Yesterday, I was finally able to get back to watch a  rehearsal of the Cincinnati Ballet. The visit was not like usual though. New to the Cincinnati Ballet is choreographer Adam Hougland and I had the pleasure of finally meeting him.

When I first entered the upstairs portion of the theater like rehearsal room, I was cheerfully greeted by others there to see the rehearsal. The one person that I did not recognize was Mr. David Herriman, who is one of the sponsors of the choreography for Mozart’s Requiem. Without hesitation, he reached out to shake my hand and then we were ready to watch the rehearsal.

While Adam placed the dancers in lines to begin, which at this point is a full rehearsal and not individual scenes like I’ve watched in the past, Devon Carney used red tape to mark spots on the floor. Although I knew what he was doing and why, it wasn’t until later that I saw just how important the markings were. As usual, some of the dancers were more excited than others which just shows me that it really is just like any other job.

What I didn’t expect to see were all of the dancers simply sitting in folding chairs in a row as if they were watching me. If only they were looking up. Then the music starts and slowly they come to life. The ballet ends the same way except for the fact that they are sitting on suitcases, not chairs. What does this mean? I’ll tell you that on March 26th.

One of the first scenes  danced by Sarah Hairston and Selahattin Erkan, is a very dark, almost strange part. I cannot honestly tell you what is going on just yet but I can feel Sarah’s  anger and despair through her dancing. The emotion in her movements and facial expressions is gripping and real.The rest of the first act continues in this way although I am not sure quite as intense. Still, it is beautiful and honest in it’s own way.

Each year, the ballet’s spring season brings the more contemporary pieces to life. It’s a different side of the ballet world where the dancers can have fun and the public can see the pure strength and depth of these professional dancers. It shows the raw athleticism; power of a gymnast with grace and flexibility only a true artist can possess.

In another scene, Kristy Capps dances a part that showed me the unbelievable amount of trust that the dancers have in each other. Part of hers is a solo dance and part relies on some of the male dancers who lift her into the air while she twist her body as if moving through the sea. I later learned it’s actually called the Dolphin Lift. Go figure.

During a short break, I had the opportunity to speak with Victoria Morgan and Mr.  Herriman, who called the first act “Very Intense”. Such a kind man to interact with, he seemed genuinely impressed and  excited by what we had just witnessed to which I must agree. Victoria, who is the Artistic Director & CEO of the ballet, first introduced Mr. Herriman to Adam and the dancers. Of course we all applauded him for his generosity. Then, she introduced me as the one who blogs for them and gets the word out, to which they all greatly applauded as well. I was shocked to say the least and have to wonder what shade of red my face turned. I cannot thank this group enough for the joy that they have brought to my life.

While the first act is dark  and really deep with the intensity of the music from Mozart’s Requiem, showing different lives and the inevitable fear of going into the unknown, the second act is lighter with an idea of hope. Even the stage will turn from dark to light. Mozart’s music has a more luminescent playful feel to it as well. The stage props are turned upside down to signify change. Or, is it right side up?

Adam choreographs more typical ballet moves into the second act although the arms remain more stiff than you would usually see in a ballet.  Mr. Hougland tells me that the reason behind the dancer’s arm positions is to show the “tension and anticipation of the emotional journey”.

The end of the performance leaves us no longer discouraged and pained by the unknown as the dancers portray a light at the end of the tunnel with Adam Hougland at the helm. Nice job.

When I asked Adam what his inspiration was, he told me that he would picture different things that reminded him of certain dancers that he has come to know so well. There is a more indepth interview with Mr. Hougland on the Ballet’s website, cballet.org. This years New Works production is a ballet like nothing I have ever seen before. There is no Princess or her fairy godmother, no parties for the Prince and certainly no dolls. Pure inspiration that came from a talented choreographer based on music written by one our most famous musical geniuses.

I cannot wait until opening night [March 26th 8:00pm] to see if the performance once put together feels the same as the rehearsal, naked and unadorned by backdrop yet never lacking in passion.

Cincinnati Ballet’s World Premier of

Mozart’s Requiem

March 26th, 27th, 2010

Mozart’s Requiem (Requiem Mass in D Minor) was composed during the last year of his life. His last compositions is also considered one of his most respected and well known, including not only orchestra but vocal in form of choir and vocal soloist.

The choir, Xavier University Concert Choir.

