Archive for Nutcracker
January 6, 2008 at 7:03 pm · Filed under dance, rehearsal, studio, Nutcracker, photography, swan lake, photographer, PATRICIO, chile, ballet de santiago, patrcio melo, santiago
Hi, we’re almost about to start our summer holidays. We just finished Nutcracker season and now rehearsals for Swan Lake, so I think that will be my last post before the holidays. Now I’ll post a bit about studio rehearsals. I hope you enjoy these pics, some are new in Nutcracker rehearsal,s and before performances in makeup, some are old in different ballet rehearsals.
Well I want to say it was great to start to be a part of The Winger, thanks so much to Kristin for all, and thanks for all your beautiful comments.
Marcela point shoes.
This is old one, is Andreza and I took with film camera.
Andreza and Javier, is old too and love it was one the first I took.
Lidia.
Makeup, Carolina and Cecilia.
Cecilia.
Lidia.
Marcela Goicoechea and Luis Ortigoza Nutcracker rehearsal.
Andreza and Jose.
Marcela and Luis.
Marcela and Sasha.
Andreza and Luis.
Marcela.
Luis and Andreza.
Luis Ortigoza in Nutcracker rehearsal.
Sasha Zaitsev in Bayadere rehearsal.
Natalia.
Marcela Goicoechea in Manon rehearsal.
Luis Ortigoza in Manon rehearsal.
Sofia.
Luis in Manon.
Robert.
Marcela and Luis in manon Pas de deux rehearsal.
Marcela and Luis in Manon rehearsal.
Recent Posts by patricio
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 21, 2007 at 5:08 am · Filed under dance, Nutcracker, writing, critics, school, interview, TAYLOR
Two big things ended this week - Nutcracker, and my last full semester of college!
Nutcracker went really well. It felt great to be onstage after going a few months without performing and it reminded me how much I love it - the whole process, from the makeup to the rosin to the applause to the bows. Nutcracker has been a constant in my (and many other dancers’) life over the years and it truly symbolizes the Christmas spirit. And this was my first run of it as a “professional” so to speak, so it was extra special.
Speaking of Nutcracker, I did an article for ExploreDance.com on my ballet teacher retiring from her role as The Sugar Plum Fairy, one she has danced for over 30 years! Read it here.
And also, the fall semester is finally over! I’m officially one month away from graduating college - and am both extremely excited and somewhat nervous for the future. To this point I have always squirmed away from making the terrifying choice between continuing ballet or reverting to ‘real life.’ Luckily, at this turning point I’m still not giving up one passion for another.
The end of the school semester has been intense with work and finals and finishing up my work as Features Editor at our school paper. I completed my senior thesis on dance journalism after tons of work (I even got to speak with New York Times dance critic and fellow Winger Gia Kourlas!) and it seems to have paid off. I had submitted my abstract a while ago to Dance Research Forum Ireland, a conference for dance scholars and historians, and I recently got an email saying they accepted my project! It’s not until June and I’m not positive I’ll be able to attend yet, but it would be nice to have an outlet to share all that work…
On another note, this great new ballet site called Ballet Connections has started interviewing some dancers so that readers can hear their insights to the dance world, and they interviewed me. Read it here, and be sure to check out the other features on the site.
After a tough semester I’m glad it’s time for the holidays and the new year. My plans for 2008 include starting a new internship at The New Yorker magazine (SO excited for that), working a little bit with this contemporary company, doing lots of auditions, and continuing with grad school (among other things…). Busy as always.
Hope everyone has a happy, healthy, and restful holiday! 
Recent Posts by taylor gordon
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 5:44 am · Filed under dance, tour, Nutcracker, joffrey ballet, LAUREN, theater
For the past week, Joffrey has been on tour in St. Louis opening our 2007 season of Robert Joffrey’s Nutcracker. We arrived on Sunday December 2nd and departed back to Chicago on Sunday December 9th. Having finished 6 performances at the Fox Theater in St. Louis, we embark on the bulk of our season at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago opening on Wednesday December 12th-December 30th.
On our day off, many dancers visited St. Louis’ Gateway Arch located in the downtown area.
The ornate ceiling and upper balcony of the Fox Theater.
The backstage area of the theater is covered with murals of each show that passes through–the ceilings, doors, elevators, walls are heavily decorated to insure that every performer is remembered. It’s such a treat to see each one and recognize friends that have performed in the past at the Fox Theater. Above is our 4th floor dressing room door, The Full Monty.
Dancer Mauro Villanueva signs our own creation for the 2007 Joffrey Nutcracker season.
During Friday Night’s performance I was able to capture a few moments from Act II. Above, dancer Joanna Wozniak as a flower.
The opening of the waltz of the flowers.
Mother Ginger, performed by puppeteer Francis Kane.
Clara, performed by Heather Aagard and Drosselmeyer, performed by Michael Smith react during Mother Ginger’s dance.
Sugarplum pas de deux-performed by Valerie Robin and Fabrice Calmels.
Recent Posts by lauren
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