Charlottesville Ballet http://charlottesvilleballet.org Just another WordPress site Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:47:05 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Our Monthly “Meet the Artist” Series — Voltaire Wade-Greene http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2012/03/mtavoltairewadegreene/ http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2012/03/mtavoltairewadegreene/#comments Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:28:18 +0000 cb http://charlottesvilleballet.org/?p=1404 Read More

]]> Charlottesville Ballet’s “Meet the Artist” profile for March 2012.
This issue features company artist Voltaire Wade-Greene– check out his interview below and enjoy!

 

Voltaire Wade-Greene

THE BASICS

Name: Voltaire Wade-Greene

Age: 25

Astrological Sign: Leo

Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Role in C’ville Ballet: Company Artist

 

 

FAVORITES…

Young Voltaire (center) at swim practice with brother Vladimir and sister Vivonne

Food:  Sushi and pickled ginger…TONS OF PICKLED GINGER!!!

Color: Blue

Book: Ender’s Game

Movie:  Ip Man and Ip Man 2 (I’m a sucker for martial arts movies)

Musician/Band: My favorite band would be Lettuce and Musician would be Ed Sheeran…two totally different styles, but I don’t really listen just to any one genre!  It’s fun liking a lot!

Quotation: I’ve got a long one…

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

Voltaire, photographed by company member Elisa Alexander

We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” –Marianne Williamson

Spot in C’ville: Para Coffee off the corner of UVA on Elliewood Avenue.  They have cool bands that come through to play there.  It’s a two-in-one deal where I can drink all the coffee I want and listen to great music!

Business/Store in C’ville: Urban Outfitters.  I’m a sucker for clothes and randomly will go and spend way more than I need to on cool shirts!

 

NERDY BALLET QUESTIONS

Tell us about your dance background and training:

I started dancing at age 11 because my mom wouldn’t let me play tackle football until I had some coordination.  If I took one ballet class a week I could play football…and that’s exactly what I did!  The next year, I signed up for a jazz and a tap class and that’s when I really fell in love with dance!  I started going to summer programs like The Rock, San Francisco Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem.  I got accepted into The Rock School’s year round program where I finished out my junior and senior year of high school.

Voltaire with his girlfriend, Demetia Hopkins (Company Member at Alvin Ailey)

After graduation, I went on to study at University of the Arts in Philadelphia.  I danced shortly for Eleone Dance Theatre before I got a contract for Contrast Dance Theater at the end of my freshman year.  The next fall, I went on two tours with Circus Nexus performing in “Rites and Rituals” and “Sugar Plum Dreams.”  After the second tour I came down to Orange, Virginia to teach at Orange School of the Performing Arts….and that’s how I found Charlottesville Ballet!

 

What genres of dance do you enjoy?

I really love all genres of dance because it’s all a form of self-expression. But if I had to really pick one, I would have to say tap.  Tap is so fascinating and so complex, but so much fun at the same time.  It’s great because you can look up the history of tap and see the originals on YouTube and you also see where it’s going because the people out there today are just amazing and are constantly pushing the boundaries!

 

Favorite dancers or role models?

My favorite dancers are:  Carlos Acosta (Royal Ballet), Herman Cornejo (ABT), Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet), Osiel Gouneo (National Ballet of Cuba).

My role models would definitely be my Mother and Father, and my Uncle Ricky.

 

In Rehearsal with Associate Director Keith Lee

Do you have a favorite ballet:

I do enjoy Swan Lake.  That was the very first ballet I saw as a kid and I fell in love with it because of the beautiful dancing and powerful music!  I went with my regional ballet company in Bakersfield (now known as Imagine Ballet Company) to see ABT perform in Los Angeles and after that performance, I knew I wanted to dance!

What’s your favorite ballet/dance step:

You can ask anyone in the company– I love to turn.  It’s one of those things I could do forever and ever and never be tired of!  I like to really push myself to do absolutely ridiculous things that I would normally never do in ballet or any other dance genre.  It’s like a game for me to hit fifth position, tendu to second and then just go for whatever comes to mind!  It’s so much fun for me and I always want to remember that even though this is my job, I’m having a lot of fun doing it!

Tell us, why do you dance?:  

Voltaire with the Company

 

In high school, the reason why I danced was that it provided an escape for me.  I was a very sensitive kid back then and high school was not fun for me, so I would head over to dance and just let it all out.  Now dance is my identity.  It’s the one thing that makes me normal and gives me purpose.  It’s a freedom for me when someone puts on music and says ‘dance!’  Whatever I’m feeling at that exact moment in time is what you are going to see because I’m always telling you a story with my dance.  I don’t think I’ve ever danced without purpose because to me dance is such a special and personal art form.  I feel that most people in America see dance as recreational because not only is it being mocked by TV shows like “Dance Moms” but a lot of people don’t see it as a legitimate job.  So naturally for me dance then becomes much more personal to me and has more meaning as well!