The soloists,  Lisa Ericksen (soprano soloist), Maria Ventura (alto soloist), Cameo Humes (tenor soloist), Thomas W. Sherwood (bass soloist).

Now, who is choreographing such a great undertaking of a master’s work? Resident choreographer, Adam Hougland of course.

Mr. Hougland, who graduated from The Julliard School and went on to dance with The Limon Dance Company, Toronto Dance Theatre, The Lar Lubvitch Dance Company before starting his career as a choreographer.

Adam quotes the Requiem score as having a “dark, mysterious, song bird quality” that he “fell in love with” after listening to it. One of the dancers tells me that she is excited to be dancing in this ballet even with the dark theme. I wasn’t sure what made it dark until I watched the video on the ballet’s website, where Adam says the ballet is “…as much about death as it is making the most out of the moments you have here on Earth”.

Sounds beautiful to me.

The stage, which has been collaborated with Marion Williams, costume and scenic designer based in New York working in theatre, opera and dance, is modern and unique to anything that I have ever seen in the ballet world. Ms. Williams has worked with Adam Hougland four times in Louisville and he says that he worked well with her on this ballet as well. Pictures of the stage show scaffolding and models of people and chairs, which may explain the use of suitcases during rehearsals. Mr. Hougland describes the ballet as different scenes in different lives that may not make sense at first yet mesh well at the end.

If you really think about it, aren’t all of our lives intertwined in some way. I meet people everyday that through some other person or place or thing, have something in common with myself.

Luckily, I only have two weeks left to wait and see what appears to be an amazing opportunity to see such a well known choreographer come to our Cincinnati Ballet.

Ballet & Beer Thursday March 18th at 5:00pm

Performances,  March 26th and 27th 8:00 pm

March 27th 2:00 pm matinee

Perhaps you’ve thought about the ballet or may be you even enjoy a show once or twice. What’s holding you back?  How much do you know about our ballet and the dancers?

There are so many ways to get involved with the Cincinnati Ballet!

I’ve already told you about Ballet and Beer (I think the spots fill up as soon as registration opens), and you can easily find the dates for the upcoming production by visiting this site or cballet.org. And yet there’s more!

When the upcoming season is starting, be sure to purchase that season’s subscription. Or, show your support by  donating* to the Cincinnati Ballet allowing not only the beautiful art of ballet to continue but the educational outreach programs that are run enriching this great city even more.                   (*See site for donation amounts and benefits)

After each evening’s performance the Cincinnati ballet holds a party just for subscribers. Except for  New Works, after party’s will be held at the Aronoff. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar while mingling the dancers and getting to know them personally.

The new 2010/2011 season will be announced on March 14th. One great new addition to the season, which was announced first by Victoria Morgan during opening night for Cinderella, is a performance of Sleeping Beauty danced with the Cincinnati Symphony at Music Hall October 22-24!

Don’t miss out on your subscription and all it’s benefits!

Tonight I had the pleasure of seeing the Cincinnati Ballet’s production of Cinderella, made that much more intense by the privilege of having the live orchestra thanks to patron’s support.

The rich velvet curtain opened to a scene of Cinderella scrubbing the floor, the step-mother and the father working at a spinning wheel while the wicked step-sisters, danced gloriously by two of the ballet’s male dancers, embroidering a silk scarf. A comedic fight breaks loose over the scarf that is eventually torn in half by the step-mother to make both girls happy.

Tonight, the lead role of Cinderella was danced by Janessa Touchet. Throughout the entire ballet performance, I was memorized by Ms. Touchet’s hand and arms. While this may sound strange to some, the entire body is used expressively in dance and the arms in ballet most definitely. Janessa played a most exquisites role with her perfected art that has blossomed and embrassed over the years. An amazing confidence as a dancer, a special treat for the rest of us.

The quirky step-mother danced by another favorite, Kelly Yankle, was perfectly cast and held a wonderful balance of protective mother and producer of laughs. Speaking of laughs, the step-sisters, danced by Stephen Jacobson and Selahattin Erkan could have easily stolen the show. What fun they had in these parts! On more than one occasion the audience laughed with glee at the antics these two conspired usually against each other.

