Excited to go to the Ballet tonight!
Showing posts with label ballet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ballet. Show all posts
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy - Alberte Ballet
Going to see Fumbling Towards Ecstasy this weekend. Sneak peak below.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, October 23, 2010
The Alberta Ballet - Sleeping Beauty
I went to the Alberta Ballet last night to watch Sleeping Beauty. It was a truly beautiful production - with gorgeous sets, costumes and talented dancers. The male lead was of course Kelley McKinlay, and Princess Aurora was placed by Hayna Gutierrez - a new addition to the Alberta Ballet company.
What I really enjoyed about the production was that it was a classic ballet. Every detail was steeped in tradition. The choreography was challenging and the score was glorious. In spite of his smaller role, Yukichi Hattori, was still my favourite. His dancing is so incredibly effortless - the height in his jumps and his grace is unrivaled. But Yukichi aside, the entire company came together and the production was delightful.
I could go on and on about the choreography and amazing dancers, but what really struck me was the number of parents that brought their little girls to the production. One little girl was wearing her Sleeping Beauty dress (I asked if I could take a picture but her mother kindly declined)! It is reassuring to see parents encourage their children to cultivate an interest in the arts. I applaud parents who do so and give their children the opportunity to explore the arts. Had I been give the same opportunity, dance may have found me 18 years ago.
What I really enjoyed about the production was that it was a classic ballet. Every detail was steeped in tradition. The choreography was challenging and the score was glorious. In spite of his smaller role, Yukichi Hattori, was still my favourite. His dancing is so incredibly effortless - the height in his jumps and his grace is unrivaled. But Yukichi aside, the entire company came together and the production was delightful.
I could go on and on about the choreography and amazing dancers, but what really struck me was the number of parents that brought their little girls to the production. One little girl was wearing her Sleeping Beauty dress (I asked if I could take a picture but her mother kindly declined)! It is reassuring to see parents encourage their children to cultivate an interest in the arts. I applaud parents who do so and give their children the opportunity to explore the arts. Had I been give the same opportunity, dance may have found me 18 years ago.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Tough Love
Every Sunday, I drag my ass out of bed at the ungodly hour of 8am for my weekly ballet class. At first classes were hard. You know that stereotypical ballet instructor with a thick russian accent, tight bun and a cigarrete in one hand. Well, my instructor is nothing like that - she's sweet, loving but oh so strict. When I had tears in my eyes in my second class, she just looked at me and said very simply "persevere".
So week after week I returned. I never really enjoyed it. It felt like going to the gym. You dread going but you suck it up and you always feel good (and sore) after. Along the way you learn many lessons. Listen, otherwise you get yelled at when you eff up. Posture, otherwise you get yelled at when you eff up. And my favourite - don't let your hips go, otherwise you get yelled at when you eff up. I think you get the idea. But we know better than to argue. She may be in her eighties but girlfriend can still kick higher than Britney Spears in her prime! She sure knows what she is doing.
Since then I have come a long ways (along with my fellow friends in the class). It's still far from being good. But when she said that we did the best bar exercises this weekend that she has ever seen us do - I wanted to cry tears of joy. Ten minutes later she was criticizing my posture but, hey, those were the most glorious 10 second of my dance life yet. Oh and I did a proper pirouette! That in itself made it all worthwhile.
So week after week I returned. I never really enjoyed it. It felt like going to the gym. You dread going but you suck it up and you always feel good (and sore) after. Along the way you learn many lessons. Listen, otherwise you get yelled at when you eff up. Posture, otherwise you get yelled at when you eff up. And my favourite - don't let your hips go, otherwise you get yelled at when you eff up. I think you get the idea. But we know better than to argue. She may be in her eighties but girlfriend can still kick higher than Britney Spears in her prime! She sure knows what she is doing.
Since then I have come a long ways (along with my fellow friends in the class). It's still far from being good. But when she said that we did the best bar exercises this weekend that she has ever seen us do - I wanted to cry tears of joy. Ten minutes later she was criticizing my posture but, hey, those were the most glorious 10 second of my dance life yet. Oh and I did a proper pirouette! That in itself made it all worthwhile.
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