My commute to the studio from Sally’s house is only about 5 minutes, and the studio is in a giant art gallery where many painters, sculptors, woodworkers and other artists rent out studio space. The second floor has the dance studios. Our Monday started off with class at 9:30 am taught by Tim Yeager. Tim is Nashville Ballet’s Ballet Master.
I know so many of the dancers here by varying degrees of separation…the dance world is just so small! Julia Eisen, a trainee with Richmond Ballet last year, is here as well.
After our morning class we jumped right into learning variations from Clowns and Others. I love throwing myself at pieces that way, it’s sometimes the only way to get started. We learned the "Balloon Girl" solo and also tried a little bit of the "Kissy Pas de Deux".
Then, we moved right into setting Rite of Spring. This ballet is done in bare feet… dum, dum, dum…and I have never danced barefoot before. I HAVE heard horror stories of blisters, slits and other foot woes like infections, but 2 of the dancers here have done the ballet before, so they’re helping out with any and all problems.
For lunch a few of us dancers walked up to Clingman Cafe which is only a short walk from the studios. We needed coffee with our meals for a jolt of energy for the 3 hour afternoon rehearsal session! Many of the dancers from other companies have been out of company class and rehearsals for 3 or 4 weeks already, but since Richmond Ballet had performed in the Virginia Arts Festival so late in May I felt pretty confident (and I wasn’t nearly as sore or out of shape as some of the others…Thanks Richmond Ballet!).
A Terpsicorps board member invited all the dancers to his very modern and beautiful home filled with amazing pieces of art for a BBQ after the afternoon’s rehearsals. We feasted on burgers, potato salad, and veggies and toasted our first day with some beers and champagne!!! It was a perfect ending to a perfect first day!
Smooches- Valerie
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