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Alex Bellocq

@alexthebell

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figuring it all out
📍Chicago, IL
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portfolio @ my website
Former dancer - Lexington Ballet

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This is a longer post, might not get picked up by the algorithm (especially since ive neglected this account for a while), but I want to give a life update.

I've been dealing with a deep kind of pain for a long time, one that comes from dance. Its at that nexus of literal and metaphorical that we call the nervous system - for such a long time, when I was doing ballet every day, I was the most miserable person to be around. Snappy, sharp-edged, overall unsettled - and unsettling - I was not the person I wanted to be. I was also dancing better than 16-year old me could've ever dreamed, and yet, felt deeply empty by it.

For whatever reason, high-impact work jostles my system, and dance uniquely causes my nerves to stay in elevation - I've tried meditation and mindfulness, booze and weed, ashwaganda, eating better, working out less, more, the same, and it always comes back to the pain and unsettled feeling in my nervous system. I've always thought it to be the price of dancing, and dealt with it.

Losing my ballet career, and rebounding into my dance work and normal life in Chicago has been transformative for me, showing me through enforced rest and quiet periods that my body and system CAN feel good, and I rather like how I feel when I feel good. I did some company work that I am quite grateful for, some projects, but I found that I don't know what place dance has in my life right now. Typing this to post is stressing me out a lot, because I know of many opportunities that are coming up that my immediate response is to stay available for, but...I know in my guts that it's time to be decisive.

I'm stopping dance now for as long as I need to - no more teaching or performing for the time being, unless and until I can find a better relationship and my passion again. For now, I'm pivoting to my photography and videography work, nightlife, my new job in fitness at Barry's, and developing my body in a way that I want to. I've finally learned and accepted that I can't do everything, and I know what I want to put my focus on.

Thank you for taking the time to read this - I hope to find ways back to dance, projects, Teaching, choreography, but for now...it's goodbye 👋🏻 by @alexthebell

About to completely upend my life and move to Chicago to pursue my career so...I think a rebrand is in order, don't you all?

See you all tomorrow 😉🟧

Design and branding: @josiahrogers206 @josiah.rogers.design
Original photo: @coloredcanvas

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#lifechange #maledancer #maleflexibility #chicago #chicagodancers #branding #graphicdesign #orange by @alexthebell

Been debating on sharing this video - but in the end I think it represents a very emotional and intense time in my life.

This video was taken on the day that a long-term relationship ended (at least, from my side) by somebody who was my entire world for a year and a half.

The part that I didn't include in this video are when I stopped dancing because heaving sobs overtook me, and a genuine sense of disgust at the campy nature of what I was doing, literally dancing in the midst of heartbreak, filmed by the one who had broken me.

And yet, when I found this video again recently, this movement represents such an important part of myself that I feel I have suppressed in the pursuit of career stability and success these past few years.

I'm quickly approaching 2 years on since this relationship ended, and since I became truly free as an adult for the first time. How frightening a thought, how liberating a time. by @alexthebell

Still alive - had a fun summer!

I just missed my year anniversary of moving to Chicago, but im grateful for all the changes (easy and hard) this last year has brought to me. I love my job I have now, I discovered that I love making things and hate marketing them, and I'm growing into myself.

Every setback is just another brick in the road, and I'm enjoying the last months of 28 🥰

First pic: @splldmlk.jpg by @alexthebell

BEAR is live on our Patreon!

Grab early access to the premiere of our newest Dance Film, BEAR, before we showcase it at our first annual show, Impasse, coming to @danztheatre December 11th!

You can find the link to our Patreon in our bio!

🎬: @matt.haskett
🎥: @alexthebell
💃: @ashreefox @gretchenplinke @janakalivoda @sydneyosborne_ @rh1no.02
🤵‍♂️: @caseyjosanders @matt.haskett @_nick_kearns @sawyermnewsome @tokyo_story___

#contemporarydance #dancefilm #dance #film #bellaciao by @alexthebell

My body's been missing

Missing from me
Missing a lot

Tried playing tonight with no ambition by @alexthebell

Photos by a friend

Living life, learning who I am by @alexthebell

📸 @rhyssteelephoto

Dance Artists: @alexthebell & @tianasthompson

Choreography: @bphare

Visual artist inspiration: @hollyacahill and her work titled Torch Mountain ➡️

Lighting design: @ringindanose

From our 12th annual production titled OLD. LONG. SINCE @ruthpagecenter

#stillinspired #inspiration #dance #visualart #dancephotography by @alexthebell

Haven't posted in about a month - rarely on my Instagram anymore. I moved to Chicago 6 months ago, and it's been a hell of a time (upwards AND downwards).

Been the hardest move of my life thus far, feel like ive been constantly hustling to make ends meet, moved into a situation that demanded my priorities, even though my heart lied elsewhere...but now,

I'm about to close my first professional dance contract here, and do some of the best work I've had the privilege of performing in my life. I have grown so much from this work and process, and as a person, Chicago has been a crucible so far. I've been melted and forged, and I'm becoming who I am much much more.

I cant wait for what the rest of this first year looks like, and what happens next - I feel optimistic for the first time in a while - and this haunting song from our show really encapsulates these feelings for me 🫶🏻🫶🏻 by @alexthebell

Speak for yourself, Timothée. #ballet

#singingcellist #lexingtonballet #operaandballet #timothéechalamet by @alexthebell

Come see company dance artist @alexthebell in OLD. LONG. SINCE on April 3 & 4, 2026 at @ruthpagecenter ✨

This season’s premiere is inspired by the creations of Chicago visual artist @hollyacahill

For Artist bios and tickets, please visit the links in our bio.

📸 @itsrhyssteele

#stillinspired #season12 #chicagodance #chicagoart #collaboration by @alexthebell

My new vibe for 2026: stark, clarity, bare-bones

📸: the amazing @rhyssteelephoto (thank youuuuu) by @alexthebell