Last night, I had the pleasure of viewing Wendy Whelan’s film project, “Restless Creature” at the Northwest Film Forum in Capitol Hill. It was my first time seeing a film there and I really enjoyed the funky atmosphere.

Going in, I didn’t know much Whelan, but by the end of the film I was a fan. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Whelan began ballet at the age of three with a local teacher, Virginia Wooton. At age 14, she received a scholarship to the School of American Ballet and became a full-time student there one year later.

In 1984, Whelan joined the New York City Ballet (NYCB) as an apprentice. Two years later, she joined the corps de ballet. Whelan was promoted to soloist in 1989 and to principal dancer in 1991.

During her career, Whelan’s extensive repertoire included works by many of the world’s most notable choreographers, such as George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, Twyla Tharp, William Forsythe, Christopher Wheeldon, Shen Wei, Wayne McGregor and Alexei Ratmansky. In the history of NYCB, there has never been another dancer to have so many works created specifically for them.

Whelan took her final bow with NYCB in fall of 2015. Having a thirty-year career as a professional ballet dancer is highly unusual. Whelan was physically capable of dancing with and alongside dancers who were literally half her age.

Ballet is incredibly demanding on the body, especially on the hips, knees and feet. Amazingly, Whelan made it through decades of intensive dancing without sustaining any major injuries, despite having severe scoliosis. The film details Whelan’s labrum (hip) surgery, which happened just months before she retired.

The film “Restless Creature” presents Whelan hanging in the balance between her lifelong career at NYCB and a highly uncertain future. After devoting her entire life to mastering the art of ballet, Whelan struggled to create a new vision for her life. By giving an inside look into Whelan’s raw emotions, the film humanizes a career that is demanding both physically and mentally.

As I watched, Whelan’s struggle to leave ballet resonated with me. I was extremely devoted to ballet until I graduated and went to college. Every time I see someone dance, my heart pinches a little. I think about what could have been, then I think about what is. Now, I am truly enjoying college and, much like Whelan, am trying to envision my next stage of life.

I love to reminiscing and think about what was, as well as what could have been. There are many times in life where I want to press “pause” and stay in that moment forever. Changes, both large and small, are inevitable forces in our lives. By reminiscing, we gain strength from the past, enabling us to face an uncertain future without fear.

I highly recommend that everyone go and see this film! You don’t have to know anything about dance to thoroughly enjoy it. I found it to be an insightful and thought-provoking film.

Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.nwfilmforum.org/live/page/calendar/4428