Archive for ballet austin
December 24, 2007 at 4:41 am · Filed under dance, Nutcracker, ANNE, ballet austin
So this afternoon over here at Ballet Austin, we finished our Nutcracker run. I think 25 performances in all, that’s a lot of snow corps for those of us that do it every time. And let me tell you, I’ll be wearing fluffy slippers this Christmas!
Before Paul and I head off to Seattle to visit his family over the holidays, and of course watch one more Nutcracker (Paul’s younger brothers are in PNB’s production). I wanted to send off one more Nutcracker post.
Since our dressing rooms are of course segregated by gender I didn’t really get to follow any of our male dancers as they prepared for their show. But I did snap a few of Paul pre-performance along with other dancers warming up for our second show of the day.
Here’s a shot of a chunk of the group just as we’re about to start notes, led by Assoc. Director Michelle Martin, followed by a couple of Paul and some of the other dancers stretching and warming up.
One of my favorite points of view is upstage center. It’s one of those views that if you’ve never performed onstage, you’ve never seen. Here’s that point of view while Paul and his partner Allisyn review some highlights from the Snow Pas de Deux about 45 minutes before curtain.
Paul and Allisyn spend a good part of Act I in a hallway beneath the stage stretching and keeping their bodies moving. I never had the chance to catch that moment photographically because of my change from Party Scene to Snow. For this particular show after Paul finished Act I as the Snow King, he also shows up in Act II with Ashley (see Sugar Plum Paparazzi) in Arabian.
The two snow scene photos below were taken by Tony Spielberg again, and the Arabian one I took myself.
And since I seem to always forget to post photos of myself, here’s one of myself and my wonderful partner Jim in Arabian (in another photo by Tony)
And this one is for Amy:
During the overture to Act II, EVERY time… the waltz corps which is usually our apprentices (sometimes there’s a trainee or two in there, or this year a company member…) links together in a circle center stage and sways. Act II has a LOT of dancing for the waltz corps and I think the circle, centers them, calms them if they’re nervous and reminds them that they’re all in it together. I don’t know when this tradition started I’ve seen it every year I’ve been here and there’s always a second year apprentice or two to pass on the tradition the next year. For our final show today almost all the diverts joined in the pre-Act II circle. Here’s a shot of the circle last year.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Recent Posts by anne marie melendez
December 20, 2007 at 9:27 pm · Filed under dance, Nutcracker, ANNE, ballet austin
Every Party Scene needs a doll or two right? Last night I decided to follow another friend, Michelle Thompson as she got ready for the roll. This year because of some necessary casting rearrangements both casts of girls that do doll have to do a quick change into the snow corps, leaving just about three minutes to make a mad dash from stage to dressing room, change costumes, pointe shoes, makeup and run back upstairs to their corresponding wing. How in the world in three minutes can you get all that done you ask? One word: Teamwork.
First, I followed Michelle through the steps to put on her doll makeup, starting with the white powder, giant false eyelashes (they’re easier to remove that drawing them on), drawn on eyebrows and lipstick.
Next comes the white “onesy” and bright red pointe shoes…
Here’s a photo of the full white onesy followed by Michelle getting into her costume…
From there Michelle heads upstairs to practice a few steps before curtain and then in the middle of Party Scene, prompted by our beloved Drosselmeyer performs her variation. This photo was taken by Tony Spielberg at one of our dress rehearsals…
Patiently waiting out Battle Scene, occasionally participating, eventually Michelle flies (literally) down the stairs and into the dressing room for her quick change, where she has lined up on the table everything she’ll need. Each girl that does doll generally has our dresser, Joan, as well as one of the dancers (this time, Gina) helping her. Occasionally one of us will dive down to untie her pointe shoes while everything else is going on (this time, Jaime). Each person knows their job. Michelle is removing the fingers from their little sleeves, Joan is undoing the costume, while Gina is removing doll makeup and Jaime is dealing with pointe shoes…remember time is of the essence!
From there Michelle magically appears onstage as though nothing has happened and joins the snow corps. Here’s one of the corps in another photo by Tony….
From there, depending on the cast, Michelle goes on to Act II. Sometimes it’s French (or Marzipan, Merlitons, depending on your version) and sometimes it’s Lead Waltz like before, again in a photo by Tony….
Luckily Michelle has what seems like limitless energy and appears completely unfazed by what she’s just gone through. I always wonder if anyone in the audience ever notices and thinks “Hey didn’t we just see that girl? Hey, didn’t we just see that girl? Hey…” (you get the idea…)
Again, all in a day’s work right!?!?
Thanks Michelle!
Recent Posts by anne marie melendez
December 18, 2007 at 9:19 pm · Filed under dance, Nutcracker, ANNE, ballet austin, anne marie
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.
As well as some just after going over some notes with Jim and Associate Director Michelle Martin.
From there I followed Ashley as she applied her makeup and placed her tiara.
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!!!
Recent Posts by anne marie melendez
December 11, 2007 at 1:07 am · Filed under backstage, dance, Nutcracker, ANNE, ballet austin, texas, feet, theater
Well, plus a couple of school shows…. But “technically” over here at Ballet Austin, we have 11 more Nutcracker performances to go and that’s including the performance we had to add December 21st because tickets are selling so well. Tickets really are selling well, my parents are subscribers and recently received an e-mail about how this upcoming weekend is completely sold out, and it’s only Monday.
