Oak Park native Trijntje MacKay Masoncup’s ballet skills and hard work have landed her a coveted position training at the English National Ballet School this fall.
The 19-year-old is headed to London to participate in the Professional Trainee Programme at the English National Ballet School, continuing to work towards her goal of becoming a professional dancer.
The program prepares young people for a dancing career, bridging the gap between life training and studying and life as a professional dancer.
“It’s a program that sort of encompasses the transition between being a student and a ballet school with very long hours and very strict training schedules,” Masoncup said. “It sort of moves you into this professional life where there’s a little bit more personal responsibility, and you have to be disciplined with yourself and keep your body in shape.”
Masoncup began dancing at the Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park when she was three years old. There she had the opportunity to try out various forms of dance and to express herself through her art.
“My mom decided to enroll me in ballet classes because I would put on performances for them and I just loved the music and the dancing, and it was just such a fun way to express myself,” Masoncup said. “I got enrolled and I loved it, and I’ve been dancing ever since.”
Time spent at the Academy of Movement and Music, located at 605 Lake St., led Masoncup to find a passion for dancing. Although she has tried many forms of dance, she said classical ballet is what she was always most drawn to.
“I always loved ballet as an art and as a way to express myself,” Masoncup said. “It was always a safe place for me to go.”
Masoncup has been homeschooled, which she said allowed her to spend more time focused on both dancing and her education. She was accepted and started at the English National Ballet School in September of 2023, but an ankle injury stopped her from finishing the program.
Following two ankle surgeries this spring and lots of time spent recovering, Masoncup is looking forward to returning to the English National Ballet School and completing the program.
“I’ve been working with my physio for a while now and just trying to get back on my feet so I’m ready for this program, and that’s been a journey, to say the least,” Masoncup said. “I think injury is always hard. That’s been a big sort of learning curve for me in terms of my dancing and how I pursue it now versus before.”
She values the support she has received from the Oak Park community, her friends and mentors.
“It’s really cool to sort of see everyone branching out and doing their own things, but we can all sort of come back to Oak Park,” Masoncup said. “It’s such a lovely little community of people. I obviously love being away, but it is nice to know that coming from this place where everybody is so entwined … It’s cool to sort of have connections as I pursue my professional career.”
After her time in London is over, she hopes to remain abroad dancing with a company, inspiring other dancers and helping them find their paths, similar to the way that Oak Park community members helped her to find a passion and career in ballet.
“I see myself dancing with a company long term and happy and in Europe somewhere, and I would really like to sort of start branching out into other things, too,” Masoncup said. “I’d like to influence other people and help them create their paths and their journey.”
