]

What an emotional and powerful piece. Nice to see a story of sheer individual will and determination taking on adversity instead of the typical story about cradle to grave government and too big to fail numbing our senses and wheeling our paralyzed cadavers down the primrose path.

[pepperrgirl]

Go on girl! Hope she gets her dreams met.

[pancho8721]

she's pretty

[Globaliterate]

This was so interesting.

[casadirossetti]

@Globaliterate hahahahweeehehe



[melonbarmonster]

better quality please. my 7th grade cousin uploads better quality vids...

[xSugarplum]

@melonbarmonster Quality's fine. If it's not good enough for you then ask your 7 year old cousin to upload a better one. Beggars can't be choosers.

[CoreyRVA]

wow. empowering. great job nyt.