Here are some very short excerpts from our Nutcracker. We open in 2 days! Click the box with the red x(I can't get the pic to show up) on the right to buy tickets.
Nutcracker 2009-Pt. 1
Every year, I look forward to Nutcracker. It is my favorite time of the year and for me, it would not be Christmas without Nutcracker. For me, alot of firsts are associated with this magical ballet; the first time I was exposed to ballet, the first time I understood true artistry, my first pas de deux, the first time I guested. This year, is my first performing Nutcracker with a professional company. I'm blessed to be a part of the 50th anniversary cast of Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker and here is my side of a really cool adventure.
In September, I was excited to find my name on a list calling me to a height line up with the Company. This meant that I was being considered for company casting such as Flowers and Snow. A group of us pre-pros headed to studio 5 on the third floor at the assigned time. First, the ballet mistress, Dale Shieldslined the Company members in height order. Then she lined the pre-pros in height order. Then we all got in one big line stretching from one end of the studio to the other. I was fifth from the short end, with four Company members shorter than me (Nadia, Alessa, Peng, and Yoomi). A few days later, the cast list came out for Waltz of the Flowers–and I was an understudy! So, I started going to the rehearsals. This year, John McFall re-choreographed Flowers and it was fun to see his thought processes. After a few weeks of learning it on the sides, Ms. Dale asked me to step in during rehearsal. That was so nerve-wracking; I was happy to be asked to do the part but I was also nervous about messing up and learning the spacing and everything–I'm sure I was way too tense to look very much like a Flower. But I didn't do too badly. After being thrown in, I was much more confident that I knew the part. I am also an understudy for Snow.
A few weeks later, I was also cast as a Dream Fairy (a very minor, no-pressure role in the opening of Act II). After Magic Flute was over, Nutcracker rehearsals began in full swing. As I checked the Company board one day, I was delighted to find my name under a rehearsal called for lambs. Two pink lambs along with one baby lamb dance with the shepherdess during the Marzipan divertissement. Only two other pre-pros were cast as lambs, the rest were Fellowship students. Another cool thing about being a lamb is that I got a pair of pointe shoes for being cast in the part. The downside of being a lamb is that your whole body is covered–including your head. This past week was the first time we practiced with the lamb heads on. It's a little challenging because you can't see anything but straight ahead but at least you don't have to keep a pleasant face while you are gasping for air.
This week, we go into the theatre for dress and tech rehearsals. The show opens on Friday the 11th and runs until the 27th at the Fox Theatre. I'll keep posting with more pictures and tidbits as we progress. Hope your Nutcracker season is going well. Leave me a comment and let me know how it's going.
Photos by Charlie McCullers
Finally, a real post….
Well, I'm back…did you guess where I was? I was at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's Intensive Summer Program. It was a good experience. I stayed with my Aunt Mary and Laura stayed with me too. Aunt Mary took us a lot of cool places (such as the incline up Mt. Washington, her friend's garden, fireworks at the waterfront and a relative's house).
The intensive at PBT was challenging and I definitely gained new experiences. One of my favorite parts was that I got to set a piece of my own choreography on my peers. I chose to do a peice to music from Pirates of the Caribbean. It was cool to experience being on the other side of a work of art.
One of the things that God has been teaching me this summer is that God has each of us on a different path and we just need to trust Him. He doesn't teach everyone at the same time or the same things.
Hope everyone is having a great summer. Drop me a comment on how it's going. I have a lot to catch up on so keep looking for posts all this week.
-Rebekah
Dancing in the Garden
On our day off, we went to a beautiful day lily garden. And we danced around in it. Here's what we came up with.
More pics of the actual flowers coming later.
Going Public
You know how God has a way of doing things that totally contradict what your plans? He has a way of nudging you until you can’t ignore it and eventually if you allow Him to push you, you’ll end up where He wants you to be. I thought I had the next few years all planned out. Last summer, my plan was to finish high school, go to Belhaven Collegeand major in dance and minor in creative writing, come home and teach ballet. This year, my plan has changed; God has led me in a new direction.
I guess it started when I visited Belhaven last year. I loved the campus and the professors but something just wasn’t right. But I had it in my head that I was going there. That was God’s first nudge.
That summer (2008) I went to Joffrey South. There, I met with Valerieand told her my plan. Her reply was to encourage me not to stop performing. This was the next nudge
At the beginning of this year, I started taking open classes twice a week at the Atlanta Ballet. As the year wore on, God made it clear that I should pursue a career in dance. With this decision, I knew that I needed more training in order for this to become a reality. Through a series of events, I was invited to be a part of the pre-professional program at Atlanta Ballet. In January, I started taking there part time and I will be enrolled full time in the fall.
Next year, I will graduate from high school/college(yes, God worked out the education too) and then I will try to enter the dance world. My plan went from being very stable to very uncertain but I know that God has everything under control. I am very excited about using my gifts to glorify Him and can't wait to see what He has in store (although I'm a little nervous too).
The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps ~Proverbs 16:9
Videos from Telluride!!
I just found these and thought you might like to see them.
http://www.plumtv.com/@@/jwplayer/player.swf
Clarification: I was not ready to answer the question 'how many hours a week do you dance?' and I underestimated my answer. I dance about 20 hours a week actually. Also, the performance shots are not me but the girl from 2007.
This really is me
Spring Concert recap
Last week was Spring Concert. We did a condensed and revised version of Swan Lake and called it Swan Princess as well as some Broadway pieces (I was in One and Audition from A Chorus Line). For Swan Lake, I was in the Pas de Trois (I did the last girl's variation) and I was a little swan. Here are some pics from my camera. I'm hoping to get some better ones soon.
On another note, I got my driver's license on Thursday! Now, I really should go study for my midterms.
Summer Fundraising
So, I've decided where to go to this summer (but I can't tell you for safety reasons) and now I have to come up with the money. This year, in addition to selling on CafePress and my Etsy store, I'm trying something new. I've baked cookies and I'm going to place them at local businesses. People can have cookies in exchange for a donation to help my summer intensive fund. We'll see how it goes.
Class pictures
In October and November, Heather Sweet took some pictures at our studio for her photojournalism project. Here are a few that I played with. To see the originals, check out the ballet photo album. I really like "behind the scenes" pictures of the ballet world. Heather got some great shots.
Rebekah Diaddigo 