Last thoughts on Swan Lake
Sydney Wilson, reporter
May 8, 2012
Even though I’ve been counting down the days until Swan Lake since February, Theater Week has somehow managed to sneak up behind me and hit me across the head with a cinder block. Repeatedly. I don’t think it really started to sink in until last night, when I was in Gardner getting my swan tutu fitted.... Read more »
The show must go on
Sydney Wilson, reporter
May 1, 2012
The last couple of weeks before the show are always stressful. So many things are coming together, and we’re introduced to a lot of new things all at once- sets, costumes, stage, lighting and sometimes even people. No matter how hard you worked before this, these last two weeks are always the hardest. One... Read more »
Respect the corps
Sydney Wilson, reporter
April 24, 2012
On Saturday, I was over at the house of one of the girls who plays Odette in Swan Lake (we have a split cast system and a lot of understudies in order to get as many people in as many roles as possible. There are two Odettes and two Odiles, one for each show, and they each understudy at least one princess... Read more »
Almost there
Sydney Wilson, reporter
April 18, 2012
To me, there is almost nothing more gratifying than watching a ballet come together. Seeing something you’ve worked hard at for several months really start to take shape gives you this sort of pride in what you’re doing, and reminds you exactly what you love about it so much. We ran through the whole... Read more »
Fundraiser frustrations
Sydney Wilson, reporter
April 12, 2012
I hate fundraisers. Unfortunately, there’s no escaping them. There isn’t a lot of money to be made in the dance world, but the costumes and sets can all be rather expensive, especially if they’re being made from scratch. The money has to be supplied either out of the company’s pocket (which isn’t... Read more »
Summer intensives
Sydney Wilson, reporter
March 27, 2012
Much like many sports have summer conditioning, dance has summer intensives. These two to six week programs are usually run by professional companies or college programs, and are ment to expose student dancers to the rigors of dancing in an actual company- dancing eight hours a day, eating cheap food,... Read more »
Recovery
Sydney Wilson, reporter
March 20, 2012
I spent the two weeks before spring break recovering from an injury- a sprained foot, to be exact. This was my first really serious injury; and let me tell you, I hope it’s my last. It was an awful experience, but also one that really helped me realize my own strength and endurance. I was told to spend... Read more »
An inside look at the plot of “Swan Lake”
Sydney Wilson, reporter
March 7, 2012
Swan Lake is one of the most famous ballets of all time. When people think of ballet, this is the ballet they subconsciously picture; the pristine white tutus and graceful, flighty movements have imbedded it in the public conscious as the ultimate ballet. However, few people actually know what the story... Read more »
Ballet hierarchy
Sydney Wilson, reporter
February 29, 2012
Just like in any other company, a ballet company has a hierarchy. What level of the hierarchy you are on is a direct measure of your skill as a dancer (at least in the style and look the company you’re in is going for). Progressing through a company is also very difficult because of the stiff competition... Read more »
Ballet mythbusting
Sydney Wilson, reporter
February 22, 2012
“You’re in ballet? Is it anything like Black Swan?” If you’ve ever wanted to understand the phrase, “If looks could kill,” ask a dancer that question. It’s a very quick way to make enemies, but it also brings up a couple points about how ballet and the arts are portrayed... Read more »
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