Testing new waters

Before I decide to jump into the TWSB's adult program concert, I thought I ought to find out where I stand in their class structure. They're hosting what I'm calling a "Sorting Hat" event January 13th. This is a series of free 30-minute classes, observed by various instructors, intended to help sort students into the appropriate houses... err... classes.

I've been taking MYB's advanced beginner classes for a few years, and figure if TWSB's classes are similar then I'd probably be fine in the advanced beginner concert group. But maybe I could fit into the intermediate group? I'm especially interested in this because the intermediate group will be choreographed by Tamás Krizsa, a recently retired member of The Washington Ballet's professional company whose work I've admired.

While perusing their class schedule, though, I noticed an interesting wrinkle. Tamás usually teaches the Saturday morning advanced beginner class. However, this weekend's class was taught by Alvaro Palau, who will be choreographing the advanced beginner portion of the concert. This meant I could sample both instructors' styles on successive weekends.

Thus I spent Saturday morning taking class with a new instructor in new surroundings.

What's next for me?

During The Maryland Nutcracker after-party, two of the pro dancers asked me whether I was going to audition for the company's next production. It's a locally-created ballet with an Edgar Allan Poe theme. Although I'm supporting cast, when I've been on stage I've frequently been positioned center stage. If I took a supporting cast role with a larger professional company I'd be lucky to have a prop in my hand while standing in the back row behind the professional corps de ballet. I got to do lifts in Midsummer and a brief waltz in Nutcracker.

Me as "Grandfather" in Nutcracker, center stage

 I have to say the adrenaline rush of being on stage in front of a live, paying audience is thrilling. Still, I find myself a bit frustrated. I'm performing with a professional ballet company, and the choreography obviously features the pros. I can't rationally argue with that. But I'm not a professional ballet dancer and never will be, which limits my involvement.

Catching up after Nutcracker

It's been a couple of weeks since my performances as the Grandfather in "The Maryland Nutcracker". Here I am with my "nurse" and "Grandmother".

 The "nurse" character is a hold-over from a bit of scripting that got dropped. I was originally supposed to hobble in like I was decrepit, then surprise everyone by "busting a move" in a duet with "grandmother". That was dropped in favor of me strutting in like the patriarch of the family, but the "nurse" character remained.

Personally, I'd rather they'd swapped the dancer who played the nurse into the role of the "single, independent woman" originally given to the supporting cast member who was injured in September. I thought it would have been more fitting, but that didn't happen.

My First Nutcracker

First a question for Nutcracker veterans: how long before the music stops playing in your head?

In addition to rehearsals, I watched rehearsal videos repeatedly to fix the timing of my (small) role in my head. In quiet moments I still hear it playing. A friend of mine who grew up dancing in The Nutcracker year after year told me she still hears it.

Nutcracker 2023 Tech Week

We've entered "tech week" for The Maryland Nutcracker. After having last weekend off for the US Thanksgiving holidays, we spent both days of this weekend in rehearsals. Saturday's rehearsal was noon to 4pm, starting with selected dances and ending with a full run-through. Today, Sunday, was 10am to 3:30pm, including two complete run-throughs followed by some clean-up of some problems.

Add on about 4.5 hours of driving back and forth, and I'm bushed.