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Swan Lake: Combining Storytelling With Stamina

October 28, 2014 by 4dancers

Fernando Bufala w Joseph Gatti in Corella Ballet
Ashley Ellis and Joseph Gatti in Swan Lake, photo by Fernando Bufala

Today Boston Ballet‘s Ashley Ellis joins us to talk about how she gets ready to dance the classic ballet Swan Lake. Read more from her in the coming months as she authors posts for us as a contributing writer to the site…


Dancing the role of Odette/Odile is an incredible challenge for any dancer. What steps do you take to prepare your body for this role?

Dancing the dual role of Odette/Odile is a challenge in various ways. There is the obvious technical challenge that most full-length classical ballets demand. However, Swan Lake is different in that to dance this ballet the ballerina is required to portray two characters that are completely opposite of one another.

When preparing to dance either Odile or Odette I like to start with my arms. The style of the upper body is quintessential to becoming a swan. Like with dancing any role, but especially Odette/Odile, I like to spend a bit of time before rehearsal or a show just to gear my body up for the specific style it will have to feel. I go through the movements so that when I have to dance it feels more organic. When I enter in the second act I don’t want to have to think about if my arms are making the right lines, I want to think about how I feel at that moment with my partner and the music.

So until I feel that I have these extreme and sometimes contorted positions feeling more organic in my own body I am constantly checking in the mirror to see what line the public will see. For me this comes with time as I’m working on the role. Each day my muscles remember more and I have to think less about the positions.

Then it is important to build stamina, so as we approach the shows, I like to run each act to build strength.

Black Swan Pas with Joseph Gatti
Ashley Ellis and Joesph Gatti dance the Black Swan pas de deux, photo by Fernando Bufala

What do you do to make each character (Odette and Odile) unique?

Each swan, the white and the black, the good and the evil, represents a completely opposite identity from the other. I try to embody the characteristics of each and do my best not to let them bleed together. I take on each role and try to let them shine through my movements. For example, Odette is a kind spirit, embodying love. However she is not weak, she is still a proud swan queen.

Odile on the other hand shows up in the 3rd act with Von Rothbart and carries out her actions under his command. Her mission is to trick the prince into swearing his love for her. To bring this role to life I try to use my eyes and more commanding movement to show strength and lure the prince in.

It does require a moment though to calm down going into 4th act after running off stage from the high of dancing the black swan–especially because in this act Odette is heartbroken.

When getting coached by the incredible, Larissa Ponomarenko, she constantly reminds me as I execute my steps that although I may be creating an esthetically pleasing classical line with my arms, that I look human, and “at this moment you are a swan.”

What is your rehearsal schedule like for this ballet?

Well, at Boston Ballet we are often working on various ballets at the same time. We just finished putting together Lady of the Camellias as well as various shorter pieces for later in the season. So things can get a little bit crazy, and some days going from contemporary into classical makes it especially challenging. The most important thing is to go into each rehearsal focused on the role to be mastered. So much of dance is about being mentally prepared.

As we get closer to the performances I like to run the ballet in order, beginning with second act and going to black and then back to white. It is so important to build stamina. It’s funny because I find that I tend to stress about not having stamina, but I know in the end I will get there. The feeling of not being able to get through a variation, ballet, or whatever is so daunting. It’s never easy, but it can get easIER.

IMG_4688
Ashley Ellis as Odette, photo by Fernando Bufala

You have danced Swan Lake before, but Petipa’s version. How is Mikko Nissinen’s version different?

Like the version I danced previously, Mikko’s has the same classical base, with variations in the steps that he has chosen to apply to make it his own. I do find it interesting to see how the ending changes from version to version; if they die, or live happily after, or in some, they even die and then rise up into the clouds. I don’t think I’m supposed to reveal the ending of this version because it is NEW, and he probably wouldn’t like it if I spilled the beans. Haha!

There are many beautiful, interesting, and original touches in Robert Perdziola’s design and it is sure to be stunning. I can’t wait to see the production on stage; I know it will definitely be worth coming to see.

Swan Lake has such beautiful music. Is there a particular section of the score that you find you gravitate toward?

One of my favorite moments is the introduction to the Black Swan Pas de deux. The music begins while we are still off stage and then we fly on from the wing together. From the very beginning it gives me such a feeling of strength and command.

In terms of your pointe shoes – how do you prepare them for Swan Lake, and how many pairs will you use in a performance?

I definitely want good shoes, and will most likely wear a different pair for each act. Not a new pair for each act, because they will be broken in and worn just enough that they are ready to provide what I need. They have to have good support because there is so much technical dancing throughout the whole ballet.

