Hi, my name is Anita Sun Pacylowski. I am a daughter of an immigrant mother from Seoul, South Korea and American father from New Jersey to Polish–Ukrainian parents. Growing up in Columbia, Maryland in the suburbs to baby boomer parents/generation, my parents gave everything to provide a nice life for me and my two siblings. This is the fabric that I built my life from being an artist. Hitting half a decade in this life, I am in a time of reflection and gratitude. I have three wonderful children; my step-son, Martin, 31 yrs old: daughter, Sofia, 20 yrs old: son, Nicolas, 18 yrs old. I am married to the love of my life, Hernan Justo, born in Argentina and now an American citizen, of which I have been married 21 years and known for 27 years. We have worked together for the past 27 years. The first seventeen years as professional ballet dancers and teachers and the last ten as co-owners of our own business DanceArts Greenville and artistic leadership of Carolina Ballet Theatre, which just turned fifty years old. I would define myself as a proud mother, artist, American and female business owner.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
In addition from my intro about me, my family all live in Greenville, SC. My step son, Martin, is professional dancer with Carolina Ballet Theatre, my daughter, Sofia, will be a senior at UofSC majoring in Dance Education and my son, Nicolas, is going to Clemson majoring in Business.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
My life has always been about dance. As a little girl, I twirled and created ballets with my babysitters until I was able to get formal training in Washington DC of which my mom travelled 100 miles each way when I was 11 to 17 yrs old so I could train. I joined Washington Ballet in Washington D.C. right after High School. I toured internationally as well at the White House during my tenure with that company. My career moved me to Charlotte, NC in 1994 as I danced with North Carolina Dance Theatre until 2000. This where I met my husband and he proposed to me onstage. We both left there and move to Greenville, SC in 2001 and took over Carolina Ballet Theatre, my husband as the Artistic director and I became the first professional dancer of the company. I danced professionally for another decade while buying and running the school and having our two children. I currently teach ballet twenty hours a week and direct my school. I am also the Associate Artistic Director of Carolina Ballet Theatre. My future career definitely involves dance but I really want to write children books about the power of ballet as non-verbal communication to bridge all people together.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
We are truly homebodies; but if we venture out we typically go to our neighborhood dive the 05.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
Twenty-one years.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Illeana Shaner, Jack Bacot.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Seoul, Korea with my mom to see her birth city.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Work: Just doing what is asked is not enough. You need to be emotionally present and be curious. Bosses are not employing check in and out employees. Love & Family: Find the person that can push your buttons and challenge your mind, but can also get on their knees and hold you hair if you are sick. Community: Get to know your community. Help those who need support not as “charity” but as your visceral cause.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Renovate our home, learn how to play the guitar.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Dance Arts Greenville founded by Barbara Selvy fifty years ago.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Alonzo King, somewhere in Falls Park that is shady and quiet.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Walking through Falls Park with my Havashu doggie, Ellie.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
In Greenville, SC.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I would go back to school and get my doctorate.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
It’s not really a place: It’s being in the presence of experiencing the beauty and power of human beings in the quest of excellence.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My husband 100%.
Q: Describe what “neighbor” means to you?
Someone who will help when it is not convenient.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Husband, Family, Build.
