Can you tell me about that commitment to get back in shape?
I didn’t go straight to the barre. I started out with my personal trainer that I’ve been working with on and off for many years. A recommendation of Ms. Twyla Tharp. My biggest concern was getting injured. Craig Salstein was one of the first people that I called. He’s always been so great with working with injured dancers and people coming back. That’s what I needed. No judgment.
I had physical therapy throughout this whole process, and Pilates. I had a cortisone shot at the top of the year. I’ve been doing the steroid treatment and anti-inflammatories. My whole team, initially, when I met with them were like, “I don’t think you should do this.” And I was like, “Well, it’s happening, so help me get there.”
Did Twyla weigh in on your hip injury?
She was one of the first people that I called. Two days before the show I woke up to all these emails from her saying, “Call me, call, me.” She just said: “Misty, do whatever you want. I don’t care. Change the steps.” She’s like: “This isn’t about me. This isn’t about the choreography. Try to enjoy yourself.”
How was returning to the company different from you thought it might be?
You know those weird dreams where you’re back in high school and you’re like, “But wait, I don’t know any of you. I graduated. Why am I here?” So it was a bit overwhelming, but it was so interesting. The memories that came up were of when I first joined. I’m so happy that I did it. It was something that I didn’t know I needed.
How so?
I think to be able to understand the importance of the work in the studio — how meaningful it is, to me, beyond performing. It’s not just working on technical things or artistic choices. It’s like life, and it’s like therapy, and it is all so connected. We’re human beings experiencing this art form, so it’s not like we are completely separating all these things.
How did your relationship to movement change during the pandemic?
At the end of 2019, I was really struggling with trying to understand, “Why am I still doing this? What am I getting out of it? Am I using my voice and my platform and my reach in the best way that I can by still doing this? And do I still feel passionate about this?” Once the pandemic hit, I felt really relieved to stop moving my body. And I think it was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever made.