Opening in Philadelphia!

Hi everyone!

We're back in Philadelphia at the Academy of Music starting rehearsals for our performances starting this Saturday, December 10th. This season, Pennsylvania Ballet will perform in 30 shows of The Nutcracker, sometimes three shows a day! You may wonder how the dancers sustain the physical and mental energy to make it through. Well, I asked a handful of company members to contribute what necessary items they use throughout the Nutcracker season to make their performances a little easier:

James Ihde- My sparkly eyelashes from Mother Ginger really keep me going!

James Ihde being strapped into the large Mother Ginger dress backstage in Ottawa

Barette Vance- help and support from husband and a healthy diet

Amir Yogev- cookies and presents... Hint hint!

Tyler Savoie- coffee and thoughts of January 1st.

Zak Hench- I like to see the children's faces when I walk out of the theater when they ask me for autographs as if I am Obama!

Alex Ratcliffe-Lee - coffee, friends, and Jermel Johnson's happiness

Jermel Johnson and Zak Hench providing some entertainment between barre and center for our warm up class

Riolama Lorenzo- lots of liquids, chewing gum and warmers.

Lauren Fadeley- I use Sport's Legs, a lactic acid removing tablet to keep my legs energized!

Lauren Fadeley with her tablets

Daniel Cooper - I always have my iPod with all of my best/favorite music from the year.

Lily Dipiazza- Julie Green, the PA Ballet Physical Therapist, T-sphere ball (pictured below), foam roller, hot baths and flowers from her boyfriend.

Andrew Daly- My foam roller, Sweatbands, Julie Green, and large coffee from Cosi!

Lily Dipiazza, Daniel Cooper and Andrew Daly with their special therapy items

Brooke Moore - ice, jet glue, my back warmer, Advil, and holiday treats on occasion

The company's ice cooler used to treat minor injuries

Laura Bowman- The ladies in my dressing room, as they are supportive and calm individuals. Chocolate before each show is also nice and my calf ball!

Laura Bowman with her calf ball backstage at the Academy of Music

Lara Clemens- overtime money, coconut water, lambswool, family, friends, the opportunity to be on stage all the time (secretly in flowers.. Shh!)

Megan Dickinson- iPod, trail mix, bubble baths with Epsom salt, and my stick roller.

Evelyn Kocak- root beer, Aleeve and string cheese!

Rachel Jambois- jet glue, nuts, flat shoes and chocolate!

Lara Clemens, Rachel Jambois, Evelyn Kocak and Megan Dickinson with their necessary items!

I personally enjoy a small, sweet treat in between divertisments from our dancer box. Stocked with mints, Jolly Ranchers, and Werthers, it's the perfect bite sized sample to put a smile on someone's face.

Candy from the dancer's box

That is all for now. Come back tomorrow for some inside scoop about Mother Ginger and her Polichinelles!

-Holly

The End of Our Ottawa Tour

Hi everyone!


Well, we have returned from Ottawa! Being back in Philadelphia is a little strange (especially since it is 60 degrees!), but it is definitely nice to have a few days off before opening night at the Academy of Music.


Performing at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa was such a wonderful experience. Pennsylvania Ballet was received with standing ovations every single show! Collaborating with a different orchestra and crew was thrilling and experiencing life in a different city out of the country was definitely memorable! I hope that we can return sometime soon to The National Arts Centre.


Here is a final cast and crew photo after our second to last show:

It is now time to brace ourselves for the performances in Philadelphia! The dancers are resting, icing, and receiving physical therapy as much as they can to prepare for the shows.

Pennsylvania Ballet's physical therapist, Julie Green, works with some of the dancers.

Megan Dickinson and Eric Trope backstage at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Dancers from the Party Scene in Act One backstage.

There is so much more to come this Nutcracker season as our shows in Philadelphia run from December 10th until the 31st! Stay tuned for more inside info regarding the dancers, shows and other fun tidbits!


See you soon!
-Holly

Meet Our Ottawa Crew!

Today we had two more performances at The National Arts Center!

It is really astounding how many people are a part of making a Nutcracker performance happen.

