(1) In the beginning...

 Beginning this transitional experience into the industry is both exciting and slightly daunting as I don’t know what to expect. I’m looking forward to performing for a live audience as the opportunity has been scarce since the beginning of the pandemic. The challenges I am prepared to confront are anxiety and managing my energy levels. To manage anxiety I will be focusing my thoughts on the positives to come, and to manage my energy levels I will be nourishing my body with balanced meals because research shows that, “to perform your best you need to have the right amount of ‘fuel’ on board” (Dance UK Nutrition for Dancers, 2017). 

I will be discussing the process and performance of the neoclassical work we are performing titled ‘Motum Perpetuum’ by Gwénaëlle Poline Santos, our ballet teacher, "An engagingly abstract work that brings together a traditional classical vocabulary with the vibrant and dynamic energy of dance in the 21st century” (BTUK2, 2022). Our choreographer for this piece, Miss Santos, is our third year ballet teacher. Before becoming a teacher at BTUK Santos has worked is many prestigious companies such as Ballet Carmen Roche, Tulsa Ballet and Northern Ballet.

My role is this piece is a member of the energetic and dynamic corps de ballet (ensemble). Unlike many classic ballets of the 18th and 19th century, the corps de ballet of this piece has a regular flow of movement which was a challenge for the stamina but also an enjoyable change.

We began the process of this piece at the beginning of the academic year where we learned the three sections that had already been choreographed. The first and final sections were both dynamic and exciting, sandwiching the gentle and calm pas de deux section. When we first learnt these parts I was apprehensive about my stamina, and was unsure if I would be able to keep up a good performance, however as we continued the rehearsal process I found where I was able to conserve energy and developed stronger cardio.

Photo from rehearsal in November at BTUK School and Company studios

The weeks of preparation before performance consisted of creation of new material and revision of the original parts which continued the energetic theme. Mrs Santos created two sections at the beginning which then lead into the final parts of the piece. Overall the dance was around 20 minutes long. This means there is a lot of material to remember and requires a high level of stamina.

Photo from rehearsals in November at BTUK School and Company studios

As a dancer I am responsible for taking the movements and direction I am given and displaying them as well as I can, replicating the vision of the choreographer as I am a part of the process, to do this I must be active in the room, focused and attentive. I am also responsible for reviewing and memorising the material and finding solutions for problems I may come across so that rehearsals can run smoothly and I do this by reviewing with others. For example, as part of the corps de ballet in this piece, me and the other dancers must be moving the same, and when we found ourselves differing from each other we went back to the original footage of the first rehearsals to find the correct movements. I feel at this stage I am adapting to the professional style experience and learning to manage my energy levels as well as developing my artistry.

Ballettheatreuk.com. 2022. BTUK2. [online] Available at: <https://www.ballettheatreuk.com/btuk2> [Accessed 26 April 2022].

2017. Dance UK Nutrition for Dancers. 1st ed. [ebook] One Dance UK. Available at: <https://www.onedanceuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/DUK-Info-Sheet-12-Nutrition-for-dancers.pdf> [Accessed 26 April 2022].