Hello Hello 
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The day-to-day schedule of NYCB can be choppier then the surf at Coney Island. A day of dancing could often times be something like this: an hour rehearsal, then an hour break, then maybe a two hour rehearsal, followed by a half hour break, then another 2 hour rehearsal, followed by a performance where one might only be in the last act (being in the last act of a mixed rep program means that the dancer must sign in at 7:30 p.m. and then wait around to go on for the last act, which usually goes on at around 10 p.m.). This type of schedule amounts to a great deal of “in-between” time for the dancers. It isn’t really worth leaving the Theatre during a half-hour or an hour break in between two rehearsals. So we are frequently trying to find new ways of keeping ourselves entertained in order to make these “in-between” periods go by faster.
For a while, the men’s dressing room had a sweet setup of two X-Box video game systems that were linked. This allowed for as many as 8 of us to participate in all kinds of video game competitions and tournaments in between rehearsals. But, alas, the video game systems became worn and broke down mid-season. That meant that we had to find some other way of keeping entertained in between rehearsals and performances. A few of us took on an interesting hobby of Polaroid photography, finding that the behind-the-scenes areas at the State Theatre made a good stomping ground for bizarre Polaroid photographs. There is also something about the dated/vintage look of Polaroids that I find to be strangely appealing. Here are a few of my favorites from last season:
This is a shot of me in my Union Jack costume on the roof of the NY State Theatre. It was taken before dancing the ballet in the last act during a matinee.
This is an obscure shot taken of an Orpheus rehearsal. After the scene where Orpheus and Eurydice are wedded, a silk scrim drops down and all of the dancers (who play the creatures in the ballet) have to scurry over to the scrim and hold it down from behind it. We had to lie in this position for about 10 minutes during the ballet, without making any sudden movements or noise. Definitely an amusing sight to see from the backstage wings…
This Polaroid was taken during the NYCB Saratoga season. Many of the dancers like to take advantage of our weekends off there by going boating on Lake George. This pic is of a few of us jumping into the lake and enjoying the surprisingly warm water
Sophie B.
Great pictures! I especially love the one on the roof of the state theater!
Sep 02, 2007 @ 03:21
kristin sloan
wow. these are awesome!
the union jack one is amazing.
Sep 02, 2007 @ 14:27
M
The union jack picture has quickly become one of my favorite dance pictures. We can’t ever get up onto the roof of the Met but we have a little side roof which is no where near as fun looking. I’m jealous. How much would your wardrobe department kill you for being up there? I know ours would
Sep 02, 2007 @ 15:49
Allison
I love the look of the Polaroid pictures! I’m so jelous you get to go on the roof of the state theater!
Sep 02, 2007 @ 16:07
Cathy
oh those are great, specially the union jack one as people said above!
Sep 02, 2007 @ 18:13
Philip
Former NYC Ballet dancer (and reigning beauty) Deanna McBrearty used to take Polaroids backstage and a number of them were included when the Museum of the City of New York had a big exhibit of NYCB memorabilia to celebrate the Company’s 50th anniversary.
Sep 02, 2007 @ 22:32
Evan N
These are fabulous! The union jack pic should really be included in next season’s catalog…or perhaps on an NYCB poster!
Sep 02, 2007 @ 23:44
tonya
Really Philip — I missed that exhibit! It’s funny, the polaroids are far cooler than you’d ever imagine. Talk about the dated / vintage thing, the top one could have been taken in the 50s! I like the one of Orpheus. I like pics from backstage — you never know what goes on back there! Is that Tyler cracking up in the middle?
Sep 03, 2007 @ 00:41
Sarah
Thanks for the pictures… I wonder how far from the ground the top of your Union Jack hat is… That’s a pretty big jump!
Sep 04, 2007 @ 18:54