The father, danced by Devon Carney, Associate Artistic Director for the Cincinnati Ballet, is the part that I mentioned before I have never had the privilege of seeing. In this version, based off of Charles Perrault’s 19th century tale and using the beautiful music of Sergei Prokofiev, I enjoyed watching the attempts of the father to rescue his daughter from the step-family even though he is too weak in nerve to stand up to this woman he married and her own selfish wicked daughters.

The tale goes on by showing Cinderella’s own good natured heart as she offers to feed what she believes is a beggar, who turns out to be her fairy godmother, danced by the ever so lovely Sarah Hairston.

One of my most favorite parts in any ballet, which was performed in the third act tonight, is when the male role, the Price danced ever so powerfully and convincing by Olgucan Borova, lifts the female through the air with such grace and ease it looks like no work at all. Involving years of practice and technical genius if you ask me, I never fail to have chills run across my arms and the breath escape my lungs.

If you have not made plans to see the ballet this weekend, you must check it out and enjoy this lovely story for yourself.

I just checked out the blog of an acquaintance and was so pleased to see her post about the Cincinnati Ballet’s upcoming performance of Cinderella. Yeah!

I am so excited, I cannot wait until Friday!

Thanks Kate and please check out Kate’s Random Musings for well put words.

This weeks Ballet & Beer introducing the Cincinnati Ballet’s production of Cinderella appeared to be the most crowded event I have had the pleasure of attending at the ballet’s rehearsal building. Young and young at heart alike joined together to delight in the magic that is the fabled children’s story where good overcomes wicked and happiness prevails.

Since I have never seen the ballet’s rendition of Cinderella, I was honestly a bit confused by the male part acted out by Devon, the Cincinnati Ballet’s artistic director.

After 36 years, I am even more thrilled to learn of a version of this classic tale to which I’ve never been introduced. The male figure in the evenings partial performance was Cinderella’s father, who is this version has not left her life in body yet only in will against the step mother who takes over the household along with her own selfish daughters. The story is a version taken from the original written by Charles Perrault in 1697.

The production of Cinderella performed by the Cincinnati Ballet’s amazing company opens Friday evening, February 12th at 8:00PM.  Purchase Event Tickets

I checked the Cincinnati Ballet’s website for some new goings on and found this article written by David Lyman with Cincinnati.com, and can completely understand what Ms. Touchet is feeling. In my own world of course. That of course is another story all together though.

At age 15, Janessa had already been dancing for more than a decade. How can you be sure that something you have done since you were a child is something that you really want to do and not just something that you are good at through years of practice? Quit.

What’s that saying? If you love something set it free. If it comes back to you, it’s yours. This is exactly what she did and now Janessa knows that she not only is great at dancing, but loves it too.

So, why doesn’t she leave the Cincinnati Ballet and run off to a bigger company perhaps in a bigger city or even a different country? Why would she when she has everything she needs and wants here.A great company, friends and the stage. As one of only two female principle dancers Ms. Touchet definitely has the stage as she plays the lead role in the Valentine’s weekend performance of Cinderella.

Don’t miss seeing the productions:

• February 12, 2010 / 8:00pm /
  Purchase Event Tickets
• February 13, 2010 / 2:00pm /
  Purchase Event Tickets
• February 13, 2010 / 8:00pm /
  Purchase Event Tickets
• February 14, 2010 / 2:00pm /
  Purchase Event Tickets

2010’s upcoming production of Cinderella is soon upon us. The anticipation! I just found out that the lead roles of the Prince and Cinderella will be danced by Olgucan (Borova) pairing with Janessa (Touchet) and Anthony (Krutzcamp) paring with Kristi (Capps).   

Jaleni with the Kansas City Collegian online was certainly charmed by Olgucan and Janessa:

A duet from “Le Corsaire” was presented next. Janessa Touchet and Ogulcan Borova delivered a vigorous, energetic display that was enhanced by the color schemes of their costumes… 

Anthony and Kristi were written highly of in the Alexandra Ballet newsletter:  

Guest artist Anthony Krutzkamp possessed the perfect combination of rascal and rogue as Franz, the fickle love interest of Swanilda, who was portrayed by the thoroughly charming Kristi Capps.

If you take the time to Google these two partners names, accolade after another speak of the same strength, grace and charm that I have seen with my own eyes. The choreographers in each situation see what they want for each production and who they feel would dance it best and this is certainly true of the upcoming Cinderella. 

