This past weekend the Adagio Ballet Company debuted their new Nutcracker rep at the Enchanted Forest Festival! From party girls, to Sugar Plums, to Chinese dancers, the show was a success and left our students more excited than ever for Adagio Ballet’s Nutcracker 2014.

Company member Flora Hepp, excitedly waiting to perform.

Savanna Hunter, preparing to perform as Godfather Drosslemeyer, excited to begin the soundcheck.

With a long week of exhausting rehearsals behind them, it was a tired crowd that early in the morning. The dancers all perked up, however, as soon as they hit the stage for blocking and a sound check.

Company members preparing to block the show at the Enchanted Forest Festival on Sunday.

Party girls all lined up waiting to perform.

The company performed the Nutcracker overture and party scene, with a disgruntled little girl, two trouble makers, and a charming Clara, performed this weekend by Mikaley Bolden.

The unhappy party girl, performed by Leah, adagio Ballet Company member.

Mikaley Bolden, as Clara, dancing with her nutcracker.

Providing entertainment for the party, Godfather Drosselmeyer arrived bring the Nutcracker doll, and performances by two Harlequin Dolls and the Columbine Doll.

The presentation of Clara’s nutcracker doll.

Erin Barth as a Harlequin Doll.

Isabella Swigart as a Harlequin Doll.

Company soloist Flora Hepp as the Columbine Doll.

Adagio Ballet Company dancers also performed their piece from the Enchantment- the midnight scene when the Christmas tree doubles in size.

The Enchantment

The Sugar Plum Fairy was elegant, charming, and beautiful onstage, performed by Katya Fortin, who quickly won the hearts of the audience and the admiration of the Jr. Company, who were performing this weekend as well.

Soloist Katy Fortin as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The Sugar Plum Fairy variation.

The Junior Company was absolutely adorable, performing as Angels, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese.

A charmingly serious Jr. Company Angel.

The Spanish Dancers

Russian, performed by the Jr. Company.

Last but not least, Waltz of the Flowers: the largest, most classical piece in the ballet. In Adagio’s Nutcracker, it is a sea of pink tulle and bejeweled flowers. The hours of hard work put into readying those costumes for the stage definitely paid off, and the dancers received compliments all morning.

Company member Eliza in Waltz of the Flowers. Check out those tutus!

The Sugar Plum Fairy in Waltz of the Flowers.

Clara in the Waltz of the Flowers.

We hope you all continue to come out and support the Adagio Dance Companies! And if you haven’t yet, be sure to purchase your tickets for Adagio Ballet’s The Nutcracker, available here.

Company member Eliza surrounded by the aftermath of a great show.

Greetings All!

We will be holding regular classes Monday November 24th- Wednesday November 26th this week. The studio will be closed Thursday November 27th- Sunday November 30th for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Have a wonderful holiday and we will see you in December!

Adagio Ballet Staff

We are excited to announce that Adagio will be hosting Master classes with two “Little Dancer” performers.

Click the links below to get more information and reserve your spot!

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/master-class-and-q-a-with-polly-baird-tickets-14349510773?aff=eac2

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/master-class-and-q-a-with-james-a-pierce-iii-tickets-14220358475?aff=eac2

Follow this link to order your tickets online.  All audience members must have printed or e-tickets at the door.  We look forward to sharing our students’ work with you!

If you’re ever at Adagio in the evenings, you will hear the unmistakable strains of Tchaikovsky coming from almost every classroom. It’s that time of year again! So just to get in the spirit, we asked a few students and teachers about their favorite memories of The Nutcracker and what they’re really looking forward to this year!

The Adagio Ballet Company in last year’s Nutcracker.

“When I was 5, I went to see my first Nutcracker and got so excited that I danced all around the lobby during intermission.” – Kate (Adagio Ballet Company member)

“When I was 7, my parents took me to see The Nutcracker for the first time and it was what made me want to dance professionally. I’m looking forward to seeing all the students come together and create the show. It’s exciting to watch them experience what we’ve experienced.” - Ms. Ariana

 “When I performed in The Nutcracker with the Joffrey Ballet at The Kennedy Center last year, one of the principle dancers Fabrice Calmels asked us for a picture when we came offstage. He was joking, because we were always asking the older dancers if we could get a picture with them.”- Erin (Adagio Ballet Company soloist)

The Snow Princesses in Adagio’s Nutcracker 2013.

