CLASSICAL RELATIVITY COMMERCIAL

Fun at the Opera!

The past two weeks I, along with three other Tulsa Ballet 2 members, have had a unique experience of performing with the Tulsa Opera in La Traviata. There are many things that differentiate this performance from our ballets, such as Swan Lake: the costumes, the stage and the props, the audience, and the atmosphere in general.

Since we have to move around in our costumes, ours are less restricting and lighter in weight, but the women of the Opera have heavy dresses that reach the ground. Our long, curly wigs, the big earrings, the thick bracelet, the corset, and our character shoes all help us portray our gypsy character. It has been amazing working with Ma Cong, who choreographed the piece and so clearly describes how we should interact with the other people onstage. He has pushed us to keep exploring our character and to never lose the focus in our eyes. We are gypsies, so we have to be very sensual. We don't just smile with our mouths, but we have to tell a story with our eyes. In the Opera, we don't only have the audience watching us from the front of the theater, but we have an audience onstage. We are the entertainment of the party, performing for the party guests around us, so it is important to constantly be interacting with them.

Next is the raked stage. Originally, we were going to be dancing on the circle platform that is a step up from the stage and is angled towards the audience. It was not until theater week that we saw this stage and realized it was much to steep to dance on. Ma rearranged some of the choreography and we were able to move our dancing to the floor in front of the platform. We just have to be careful, because, with a limited space, sometimes we are at the edge of the orchestra pit! Yesterday, we were warming up onstage, while the crew was setting up the props and we realized the glasses were actually full of water. This was neat because in our performances, we just pretend.

The people of the Opera have been so great to us. We were surprised with letters wishing us luck through our run of Traviata when we arrived for the first performance yesterday, along with flowers at the end of the show. Above anything else, I have really enjoyed seeing the passion these opera singers have for their art. We are all artists. These singers express themselves through their voice, the same way we express ourselves through our movements. Both require a great amount of time and dedication. It has been fun to see the appreciation they have for our art form, as we admire them in the same way. It is a wonderful collaboration for the Tulsa Ballet and the Tulsa Opera.

I have really enjoyed this opportunity and hope you all are able to come experience the Tulsa Opera's production of La Traviata, if you have not already. I'm looking forward to our next performances on Friday, October 15th and Sunday, October 17th!

It's About More Than Dance

Working for Tulsa Ballet affords me the opportunity to become acquainted with some truly amazing individuals. Everyday I get to know patrons and subscribers over the phone until I finally get to meet them in person. Of course the conversation is predominately about tickets and other events, but sometimes we chat about life and its worries, sorrows, and happiness.

During our season renewal campaign in the summer, some Tulsa Ballet dancers volunteered to make personal calls to long time subscribers. It was at this time I became acquainted with Mrs. Elaine Renning, a subscriber for more than 20 years. She spoke candidly with Joshua Stayton, the dancer making the call, about the recent loss of her husband and other hardships she had encountered. Saddened by the news, we sent her two complimentary tickets to Swan Lake as a gift of support in such a difficult period in her life. By the time Marcello caught wind of her story, he asked that I invite her backstage to meet him and Joshua before the performance.

The day I called her to extend the invitation, she seemed to be in shock. She mentioned several times that she just couldn't believe this was happening to her and how thrilled she was to have been offered such a wonderful experience backstage with a Tulsa Ballet dancer and the Artistic Director. I could hear the joy in her voice.

On the day of the performance, I think it was me who was most anxious. I couldn't wait to meet Mrs. Renning in person and be a part of making someone’s day a little brighter. We made our way to the stage where dancers were warming up to prepare for the performance. Finally, she was introduced to Joshua and Marcello. They each took the time to give Mrs. Renning personal attention, making it much more meaningful. As she and the two gentlemen posed for a photo, I felt so honored to be there to see her face full of happiness and awe. It was at this moment I realized how important the arts are to individuals like Mrs. Renning and it was a moment I will never forget.