Today we are featuring and interviewing dancer Chloe Peterson-Foust.
Chloe and I recently did an in-studio photoshoot together. Below is some of my favorite shots from that shoot, and also a brief interview with her!
Chloe Peterson-Foust
Photoshoot + Interview
Introduce yourself
Hi! I’m Chloe Peterson-Foust and I’m a Colorado native and a semi-new Albuquerque resident. I've hopped around as a professional, contract, and guest artist in a few contemporary and ballet companies in Colorado and have performed with Festival Ballet Albuquerque for the past two years. I currently work at UNM as an academic advisor, but I also have backgrounds in clinical mental health counseling and early childhood education. I've had the pleasure to teach dance for the past 7 years and have participated as a guest artist in summer intensives as well. Outside of the studio, you can find me trying new restaurants, cooking for my friends and family, or spending time in nature.
What do you think of the current state of ballet and what do you wish would occur that would help enrich the industry?
I'm really happy to see the development of ballet and the efforts to create more diverse, inclusive, and respectful environments. I wish that the art form was more accessible to the public, both through ticket prices and classes/education, but I try to balance that with the knowledge that artists deserve to get paid appropriately and respected for the work they put in. I'm afraid our general society and dance culture is moving back towards toxic ideals surrounding body types, but I'm hoping to see continued growth in the celebration of diverse body types, race/ethic representation, and lgbtq+ storylines in the dance world. Everyone deserves to see themselves and relate to characters they see in the performing arts and everyone who wants to participate in the performing arts deserves a chance to prove themselves.
Which fictional character did you see yourself in as a child, and which fictional character do you see yourself in now?
I’m notoriously bad at making decisions, so I’m going to give a few examples. As a child, I read A LOT of books (I still do I guess) I saw myself a lot in Hermione Granger (Harry Potter), Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson), and Peeta Mellark (The Hunger Games). As an adult, I see myself as a fun mix of Amy March (Little Women), Emily Prentiss (Criminal Minds), Nesta Archeron (ACOTAR), and Shane Hollander (Heated Rivalry).
What’s something people might be surprised to know about you? Or the question: What are 3 facts about you?
Something that people might be surprised to know about me is that I managed a kitchen at a summer camp.I cooked a lot of things, but my favorite thing to do was bake bread! I would make up to 60 loaves a day in our busy weeks!
How has your relationship with your body changed?
I’ve had a really interesting relationship with my body (as I’d say most dancers probably have). Up until middle school, I was always proud to be “bigger.” I felt like being taller/stronger/growing faster was a good thing! As I began my pre-professional training, disordered eating and body dysmorphia snuck up on me. I assumed that constantly thinking about my body was normal since I was spending so much time training and looking at it. I wasn’t aware of how bad it had gotten until I got my labrum replacement at 18. I was really faced with how much of my personal value I put into my appearance and objective thinness. I’ve done a lot of work since then to move through that, but recovery isn’t linear. I still often struggle with the difference between logic/reality and how I perceive my body. My mantra is that I’d rather be strong and capable than skinny and tired!
Timothée Chalamet’s recent comments generated a large response from dancers. What’s your take on his comments and the reaction to them?
I find Timothée’s comments disappointing and frustrating, especially with his familial connection to ballet, but I do see a point buried in his argument. Unfortunately, the arts ARE underfunded and under appreciated in the grand scheme of things. I wish he would’ve acknowledged this in a way that highlighted how sad this is. In truth, the performing arts deserve more effort, funding, and engagement but they’re often inaccessible for the average American- inaccessibility often equals eventual lack of engagement. I hope that this controversy leads to more engagement and interest in all types of art!
Coffee or tea? (And what is your favorite way to craft them?)
Tea as I’ve gotten older, coffee’s made me more and more jittery! I love a tea latte for everyday, but I appreciate an herbal tea with honey to wind down at night.
What are your thoughts on A.I? (& do you use it yourself?)
Honestly, I wish A.I. was less accessible to the general public. I can see how it could have effective uses in healthcare, data science, etc. but I feel generative A.I. is unnecessary and harmful in many ways. It has a significant impact on our potable fresh water, and we are facing significant potential consequences if we continue to use A.I. at the same rate we have been. I also think it’s killing soft and hard skills involving research, writing, and general common sense. I personally avoid A.I. at all costs and I hope more people start leaning that way as well. Our skill development and natural resources are so much more important than generating sub-par art and sometimes-accurate search results!
Do you watch streaming services/ or movies? If so, what have you watched lately that you’ve enjoyed?
Recently I just re-subscribed to Netflix only to watch the new season of Bridgerton and People We Meet on Vacation (I read the book!). Otherwise I love a classic rewatch of Bones, Criminal Minds, or Gilmore Girls.
What’s your current favorite meal?
My current favorite meal is probably a bento box with teriyaki beef, veg tempura, and a fun sushi roll!
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Try not to take everything so seriously- the only thing you can control in life is how you approach and react to things.
What advice would you give to your future self?
Let yourself live a little- you have so much more time than you ever think you do.
How are you able to find your own “voice” and what advice would you give to other artists who might be struggling to find their “voice”?
I think your voice comes from accepting who you are in the moment you’re in. I feel as if emotional maturity and regulation are the only ways to truly understand your motivations in life. The killer of creativity is expectation- your voice matters because of the impact you have on the environment around you. To expect your voice to be completely original and groundbreaking is unrealistic. Finding the ways you impact yourself and others is the real reason artistic voices matter.
You can follow Chloe on Instagram @Chloe_Peterson_Foust
Keep an eye on the Zine for future interviews and photoshoots with her.
Until next time,
-Oliver Endahl