My First Nutcracker with San Francisco Ballet
I survived – I made it through my first Nutcracker with the San Francisco Ballet! While I have been participating in productions of “The Nutcracker” since I was seven years old, this was my first full run as a company member in an American Company. San Francisco Ballet puts on 31 shows of this holiday tradition and I got the chance to perform in almost all of them. While I did some roles more than others, I was very happy with the variety of parts and opportunities I received. My roles this year included party parent, maid, ballerina doll, snow, flowers, and Spanish.
Nutcracker is a tradition that is filled with opportunities. There are opportunities for the dancers, for the school, as well as for the audience. I have heard countless stories of little girls and boys seeing “The Nutcracker” as their first ballet and having dreams planted in their heads after that special show. Little boys go home wanting to be the prince, or maybe the rat king, and little girls dream of becoming the next sugar plum fairy. Knowing that I had the opportunity to influence a young child was one of the most important things that kept my spirits high during all 31 shows. As a performing artist, I have the opportunity to influence many people, young and old, and that is something that I try to never forget.
Happy Holidays from Radio City!
Wow, long time no post!
I’m in the middle of my 2nd season dancing in the ensemble of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular here in NYC, and it’s going so well! We’ve already done about 70 shows, and we only have 2 weeks left to go - but I don’t want it to end! It’s been such an amazing season so far (even better than the new excitement of round one last year) and though I have so much to write about, there just isn’t time. So here are a few pictures to enjoy…I hope you all have a very happy holiday season! And do try to make it to the show if you’re in town - it definitely puts you in the Christmas mood! 
Tech rehearsal for our scene in Central Park (I’m on the left in pink)
Bear heads lined up for rehearsal
Our cast is the “Gold Cast,” so on our last day of rehearsal in the studio, everyone wore gold! Team spirit!
Action shot of us “ballerina bears” in the Nutcracker scene (I’m on the right).
Home sweet home.
The Rockettes as Wooden Soldiers.
My dressing room mirror, complete with my favorite gingerbread latte
A friend and I at our opening night party!
What I look out at for 17 shows a week!
Bears!
I’m Mary in the famous Nativity scene.
I’m going to try to post a few more pictures before the end of the run…bear with me (pun intended) Have a happy holiday and a happy new year!
PS- check out an interview I did for Culturebot…and you can read more about my day-to-day fun at the theater on Twitter.
San Francisco Ballet is jumping into the world of new media
I’m very excited to share a new section of San Francisco Ballet’s website that is dedicated strictly to new media!
http://www.sfballet.org/interact/index.asp
I believe that new media is a wonderful way for the ballet world to connect and I’m very happy to be part of a company that is exploring everything new media has to offer. Within this new section you can find videos, pictures, blogs, podcasts, and more. I would definitely suggest you check it out!
Opening Night of “Itutu” at BAM
It’s my day off today, and I plan to do nothing except try to see a masseur or a physical therapist. My back is super sore and my left calf won’t release me of it’s grip. I am in pain. The usual. But, I was really happy to see my friends last night who came to see me perform in the opening night of “Itutu.” It’s always an extra boost to know that friends and family are in the audience watching. The house was full! I think our company did exceptionally well last night. I could feel the “mystic cool” energy from everyone, including the audience.
It’s been a dream of mine to dance at the BAM stage! I am truly blessed. Two more shows and it’s over.
Come see us!
Update
Hey.
Being ADHD and all everyone knows that I keep myself busy. With that said this weekend is the culmination of a lot of work.
For starters I have a silent involvement in a sketch comedy troupe called the S.H.I.T show that runs Friday and Saturday the rest of the month (started the 1st). Working with actors has been one of the best working experiences I have ever had. Not too mention I was laughing the entire time. When I did come up for air I would tell them “guys, im just a vessel” and we’d move on. Shout out to Ray and Evan for becoming the movement and surviving our “meeting” at the Pirate Ship?