 

OTHER QUESTIONS

What other jobs/activities/academic pursuits are you involved in?

I teach at Orange School of Performing Arts in Orange, VA as well as West End Academy of Dance in Richmond, VA.

What other talents or passions do you have?

I love to play music!  I play bass, saxophone, harmonica and guitar!  If there were more instruments around me I’m sure I’d pick them up and learn to play them as well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voltaire on Guitar (left) & playing with Boston-based band Meadowlarks

 

Anything else you’d like to express:

I absolutely love Charlottesville Ballet and all of the artists involved in it!  The artistic team is full of such great people who want nothing but the best for their dancers.  Everyone in this organization works so hard and they are so amazing as well.  I’m truly blessed to be a part of this company!

Thanks for enjoying our “Meet the Artist” segment– and look for a new Charlottesville Ballet artist profile next month!

Support Charlottesville Ballet – Sponsor A Dancer Today!

 

(c) Charlottesville Ballet 2012

]]> http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2012/03/mtavoltairewadegreene/feed/ 1 Our Monthly “Meet the Artist” Series – Audrey Fenske http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2012/02/mtaaudreyfenske/ http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2012/02/mtaaudreyfenske/#comments Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:21:25 +0000 cb http://charlottesvilleballet.org/?p=1311 Read More

]]> Charlottesville Ballet’s “Meet the Artist” profile for February 2012.
This issue features guest choreographer Audrey Fenske– check out her interview below and enjoy!

 

 

Audrey Fenske

THE BASICS

Name: Audrey Katrina Fenske

Age: 25

Astrological Sign: A Sagittarius Tiger — double fire signs; youthful, generous, stubborn, and spontaneous.

Hometown: Chapel Hill/Durham, North Carolina

Role in C’ville Ballet: Guest Choreographer

 

 

FAVORITES…

Food: Born in Texas and from a family of Texans, so Tex-Mex, for sure! Thai food and sushi are a close second and third, though.

Color: Pink, yellow, and anything sparkly.

Book: Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, and anything by Ralph Waldo Emerson. I love most classic literature, though. I also love any non-fiction books about the American Revolution/Early National Period, and lots of psychology books … I’m a nerd at heart. I’ve also recently become obsessed with The Hunger Games!

Movie:  The Patriot (told you I was a nerd), Anchorman (most quotable movie ever!), Office Space, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Inglorious Basterds, Boondock Saints … I’m kind of all over the place in terms of movie taste.

Musician/Band: I love pretty much any music besides country. My favorite music depends on my mood — I can be in a Beatles mood on Tuesday, but then want to jam to Kanye West or Kid Cudi on Wednesday. I hold a very soft spot in my heart for Britney Spears, though — I won a contest and got to dance onstage with her last August!

Audrey with Britney Spears!

Quotation:   I have three …

“Be like the bird that, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she has wings.” – Victor Hugo;
“… and those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” – Friedrich Nietzsche;
“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.” – Albert Camus

Spot in C’ville:  I absolutely love the Downtown Mall! I wish I could transfer it down to North Carolina! It’s just so cute and pretty, and has so many unique stores. I’ve also loved Monticello ever since I was a kid, and I’m looking forward to visiting it again in the spring.

Business/Store in C’ville:

Cha-Cha’s and South St. Brewery

NERDY BALLET QUESTIONS

Audrey with company member Veronica Hart and Co-Director Emily Mott

Tell us about your dance background and training:

I started dance when I was 7, and I trained in pretty much everything when I was young — ballet, jazz, tap, modern, even a little Irish and Flamenco. I trained at Bounds Dance Studio and danced with Triangle Youth Ballet (where I now teach!) up until high school, when I moved up to Lynchburg to dance at Virginia School of the Arts for four years. While at VSA, I had the pleasure of dancing with company artist Veronica Hart and Co-Director Emily Mott.
 

Audrey with The Duke!

After I graduated, I went to Duke University to satiate my inner nerd academically, and to continue to receive stellar dance training. They created the Dance major while I was there, and I was the first Dance major to graduate in Duke history.  I did several great summer intensives throughout the years with Houston Ballet, BalletMet, VSA, and Pilobolus.

As far as my choreography goes, I dabbled in it a bit at VSA, then honed my craft more at Duke. I’ve had lots of amazing opportunities thus far — I have had my choreography performed at the Regional High School Dance Festival, Piccolo Spoleto Festival, American College Dance Association, Regional Dance America: Southeast Regional Ballet Association (where I performed a pas de deux with current C’ville Ballet company member Devin Sweet), Duke University, and now at the Charlottesville Ballet! I’m currently on faculty at Triangle Youth Ballet in Chapel Hill. I perform and choreograph freelance, and I’m also performing with a modern company based out of North Carolina called Gaspard and Dancers.