One of the most important departments is wardrobe. Headed by Wendy and Marie, the wardrobe department creates, fits, mends, adjusts and alters all of the costumes the dancers wear. Their work is tireless and never ending.

Wendy Levin working in the wardrobe room in Ottawa.

In conjunction with the wardrobe department, we also have 'dressers'. These are the individuals that make our quick changes happen, as well as any other costume changes.

Two of the dressers in Ottawa help Megan Dickinson get ready 

for Colombine.

As you can imagine, pointe shoes are another pertinent aspect to any performance. Jon Martin is the individual who organizes, paints, and orders all of the dancers shoes, and not even just pointe shoes, but also character shoes, jazz shoes, and sometimes even tap shoes! 

Jon Martin with the dancers' shoe boxes. 

 Finally, Pennsylvania Ballet's crew is a huge facet to performances. They are the people behind the scenes that make the magic happen! They prepare all of the props and sets before each act, and sometimes even build them. They are also responsible for pulling the curtain, for lighting the show, mopping the stage, making it snow in the snow scene, and any other 'catch-all' duties you can think of. The guys in the Pennsylvania Ballet crew are really jacks of all trades, and it is safe to say that the show wouldn't go on without them!

Pennsylvania Ballet's Stage Manager Tony Costandino 

giving cues to the crew in Act One.

Daniel Amadie and the NAC's lead electrician.

We only have four more shows left in Ottawa! The time is really flying by! We are all pretty tired, but this awesome experience makes it all worthwhile! More tomorrow!

-Holly

Ottawa Tour - Opening Night

Last night was opening night!

After quickly warming up, we took class and had our dress rehearsal with the orchestra for the first time.

Warming up before class.

Just like us, the orchestra was hard at work rehearsing Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker score, led by Beatrice Affron, the conductor.

Rehearsal for the orchestra.

A lot of things come together for the first time during a dress rehearsal. Not only the dancing, but costumes, props, music, timing for set changes with the crew, and lighting.



Marie from our wardrobe department fixes the Mother Ginger costume during dress rehearsal.

Finally, it was time for the first show! It felt a little surreal getting ready in the same manner as I did only hours before, but it was comforting getting into a routine.

Here I am in the Marzipan costume for Act Two.

Everything came together and progressed smoothly during the show. Our production was received with a standing ovation! It was such a rewarding feeling after a months worth of hard work!

The company during opening night bows.
(Photo: Harrison Monaco)

Opening night was definitely memorable, and we now have six more shows before the end of our tour in Ottawa. There is sure to be a lot to look forward to!

Best regards,
Holly

Ottawa Tour - First Day of Rehearsals

So today was the first day of rehearsals at The National Arts Center!

We started our day with class on stage. From here we were able to see the entire house in front of us. The theater is absolutely incredible!

Daniel Cooper and Amir Yogev

After our warmup, we had a short break to change into our costumes while the children participating in our production from Ottawa could rehearse Angels, the opening of Act 2.

Next, it was time to move on to the rest of the Kingdom of Sweets!

Children from Ottawa rehearse Candy Cane

Members of Pennsylvania Ballet in Waltz of the Flowers

After we all perform our divertissements, its time to watch the Sugarplum and Cavalier...

Brooke Moore and Francis Veyette



At 5:00, we went on our dinner break. It gave us a little chance to explore a bit more of Ottawa, but only until 6:30, when we return to rehearse Act One.



Me (Harlequin) and Amir Yogev (Soldier) with Paul, our assistant stage manager 

Tomorrow is a big day! Its opening night, but before that, we have our first dress rehearsal with the orchestra. It's always such a wonderful experience dancing to the live music. It really brings out a different side of me as a dancer that is incomparably enjoyable!

Until tomorrow....

 -Holly

Ottawa Tour - Day 1 Recap

The first day of Pennsylvania Ballet's Ottawa tour has arrived!

We all met at the Merriam Theater at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to board our bus and after a brief roll call we were off!

The beginning of the bus trip

While on the bus, some dancers sewed pointe shoes, others just enjoyed the visual entertainment of our movie picks for the trip, "Bridesmaids" and "Elf".

We finally made it to Ottawa at 7:30 p.m., ahead of schedule! We got our room keys, found our roommates, and settled in before dinner.