Another project that is going down this weekend is very special to me. I have had the privilege to get invited to set a piece for the Lorraine Hansbury foundation annual fundraising gala this year at the Ritz Carlton. For anyone who does not know Lorraine Hansbury is a very famous Afro-American playwright whom wrote A Raisin in The Sun, which my commission is based off of. The multi-talented Director of the Lorraine Hansbury Theatre Stanley Williams and I have had many discussions about my involvement with the theatre and how im supposed to help usher in a new audience because my work is “edgy” or “progressive”. Not too big on those description of my work because that puts me out of the status quo. However I am very relieved to see an organization willing to take a chance and shake things up and do something new. I was telling Stanley that for this piece I want to have the monologue from A Raisin in The Sun be read by an actor much like spoken word. Within the context of the monologue that I have been working off of with my dancer and getting back ground insight into the minds of the characters from Stanley I noticed that having just text alone would not be enough to suffice this project. Needed to do something more so I told Stanley that I envision base, percussions and cello sneaking in and out of the background. Comparable to Mingus or cars been stuck in traffic jam blarring their horns. Only after I had completed the choreographic end with my dancer Michael Montgomery did I get in contact with Mr. David Molina a freelance music producer whom just got back from a project at Yale. Molina, Stanley and I spoke about what I had in mind for the dance so that musically speaking I will be able to set up the right tone and atmosphere for the piece to exist. We planned to meet later the following week in his studio to knock out the recording process. Originally a female actress read the monologue but it did not match what I was going for. I had Stanley read the whole entire rehearsal process and settled my movement in his deep baritone voice. Made sense to use him for the recording too. At the studio I had Stanley read a few times with some voice inflections with certain words to give it a lil more punch. I even got to do some beat boxing (my strange breath heavy attempts) and screaming falsetto that will sneak in and out the music. I’m glad that I have the trust from the director for full artistic range because I had him doing some funny lil things:) Today I looked online and the Gala is completely sold out. I will have the honor of having the opportunity to show the old mayor of SF Willie Brown and the current mayor Gavin Newsome my work and that’s pretty dope. The same night I have the same solo being performed in a different venue with other dancers/choreographers from the SF bay area. The only difference is that im having female dance the part that was originally choreographed for a man. Everyone who could not make it to the gala will have the chance to see the same piece danced and I suggest that you all go because im very proud of the work.
The end of the month I will be dancing in my 1st 20minute joint titled “MicroMachines and Dinosaurs” more on that later along with some other surprises that will be traveling me and dancer Alex Jenkins to the east coast. All I will say about that is……. that it’s a bit “NUTTY”.
micheal rehearsing with the Director Stanley Williams in the background
me in the studio. Sometimes you have to just feel it.
keep on keepin on.
Wait…..I dont have a date for the gala yet!!!!!
B
heres a link to my blog that i update with all the show info on the sidebars. http://tagsf-noexpct.blogspot.com/
[Enter stage left]
Stage Door to Yale's University Theatre.
Well, not quite. After a full year of working behind the scenes and being tucked away from the world in a corner full of theories, case studies, histories, visions, ideas and concepts, however, I am definitely feeling somewhat … exposed.
As a second-year management student at YSD, I was presented with the opportunity to spend a term away from the School and at a professional setting (determined by the faculty). The motivation behind this–the Arts Management Fellowship–is that, in the performing arts, theoretical knowledge alone cannot, and does not, suffice; it must be applied and practised upon before it can be of use.
Michael Kaiser expressed a similar thought in his most recent article, published Tuesday in The Huffington Post:
Arts management is a young field. While wonderful impresarios have operated for centuries, serious codification of the rules of arts management began less than fifty years ago. And while we have a number of academic programs offered by universities across the nation, there are simply not enough of them, and several are too academic in their approach. Arts management, after all, is a practical field, like medicine, and must be taught through real-time, real world experiences.
And, thus do I find myself back on the Pacific Coast, this time in Seattle, Washington.