What genres of dance do you enjoy?

Ballet is always and forever my favorite!  Jazz is a close second — any class where I can shake my booty, switch leap, and fouette turn is going to make me almost too excited. I also love Latin ballroom dancing! Anything high energy that makes the audience smile is going to take me to my happy place, basically. :)

What kind of pointe shoe do you wear?

I usually wear Freed classics, although sometimes I buy Chacott Veronese to wear for rehearsals or classes just because they last a little longer, and I can save some money that way.

Audrey in Twyla Tharp's "8 Jelly Rolls"

 

Favorite dancers or role models?

Twyla Tharp!  We performed Eight Jelly Rolls at Duke, and I performed Twyla’s solo … I don’t think I’ve ever had more fun in a dance performance. Her choreography is brilliant, challenging, funny, and just incredible.

I also really admire Alonzo King. I’ve had a chance to do a few workshops with him, and he is such an inspirational teacher and choreographer. As far as dancers go, I’m obsessed with Natalia Osipova — she’s got such a fierce personality onstage, and I share her penchant for constantly trying to out-jump all the male dancers!  Daniil Simkin is probably my favorite male dancer — ridiculous ability, and he’s absolutely adorable to boot!

Do you have a favorite ballet:

Etudes is one of my favorites — I love the music, and the way that the progression of the entire ballet is modeled after a ballet class … so cool! I love classic pas de deuxs — Don Q, Black Swan, Le Corsaire. A well-done coda at the end of a pas is absolutely phenomenal. The Romeo and Juliet pas de deux always brings me to tears, as well as lots of parts of Giselle. Outside of the realm of traditional ballet, I love Twyla, Mark Morris, Matthew Bourne, and pretty much anything in the repertory of Nederlands Dans Theatre.

 

Audrey with company member Devin Sweet

What’s your favorite ballet/dance step: 

Two words — petite allegro! Jumping and beats have always been my forte as a dancer, and it’s always the part of class I am dying to get to, even as I’m doing plies! Grand allegro is a blast too. I love the feeling of being suspended in the air, so whenever it’s possible, I do jump combinations with male dancers (or take a full mens’ class if it’s available!) so I can try to out-jump them. ;) I’ve been trying to perfect a few typical mens’ jumps lately, such as double tours and 540’s … they are so much fun! And who says only the men can do them?

Tell us, why do you dance?:  

The relentless pursuit of mastery of an established, yet constantly evolving art form. That might seem a little cold, but it is true. I love the feeling of standing at barre in first position, prepared to embark on a series of combinations that I have done in some form or another for the past seventeen years of my life, yet knowing that I will always have room for improvement in the execution of the art form. It never becomes stale or boring to me; dance (ballet, in particular) has always been a constant in my life, and it is the place where I feel both most challenged and most comfortable.

 

OTHER QUESTIONS

What other jobs/activities/academic pursuits are you involved in?

I wear a lot of hats in North Carolina … besides being full-time faculty at Triangle Youth Ballet, I’m also the Registrar and the Director of Community Outreach for TYB. Part of my duties include organizing two successful, free community outreach shows of our Nutcracker for special needs groups in Chapel Hill and Durham. I teach for Arts in Action, the NC chapter of Jacques d’Amboise’s National Dance Institute. I’m also a Zumba instructor! Currently trying to add seamstress to my ability list — Santa brought me a sewing machine for Christmas, and I am looking forward to conquering my fear of it very soon!

What other talents or passions do you have?

Humor is something that is very important to me, so my life usually revolves around anything that makes people smile or laugh. I love to share humorous quotes or insights on Facebook, squelch bad days with good jokes, and I play some pretty fantastic practical jokes and pranks on my friends and coworkers. Having a good sense of humor has gotten me through some of life’s greatest struggles, and it has taught me to find the silver lining in any cloud.
Free time? I don’t have much of it, but what free time I do have, I love exploring Pinterest and StumbleUpon on the Internet. I’m also a bit of a video game nerd — Mario Kart, Super Smash Brothers, and Tekken are all favorites, and I love but am notoriously terrible at Call of Duty. I also love the challenges and fruitful results of cooking and baking.
Anything else you’d like to express:
I am so thankful to work with the bright, talented dancers of Charlottesville Ballet! The company’s mission and voice is a breath of fresh air in the dance world, and I consider myself truly blessed to have the opportunity to work here in Charlottesville. Please continue to support Charlottesville Ballet by attending one of their upcoming performances — I am sure I will see you there!

 

Audrey Fenske will premiere her new work “Flight or Fight” in the Mainstage One Performance on February 11 at PVCC.  Check out her choreographer interview below!

