BEHIND THE SCENES: ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET'S EMERGING DANCER COMPETITION...
Total MK writer Georgina Butler is invited to watch rehearsals at English National Ballet and discover the dancers making their way in a company which regularly graces the city theatre's stage on tour
When the curtain falls after a production by English National Ballet at the city’s theatre, spellbound audience members have nothing but awe for the dancers.
As mere mortals, we cannot fully appreciate the constant scrutiny these exceptionally talented performers put themselves under.
Once the applause subsides (and they have had a night’s sleep to recover) Company dancers return to the studio the morning after a performance.
Here they will challenge themselves to jump higher, turn faster and balance better.
I was given the chance to gain further insight into this quest for perfection on Saturday, during a visit to English National Ballet, ahead of ‘Emerging Dancer 2014’.
The ‘Emerging Dancer’, now in its fifth year, is an annual competition to recognise and nurture talent within the Company.
Tucked away behind the Royal Albert Hall is Markova House – the home of ENB.
It is here that the six ‘Emerging Dancer’ finalists – chosen by ENB’s artistic, music and administrative staff, and principal dancers – take daily class and squeeze rehearsals for the competition into their packed schedules.
Madison Keesler, Senri Kou, Alison McWhinney( pictured below, with Georgina), Vitor Menezes, Junor Souza and Joan Sebastian Zamora will each perform a solo and pas de deux in front of a judging panel of industry experts, their family, friends and fans, press, and members of the public who have managed to get tickets for tonight’s (Monday May 19) one-off show.
The judges (Deborah Bull CBE, Clement Crisp OBE, Dame Gillian Lynne DBE, Arlene Phillips CBE, Tamara Rojo and Wayne Sleep OBE) have the unenviable task of selecting the overall winner.
Entering the airy Donald Barclay Studio (the ‘Upper Studio’) – to observe Alison, Junor, Senri and Vitor in rehearsal – I cannot help but be impressed by the ornate plaster work and high ceiling.
Stunning principal dancer Daria Klimentová finishes stretching post-rehearsal before leaving the finalists to rehearse.
Principals are used to being centre stage but ‘Emerging Dancer’ throws the spotlight onto younger dancers.
Alison and Junor will dance a pas de deux from ‘Esmeralda’ (a ballet about a beautiful gypsy).
Alison will need to capture gypsy flair, tote a tambourine and maintain high leg extensions and well-centred pirouettes.
Junor will be leaping across the stage but must reign in his enthusiasm (illustrated by shouts as his turns go slightly off kilter) to ensure he remains controlled.
Alison wears a black practice tutu over her ballet attire, while Junor sports a stripy bodywarmer.
Despite his length of limb (he is all legs) his trouser hems touch the floor as he dances and I don’t realise how tense this makes me until he rolls one leg (the side which is trailing the most) up (potential for injury duly lessened, cue my sigh of relief).
Asked to describe Junor as a dancer, Alison said: “He is explosive, very long and he takes up a lot of the stage!”
Junor on Alison: “Everything is under her control – I cannot tell when she is nervous.”
Vitor and pas de deux partner Senri started learning their piece from ‘La Sylphide’ in March.
Senri said: “We were very organised.
“We are so ready – I want to do it now!”
Senri praises Vitor’s partnering and ability to adapt.
Asked about Senri, Vitor said: “I’m a big fan!”
“We have so much fun together and she is a very bright person with a lovely smile who makes everything look so easy.”
‘La Sylphide’ requires an ethereal Sylph and a male partner with crisp footwork – Senri’s effortless grace and Vitor’s compact frame bode well.
All the finalists express a desire to work harder and emphasise the effort needed to prepare for ‘Emerging Dancer’.
Alison said: “We’ve had to have a lot of determination.”
Alison explains she finds it difficult to ‘let go’ when dancing and reveals she has chosen a solo which challenges her to do just this.
She said: “I deal with it every day, even in class, but I am learning there is no point in holding back.”
Company class is at 10.15am every day.
Madison (who arrived post-rehearsal as her pas de deux partner Joan was performing in Manchester so unable to attend) said: “I don’t enjoy class, stuck in front a mirror.
“The stage is the best place in the world but I think of class as a medicine – it tastes bad but I know it’s good for me!”
Junor shares Madison's view (adding that a later class would be better) but Alison and Vitor are more positive, with Vitor saying: “I like class, I like that feeling you get when you finish of ‘I did everything I could’.”
The finalists are being mentored by more experienced ENB dancers and throughout the rehearsal they coach each other.
