Meet Ansley Mater

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ansley Mater.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Ansley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in Denver and started doing ballet at about two years old. Once I progressed through the baby classes, I started to get more serious at age five. Over the years, I have become proficient and passionate about all styles of dance including ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop, and musical theatre. As I got older, my interest in ballet grew and I began to place more focus on it and looked at the possibility of dancing professionally. I have been incredibly fortunate to have the chance to learn from teachers who have become mentors, friends, and almost like family.

Because of this extraordinary group of coaches and their dedication to helping young people grow into the next generation, I was given amazing opportunities to help others do so as well. Post high school graduation, I opted to take a gap year to focus on getting my feet on the ground (pun intended!) with dance, the upcoming audition season, and teaching classes at my home dance studio, Classic Dance Academy. As a result of many rejections in audition season, I started dancing at Colorado Ballet in the PreProfessional Division in 2017. My time here was filled with high and low points, but I started to feel as if I truly belonged somewhere and grew so much as a dancer.

Throughout my time at Colorado Ballet, I realized I wanted something outside of my life in ballet. I have always held extreme interest in fashion and getting scouted at the mall was just the first step. Southwest Modeling & Talent became a new way to release this passion. However, things were tough due to one huge factor – my height. I’m only about 5’6”, and when you compare this to the standard for runway and high fashion, I was definitely overshadowed by the tall, skinny, gorgeous models I had seen in fashion week. But I worked my tail off on my runway walk and I am so thankful for the casting directors and designers that have seen past my height.

The connections I have built in the modeling industry have allowed me to walk in Denver’s Unique Week of Fashion, 303 Magazine’s Denver Fashion Week, and an incredible opportunity to choreograph and open a show at New York Fashion Week for a good friend. I have been able to participate in the modeling & talent convention/competition, IMTA, in both New York and Los Angeles to learn from industry professionals about the realities of being in the industry. This passion for being on stage in the limelight is very similar to that of performing in shows for ballet.

Throughout all this, my time as a PreProfessional dancer at Colorado Ballet led to another audition season. After two years at CB, my dance journey has now continued to Annapolis with the Ballet Theatre of Maryland. Balancing my time in a professional company has been a learning experience and has had its own set of ups and downs. After a bit of time away from school, I decided I was ready to jump back in, this time much more excited. I am currently studying online to work towards my BFA in Fashion Styling through the Academy of Art University. Online schooling has allowed me to push myself as hard as I can, and the fact that I really love what I’m learning is helping me grow and see success in a different way.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think many roads to growth are ever truly smooth. Rejection is one of those things that is just a part of life. The way you deal with it and move on is a huge part of becoming a more resilient and a stronger person. Ballet is one of the most competitive forms of athleticism and artistry. Aside from the extreme physical toll, it takes on the body, mental focus is also affected. For example, take audition season. Dancers develop extremely thick skin knowing that out of the 50-something companies you will audition for, you may only get a positive response from 2 or 3. Knowing your skills and artistry are being put to the test creates an extremely high-pressure environment – do well, impress people, blend in, stand out, don’t get in the way, know your material. Despite all this, once you find your place, it’s amazing to literally see yourself growing and maturing as a dancer.

Modeling is really no different. Be it runway, commercial print work, or editorial work, it’s difficult to cope with the casting director or manager saying, “You’re three inches too short,” “Can you lose any weight?” or even the general statement, “ You aren’t what we’re looking for right now.” Discouraging as these statements are, not taking everything to heart and moving forward towards the next opportunity, is a skill that has taken years to hone in. I think in a lot of ways, my understanding of the harsh realities of modeling led to my interest in fashion styling. I’ve always noticed that when flipping through magazines and watching fashion weeks, my eyes are much more drawn towards the clothing and the way it’s worn vs. the model wearing the garments. These setbacks have actually set me forward toward where I want to be, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I think what sets me apart from every other ballet dancer, model, or styling student is that I’m a combination of all three. Because I have backgrounds in everything, I’ve found that I’ve been able to use this to my advantage. Dance is also known as the art of movement, but it definitely isn’t exclusive to dance alone. Presentation and aesthetics are an enormous part of modeling and fashion as a whole, and I’m passionate about creating something beautiful and memorable for my audience.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were just starting out?
I’ve had this thought before and quite honestly, I wouldn’t have changed anything. Starting over happens constantly – all of the decisions I’ve made regarding dance, modeling, school, and ultimately, my choice in career have taught me something and led me to where I am today. I wouldn’t have been able to discover what I love and what I’m passionate about without having learned from my ups and downs. Through all these activities, I’ve developed discipline, dedication, and high expectations to become the best I can be and to constantly grow and learn.

Contact Info:

• Website: ansleymm.wixsite.com/ansleymater
• Email: ansleymm@me.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/ansleymater
• Other: ansleymm.wixsite.com/stylist

Image Credit:
Ayvin Arthur, Annie Brown, Kyle Cooper, Connor Dugan, Francisco Estévez, Rebecca Grant, Hayley-Ann Vasco

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