 “I’m looking forward to seeing students believing in their characters and making the audience believe the story. I’m hoping that everyone has a very positive experience this year.” – Ms. Evalina

“I’m really looking forward to getting to do so many roles, because they’re very different.” – Kiara (Adagio Ballet Company member)

“I’m excited because this is my first year in Ballet Company, so I get to do a lot more in the show.” – Rachel (Adagio Ballet Company member)

The party girls enjoying the holiday festivities.

“I’m looking forward to performing as one of the Sugar Plum Fairies. This is my first lead role.” – Katherine (Adagio Ballet Company soloist)

“I’m most excited about seeing how the teachers will integrate multiple styles of dance into the traditional ballet. I’m also really looking forward to seeing all of the students perform.”- Ms. Grace

The Arabian dancers in last year’s Nutcracker.

This year’s Nutcracker will run December 6th and 7th. Tickets and more information are available here through Eventbrite. Be sure to look out for the new Nutcracker apparel coming soon!

Who do you think is the most famous dancer in the world? Zakharova? Kent? Baryshnikov? Guess again. It’s Marie van Goethem, the model for Edward Degas’ statue, “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen.” Marie’s story can now be seen as a musical; it opened at the Kennedy Center last night and will run through November 20^th.

The story follows the background of Marie, a struggling dancer in the Paris Opera Ballet during the late 1800s. Becoming a professional dancer was her chance at escaping poverty. The musical was created by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and director and choreographer Susan Stroman. They all shared a love of dance and were quite intrigued by one of the most well known sculptures in history.

The original statue.

The story doesn’t have a fairy tale ending. As Degas’ statue wasn’t publicly accepted at first, it was kept hidden away in his workshop until his death. Marie was considered to be a disgrace, and was dismissed from the ballet. Despite all this, the musical really does maintain an optimistic tone and we learn a bit about what could have happened to Marie after she disappeared from the records of the Paris Opera.

The representation: TIler Peck stars as Marie van Goethem.

I went to the very first preview of the show last night, and it was incredible. From the moment the curtain opened on the adult Marie to when it closed on the statue, the entire audience was spellbound.

Tiler Peck (Marie) and Boyd Gaines (Degas) rehearsing for Little Dancer.

Ahrens and Flaherty did an incredible job of putting together music and lyrics that perfectly captured the frantic mood of a ballerina backstage, and brought some much needed hope to the darker scenes. The script is perfectly tailored to include several humorous moments just for dancers and artists. One particular line, stated first by Degas and later repeated by Marie, “Dancing is easy when you don’t know how, but very difficult when you do,” made the entire audience laugh.

Tiler Peck dancing as Marie van Goethem.

The dancing was incredible as well. Every cast member, including Degas, attempts a ballet step at some point. Some do more than attempt; Tiler Peck, a principal dancer with New York City Ballet, proves to be a triple-threat and is awe inspiring as Young Marie. There is musicality and life in every step, and Stroman clearly outdid herself with the choreography. So from the opening number, “C’est le Ballet” to the dream ballet in the second act, the movement pulls you right into the story.

The cast of Little Dancer visiting the original statue, currently on display at the National Gallery of Art.

The story definitely does its history justice. While much of it is actually based on writing by Degas himself as well as American artist Mary Cassat, it is also open ended; we never find out exactly what did happen to Marie van Goethem. But the significance of her life and her important role as a current inspiration to little dancers everywhere is not understated.

Visit the Kennedy Center’s website for tickets and more information about the show.

The Adagio Dance Companies are off to a great start this season! The Fall for Fairfax Festival performance was a success, and once again, we got pictures.

The Ballet Company Apprentices getting ready for the show.

The Ballet Company performed their class demonstration again this week and soloist Erin Barth performed her variation from Giselle.

Ballet Company in the opening section of their class demonstration.

Despite the chilly weather, there was a full house and the audience loved watching the Junior Company perform their adorable Beatrix Potter dances.

The Jr. Company bunnies in “Peter Rabbit.”

The Jr. Company dolls

“My favorite part (of being in company) is the end, because then we get to perform what we’ve learned.” – Ellie, Jr. Company member

Three adorable mice.

The Jazz/Contemporary Company performed their same new lyrical, jazz, and modern pieces. Their hard work paid off and made this performance even better than the last.

“Lullabies,” J/C Company’s opening number.

Striking a pose to finish their jazz piece.

Jazz/Contemporary Soloists in “The Curse.”

“The most rewarding part of being a soloist is the challenging choreography.” – Helen, J/C Company soloist

Keep checking back for more information as the Adagio Dance Companies begin to prepare for The Nutcracker!