As Odette I like to have supportive shoes but they should be well broken in. There is a lot of running around as well as movement that is very controlled so I need to be able to really feel the floor. As Odile I can wear a slightly harder pair. There are a lot of turns throughout the pas, variation, and coda and I need to know they will support me until the end.

sitting swan by Hoggerandco
Ashley Ellis in costume for Boston Ballet’s Swan Lake, photo by Hogger & Co.

What do you find to be the most difficult part of dancing this ballet, and what do you do to cope with it?

The stamina is quite hard, but it is more than just doing the steps and getting through to the end. It is so important to make everything seamless, while maintaining your portrayal of a swan, and on top of that telling a story. So the hardest part is doing all of this at once. I find that the best way to achieve this is to spend time on it.

It sounds simple, but spending time moving like a swan and listening to the music, and thinking of how the character feels at that moment within the ballet is the best way for me to prepare.

What is the thing that you enjoy most about dancing this ballet?

I love dancing both Odette and Odile so much, the challenge to becoming both is quite exciting. I love various aspects of becoming each character. On a physical level, although the dancing is very classical, the style feels quite freeing. Also, for me the music really brings both characters to life. You can really hear the emotions through each composition; from the tranquil feeling of Odette when she is all alone in her entrance to how frantic she is when the prince startles her, to the second act pas where she is falling in love, but is torn because of the spell cast on her. Tchaikovsky carries you through all of these emotions. Then for Odile, I feel thrown at a high speed onto the stage with the entrance of the 3rd act pas; the music screams grandeur and power.


Boston Ballet will be performing Mikko Nissinen’s Swan Lake from October 30th through November 16th. See Ashley Ellis bring Odette and Odile to life on stage. View the rest of the company’s offerings for the season here.


Boston Ballet's Ashley Ellis
Boston Ballet’s Ashley Ellis

Contributing writer Ashley Ellis is a principal dancer at Boston Ballet. Ellis hails from Torrance, California and she received her dance training at the South Bay Ballet under the direction of Diane Lauridsen. Other instruction included Alicia Head, Mario Nugara, Charles Maple, and Kimberly Olmos.

She began her professional career with American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company and later joined American Ballet Theatre as a company dancer. In 1999, Ellis won the first prize at the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Award, and went on to become the recipient of the Coca Cola scholarship award in 2000 and 2001. She has performed in Spain with Angel Corella’s touring group and joined Corella Ballet in 2008 as a soloist. In 2011, Ellis joined Boston Ballet as a second soloist. She was promoted to soloist in 2012 and principal dancer in 2013.

Her repertoire includes Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty; Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker; Natalia Makarova’s  La  Bayadère;  Marius  Petipa’s  Swan Lake; Christopher Wheeldon’s DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse, VIII and Polyphonia; Harald Lander’s Études; Michel  Fokine’s  Les  Sylphides;  Rudolf  Nureyev’s Don Quixote; Christopher Bruce’s Rooster; George Balanchine’s  Serenade,  Coppélia,  Symphony  in Three Movements, Symphony in C, and Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux; Clark Tippet’s Bruch Violin Concerto; Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room; Stanton Welch’s Clear; Angel Corella’s String Sextet; Wayne McGregor’s Chroma; Jorma Elo’s Awake Only; Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free; Jiří Kylián’s Wings of Wax, Symphony of Psalms, and Petite Mort.

Filed Under: Editorial Tagged With: Ashley Ellis, ballerina, black swan, black swan pas de deux, Bostone Ballet, lady of the camellias, Mikko Nissinen, odette, odile, petipa, swan lake, white swan

Dance In The UK: Adult Ballet

March 15, 2012 by 4dancers

by Jessica Wilson

Jessica Wilson

Having seen a huge influx of dance and the performing arts in the media over the past few years – think Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for his next big hits, Dancing with the Stars, and Black Swan – the number of adults indulging in ballet classes has increased profoundly. A survey conducted by YouGov in 2011 in the prelude to the Dance Proms at the Royal Albert Hall found that just over 1 in 5 British adults have become interested in dancing as a result of shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and So You Think You Can Dance, not considering those throughout the rest of the world. It seems the ballet bug is here to stay, having turned a fad into a trend!

The appeal of ballet runs far and wide, and today seems to have taken on a more of a popular culture persona as more people are becoming aware of ballet and its benefits. Pirouetting against the stereotype, ballet does not have to be girly and strictly disciplined; there are a huge variety of ballet and dance class choices in the exercise world today, meaning that there is an option for everyone. No sooner had gym culture taken over our lives, dance cults began to make an appearance, such as Zumba, reinforcing the notion that engaging in physical activity does not have to involve a treadmill.

Not only does ballet engage and stimulate the mind, it also provides participants with an environment which is of alternative appeal. Tapping into your artistic side really does have its benefits, for adults as well as children!

