“I have a get-it-done personality,” says professional dancer Paige Fraser. At 29, Fraser has done it all. Her many accolades including training with The Ailey School, American Ballet Theater, and Juilliard, among others; appearing in Beyonce’s “The Mrs. Carter Show” world tour video opener; making her musical theatre debut in West Side Story at The Lyric Opera; and most recently, living her dream in The Lion King North American Tour.

JUMP TO IT Paige Fraser takes a leap of faith (with a dancer’s grace) in the Ombré Cashmere Crewneck. “Dancers have small frames, but this fits like a glove.”

It’s all the more remarkable considering Fraser has scoliosis, a curvature of the spine that can become painful (especially if you’ve been pirouetting in pointe shoes all day). When Fraser was diagnosed at the age of 12, it threatened to bring the curtain down on her dance life. “I remember looking at the X-rays, feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and thinking, Why me?” she recalls. During high school, she wore a corrective brace and sought out the help of a chiropractor. “A lot of fine-tuning is required,” explains Fraser, “because your spine is doing everything opposite from what it needs to do in dance.”

STRIKE A POSE “I’d layer this over a leotard in the studio, then throw it on after a show to meet guests.” Cashmere Off Shoulder Crewneck in Caramel.
DANCING ON AIR “I love bright colors, especially when I audition. After all, it’s important to stand out.” Cashmere Off Shoulder Crewneck in Radiant Pink.

Though the condition is something Fraser could never have prepared for, she found her footing as a scoliosis advocate, spreading awareness and encouraging other dancers with scoliosis to continue to pursue their dreams. In 2017, she formed The Paige Fraser Foundation and made it her mission to create a safe space for young dancers with or without physical challenges. “I want to be a voice for those with disabilities,” she says. “I want them to know they are not alone and that they are supported, seen and loved.” 


A fireball of energy with soaring talent, she credits her professional success to a strict physical regimen and a whole lot of determination. “For many years, I was working three or four times as hard as my classmates just to accomplish one exercise or to get through a show,” she says. “But as I got older, I did research and connected with people who specialize in retraining the body. That’s when I realized I didn’t have to work so hard—I just needed the right information in order to learn how to make my instrument work.”

IN THE GROOVE “This dress instantly made me think of modern dance, because it hugs the body in all the right places.” Cotton Chevron Stitch Midi Dress.

Indeed, she’s doing her part to change the narrative. For Scoliosis Awareness Month in June, Fraser creative directed a short film starring herself and other professional dancers with scoliosis around the world. Aptly titled “Bent But Not Broken,” it took something often pegged as a hindrance and turned it into a powerful statement. Her DMs were flooded with messages of support from members of the scoliosis community, including supermodel Martha Hunt, who has also been vocal about her personal experience with scoliosis. “Sharing my story has been really healing for me,” says Fraser. “I have bad days just like everyone else, but [scoliosis] is a lifelong journey that I have accepted and embraced. I know why I was put here on Earth, and that in and of itself is so beautiful.”

MATCH POINTE “For me, anything in Ballet Pink feels equal parts soft and strong.” Cashmere Side Split Open Crewneck; Cashmere Spray Dyed Woven Scarf.
THAT’S A WRAP “A Travel Wrap is something every dancer should have in their bag. It’s the perfect way to stay warm backstage when theatre temps take a dip.” Travel Wrap in Bright Kumquat.
Photographed by Michelle Reid
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