 

 

 

Thanks for enjoying our “Meet the Artist” segment– and look for a new Charlottesville Ballet artist profile next month!
]]> http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2012/02/mtaaudreyfenske/feed/ 1 Sneak Preview of The UNEARTHING @ The Ix Building http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2012/01/theunearthing/ http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2012/01/theunearthing/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:35:26 +0000 cb http://charlottesvilleballet.org/?p=1242 Read More

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Dear Blog Readers and C-ville Dance/Arts Supporters,

Co-Director Sara Jansen and I stopped by the Ix Building Complex last week and got a sneak peek of the upcoming site-specific work called the UNEARTHING.  I caught up with Zap McConnell and performers of The UNEARTHING during a rehearsal and I wanted to share this great project with friends of C-ville Ballet.  If you haven’t heard of the project, check it out!

 

The Unearthing from Marco Durán on Vimeo.

WHAT IS THE UNEARTHING?

The UNEARTHING is an international exchange, art installation, dance theater performance, environmental fundraiser and saloon. The performance is the collaboration of twenty professional dancers, actors, and musicians from Mexico, California, Oregon, and Charlottesville. It is going to be a remarkable event and should stretch everyone’s concepts around what is possible. The UNEARTHING includes massive installations, kinetic sculptures, bicycle generators, local beer, live music, stunning movement, comedic scenes, and seed planting.  

Zap McConnell’s artistic vision is fueled by her belief that “cultivating imagination, making connections with community, and engaging the creative process can allow us to confront and solve the problems that we, as members of the global community, are facing.”

The Unearthing: One Word Promo 1 from Marco Durán on Vimeo.

  THE PERFORMANCE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

In the performances of the  UNEARTHING, the artists “will create moving, visually-intense images based on our  research and our responses. We will poke fun at our own selves trying to live lightly as our carbon foot print is super large.”

 

Please help Charlottesville Ballet support this wonderful collaboration between artists, dancers, activists, environmentalists, and community members here in Charlottesville!

Cheers to Zap McConnell and to all of the people, businesses, and organizations involved in the UNEARTHING project– y Mucha Mierda!

Emily Mott

Co-Director, Charlottesville Ballet

 

 

 

 

]]> http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2012/01/theunearthing/feed/ 0 Our Monthly “Meet the Artist” Series: Moira Price http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2012/01/mtamoiraprice/ http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2012/01/mtamoiraprice/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:01:57 +0000 cb http://charlottesvilleballet.org/?p=1162 Read More

]]> Charlottesville Ballet’s “Meet the Artist” profile for January 2012.
This issue features company apprentice Moira Price– check out her interview below and enjoy!

 

 

Moira Taylor Price

THE BASICS

Name: Moira Taylor Price

Age: 22

Astrological Sign: Pisces

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Role in C’ville Ballet: Apprentice

 

 

FAVORITES…

Food: avocados, tomatoes, berries, and brownies.  Also obsessed with No Bull Burgers.

Moira with C-ville Ballet dancers Melissa & Caitlin at the Charlottesville Inside-Out Premiere

Color:  pink, particularly obnoxious Barbie-style hot pink.  I have a collection of 5 or 6 hot pink leotards in my rotation.  I’m an unabashed girly-girl!

Book: The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon.  I re-read it every year or so.  All of the locales in the novel remind me of the four amazing years I spent in Pittsburgh at the same age as the protagonist.

Movie:  Woody Allen’s seminal masterpiece, Annie Hall.

Musician/Band:

What a hard question! I’m more of a song person than a band person.  Judging by my iTunes, my favorite songs are “Last Goodbye” by Jeff Buckley, “Night Moves” by Bob Seeger (this is mildly embarrassing), “Laundry Room” by The Avett Brothers, and “I’m Not Calling You a Liar,” by Florence and the Machine

 

Moira marketing for "The Nutcracker Suite" on the Downtown Mall

Quotation:   “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”-Harper Lee

Spot in C’ville:  Market Street

Business/Store in C’ville:

Revolutionary Soup, Cha-Cha’s, South St. Brewery

 

 

NERDY BALLET QUESTIONS


Tell us about your dance background and training: 
I began my dance training at the age of three and studied ballet at a small studio in Annapolis until high school, when I began training seriously at the Ballet Theatre of Maryland School.  I performed as an apprentice at BTM for my last two years of high school and I made my professional debut in Swan Lake at age 16.

After high school, I attended the Point Park University Conservatory of Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  I am so grateful for the versatility that Point Park gave me, and for the incredible performance opportunities I received.  I studied ballet, modern, and both traditional and contemporary jazz.

Moira in "Cote Jardin"

My favorite performances at Point Park include Balanchine’s Raymonda Variations, Patrick Frantz’s Cote Jardin, and Kiesha Lalama’s Patterns. 

