Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have been very busy getting ready for our production of a Midsummer Night's Dream. When I found out that I would be with Cincinnati Ballet this season I was excited for the repertoire we would be doing. This ballet was one of the programs I was most excited about. I didn't really know or understand the story but fairies, love squares, magic are all good things. Before we started rehearsals I started to research the ballet and the play to understand what it was about. I didn't understand. Not only is the play Shakespearean, but also three stories in one. I am not very good with language so I was a little confused.
Luckily I don't think I was alone and our director Victoria Morgan recognized that. She brought in actors from the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company to perform the play for us. They did a wonderful job and had us all laughing for 2 hours straight. What was fantastic though was that we all had a much better understanding of what the story was about, who the characters were, and what needed to be accomplished. Most importantly, I think we finally understood that it is supposed to be a comedy!
Since bringing the actors in helped the dancers understand the story better, there will also be actors to help the audience. There are two narrators that speak and different points through out the show. At first I didn't know how well it would work, but Felix Mendelssohn's symphony and Shakespeare's words complement each other wonderfully.
I have three different roles in this ballet. I dance Demi Sprite, Nymph, and Wedding Corps. I have a fun time doing all three roles. It is fun to be dramatic and over the top and sometimes just plain silly. Tonight is our opening night and I am very excited. I hope that there will be magic in the air to carry us through the night.
If you are in the Cincinnati area you should come see it. Here's a link for more information.
http://www.cballet.org/performances/midsummernightsdream
