ANNE MARIE MELENDEZ Ballet Austin Austin, Texas USA BIO | POSTS

So I decided as a fun little project that one evening I would follow one of our Sugar Plum Fairies through her evening warmup, makeup and performance. I chose one of my friends Ashley Lynn. Ashley looks like your classic “ballerina”, but with her crazy sense of humor I thought she would be a lot of fun to follow. This is Ashley’s second year performing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier is company veteran, Jim Stein (who is also my partner for Arabian…).

For Ashley’s complete bio check out www.balletaustin.org

Like I mentioned in a previous post, this season we’re taking company class at our studios, then walking or driving over to the Paramount Theater. Ashley has what I call her “bag of tricks” where she keeps a tennis ball or two, a foam roller, a fun little stick that works wonders on calves, among other things. I snapped a few shots of her and her “tricks” before class.

I went on to do my own duties: Maid in the Party Scene, and one of the Snowflakes. I returned to snap a few of Ashley getting into her pointe shoes, rubbing some rosin on her tights to keep her pointe shoes just in place. And getting laced into the tutu by Joan who takes care of all 10 company ladies during the run, managing to fit in all our quick changes seemlessly.

From there Ashley heads upstairs and spends the rest of intermission to use the stage with Jim to go over some highlights of the Pas de Deux

After the Act II Opening she heads back downstairs to check and usually sew in her ribbons… Grand Pas can be an awefully long time to have your ribbons flapping around if they happen to slip out. The rest is a wait until every other divertessment dances. Trying to stay warm and mobile Jim and Ashley spend the time stretching, “playing” with their sticks and rolling on tennis balls. They both even take the time to briefly visit with the Bon Bons as they are herded back to their dressing rooms. Shortly before the Pas Ashley takes a PowerGel, a practice a few of us have adopted to give us alittle more energy to get through.

Finally it’s their turn… the rest is a whirlwind of dancing, catching your breath off stage whenever you have a chance, until the end of the ballet.

And just like that… it’s over. One more down. Hugs are exchanges, congrats and “good show”s shared. Someone helps her unlace her costume then she grabs her Power Bar Recovery drink the replenish nutrients her body lost during the show.

All in a day’s work!

Thanks Ashley for letting me play “Paparazzi” for a night!!!