So what is the best advice Alison has received?
Alison: “To just go for it!”
Already looking forward to ENB’s ‘Swan Lake’ (at MK Theatre in November), I tell Senri I am eager for ENB to grace the city’s stage once again.
Senri said: “Being back in Milton Keynes – that’s next season!
“It’ll be great, but I can’t even begin to think that far ahead yet.
“I just cannot wait for ‘Emerging Dancer’ now!”
By Georgina Butler
http://georginabutler.wordpress.com
English National Ballet will return to Milton Keynes Theatre in November with ‘Swan Lake’ – visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes for details.
If that is too long to wait, English National Ballet will perform ‘Romeo and Juliet in-the-round’ at the Royal Albert Hall from 11 June until 22 June – call 0845 401 5034 or visithttp://www.ballet.org.uk/whats-on/romeo-juliet-round/
Fancy a go at ballet yourself?
The creative learning team at Milton Keynes Theatre run adult beginners’ and improvers’ ballet classes on Mondays - visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes, contact MK 547651 or email rachaelfindlay@theambassadors.com
The judges (Deborah Bull CBE, Clement Crisp OBE, Dame Gillian Lynne DBE, Arlene Phillips CBE, Tamara Rojo and Wayne Sleep OBE) have the unenviable task of selecting the overall winner.
Entering the airy Donald Barclay Studio (the ‘Upper Studio’) – to observe Alison, Junor, Senri and Vitor in rehearsal – I cannot help but be impressed by the ornate plaster work and high ceiling.
Stunning principal dancer Daria Klimentová finishes stretching post-rehearsal before leaving the finalists to rehearse.
Principals are used to being centre stage but ‘Emerging Dancer’ throws the spotlight onto younger dancers.
Alison and Junor will dance a pas de deux from ‘Esmeralda’ (a ballet about a beautiful gypsy).
Alison will need to capture gypsy flair, tote a tambourine and maintain high leg extensions and well-centred pirouettes.
Junor will be leaping across the stage but must reign in his enthusiasm (illustrated by shouts as his turns go slightly off kilter) to ensure he remains controlled.
Alison wears a black practice tutu over her ballet attire, while Junor sports a stripy bodywarmer.
Despite his length of limb (he is all legs) his trouser hems touch the floor as he dances and I don’t realise how tense this makes me until he rolls one leg (the side which is trailing the most) up (potential for injury duly lessened, cue my sigh of relief).
Asked to describe Junor as a dancer, Alison said: “He is explosive, very long and he takes up a lot of the stage!”
Junor on Alison: “Everything is under her control – I cannot tell when she is nervous.”
Vitor and pas de deux partner Senri started learning their piece from ‘La Sylphide’ in March.
Senri said: “We were very organised.
“We are so ready – I want to do it now!”
Senri praises Vitor’s partnering and ability to adapt.
Asked about Senri, Vitor said: “I’m a big fan!”
“We have so much fun together and she is a very bright person with a lovely smile who makes everything look so easy.”
‘La Sylphide’ requires an ethereal Sylph and a male partner with crisp footwork – Senri’s effortless grace and Vitor’s compact frame bode well.
All the finalists express a desire to work harder and emphasise the effort needed to prepare for ‘Emerging Dancer’.
Alison said: “We’ve had to have a lot of determination.”
Alison explains she finds it difficult to ‘let go’ when dancing and reveals she has chosen a solo which challenges her to do just this.
She said: “I deal with it every day, even in class, but I am learning there is no point in holding back.”
Company class is at 10.15am every day.
Madison (who arrived post-rehearsal as her pas de deux partner Joan was performing in Manchester so unable to attend) said: “I don’t enjoy class, stuck in front a mirror.
“The stage is the best place in the world but I think of class as a medicine – it tastes bad but I know it’s good for me!”
Junor shares Madison's view (adding that a later class would be better) but Alison and Vitor are more positive, with Vitor saying: “I like class, I like that feeling you get when you finish of ‘I did everything I could’.”
The finalists are being mentored by more experienced ENB dancers and throughout the rehearsal they coach each other.
So what is the best advice Alison has received?
Alison: “To just go for it!”
Already looking forward to ENB’s ‘Swan Lake’ (at MK Theatre in November), I tell Senri I am eager for ENB to grace the city’s stage once again.
Senri said: “Being back in Milton Keynes – that’s next season!
“It’ll be great, but I can’t even begin to think that far ahead yet.
“I just cannot wait for ‘Emerging Dancer’ now!”
By Georgina Butler
http://georginabutler.