View of the Seattle Center and the Space Needle from the apartment.
I’ve just completed the first week of my Fellowship at Seattle Repertory Theatre, where I will be working closely under the guidance and mentorship of the managing director (a theatre’s counterpart to a dance company’s executive director). I’m very much looking forward to learning how Seattle Rep manoeuvres around the challenges presented by the economic downturn as well as to studying how the Theatre uses the attributes unique to itself to further its defining vision. It’s only been four days, but I am already impressed by the consistent deference made to the art. (In many, though not all, of my past situations, I sadly witnessed the opposite–the art was compromised before all else.)
Of course, the other wonderful thing about being in Seattle for Fellowship is that I am wonderfully close to PNB, which is located on the same block as the Theatre. I’m looking forward to progressing my recuperation from inside the studio as well as enjoying firsthand what promises to be a great season for PNB.
It was raining when I arrived in Seattle last weekend. (Surprise!) As I drove in from the airport, this rather large building housing a business called 1-800-WATER-DAMAGE did not go unnoticed.
Nutmeg Conservatory at Jacob’s Pillow
The current students and a few alumni of The Nutmeg Conservatory performed on the ever-inspiring Inside/Out stage at Jacobs Pillow Wednesday evening in celebration of Nutmeg’s 40th Anniversary. As a 1998 graduate of Nutmeg, I was honored to be asked to take part in the performance.
Lynn and I have been teaching modern dance at Nutmeg this summer, and we have had SUCH a pleasure teaching these students. They have opened up and grown so much in a matter of weeks.
As a Nutmeg graduate, the pride and respect I have for the institution that trained me is, in a word, immeasurable. The faculty, directors, and staff at Nutmeg cultivated, in me, a crazy modern dancer in the midst of a regimented Vaganova syllabus, and fierce focus on pedagogy. Somehow, they allowed me the freedom to explore while maintaining every inch of the discipline and attention to detail that was demanded of us as students.
Today a new crop of Nutmeg dancers is blossoming, and I believe the institution itself is blossoming as well. In the ways that the world we now live in needs it to. It is an instutution that has earned respect through detailed and careful teaching, communicative and educated staff, and the generous and honest spirit of cultivating the love of the art of dance performance in its students, parents, audiences and general public.
Perhaps it is this honest, earnest, spirit of the joy and legacy of dance, and the desire to share it so richly, that made the connection between Jacobs Pillow and Nutmeg feel so genuine.
Whatever it was, it was felt all around. The staff at Jacob’s Pillow (Ella Baff, Executive Director, and Ginger Menard, Program Manager and the rest of the wonderful staff) warmly welcomed us all.
As anyone who has ever been there can attest to, the magic and inspiration of the Pillow, and the distinct place it holds in the history of dance, hits you immediately. The Ted Shawn Theater, The Ruth St. Denis Studio.. These are more than room names, these are the pioneers of my craft, and to be in that space, in those hills among that legacy, is a feeling I cannot describe. I wondered on the way there if these students from Nutmeg that we had taught all summer would know, would REALIZE, the opportunity that they were being given. To dance at JACOB’S PILLOW in the wide open, with the breeze on their back just feeling the history of all that is around them.
I know they felt it. Something was alive and real inside of them tonight. That light behind their eyes was there. Whether or not they fully understand it now is insigficant.. What matters is that their bodies experienced it and their hearts felt joy.
They danced.
They danced with sun in their eyes and leaves on the stage. With all the beautiful mysteries of an imperfect stage and unpredictable forces of nature. And they were beautiful. More beautiful than I have ever seen them.
Along with the students that performed, I also shared the stage with my fellow Nutmeg Graduates Emily Patterson (Joffrey) and Andrea Spiridonakos (Miami City Ballet). Both have recently left their long tenure with the aforementioned companies, but are sure to find success in their next ventures.
