Roses is a collaboration with composer William Hunt. Roses premiered in Charlotte, North Carolina this summer and is inspired by the poem of the same name by George Eliot. Listen to the score below.
my CollegePlus! story
Last month, I had the privilege of flying to San Antonio to share a little of my story with CollegePlus. Read the whole blog post here.
Thank you CollegePlus for enabling me and encouraging me to pursue my dream. Without your program, I woud not be where I am today. Through my CollegePlus experience, I’ve gained not only a degree but also confidence, real-world experience, and valuable relationships.
Nutcracker 2011 recap
Even though this was one of the craziest Nutcracker seasons I've been through, I would definitely say it was also one of the best. Though I did the same roles as last year, I would leave the theatre feeling fulfilled and knowing that this is what I was made to do. My body would be exhausted but my heart full of the joy. I can't help but think sharing the Nutcracker magic is a teeny tiny taste of what heaven is going to be like. It's always a little bittersweet when Nutcracker ends but I know it wouldn't be special if it lasted forever. Until next year…enjoy the pics! 🙂
I love this theatre
Photo by Jared Tan
Photo by Jared Tan
Photo by Jared Tan
Pedro and Abi got engaged at the end of bows one day!!
Nutcracker 2011
Let the magic begin! Click the photo below for show dates, times, and tickets
Nutcracker 2010
This year was among my favorites for Nutcrackers. I was in four of the five casts and performed over 20 shows. I was cast as snow and flower corps, pink lamb again, and the maid in party scene. Also, I got moved down a flight of stairs (woohoo only four flights) to dressing room 45. Enjoy the few pictures.
During the run, I got an email from Beatriz. She said she had found my blog through trying to find out more about the Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker and wanted to meet me. She was such an encouragement and I'm glad to have met her.
Cinderella
Photo by: Kim Kenney
The first weekend of Cinderella is over and it went quite well. A few weeks ago, I was cast as a nymph in the show. After a few rehearsals, opening night was here and we were out there in all our glittery splendor. But enough about my minor part here's a little about this year's production.
The Cinderella story was originally written and published by the Grimm brothers in 1634 and revised by Charles Perrault in 1697. In 1945, Prokofiev composed the score for a ballet version of the story (wikipedia). Previously, Atlanta Ballet has performed the Ben Stevenson version of the ballet, borrowing costumes and sets from the Houston Ballet (the above picture is from this production). This year, Artistic Director, John McFall has re-staged the whole ballet with sets and costumes from the Washington Ballet. It's a charming and magical production for all ages.
Here are a few pics from backstage.
Lauren as the lead bee. I was learning this part but turned out to be too tall (imagine that!) to do it.
Me and Laura waiting for permission to go downstairs.
We're at the Cobb Energy Centre until the 14th. Come see it if you can!
Nutcracker 2009-Pt. 5
Well, Nutcracker is finally over. It's kinda sad but if it went on forever it wouldn't be special. And with over 20 shows, sometimes you need a break. With this being my last post for Nutcracker this year, I'll feature the lamb role. (Below photo from here)
Lamb was my favorite part this year. It was fun to make up silly things for the little improv part in the middle of the dance and a new experience to dance in a costume that fully covered me from head to toe–literally. Lamb also stretches your artistry in that you have to act like an animal, and dance like a human without using facial expressions.
This was the first role that I had to spray my shoes. Before dress rehearsal, Lauren (another lamb) and I headed out to the wind tunnel near the stage door with a can of black spray paint and our shoes. After spraying out in the cold, we brought our shoes in to dry.
During the middle of Snow scene I head downstairs to stage left to get dressed. First, I put on the legs to my under unitard. Then, I put on my shoes. The hands to the unitard are like mittens so that's why I wait to put them on later. After my shoes are on, I put the rest of the unitard on and then put on the big, fluffy, pink, lamb suit.
After getting snapped into the lamb suit, I head over to the head peice table on stage right to get my head. The head was the hardest part to get used to. You have very limited vision, so you definitely have to "feel" the other person to be on the music. Also, it kind of inhibits your breathing so it can get a bit stuffy, especially when most of the dance is jumping.
During intermission, the other lamb and I decide what we're going to do for our little acting part. Then, Act II starts. We wait during the two variations then towards the end of Spanish, I start to put my head on. After Chinese, we're on. Then we wait for finale and then bows. And that's a snippet of being a lamb. This is a picture of me with the Baby Lamb for our cast.
On Tuesday, my family came to watch. The liked it a lot. Carolyn, also came and took care of Alice during the show. She had a great time as well. That's it for Nutcracker this year, only 9 more months until we start rehearsals for it again. Hope you enjoyed sharing the magic with me.
Nutcracker 2009-Pt. 4
So far the shows have been going well. No major mishaps or anything. Yesterday, we had another Kids in Step show. I wasn't doing anything in it but my mom had to work backstage so I went with her. I went upstairs to take a nap. About 30 minutes before the show started, Mommy came upstairs and said "Rebekah, come downstairs, they need you to do infantry." It turned out that 3 of the infantry members didn't show up. So I stepped in along with another pre-pro who was with her mom. I learned the part before the show began and then did it on stage. It actually wasn't that bad.
Nutcracker 2009-Pt. 3
My pre-performance routine.
Go in the stage door…
Sign in…
Climb the stairs…
All the way to the 5th floor…
Down the hall to…
Organize my stuff…
Warm up, then get ready for the show…
Nutcracker 2009-Pt. 2
Well, The Nutcracker has opened in Atlanta. So far it's gone pretty well. Our first show was Friday morning for Kids in Step. I got to do Lamb for that one. Before the show, I took class with the company to warm up. That was pretty cool but also kind of intimidating. Overall, the show went well; we weren't together on one part but afterwards we got a good job from the ballet mistress. In between shows, I went to class then came back for the evening. At the beginning of the show, they introduced our new Executive Director, Arthur Jacobus. They also had Mr. Barnett there with people who had been in some of the first Nutcrackers of Atlanta Ballet. I was only a Dream Fairy for that show but it was just cool to be on stage at the Fox with the Atlanta Ballet on opening night. More Nutcracker to come!
Rebekah Diaddigo 