About a month ago Casey Herd and I were invited to dance Swan Lake in Irving, CA. As some of you might recall Susan posted one picture she took in the wings during our first performance.

So yesterday I received some pictures from Ben Majors. Ben is a dancer and he, like so many of us, is recovering from a serious injury. So to keep himself busy and working he has decided to share with the world his other talent: taking photographs of dancers. Well his pictures are beautiful and by seeing them yesterday I got to relive my experience in California. This trip was special to me in so many ways.

In February Casey and I premiered in Swan Lake together. Dancing this ballet for the first time was for me more that just a physical challenge. It was also a spiritual and mental challenge. Since moving to Seattle I have discovered this dancer that had been tied up inside me for a couple of years. I have had the opportunity to dance all these roles that I had no idea I was capable of dancing anymore. And Swan Lake is just one of the ballets that have awakened this incredible strength and artistry in me. After a rigorous preparation and hours in the studio rehearsing with my Elaine Bauer and Peter Boal, Casey and I only got to perform the ballet two times. So coming to Irving to dance Odette/Odile with Festival Ballet Theater was a big gift to me. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to recreate what we had created back in February.

Another great thing about the trip was the people I met in Irving. Salwa Rizkalla founded Southland Ballet Academy in 1983 and in 1988 she started Festival Ballet Theater, a company where the dancers can inspire people and also be inspired by the many internationally known artists that Salwa brings to perform with them. Salwa was a great person to work with and we both felt very welcomed by her and her dancers. We also met Sayat Astryan, the most creative do it all person I have ever met!! And Ben, of course. And Dave Friedman, the company’s photographer and he is also a race car photographer. And it is always a pleasure meeting all the dancers and the people that come watch the shows.

Last but definitely not least. A beautiful part about the Winger family is that we artists get to learn about each other and eventually even meet each other. To be able to go to Irving, a place I have never been before, and have someone like Susan calling me wanting to meet with me felt welcoming and exciting. I absolutely loved meeting her. Even with the small amount of time I got to spend with her I could see that she is everything she appears to be at the Winger. Generous, passionate and always willing to help the dance world. I hope I can continue meeting my winger friends and also the people that so passionately read our posts every day.

I am glad I get to share these pictures with you and a little bit of my experience of dancing Swan Lake and being in this world.