Emily performed a duet alongside dance partner and husband, Thomas Nicholas (Joffrey), a duet choregraphed by current Joffrey dancer, Michael Smith.
They looked phenomenol and Andrea was characteristically exquisite in her variation.
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Lynn and I had a blast dancing our duet “Interlude” in the open air, and felt joy coming at us and beaming from us all evening long.
The staff of Nutmeg is doing a superb job of continuing the traditions that I believe have helped shape the very unique training program it has become. It’s founding Artistic Director, Sharon Dante, carved her dream of a world class school with her bare hands. She has worked her entire life, tooth and nail, to build Nutmeg into what it has become and is no doubt no becoming. The work she has done cannot be measured. To see her stand in the back and just soak in the performance brought me unspeakable joy. Eleanor D’Antuono (Ballet Russe, Joffrey, ABT) returns to Nutmeg year after year because she sees the promise and the “shiny new pennies” that Nutmeg is developing.
Me and Eleanor
Victoria Mazzaerlli (Basel, Frankfurt and Zurich Ballet) graduated Nutmeg, danced professionally in some of the most revered companies in the world and is now back at Nutmeg sharing her talent and impeccable wisdom and grace with these students. Joan Kunsch who continues to demand the focus and attention to detail necessary while respected the individual artists being developed within each of the students. Susan Szabo who guided the kids at that school from the moment they walk through the door with a gentle, clear push and an exuberant attitude. Tim Melady (Miami City Ballet, Ballet Du Nord, Momix) is bringing new and fresh inspiration to the whole program. Ron Alexander, who is now the Principal of Nutmeg, brings his experience from so many professional dance angles (National Ballet of Canada, Frankfurt Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, etc etc) and very seamlessly weaves it into his sharp administrator skills to create a school that is active, engaged and growing.
It was a beautiful day at the Pillow.
Thank You Jacob’s Pillow, and
Thank you Nutmeg.
A Glimpse of My Year
I can hardly believe it… it’s been a whole year, and then some! As you can see, in my previous posts, it’s been so hard to keep you tuned in with all the changes in my life. I don’t think I will ever be able to catch you all up with everything that has happened in the past year, but hopefully giving you a glimpse will suffice.
The first tour for les Ballets de Monte-Carlo was to Ljubliana, Slovenia with Jean-Christophe’s, La Belle (Sleeping Beauty). When I think back on the tour, I felt like I was going to the first day of school after summer vacation. EVERY situation was new. New people, new places, new ballets, new teachers, new system, and a new way of working – everything was new, new, new!!! The change was scary and exhilarating all at once! The only comfort was knowing that others were going through the same thing with me. With every tour and new experience after the first, came the realization that change was inevitable, and it WAS the thing that sparked my move to BMC in the first place. I, of course, made comparisons from my past life to my new one, but eventually came to the understanding that in a change, nothing is better or worse – it’s just different. And that thought alone has opened up my life!
I guess if I were to talk about an initial hardship, it would be the language barrier. Simple everyday tasks like going to the grocery store or bank turned into a guessing game. I found myself (and still find myself at times) freezing up, and then asking, Parlez-vous anglais? Thankfully, a lot of people in the south of France and Monaco are english speaking, but in the long run it will not help me learn the language faster. I guess in the course of a year I can say that I understand French pretty well, but I don’t speak it - and this will take years!
In terms of company life, things are amazing! Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo is remarkable. The work, the creativity, the people, the places… the list is endless. Jean-Christophe is a definitive artist. I could say a whole lot more, but feel I don’t need to. I just know BMC is a good fit for me!
On a whole different note - Those of you who are close to me know that I am an avid believer in “The Secret”, and for the last two or so years I have been using its principles to shape my life. Now, I am not here to preach it, but I will say that I believe in it whole-heartedly. The power of positive thinking and knowing how the laws of attraction work have forced me to look at my life (and future) with a fine-toothed comb. And in return, have made this past season, and also my future endeavors, quite clear. I guess my point in even bringing this all up, is that it has made my transition into this les Ballets de Monte-Carlo pretty seamless. If you haven’t heard of it, I highly recommend the book or DVD.
