Dear Readers:
Hello everyone! Well since the last update of Chris’ Corner a lot has happened at the Sac Ballet. We finished our first round of the Capitol Choreographic Competition and it was a huge success. In the days leading up to the premier of the new ballets, created for the CCC, the dancers worked diligently with all the choreographers in order to make sure that each piece had the right motivation and intention that would help in the development of each work’s specific tone and aesthetic.
One of the choreographers: Melissa Barak often reminded us that for several of the sections, in her piece, we should appear “lost in space” within the confines of our movements. In personal analysis of the piece I understood that this concept was very important. The piece begins with a group of dancers huddled together creating the shape of an “amoeba” or that of an organism made up of many different parts, working as a single unit. It is from here that we become “lost in space” from our original unified group and branch out away from one another, only to eventually be drawn back into the patterned group one by one. I feel that Ms. Barak’s piece may be interpreted as an exploration in the idea that although we may yearn to break free from our “program” and the synonymous nature of the community, many times we are inevitably drawn back into the comfort of what we are most familiar with.
Yannis Adoniou also had many different images and ideas he tried to convey to the dancers in the last days leading up to the premier of his piece. He explained that he had wanted the dancers to establish a community setting within the ballet, forcing the dancers to become personally involved in the choreography and the art that we were creating. I feel as though it is only fair for me to admit that I had the most trouble connecting with Mr. Adoniou’s piece, when we first began to work with him several weeks ago – however upon his return to the company and through our spacing rehearsals on stage I was finally able to understand the beauty behind his vision. I think his ballet works extremely well in the Crest Theatre space and am excited for another audience to experience his aesthetically beautiful work of art.
The third choreographer, Darrell Grand Moultrie was such a pleasure to work with in the studios and during our time at the Crest Theater. He was very adamant in creating a ballet that would emphasize the joy of dancing that we all had felt as younger, less experienced dancers. He wanted us to return to a place in our dancing when we were completely fearless to try anything and anticipated the challenges presented to us. Darrell was also a great motivational force for many of the dancers and although I cannot speak for all the Sac Ballet Dancers, I know it was very easy for me to lose any inhibitions during his rehearsals – because he did not allow us to feel self conscious. He was very interested in pushing individual dancers to their maximum potential by reminding us of the pure happiness that can be expressed through our artistry.
I hope hat if you were unable to see the CCC last week that you will join us at the Crest Theatre tomorrow…when we perform the pieces again. Remember this week is a new competition and new winners have to be picked – we need your help! Visit the www.sacballet.oorg for more info on the show.
Although it may seem like the Sac Ballet dancers might have been taking it easy this week, in between our CCC shows – you’d be wrong!
This past Saturday we were lucky to be apart of the huge gala event hosted in celebration of the new and improved Crocker Art Museum…. we performed living sculptures as guests entered the gala, performed on the main stage to kick off the festivities and worked with company photographer Keith Sutter - allowing guests an up-close and personal look at a dancer photo shoot! It was an awesome event that we were all so proud to take part in. And then we had a much-deserved two days off! Halleluiah!!!!
After those two relaxing days off we were back in the studios with full force making sure that all was in shape for the second CCC and working diligently on this Saturday’s performances of Discover Dance, A Family Fun Day at The Crest Theater! Preparing for the Family Fun day has been a lot of fun and I think everything is looking great. I am especially excited for this show because I will be working double duty as a dancer (of course) and also as the show’s narrator! I have to admit that it has been a little hard mustering the courage to actual open my mouth and speak on stage, rather than simply being a mute dancer – but it has been a great experience and I think I finally have all my lines memorized!!
Well I think that is about it for now…hope to see you all at The Crest Theater this weekend, and keep an eye open for my mom (my biggest fan) who’ll be cheering along all the dancers from the audience!