Evelyn Kocak, Edward Barnes, me, Daniel Cooper, and Ian Hussey

Next we headed to the Byward Market, or Marché By, grabbed a bite, and strolled around. This area is very quaint and has a ton of interesting restaurants and cafes. I definitely want to check it out on our breaks in between rehearsals!

Byward Market

After a long day, we headed back to the hotel to get into our nightly routines. After a communal ice session we all parted ways until tomorrow, our first day in the theater. Time to rest up!



Icing

-- Company Member Holly Lynn Fusco

 

Behind the Scenes at the Comcast Holiday Spectacular Shoot

Company Member Holly Lynn Fusco writes about the experience.

It may have been 80 degrees outside on October 9th, but inside of the Hill Theater Studios in Paulsboro New Jersey, it was nothing short of Christmas, as I and eleven other Pennsylvania Ballet dancers participated in The Comcast Center's Holiday Spectacular video shoot for The Nutcracker!

Once settled and warmed up, our first step was to get our makeup done. The professional makeup artists used special cosmetics from France on us for the high-definition filming so our faces looked fresh and radiant in the bright lights. Next we got our costumes on and headed downstairs to the set.

A view of the set from above.

On set, we individually brought our Nutcracker characters to life; Snow, Spanish, Tea, Marzipan and Candy Cane. Filmed in slow motion with a very special camera situated on the floor, we each spent about half an hour tweaking our movements for the ultimate product. There was even a fan that was incorporated to have a wind effect! After executing our steps, we checked the slow motion playback monitor. Even the little nuances which you never would think to be visible to the audience were brought to our attention and adjusted so we looked the best we could!

I am eagerly anticipating the first time I see the Comcast Holiday Spectacular, as this type of shoot was a first for me! It is always a thrill to see the end product after a shoot of any sort, as there is always editing, and add-ons that can make the whole package come together! The show runs Thanksgiving Day through New Years Day 10 am- 8pm. I'll see you there!

Lauren Fadeley and I getting ready.

Talking Pointes

Company Member Holly Lynn Fusco takes you behind-the-scenes of La Fille mal gardée, opening June 2!

Just two weeks until opening night of Pennsylvania Ballet's La Fille mal gardée, and here in our East Falls rehearsal studios, we’re hard at work! La Fille is a lighthearted, comedic ballet that dates back to 1789. It is a joy to watch, and even more fun to dance. Comprised of two acts featuring Sir Frederick Ashton’s choreography and Ferdinand Herold's playful score, La Fille has something for everyone!

Ballet Master Jeffrey Gribler and Soloist Ian Hussey. Photo: Holly Lynn Fusco.

As a first timer with this production, I have to say that I am thrilled to be going through the rehearsal process. There are so many different roles in the ballet that, at any given time, walking past a certain studio, I find myself smiling at my coworkers, as they cluck away as chickens, weave the enormous maypole in a flurry of skips, or haul their hay stacks and sickles across the room for their next entrance. One of the most exciting aspects of this production, however, is the addition of the Pennsylvania Ballet artistic staff into certain roles. Our Ballet Master Jeffrey Gribler will be performing the hysterically funny Widow Simone, and PBII Director William DeGregory will play Thomas, the father of another awkwardly humorous character, Alain. The Widow Simone and the friends of Lise, the main female character, get to do a dance in clog shoes, which is challenging, yet so fun! This has definitely been the highlight of my rehearsal process. We slip actual clogs over our pointe shoes! At first it was scary because of the weight of the clogs, but once you get used to it, everything is okay.

Company Member Andrew Daly and PBII dancers Ryoko Sadoshima and Lara Clemens rehearsing as the cockerel and hens. Photo: Holly Lynn Fusco.
This production also has a great deal of interesting props. In the harvest dance, the villagers dance with bales of hay and curved sickles. There is also a 'stick' dance for the men, and of course, the maypole, as I mentioned before, which is the largest of all the props. The production also will have a live pony, as well as a butter churner, and an intricate pas de deux between the two principals using ribbons.
Artists of Pennsylvania Ballet rehearsing the stick dance. Photo: Holly Lynn Fusco.
All in all, this is a production you won’t want to miss. And just in case you can't get enough of our dancing, you can hear all of our lovely voices singing in the finale of the ballet, as we exit the stage in a long, linked line, doing the grapevine!