Do I feel that they are the only one’s that could dance these lead rolls? Not necessarily. Each dancer has their own strengths and rank certainly plays a role in each scenario. Take  Jill Marlow and Liang Fu. Both of them played lead rolls in this past December’s Nutcracker and were ever so charming.  

I will have to wait and see how the dancer’s perform next month. Come check it out with me. I am sure that the Cincinnati Ballet will not disappoint! On that note, dancers schedules are always subject to change if needed.

A famous world know story, Cinderella is a love story and fairytale that we see from the time we are a little girl or boy. Over the last three decades, I have seen the  story of Cinderella used in many other movies and books, where the lead role is not always played by a woman character and not just for children either. One site that I was reading today states it as “individual elements of the story can be found in almost every culture of the world”.

We all know the movie version story of Cinderella however, since I have never seen it danced out in a ballet, I was really curious on what I will be watching next month.

When I looked up the plot for Cinderella danced out in a ballet, this is what I found on wikipedia:

Cinderella lives with her wicked stepsisters, until a beggar (who reveals herself to be a fairy) comes, and rewards Cinderella by giving her a coach and a new look. At the ball, Cinderella falls in love with the prince. She stays only until midnight, when the spell wears off. But, she leaves her slipper behind, which the prince uses to find her again. The ballet is based on Charles Perrault’s Cendrillon.

Other sites like balletmet in Columbus, the ballet too is the same as written in wikipedia however, offering a bit more detail. I am curious about this beggar that turns in the fairy Godmother and why are there then a total of 5 fairies? Another difference in the ballet is that the Prince himself returns to find his Princess, instead of sending out others to do it for him. Now, that’s true love! 

Speaking of true love…how cool would you be if you took your

girl to the ballet on Valentine’s day!?

Ballet & Beer is unfortunately already sold out however, you are welcome to show up and hope that someone who requested a spot is unable to make it! That is on February 5th, 2010 at 5:15pm. Ballet productions are on:

February 12th 8:00pm

February 13th 2:00pm (Cinderella’s Ball @2:30)

February13th  8:00pm

February 14th 2:00pm (Cinderella’s Ball @12:30)

For those of you with your very own Prince or Princess, the Cincinnati Ballet cordially invites you to the Cinderella’s Ball 2010! On both Saturday and Sunday, February 13th and February 14th, children dressed in their finest attire (not required but preferred) with enjoy dance, crafts and fairy tale fun before the ballet at 2:00pm. A light lunch and delicate treats will also be served. The fun begins at 12:30. Don’t forget your ticket for the ball available when you purchase you ballet tickets for only $35.00.

Wow, where was I last week when I went to see the Nutcracker Ballet on opening night? I recently wrote that the “first scene was a little disappointing for me”. My memory must have let me down because the colors were not dull at all. The first curtain is interesting as the props made it seem like the dancers were inside the house. As soon as that curtain is lifted, the party was filled with splashes of color!

Last night the lead rolls were danced by Jill Marlow, as Marie, and Liang Fu, as the Nutcracker. I specifically went last night to see these two perform their first season as lead dancers in this special yearly production.

When I first visited Ms. Marlow at the Cincinnati Ballet, she had never danced the lead roll of Marie. I actually arrived on the second day of rehearsal. I thought that both Jill and Fu looked as if they had danced the roles before yet looked a little nervous. At rehearsal the next week the two were rehearsing alone with Mr. Carney and appeared even more skilled than the week before even though still very nervous. I would have never believed  that Jill was ever nervous after watching her dance last night.

She moved so eloquently with her long expressive arms during solo and partner dances and a childlike realism when playing with the others. Her expressions change as needed to portrait each scene as interpreted.

Fu danced with power and grace and gained cheers from the audience during his solo each time he launched into the air.

Each dancer was wonderful in their parts and even in sync with each better than opening night. I was sitting in the orchestra again however right in the middle this time. Of course I had my 6 year old son with me this time who did not sit as still as my Mother did! I think that he asked about 52 questions in the first 10 minutes and kept asking about the mouse. The fight between the mice and the soldiers was the only part of the ballet that he actually sat still through. Other parts of the production kept his interest in spurts like the Chinese Trainer and Mother Ginger of course.

Thank you to everyone who was involved with this years production of the Nutcracker. If you have not had the opportunity yet to take in a show, it runs until the 27th of December  and is a wonderful delight for all ages.