I think it surprises some of us how well we’re selling this year in spite of the warm weather. I actually wore a tank top to and from the theatre the other night. So whereas our ads may say “It’s Snowing on Congress”, it’s not exactly snowing in all of Austin. Here’s a shot of Congress, the street where the Paramount Theatre is, just a few blocks away from the capital building. Since my husband, Paul, didn’t have a busy schedule opening night I sent him outside to take some pictures.
The Marquee:
When I get some action shots of this years production I’ll post those, in the meantime, here’s some from behind the scenes:
Just before Company Class, which currently we’re taking regularly at our studios instead of onstage, just a few blocks away from the theatre because of the tighter conditions at the Paramount Theatre. Let me explain a bit more: We’re in a transitional state this year at Ballet Austin. Our beautiful new studios are up and running, and yes, there’s more than one bathroom! (More photos to come…) But our usual theatre, Bass Concert Hall is closed for renovations, and our new home, the Long Center will not be open until March or April. We perform at the Paramount for some of our concert series, but generally do our full length and story ballets at a larger venue that more easily accommodates sets, a full orchestra and has more dressing rooms. We’re in tight quarters at the Paramount but with the huge effort put in by our staff and I think particularly our wonderful Production Staff it has gone incredibly smoothly.
Here’s a couple of Beth in the early stages of putting on her doll makeup for the first time as Michelle coaches her. The doll makeup had to be slightly adapted this year. Michelle and Beth would usually trade off doing the Dresden Doll while the other did Party Mom into Snow Corps, but due to a couple of injuries early on, both girls have to do Snow Corps, so one of them always has a VERY quick change from doll into snow corps.
And of course as with any of us ladies who wear pointe shoes and have endured the wear and tear a long production run can put on your toes. Here’s a “portrait” of the sore toes of Ashley, Melissa and myself:
I have lots more to share that I’ll eventually get around to, lots of exciting things are going on over here! In the meantime, Happy Nutcrackering!
Recent Posts by anne marie melendez
May 18, 2007 at 5:55 pm · Filed under Uncategorized, New, ANNE, ballet austin
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| Posted by Anne Marie Melendez
Exciting things are happening at Ballet Austin right now that we can hardly contain ourselves! The opening of our new building, the Butler Dance Education Center is just around the corner, in fact our moving day is set for next week.
Here’s an artist rendering of what the new building will look like:
This project has been years in the making and has required the support of the entire Austin community and I think for a lot of us the day seemed like it would never come. Up until our move, Ballet Austin has been housed in an old converted Firehouse, a historic building that we’ve simply outgrown.
Here’s a photo of the women’s dressing room, notice there’s only one stall… the men’s dressing room is smaller and also has only one stall. There’s is only one other restroom in the building… these three restrooms have had to accomodate dancers, staff, academy and parents for years. As you can imagine, there’s always a line.
And the sign that graces each restroom (this is when you know it’s time for new plumbing)
Here’s a photo of the new Ballet Austin sign recently taken by Forrest Preece that you can find in his blog about the progress of our new home.
Some other highlights of our new building from Forrest’s blog:
The Joe R and Teresa Lozano Long Grand Foyer taken from the community board room upstairs
The AdlerLand Studio, I love these viewing windows!
And the Armstrong-Connelly Studio as the floor is being laid out.
Check out Forrest’s blog at Ballet Austin’s website to see more!
Recent Posts by anne marie melendez
May 12, 2007 at 5:28 am · Filed under Uncategorized, choreographers, ANNE, ballet austin, choreography
| | Posted by Anne Marie
So, I wanted to talk about another aspect of the performance I saw presented by the Ballet Conservatory of South Texas. As I mentioned before, Orlando brought Ballet Austin II under the direction of Michelle Martin as guest artists to present some of their work down in San Antonio.
Ballet Austin II was created in 1999, and ranges in number of dancers. This year we had 7 women and 4 men. They take company class as well as some of the trainee classes. They perform with the main company in some of our larger productions as well as their own performance and touring schedules.
I want to talk more about Ballet Austin II in another post and collect some photos I’ve taken of them in the past couple of years, but in this one what I really want to talk about is Reginald Harris.
Reggie is a fellow dancer at Ballet Austin, and during the past few seasons he has created works on Ballet Austin II and the trainees. For the Ballet Conservatory of South Texas’ performance last weekend he created “Ella” which was absolutely endearing, definitely challenging and really joyful to watch. For the same performance he also created “Apres Nous”, for a few BA II dancers and two trainees that will be apprentices next season. This ballet floored me…. I knew Reggie was talented, passionate and inspired…. but this time he really inspired me. His understanding of movement and structure of a work and how it has grown in these past few years is truly amazing. I know all six of these dancers that he used, and the way he used them, showcased them, what he pulled out of them and how he drew on each dancers abilities and even quirks that we find so beautiful and amazing was simply incredible.
You know when you suddenly look at one of your friends and realize what they’re going to do? That’s the way I felt about Reggie last week and that’s why I wanted to share it.
Here’s some highlights from “Apres Nous”
Vincent Lopez and Amy Ruggiero:
Christopher Butler and Mary LaCroix (see my post “Injuries” for more about Mary):
And Edward Carr and Sara Tull:
And as usual, you can check out more photos at my Bloodygood Pictures galleries
Recent Posts by anne marie melendez
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