Upon graduating with my BFA in dance performance with an emphasis in ballet, I joined Charlottesville Ballet as an apprentice for the 2011-2012 Season.

 

What genres of dance do you enjoy?

Ballet, modern, contemporary ballet, jazz (particularly theatre jazz).  I enjoy watching tap very much but I’m so bad at tapping that it’s best I don’t even try.

What kind of pointe shoe do you wear?

Freed Classic 5XXX (yes, I have really, really wide feet.  Now you all know my secret.)

 

Favorite dancers or role models?

You will all just have to bear with me because one of my favorite things to do is collect role models.  Anyone who knows me well knows how much I talk about my family: my two big sisters and two big brothers, and my mother and father are my role models.  All six of them are great advice-givers, role models and problem-solvers.  They’re also all brilliant!  And much, much better at math than I am!

Moira with her Family

My dance professors from Point Park University are so important to me.  In particular, I am forever in debt to Peter LeBreton Merz and Cynthia Ridler for their continuing support, advice, and all-around hilarity (and the baby/housesitting gigs).

My favorite dancers (besides my C’ville Ballet colleagues) are Donna McKechnie, Jenifer Ringer, and Daniel Ulbricht.

Do you have a favorite ballet:

Among my favorites are Trey McIntire’s “Blue Until June,” Balanchine’s ‘Who Cares?’ Jerome Robbins’ “The Concert” and deMille’s “Fall River Legend”

 

What’s your favorite ballet/dance step: 

Pas valse en pointe.

Tell us, why do you dance?:  

Wow, what a loaded question!  I think a lot of people love to dance because it helps them express themselves in a way that words cannot. I talk way too much-I love communicating.  Dance just gives me one more way to communicate.

Betsy McMillan, a former teacher of mine, once said “Dance is the dynamic of generosity.”  I love that sentiment.  Generosity is my favorite quality in human beings and in dancers.  I want to give back with my dancing– I always aim to tell a story or impart an idea with my dancing.  I also love the pas de deux; I love the cooperation and camaraderie plus the vague danger and intrigue and romance of dancing with a man.

 

OTHER QUESTIONS

What other jobs/activities/academic pursuits are you involved in?

Some backstage time during "Damn Yankees"

I’m a server at Brixx Woodfired Pizza on Emmett Street, and I am a ballet teacher at Albermarle Ballet Theatre.  I’m also (pretty lackadaisically) studying for the GRE’s.

This season, I’ve been blogging about some of my experiences with Charlottesville Ballet– you can check out my Lynchburg Tour Diary from October 2011 here.

What other talents or passions do you have?

I’m a voracious reader, an erstwhile swimmer, and I love performing in musicals!  Though I don’t love running, much of my spare time is spent on the elliptical.

Anything else you’d like to express:

I am so blessed to be here in Charlottesville, a nearly perfect city, working with (and for) some of the kindest, most generous, most hardworking, most talented people I’ve ever met.

 

 

Moira’s full professional bio can be found online at www.CharlottesvilleBallet.org.
Thanks for enjoying our “Meet the Artist” segment– and look for a new Charlottesville Ballet artist profile next month!
]]> http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2012/01/mtamoiraprice/feed/ 0 “Meet the Artist” – Nutcracker Edition: Interview with CBA Student Elissabeth Barker http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/12/meet-the-artist-nutcrackerelissabethbarker/ http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/12/meet-the-artist-nutcrackerelissabethbarker/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:43:45 +0000 cb http://charlottesvilleballet.org/?p=1072 Read More

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CBA Student Elissabeth Barker in rehearsal for "The Nutcracker Suite"

Charlottesville Ballet presents a special edition of our “Meet the Artist” Series– just in time for The Nutcracker Suite!

Meet Elissabeth (Elli) Barker, a student of Charlottesville Ballet Academy who will play the role of Clara in the 2011 production with the professional company.  See her interview below about her training, the role of Clara, and what it’s like to dance with the professional company. And don’t miss seeing Elissabeth on stage at PVCC– Saturday 12/17 and Sunday 12/18 with four performances of The Nutcracker Suite!

 

 

 

Elissabeth Barker

THE BASICS

Name: Elissabeth (Elli) Barker

Age: 13

Astrological Sign: Taurus

Hometown: Ruckersville, Va

Role with C’ville Ballet: Student at Charlottesville Ballet Academy; Elissabeth Barker will be appearing in the role of Clara in the upcoming productions of The Nutcracker Suite.