Talking Pointes

This Thursday, February 3, Pennsylvania Ballet opens its new mixed repertory program, Classic Innovations, at the Merriam Theater. This exciting triple-bill includes The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude by William Forsythe, Polyphonia by Christopher Wheeldon, and In the Upper Room by Twyla Tharp. Our fabulous soloist Brooke Moore has been involved with all three ballets, so I thought she would be the perfect dancer to share her perspective!

Katelyn Prominski: I understand you have been rehearsing all three ballets. Which is the most challenging and why?

Brooke Moore: Funny enough all three are hard and challenging in their own way. Typically in a triple bill like this, there is at least one ballet that isn’t as difficult, but I don’t believe this is the case this time around. Vertiginous is the most technically demanding. It is about 11 minutes of pure aerobic activity -- once you start you do not stop until the curtain goes down! The movement is classical ballet to the extreme, always pushing your body past the norm. The challenge for me in Polyphonia is the music. The opening section is called “Desordre” for a reason! There are some strenuous partnering sections in this ballet, but I find that the most challenging part is counting the music to be able to stay together. In the Upper Room is sort of a mix of both. The score by Philip Glass is beautiful, but it has its nebulous moments of being difficult to count. The piece is comprised of "ballet dancers" who dance in pointe shoes, and "stompers," who dance in sneakers. The stompers barely stop the entire 40 minutes by jogging, tapping, and literally stomping, while the ballet dancers perform crazy steps forwards and then backwards in every direction. I am the "cross-over girl" who does a little bit of both. I have a costume, hair, and shoe change in the middle of the ballet!

KP: Which ballet do you think will be the most fun to perform (and the audience will like best!) and why?

BM: This is a tough question, but if I was in the audience and had never seen these ballets before, I feel as though I would like Vertiginous the best. The girls wear lime green disc-like tutus, which are stunning in their own way, and the music and movements will keep the audience on the edge of their seat during the whole ballet. I believe this piece is visually capturing and may leave a curiosity of "How can they move that fast?!" I’m not sure which piece will be the most fun for me to perform, but I bet it’s between Vertiginous and In the Upper Room. Vertiginous is slightly daunting as it starts, but when it’s over it is extremely rewarding knowing that I have just worked as hard as I possibly could, exploring every movement to its fullest. The last section in Upper is extremely energetic and exciting. I get the chills when we rehearse it and feel a sense of community and strength as the ballet comes to an end. I have a feeling this will be enhanced even more when we are on stage!

KP: What has this rehearsal process taught you? In particular, has anything made this especially different?

BM: Noah Gelber, who set Vertiginous on us, has been wonderful to work with. He has not only taught us an incredible ballet, but he began to get me to change my perspective on my ballet technique. A few simple words from him enabled me to dance in a totally different way that I didn’t know was possible. Another piece of valuable information he has shared with us is not to perform this ballet for the audience, but to perform it for each other. He wants us to really connect with the other dancers -- there are only five of us onstage -- and to be a part of each others performance. I really like this idea, although it’s a brand new feeling for me. I look forward to seeing how I can initiate this intention onstage!

KP: Which costumes do you like the best?

BM: Polyphonia's simple purple leotards allow every single movement to be seen. The Vertiginous tutus add to the uniqueness of the choreography. But, there is nothing like performing in striped pajamas and sneakers in Upper! (Note from the author: In The Upper Room costumes are from famed fashion designer, Norma Kamali!)

KP: If you were an audience member, who would be the dancer(s) you would be most excited to see in this program?

BM: Evelyn Kocak, one of our new corps dancers this year, looks really great in Upper. I have not had a chance to see her perform a non-corps role so I’m excited to see her dance this. Also, Amir Yogev is getting two great opportunities in this program to dance in Vertiginous and Polyphonia. It is always interesting to see how the new dancers or “young up-and-comers” will do onstage in more featured roles. I also love when a senior corps member gets a role they deserve and look fantastic in, like Laura Bowman as Woman #2 in Vertiginous.