I don’t want to make this post too lengthy so I will try to show you through some pictures what I’ve done & seen. The world is definitely your oyster, and life is what you make it. If you crave change or are contemplating something, just do it. The outcome in learning is golden.
This is a picture from the our first tour. It is the set for JC’s La Songe (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). There is a very modern approach to all of the sets of his ballets. I love it. I feel it brings more attention the the dancers and their intentions.
This is a picture from the theater in Bologna, Italy. The picture doesn’t capture the beauty of this enchanting space. This is where we performed JC’s Romeo et Juliette. It was also my first time dancing on a raked stage!!! My turns were never so bad, but by day three I started to get the hang of it.
We traveled to two small cities on the north of France, and along the way (on a free day), a small group of us stopped in Paris for a day. This is my impression of Mary Tyler Moore in front of the Louvre. Oh, yeah, and the Louvre is not pink, haha.. it was a setting that the camera was on!
Earlier this year, I posted pictures of La Belle in Japan. Here is a fun picture from that tour! It was of one of the best tours this season - sometimes I don’t think I will ever grow up!
Me & Nathalie Nordquist before our debut in JC’s Altro Canto. This is one of my favorites of Maillot’s! This was in Valencia, Spain
On our last, and potentially best tour, we had one free day to explore. The dancers took it as an opportunity to go to the Dead Sea & Jerusalem. We packed on black mud from the earth all over our bodies (like a mask), then rinsed it off, and went to literally float in the salty water of Dead Sea. It was UNREAL. I wish that I could post more pictures from this tour - Performing La Songe, and experiencing Israel… la vie est belle!
And now, this is what we are currently doing. JC’s new creation, Men’s Dance for Women. It’s been wonderful to work on a “creation” with Jean-Christophe. The dancers are still fine tuning the choreography in this piece, and we always will be. Jean-Christophe has an intention for every step in this ballet which does two things - one, makes it easier to have an objective so we know why steps are executed in a certain way. And, two makes it a challenge to focus on that objective. It’s great fun!!
Hope you enjoyed my glimpse! Next for me is a small vacation & then a guesting with Ballet Hawaii!!! Very excited! Stay tuned…
Le Sacre du Printemps (Post 1 of 2)
For the past few weeks Hamburg Ballet has been working diligently on Nijinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps, or The Rite of Spring as it is usually referred to in English. It is an extraordinary, groundbreaking ballet that was created in 1913 by Vaslav Nijinsky and reconstructed by Millicent Hodson and Kenneth Archer in 1987.
The dance, music, and history that goes along with Sacre was so groundbreaking, especially for 1913, and I would love to write more about it. Unfortunately, at this very moment I don’t have enough time but I plan on writing a follow up post with more information very soon.
This past Sunday, June 28th, we had a wonderful premiere and I wanted to share a few pictures with you. Tonight we will have another show and then a final one for this season on July 11th. For more information on the performances check out www.hamburgballett.de
For now, here are just are a couple of pictures taken before the premiere last Sunday.
The Dance Community Needs Your Help
Help save this beautiful company before it is too late!
As we all know money and businesses from every sector have been experiencing difficult times recently. Unfortunately the ballet world is no exception to this fact. I want to bring to your attention an issue that is very important to me personally; Oregon Ballet Theatre needs your help. If we all don’t pull together and help this company it will have to close it’s doors. Not only do I have close friends in this company, but it is also a company that the ballet world cannot afford to loose. I urge you to take action on this issue. If you can donate any amount please do! ( Click here for information on how to donate to OBT)
As you see from the poster above they will also be holding a benefit performance.
Here are a few links with more information on the company as well as the current issue:
http://www.obt.org/news_links/features/5-27-09_Oregonian_onthebrink.html