FAVORITES…

Food: Pizza                                                               

Color: Red and Black

Book: The Umbrella Academy

Movie:  The Nightmare Before Christmas

Musician/Band: My Chemical Romance

Quotation: “All your quirks, and all your problems, – even your depressions and your failures – that’s what makes you, you.” –Gerard Way

Spot in C’ville: The Downtown Mall

Business/Store in C’ville: Smoothie King

NERDY BALLET QUESTIONS

Elli's First Dance Recital (3rd from Left)

Tell us about your dance training:  I started taking ballet classes at The Little Gym in Charlottesville when I was 3 years old. After a few weeks, I told my mom I wanted a more serious ballet class. She waited until I was 5 years old and then enrolled me in a ballet studio in Charlottesville.

I have been taking ballet and jazz ever since, with some tap, modern, ballroom, lyrical, and contemporary when it fits into my schedule.  I was involved with Charlottesville Ballet during my training at The Dance Barn and I am now an advanced student at Charlottesville Ballet Academy.

Elissabeth Barker in Charlottesville Ballet's "A Fairy Tale Gathering" (c) Thomas Giroir 2011

 

What genres of dance do you enjoy?

Right now my favorite is Contemporary. It is different from any style I’ve done before and I’m really enjoying it.

What kind of pointe shoe do you wear?

Grishko Ulanova

Favorite dancers or role models?

My favorite ballet dancer is Gillian Murphy. My life role model is Gerard Way.

Elli in "A Fairy Tale Gathering"

Do you have a favorite ballet:

Giselle

Tell us, why do you dance?

Because it is fun. And, you can express feelings and thoughts with dance that you can’t express any other way.

What’s your favorite dance step?

Turns!

 

QUESTIONS FOR CLARA

Elli in Rehearsal for "The Nutcracker Suite" with Company Dancers Caitlin Lennon and Devin Sweet

How old were you when you saw your first production of the Nutcracker?

9 years old.

Have you played the part of Clara before? For you, what is the most exciting part of the role?

Yes. This is my second year performing with Charlottesville Ballet– I was Clara last year when the company premiered the new production of The Nutcracker Suite. My favorite part of the role is being around the professional dancers at rehearsal and backstage and seeing what a real professional caliber performance is like.

Elli in Rehearsal with Company Apprentice Blake Seidel as the Nutcracker

 

How does it feel knowing that your performance could inspire the next generation of dancers?

Awesome, because I love inspiring people!  We have the “Class with Clara” children’s events before each performance of The Nutcracker Suite and I get to be onstage with all the little kids– they are so cute learning all the steps and dancing around in their tutus– it’s really inspiring to see how excited they are about ballet.

 

What is it like to rehearse and perform with Charlottesville Ballet’s professional company?

In Rehearsal for "The Nutcracker Suite"

It’s definitely cool!  The company dancers of Charlottesville Ballet are all so friendly and supportive. I really appreciate the opportunity to be in the show with such amazing dancers. I also get to do a bunch of partnering which is really fun and new for me.  I like practicing all the lifts and whip turns/pirouettes with my partner Blake Seidel [who plays The Nutcracker in the production].  I am learning so much and having a lot of fun!

 

Any other thoughts you’d like to share about The Nutcracker Suite?

It’s going to be a great show! I hope everyone enjoys it!

Thanks for enjoying our “Meet the Artist” segment– and look for a new Charlottesville Ballet artist profile next month!
]]> http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/12/meet-the-artist-nutcrackerelissabethbarker/feed/ 0 Our Monthly “Meet The Artist” Series: Elisa Alexander http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/10/meet-the-artist-elisa-alexander/ http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/10/meet-the-artist-elisa-alexander/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:19:44 +0000 cb http://charlottesvilleballet.org/?p=957 Read More

]]> Charlottesville Ballet’s “Meet the Artist” profiles return for the 2011-2012 Season!
This November issue features company dancer Elisa Alexander– check out her interview below and look for her new choreography in Charlottesville Ballet’s performances at Miki Liszt’s First Fridays Dance Series.  Enjoy!

 

Elisa Alexander

THE BASICS

Name: Elisa Alexander

Age: 24

Astrological Sign: Libra… the charmer

Hometown: Kearneysville,West Virginia

Role in C’ville Ballet: Dancer, Photographer

 

 

FAVORITES…

Food: fruit, hummus, peanut butter

Color: RED

Book: Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Crime and Punishment

Movie:  Waiting for Guffman; The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; Singin’ in the Rain; and An Affair to Remember

Musician/Band: Oh man, I love so many– but the top listened to on my iTunes are probably Iron & Wine, Amos Lee, The Avett Brothers, Damien Rice, Stanley Brothers, Hank Williams, and Bob Dylan

Quotation:  “Are you going to do something? Or just stand there and bleed?”-Tombstone

Spot in C’ville: Ivy Creek and Sugar Hollow. I love the hiking around C’ville!

Business/Store in C’ville: Commonwealth Restaurant, Cha Cha’s, Splendora’s, and Bodo’s Bagels

 

NERDY BALLET QUESTIONS

Tell us about your dance background and training:

Well, I started dancing when I was three because my older sisters were dancing. I took classes at a local studio in Inwood, West Virginia until the 5th grade. I then went to a strictly ballet studio from the 5th to the 10th grade. My teacher, Joyce Morrison, was a great influence to my dancing.

