Rising talent Courtnè Alyssa Moran is on the move and ready to achieve her dreams! The active actress and dancer traveled from her southern home to one of America’s biggest cities to perfect her craft. Along the way, Courtnè realized that she could pursue two of her life’s passions (acting and dancing) right here in Chicago.

Check out BTSCelebs’ exclusive interview with her now.

BTSCelebs: Who is Courtne Alyssa? 

Courtnè Alyssa Moran: Courtnè Alyssa is an American actress and dancer. Most known for her work in ‘Burnt Year’, ‘The Girl on the Bridge’, and ‘Ghost Finder’.

What sparked your interest in acting and ballet?

I’ve always just loved storytelling. I loved dancing even before I’d ever even seen ballet, and I loved portraying a character long before I even thought of the idea of ‘acting’. It has always just been something that has been inside me.

My favorite thing about ballet is the expression and being able to portray different emotions and characters, which directly ties into my love of acting. I love showing real and genuine human connection and emotion, and making people feel something.

Tell us what lead you to leave your home in Kansas and move to Chicago? 

Actually, before I moved to Chicago, I moved to Mississippi! I moved from Kansas to Mississippi for ballet school, then from Mississippi to Chicago for a traineeship with a professional company. It was while I was in Chicago that I realized I could actually pursue a career in acting as well! Growing up in a farm town in Kansas, being an actor wasn’t ever something that seemed at all possible. So when I moved to Chicago and actually met and saw people who were pursuing that career path my whole world changed, and I immediately knew that was what I wanted to do.

You have a new movie called ‘A Taste of Change ‘.  Please tell us more about the film and your role in it. 

‘A Taste of Change’ is a beautifully written film that deals with the sudden death of a loved one and the incredible pain of the grieving process. My character, Lena, is a complex and deeply hurting individual who unknowingly enters someone else’s life at just the right time.

Describe a typical day for you on the filming set.

Call time is usually pretty early in the morning. The first thing I do when I get to set is check in with production, then go to hair and makeup. After I get all prettied up, I go to wardrobe where I get changed into the first outfit of the day. We have a call sheet so we know what scenes we are shooting and in what order. So after I get changed, I usually go over the first scene by myself or with whoever is in the scene with me while the crew sets up the shot. We do a rehearsal, and then we shoot the scene multiple times, usually getting some feedback or further instruction from the director. When we wrap a scene, we may change location and/or wardrobe and makeup and then we start all over again. And if I’m not shooting a scene, odds are you can find me at the crafty table haha!

Is being a ballet dancer everything you expected it to be? 

Dancing wise – yes pretty much, but the company aspect… not really. I’m very thankful to be with the company I am contracted with. I’ve come to realize that your experience as a professional ballet dancer differs greatly depending on the company environment you are in. I never really thought about that aspect of it before. Enjoying the people you are with and being in a positive environment where your peers encourage you VS a very divided, manipulative, competitive, depressing, and unhealthy environment (think the movie ‘Black Swan’). I’m very thankful I ended up in a great company, because companies that are the latter description are actually quite common.

Is it as glamorous behind the scenes as on-stage?

Absolutely not. Ha. You definitely have to love what you are doing. The daily grind is very hard on you both mentally and physically (hence why a professional ballet dancers career is so short). Aside from the incredible stress ballet puts on your body, the rigors of learning and executing choreography and being on your mark in your spacing, on the right timing, all the way down to making sure your head is on exactly the correct angle. The challenge of seeing yourself in the mirror everyday, and it actually being your job to pick apart and critique yourself, seeing of all the flaws and imperfections and trying to improve them, is very draining.

What advice would you give to rookie ballet dancers?

A professional career isn’t for everyone. You really have to love it and have a thick skin. There is no shame in dancing for recreation instead of making it a career. But if it is absolutely what you want to do, go for it with all you got and give it 110%. You have to be extremely passionate. And make sure you really take care of yourself, physically as well as mentally.

Learn more about Courtnè by following her on Instagram (@courtnealyssamoran).

BTSCelebs sends a special thanks to Courtnè Alyssa Moran for the interview and images.