From 8th-11th grades, I was a Junior Apprentice/Apprentice with the Loudoun Ballet Company. During those years I was blessed to be able to dance roles in full-length performances of ballets like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake that not many kids that age are given the chance to dance. They were years and experiences that I wouldn't trade for anything, which is why I do all that I can to be in the audience for both the ballet company and jazz company performances. The hard work and commitment put in by each and every dancer is astounding and SO inspiring, and I really, really love to be there and be able to see the finished product of weeks and weeks of rehearsing.
Today I was able to see my sister perform along with the rest of the Junior Apprentices, Apprentices and special guest artists in the Loudoun Ballet Company's 2011 production of Swan Lake. This is a four act ballet, close to three hours long, and with the exception of a few roles, almost all the kids are on stage the entire show, dancing multiple roles (some dancing three or four different roles! Talk about costume changes!), and even if they're not performing in every act, they're understudying, meaning that their brains and bodies are being bombarded with choreography and they are to be ready at a moments' notice to jump right in and pick it up if someone gets sick, injured, etc. Keep in mind that professional companies who put on a production like this rehearse every day, six days a week...It's a full-time job! So taking that into account, knowing that these dedicated dancers of Loudoun County have put a show on in less than two months (rehearsals began in early-mid January) only rehearsing Friday nights, Saturday nights and some Sundays really is an INCREDIBLE feat!
I sat in the audience for the whole show, crying my way through all four acts. (Just call me Cathy! Ha!) The girls were stunning, the ballet itself is just a beautiful and emotional story, the memories running through my mind of performing this wonderful ballet were making me nostalgic...It was an emotional afternoon and I loved every moment of it!
The biggest thing though was how proud I was to know the dancers up there. The majority of the dancers this season are in the 9th-11th grade range I think, some younger and a few seniors. Every time I go home and watch these groups perform I am humbled and, like I said, inspired. It takes time, effort, teamwork, poise, grace, technique, and optimism, among many other things, to put on the shows that they do and to the caliber that is expected of them. I know that I left the theater yesterday wanting to put on a tutu, get into ballet class, and start dancing right then and there. I was totally reminded why I love the beauty of live performance and why dance is such a stunning, moving art form.
Today, getting to know such an amazing group of younger kids and being able to receive the artistic gifts that they're constantly offering make me happy :)
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