I then moved away from home to spend the rest of my high school years at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. I would consider these years as the most influential in all of my training. I started taking modern classes and was introduced to new ideas of what dance is and could be.

After graduating high school I attended the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. My teachers there were fabulous and I learned to refine my technique and was

Elisa's fabulous hairdo after the company performed in last year's Live Arts Gala 2010!

encouraged to develop my personal artistry. There was also a great support system among the dancers, and I feel that I was truly blessed to attend CCM.  I then spent my first and second professional year at Charlottesville Ballet.

What genres of dance do you enjoy?

My favorite dance genre is contemporary ballet, but I also enjoy classical ballet, modern, and jazz.

What kind of pointe shoe do you wear?

I just switched to Bloch Serenades and I also wear Sansha Recitals.

Favorite dancers or role models?

My role models have always been my parents and older siblings. I have learned everything from watching them my entire life. My boyfriend Dave is also a great influence on my life. He is the most caring, encouraging and amazing person I have ever met. As for favorite dancers, I can say that my favorite dancers usually come right from my own classes.

Elisa with her boyfriend Dave

Do you have a favorite ballet:

I love live performances because there is something so exciting and lovely about watching dance as it happens. But I also spend hours on YouTube watching dance– I find myself watching  Jiri Kylian’s Petite Mort and Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room over and over. 



 

What’s your favorite ballet/dance step: 

I love pirouettes and grande allegro!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER QUESTIONS

What other jobs/activities/academic pursuits are you involved in?

I currently teach dance for the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation department and I also waitress at the new Commonwealth Restaurant and Skybar– come to the Downtown Mall and check it out!

What other talents or passions do you have?

I have a great passion for photography. Whenever I have time off you can find me with my camera working on a photography project. I cannot wait to get a DSLR someday for my work with dance photography. I also make jewelry as a creative outlet.

You can see some of my recent rehearsal photos here:

Associate Director Keith Lee working with the dancers of Charlottesville Ballet in Lynchburg, VA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anything else you’d like to express:

I am excited to be working on my own choreography for the Miki Liszt First Fridays show on November 4th.  You can see a preview of the new work on my Facebook page here:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elisa-D-Alexander/.  Come out to the McGuffey Arts Center to support the arts and Charlottesville Ballet!

 

Elisa’s full professional bio can be found online at www.CharlottesvilleBallet.org.
Thanks for enjoying our “Meet the Artist” segment– and look for a new Charlottesville Ballet artist profile next month!

]]> http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/10/meet-the-artist-elisa-alexander/feed/ 0 Moira’s Tour Diary Part 2 http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/10/moiras-tour-diary-part-2/ http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/10/moiras-tour-diary-part-2/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:34:32 +0000 cb http://charlottesvilleballet.org/?p=915 Read More

]]> Hi everyone!

It was a long and eventful but very fun weekend in Lynchburg.  Sunday morning we enjoyed breakfast at Market at Main before class at Dance Theatre of Lynchburg with Keith Lee.

Our class and rehearsal were held in the beautiful sky studio on the top floor of Dance Theatre’s building-there’s an incredible view of the city and you can hear trains coming through town every hour or so.  It looks like a beautiful loft apartment (and I kind of want to move in)!

We began work on Keith’s piece after class: it’s about the plight of the Rastafarians.  It’s a beautiful piece set to equally gorgeous music.  Fellow C’ville Ballet dancer Elisa Alexander took some beautiful pictures of the rehearsal that I’d love to share with you!

 

Our somewhat compromising opening position

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caitlin Lennon jumping

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Keith 'painting a picture'

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Caitlin in motion!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Blake Seidel in flight!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Voltaire Wade-Greene and Veronica Hart

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Veronica and Voltaire

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Me in Arabesque

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Company in motion

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In Line

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Posing

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As you can see, it was quite the eventful day!  We had a safe and pleasant return to Charlottesville (with yet another stop at Sonic!).  I am a little sad to see this weekend go, but I look forward to our next Lynchburg weekend in February!
 
Until next time,
Moira
]]> http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/10/moiras-tour-diary-part-2/feed/ 1 Moira’s Lynchburg Tour Diary #1 http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/10/moiras-lynchburg-tour-diary-1/ http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/10/moiras-lynchburg-tour-diary-1/#comments Sun, 16 Oct 2011 02:59:39 +0000 cb http://charlottesvilleballet.org/?p=901 Read More

]]> Hi everyone!  I’m Moira, one of Charlottesville Ballet’s apprentices.  We’re on the road in Lynchburg this weekend, performing our wonderful children’s ballet, A Fairytale Gathering, at Dance Theatre of Lynchburg–I play Little Red Riding Hood.  It’s been a wild and eventful weekend!

