Day 1...

Hike to Waterfall
Photo by Meagan Mann

Troy and I woke to the smell of fresh coffee brewing and bacon in the oven! BalletCollective was up and preparing for our first day in Telluride. 

After breakfast, on the porch with a beautiful view, we gathered our dance bags, water bottles and, of course, the oxygen tanks (to help with the altitude) and packed everything  into our two rental cars. Troy drove and I worked the Sirius radio (40s on 4 or 80s on 8 were my favorites)! Before long, heading down the windy cliffs and endless fields towards Telluride, we arrived at The Palm Theater, our summer residency facility! 

The Palm Theater is a lovely theater, attached to the Telluride academic school and filled with a music room, basketball courts, dressing rooms, rehearsal studios and a performance stage and theater. Brandon gave us the grand tour (he was up and at ‘em early as he had to get the stage ready for us - have lights hung, the floor cleaned, oxygen tanks filled, and marley taped) and within minutes we were settled into our dressing room and then headed to the rehearsal studio for our first ballet class at high altitude. We all grabbed a spot at the barres and began stretching, doing our individual warmups. 

Lauren under the Fall
Photo by Ashley Laracey

Troy started class around 10:30am. (Sometimes it’s nice to stick to your normal routine, so morning class suited all of us.) Barre was tough, and center was even harder. We found ourselves out of breath after the easiest things (even walking up or down a flight of stairs). The altitude was more difficult than we had expected. I had a constant headache from the moment we landed in Montrose that lasted for 48 hours (and on and off all throughout the week) and others felt light headed or just plain exhausted. After class, and a few hits of oxygen, we walked through the three ballets in the small studio (all scheduled to be performed on August 2nd), taking it easy. 

Day 1 was a light dancing day as our goal was to acclimate to the conditions. But that did not mean go back to the house and rest…Tour Guide Harrison had plans for us! We set off for a small .25 mile hike to a water fall near the theater. Some of the dancers braved the freezing cold water and stood under the water fall! We then took a gondola ride to the next mountain, and relaxed at the Mountain Peaks Spa soaking in the Jacuzzi, swimming pool and having fun on the water slide! Harrison is a pro going down that slide!

Dinner and S’mores followed! Star gazing occurred too! More soon…

Meet the Artist Monday: Meagan Mann

Photo: Troy Schumacher

Meagan Mann was tapped to join BalletCollective for their 2013 season. Recognized for her style and musicality, she evokes a distinctive piquant quality with every movement.

Here is my Q and A with Meagan:

Me: What does BalletCollective mean to you?

Meagan: To me BalletCollective means teamwork. Troy looks for each dancer’s distinct qualities, and what draws his eye to them, and then utilizes it while choreographing on them. He is also able to work collaboratively with other artists such as musicians and poets. His collaborative process is intriguing.

What do you enjoy about working with Troy?

I have genuinely enjoyed Troy’s appreciation for each of his dancers. It is such a pleasure to be treated with respect by a choreographer. You don’t have to be tough on your artists to achieve a great piece of work, but unfortunately so many choreographers are too tough on their dancers. Troy keeps the rehearsal environment a place where everyone is comfortable in their own skin.

After a hard day of dancing, what is your favorite meal?

I always love steamed spinach, roasted sweet potato, rotisserie chicken, and maybe some slices of cheddar cheese. That has got to be my favorite combination of food for dinner.

Your most memorable onstage moment? 

The first time I performed "Arabian" in New York City Ballet’s the Nutcracker.  I was literally out there, by myself, and all I could think about was… “How did I get here? What’s happening?” I was cracking myself up in my head because my response to the experience was not what it should have been.  As I performed the role more, I began having so much fun with it, and I became more comfortable.

What's your favorite way to pass time?

I love some good old TV time on the couch with a glass of wine!

What are you reading?

The Cuckoo’s Calling, by J.K. Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith; I was so excited when I found out she had written another book! It’s a shame she couldn’t keep her secret longer.

What's the most recent song/album you've downloaded?

I never download music, I love Pandora and I love when other people introduce me to new music, but I don’t have much of my own collection.

If you could die and come back as an animal, what would you be?

A cat or a bird. 

Your greatest influence?

Janie Taylor. Her movement quality and attack when she dances are so inspiring. Also I can relate to her having been through some serious injuries. 

Anything else you'd like people to know about you?

Beyond my rigorous schedule of ballet and college, when I have some time to relax, I like to just be normal and hang out with my friends and go out to a movie.

Meagan is a great addition to BalletCollective and I have loved being in rehearsals with her. I look forward to performing together in both Epistasis and The Impulse Wants Company!

22/9

Thursday marked a new record for BalletCollective: the completion of a 22 minute ballet in just 9 days! 

In preparation for our August premiere at the Joyce Theater, 

we moved into the Ailey Theater (just for two hours) for an informal workshop performance. Troy and Brandon arrived at the theater early in the morning to "tech" through  (a technical rehearsal to run through the lighting cues) the ballet's lights. Ellis, the musicians, and the dancers arrived at noon to "walk" through (a quick rehearsal to acclimate in the new dimensions) the ballet in the Ailey space. 

For BalletCollective,

this was the start of many "firsts." "Firsts" is a word my finance and I use for the first time we experience something new together. With Brandon manning the lighting board, Ellis conducting the music, and Troy running the rehearsal, we dancers danced the ballet, The Impulse Wants Company, section by section. This was the first time that all elements of this collaboration were together performing our individual parts live. Previously the dancers were rehearsing to an electronic track of the composition. 

Shortly after the rehearsal began, 

BalletCollective's patrons, friends and family, trickled in for the workshop showing. As they arrived, Cynthia Zarin (the poet who wrote the libretto for The Impulse Wants Company) gave them some information about the work including an excerpt of the poem. The audience got a sneak peak of the rehearsal process as we finished working out the kinks. 

Once all parts were in sync,

 Troy welcomed the audience, introduced his collaborative team, musicians, and dancers. The lights went dark and we were off. A second first for BalletCollective: a complete run-through of the ballet without stopping. We all remembered our steps, for the most part! It was a great chance for Troy to see the overall picture of the finished ballet, a rough glimpse of what it will look like in August at the Joyce. 

Photo: Archival film screen shot

After the ballet ended, 

the collaborative team, dancers and musicians had a chance mingle with our guests and see their reactions to the new work. It was an amazing feeling to see BalletCollective's vision realized. From here, we can take it further...