Happy September Philadelphia! We are starting off the month by featuring Thays Golz, a soloist ballerina at the Philadelphia Ballet. While having an international background training around the world, Golz found her home in the diverse city of Philadelphia where she embraced the artistic culture and even utilized it to inspire her own art. Read along to learn about Golz’s inspiration in the world of dance.
PPRG: At what age did you start dancing?
THAYS: I started dancing when I was 7 years old. My mom would always catch me dancing in the middle of the living room; there was one moment in particular when I was dancing to the Swan Lake music and I can remember how much it touched me. I couldn’t help but dance.
PPRG: What drew you to the Philly ballet scene and how has it shaped your career?
THAYS: I was drawn by the Philadelphia Ballet! I had multiple opportunities to visit Philly before I decided to move here for work. My husband had been working for the company for a year, and because of that I got to know the company better. In my experience with the Philadelphia Ballet, I was able to find the freedom in my dancing. What I really appreciate are the opportunities I get and the space to develop my own interpretation. Most of the time, dancers are told exactly how to portray a role, which can sometimes limit you. Instead, once I study the role, I like to remind myself that I should try to feel my emotions, and not just act. It helps me to tell the story through my dancing and automatically, my expressions. Another huge plus in our company is the versatility of works we perform, from classical to contemporary, which is really exciting to me.
PPRG: What about ballet made you want to pursue it professionally?
THAYS: Since I can remember I always wanted to be a professional ballet dancer, even before I understood what it meant. I can’t say the specifics of it exactly, I just know this is what I always wanted to do. It brings me joy, happiness, sadness, frustration, satisfaction… It’s just like life, but in a bubble. Since the beginning of my training, I had teachers who saw me, not only for my physical abilities, but also my drive to put my all into this art form. I had a very important teacher in my life, who liked to say that I didn’t choose ballet, it chose me. And that phrase keeps driving me forward, especially through tough times in my career.
PPRG: What has been your favorite thing about Philly since moving here to dance professionally?
THAYS: I love how Philly is full of hidden gems! I really enjoy exploring new restaurants and coffee shops. Philadelphia is very charming and diverse, you could never get bored here.
PPRG: What advice would you give to aspiring dancers?
THAYS: I would say, keep moving forward no matter what. The goal is not perfection, it’s knowing you did your best and feel rewarded after.
PPRG: What does a typical day in your life look like?
THAYS: I usually wake up around 7:15 am and I walk my dog. After breakfast I bike to work and I take ballet class at 9:30am. Our ballet class is one hour and a half long, and that will get us warm and ready for the rest of our rehearsal day. On a regular schedule day, I have 6 hours of rehearsal with 1 hour of lunch in between. After that, I go home, walk my dog, make dinner and enjoy a tv show or a movie to unwind. Even though I am tired, I still save some time to play fetch with my dog, who is a corgi full of energy and love to give. She makes my day.
PPRG: What’s your favorite restaurant in Philly?
THAYS: My favorite restaurant is Barbuzzo. They have dishes full of flavor and that’s where I got married!
PPRG: What has ballet taught you about yourself?
THAYS: Ballet has taught me how to be resilient, vulnerable, free… On stage is where I can be my most authentic self. It took some time, but I learned not to compare myself to others, each one of us have different paths, experiences and abilities. I learn and get inspired by my colleagues more than anything.
PPRG: How has Philly’s vibrant art scene inspired you as an artist?
THAYS: Philadelphia is so rich in history and creativity, everywhere you look there is art. I am an observer, I like to notice the little things, so every time I am out there in our community, it inspires me in many ways. Its diversity allows me to see things differently, and that’s what art is, right? It’s open to interpretation, and that’s the beauty of it. Not long ago, I had the opportunity to work on a film called “Moving Words”, produced by Glenn Holsten. It was a documentary about the meaning of home for Philadelphians, and my husband, Zecheng Liang and I worked closely with Tommie Waheed-Evans to choreograph a piece based on their voices. That process alone was quite rewarding, trying to translate their feelings into our movements. We then filmed it throughout the city. We danced by the Schuylkill River, at the Aramark’s roof, at a skatepark and at the Spring Garden bridge, and I must say, it was so wonderful to see places I never thought of going by myself. That collaboration was then played at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and watching and hearing people’s reaction made me feel even more connected to our community. Philly can surprise you if you give it time, not just the places, but also the people and their stories.
PPRG: Are there any upcoming performances at Philadelphia Ballet that you are most excited about?
THAYS: It’s really hard to pick just one, our Season will be full of great repertoire! But if I had to choose one, it would be “La Sylphide”. Dance companies rarely perform this ballet, so I am very excited to be able to immerse in this romantic classic.
Golz’s journey is a story of perseverance and persistence proving the tale that with passion and love for what you do comes success. We here at Philly PR Girl hope Golz’s story inspires you to go after what you love. Continue to follow and support Golz’s journey through dance by attending the spring show of La Sylphide May 8-11, 2025 at the Academy of Music. Follow her on Instagram here!
