Fun and Games

Costumes for Coppelia are starting to arrive so I got fitted for both the Duke as well Mazurka and Czardas last weekend. There is something about putting me in green costumes. Last Nutcracker had me in a light green coat and pants and I got a little kidding about looking like a leprechaun, welp the Duke’s costume is green, deep emerald green jacket, knickers and a top hat and to my disappointment no cape. Sigh.

The Mazurka and Czardas costuming is nothing more than a vest and tights. The costume mistress had a gleam in her eye when she told me that the part of the costume included tights that matched the color of the vest thinking it might embarrass me a little. With a straight face I replied back that I guess I will need to buy a dance belt suitable for stage. Don’t think she realized that I have been on stage before in tights in the past. Now the other guy in the Mazurka might have a problem with wearing tights, would like to see his face when he gets fitted and informed.

Classes and rehearsals

Last few months have been crazy busy. Copelia rehersals started up early January and while I didn’t get Dr Copelius as I had hoped for I was given the opportunity to learn the part for acts I and II until the pro starts in April. Which means basically I get to learn the character and be there for the rest of the cast to react to during rehearsals without the pressure of performing the part, that actually worked out well for me. I do have some small parts in the show doing the Mazurka & Czardas in the first act and the Nobel man in the third act for the wedding scene. The ladies in my class are having a ball with this giving me curtsies in the hallways whenever we go past each other or if they get into class before I do.

Besides rehearsals the studio as added another adult ballet class and one for beginning modern, so those combined my previous classes and the Pas De Deux have given me a full week which I hope will help me prepare for the summer workshop in Richmond this August. Already chatting with some of the others attending the workshop through a Facebook group and they seems as friendly and silly as my regular classmates.

Long past due update

It’s been over a year since I’ve update this blog, pretty much as there hasn’t been a lot worth writing about. Did another local SI at Denver Ballet Theater which was fun as I got a learn some character work as Sancho Panza from Don Quixote the only other event to come out of the SI was a broken right toe doing échappé with the ladies in pointe class.

And then another Nutcracker, I tried for Mouse King but it didn’t happen and the part went to a local pro, so I ended up doing the parent dance again and ended up with the same partner as the previous year which made it a snap to remember and Melissa and I ended up helping a lot of the other parent dancers learn the choreography.

Shortly after Nutcracker I decided to leave one of the two studios I had been taking classes from as they started treating the adult students as just adults taking a ballet class rather than serious students that want to actually learn and receive corrections to help us continue to improve, which turned out to be a good move as DBT added a third evening ballet class for adults as well as a modern class which to my utter surprise I am enjoying this time around and believe it is improving my body awareness and may actually improve my ballet technique.

Sadly, I didn’t get a part in Copellia for the spring production for DBT. But recently was asked to fill in for Dr Copellius until the pro doing the part can start in April. I’m not an understudy which is what my classmates keep saying because I am only learning the choreography that involves interacting with the other dancers but I’m learning something new which is great.

So it’s on with classes and look forward to the Sun King Dance camp in Richmond this coming August.

The Hands Have it

Been driving to Denver Dance Center and taking weekend classes while my regular studios are closed for a short break. (First time in three years that both and been closed at the same time.) Very challenging taking classes with current and retired pros from Colorado Ballet.

Our instructor demonstrates very little so many of us fall back to either marking the steps with our hands or feet to make sure we understand what she expects as she describes the movement. While she was explaining a jump combination myself and many around me were using our hands to mimic what were supposed to do, apparently the entire class was doing the same thing with their hands as when she was finished she turned away from the mirror to face us and told us that “our hands looked very nice and hopefully it would translate to our feet”.

Decisions, Decisions

Wow, three months since I’ve even though about making a new post.

Classes at both studios have wound down and their spring shows are finished. Just waiting to find out when adult classes are going to be offered for the summer, rumor has it that each studio will be offering two classes a week and one will again be offering a Adult Summer Intensive.

I did their inaugural season last summer and that in part prompted the birth of this little blog. I have been agonizing over doing this summer’s course because I was a little disappointed that repertoire got dropped last year due to the fact that so few adults came to class on a regular basis. Think there were only about four of us that showed up each day and that made it difficult for the teachers.

I loved the idea of spending several hours a day in class and getting to pretend I’m living a dancers life for a few days. I need to make a decision soon tuition is due and I need to take time off of work.

Sigh

Going to class has been getting a little depressing of late. Both studios are in full swing for their Spring Shows and the adults aren’t expected or invited to participate. I keep telling myself that I really don’t want to be on the stage as I’m too old and not all that good and I seriously doubt that anyone really wants to see an old guy on the stage. But there is still a part of me that would like to be doing something.

A little support

Wednesdays instructor thinks the adults need lots and lots of strength and technique training and we probably do. So we are facing the barre doing relives, you know the one’s 16 in first then 16 in second very quickly with lots and lots of repetitions pulling into sous sous after each 16 with arms in second. (ugh!)

We had completed several sets and had just finished 16 in first and there I am feet in as tight a sous sous as I can get and holding my arms in second trying not to let the elbows turn down when I suddenly feel a hand resting on my left hand, I reactively turned the palm up to offer support and then realized that this isn’t a partnering class what am I doing? I look over at the lady next to me who's hand is resting on mine,she blushed and whispered that she didn’t want to fall and reached out for my hand before she actually thought about what she was doing.

From the other side of the floor I hear the teacher call out “Very nice, but wrong class”.