We arrived here in Lynchburg yesterday morning to do a school show at Paul Munro Elementary-it was an enormous audience, and we got an incredible response from the kids!

We then made a detour to Sonic: my very first Sonic experience.  Blake, my tour roommate (and the Big Bad Wolf!) and I are both vegans, so our options were limited, but we made the most of it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following our Sonic adventure, we headed over to Dance Theatre of Lynchburg to tech and space the show.  After some goofy fun,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

we got down to work and put the show together in the new space.

Last night after rehearsal we enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Robin Alexander bistro downtown, generously donated by an anonymous patron.

Today was pretty epic, with four shows and four tea parties!  It was so wonderful to meet the children and to see how excited they were to meet their favorite fairytale characters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow will be a busy day as well.  We have the morning off, but then we’re learning works by the fabulous Keith Lee tomorrow afternoon.

Until next time,

Moira!

]]> http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/10/moiras-lynchburg-tour-diary-1/feed/ 0 Charlottesville Ballet gets a brand new look! http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/09/charlottesville-ballet-gets-a-brand-new-look/ http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/09/charlottesville-ballet-gets-a-brand-new-look/#comments Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:28:00 +0000 cb http://charlottesvilleballet.org/?p=781 Read More

]]>

Charlottesville Ballet has a whole new look!  We are thrilled to launch our brand new website as we begin the 2011-2012 performing season.  The site now offers easy navigation between the Company and the Academy, more images/videos, and seamless integration with our new Patron Technology software.

The new site was created by web designer Mike Garrett, who owns Red Garrett with his wife Lindsay Benson Garrett,  a dancer turned graphic designer.  This summer, Lindsay was selected to create a logo design for Charlottesville Ballet and the new Charlottesville Ballet Academy (check out the new logo images below).  When Charlottesville Ballet began searching for a web designer, we looked no further than the Red Garrett team– beautiful, thoughtful design work + problem-solving tech genius = a fabulous new website!

 

 

Charlottesville Ballet’s mission is promote excellence and access to the art of ballet– we hope that this new site will highlight our unique work and the exceptional programs we offer to communities throughout Central Virginia.

Please enjoy exploring, join us for a performance, or come take class at Charlottesville Ballet Academy!

Cheers,

Sara Jansen and Emily Mott, Co-Directors

 

 

]]> http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/09/charlottesville-ballet-gets-a-brand-new-look/feed/ 1 Welcome to the Charlottesville Ballet Academy http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/09/welcome-to-the-charlottesville-ballet-academy/ http://charlottesvilleballet.org/2011/09/welcome-to-the-charlottesville-ballet-academy/#comments Sat, 03 Sep 2011 19:00:24 +0000 admin http://charlottesvilleballet.org/?p=595 Read More

]]> The Children’s Ballet Series offers a unique experience for our youngest audience members. Our live performances and storybook ballet events are the perfect way to introduce your child to the magic of dance!

LIVE PERFORMANCES: Charlottesville Ballet presents 45-minute, interactive performances that are specially designed for kids and families. Two-hour ballets that start at 8 PM are wonderful for adults…but not easy for young kids! We believe that parents should be able to give their children a more fun, more approachable, and more gratifying theater experience. All shows and events in our Children’s Ballet Series are family-friendly, matinee performances. Our ticket pricing also reflects our mission to make ballet approachable by making an afternoon at the ballet affordable for all families. Tickets to Children’s Ballet performances are $12 for adults and $10 for children and can be purchased right here on our website.

STORYBOOK BALLET EXPERIENCES: Charlottesville Ballet also offers a more hands-on event, where your child can take to the stage! Each “experience” is centered around a particular classical ballet and is designed for children ages 3 through 8. The afternoon begins with a short movement class on the stage, where participants can explore basic ballet steps and dance to music from famous composers. Next, young dancers join their parents in the audience to watch the professional dancers of Charlottesville Ballet perform excerpts from the selected ballet. After the show, our dancers help participants with a themed activity or craft, like making a Tea Party charm necklace or designing a Cinderella costume. Tickets to these storybook ballet events are priced around $35. Each class is capped at 40 participants, so space is limited. Don’t miss these afternoons of learning, fun, and dance!

GROUP SALES: Come as part of a group of 10 or more and save 10% off the total ticket price!

Children’s Ballet Series performances are perfect for your daycare, school, or community group outing. Plan a ballerina birthday party for your child’s special day. Along with your 10% discount, you’ll also enjoy a special meet & greet with a Charlottesville Ballet dancer after the show. For more information and to reserve your block of tickets, call us at 434.227.7592 or email tickets@charlottesvilleballet.org.

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