The Royal Academy of Dance teachers of London have affectionately referred to this recent ballet trend as “Black Swan Syndrome” – despite such dark inferences throughout the film – considering the number of adults they have seen sign up for ballet classes in the wake of the blockbuster movie. Some may argue that the increasing commercialisation of dance may cause it to lose its intrinsic artistic value, yet if the combination of the media with promotion of dance is able to entice more adults to dance in such a profound way, something must be right! Indeed there has been a significant increase of dance-related films that have emerged over the past few years, in addition to screenings of dance performances in numerous cinemas, putting dance well and truly on the map. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 4dancers, Adult Ballet, Dance in the UK, Editorial Tagged With: adult ballet, adult dance, black swan, black swan syndrome, dance proms, english national ballet, rad, the royal academy of dance, zumba

Review: Black Swan

October 28, 2011 by 4dancers

by Catherine L. Tully

Better late than never–right?

It has taken me a long while to get around to doing this review. I was hesitant about watching this movie–not sure if I wanted to see what the depiction was of the ballet world. Somehow I knew it would fall short, and for me it did.

As I had heard, the movie rang true to overarching stereotypes of ballet dancers and what goes on behind the scenes, and I found myself disappointed that it didn’t try a little harder to stretch beyond the typical. After all, not every director is “grabby”, not every retiring ballerina is morose and suicidal, and not every dance mom is overbearing. It would have been nice to depart a bit from these images and strive to create real characters with dimension rather than falling back on old, tired images of these roles. Here, the director played it safe, but, admittedly, it is difficult subject matter to tackle. Still, it would have been nice to have had more range.

The behind-the-scenes look into the ballet world was again somewhat typical, but served as a decent bit of background for those who may not be aware of what goes on in a dance company. Many dancers can relate to things such as the cramped physical therapy office, the nerves as everyone checks the board for their name when ballets are posted and the hush that comes over a room when the director appears.

I loved the scene where you get to see how pointe shoes are “worked” and broken in and the realism of the dancers sitting around in the hallway with their ballet bags. How true, how true. Still, it would have been wonderful to have a little more of that–I think it would have helped explain dancers in a way that would have helped make sense of things better in the movie. After all, there is a lot more to the life of a ballet dancer than people may realize. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Dance Gifts, FOR SALE, Reviews Tagged With: ballet dancers, ballet movie, black swan, black swan review, natalie portman, pointe shoes, rebecca king, tendus under a palm tree, tights and tiaras

Mao’s Last Dancer: Choreography

April 23, 2011 by 4dancers

The behind the scenes work on any dance movie is pretty staggering. Besides the people who star (and dance) in the movie, there are many professionals that make the film possible–including the choreographer.

4dancers is pleased to share this exclusive clip from the DVD and Blu-ray extras of Mao’s Last Dancer.

This clip is from the ‘making of’ featurette, and discusses some aspects of the choreography that was used in the film.  As someone in the field, I can say that it’s always nice to see what goes into making the movie.

Enjoy! Here it is…

On a separate note, I’ve been thrilled to see more interest in dance over the past few years. Between the dance movies that have come out and the television coverage, dance is as hot as ever. Although not everyone thinks the attention is a good thing, I tend to believe that (for the most part) getting dance out there in front of people is beneficial.

I would, however, like to see a bit more of an educational aspect to it here and there. I think it’s important to try and represent dance honestly. There are a lot of myths out there, and these can be perpetuated by film. I’ve heard some dancers that were upset about the way ballet dancers were depicted in Black Swan…

What do you think? Is dance becoming more mainstream? Is the attention a good thing–or a bad one? There are so many schools of thought on this–and I’d love to hear yours.

Hopera Proposal: CD Promotion

Uploads:

ReverbNation:

ReverbNation account creation, setup and modification Reverbnation account integration with Twitter and Facebook (passwords and usernames as provided/authorized by Hopera) Hopera Bio/Press Kit upload Hopera press reviews upload (five) Hopera video upload (two videos as authorized and provided by Hopera Hopera Music and images uploads ( four tracks as authorized/provided by Hopera) Connections with 30 other ReverbNation artists for cross-promotion and PR

Setup and initial uploads at Soundcloud.com with audio clips provided/authorized by Hopera Soundcloud.com account integration with Facebook Hopera audio upload (three tracks) as authorized/provided by Hopera

(What about submission to IndieMusic.com? Do you know if that would be a possibility? Have you ever?)

Social Media

CD promotion to national and Chicago-area hip hop/related blogs

Facebook and Twitter promotion, dependent on CD release date. Sample schedule:

4 weeks out:

One tweet for 5 days + 2 FB posts per week

3 weeks out:

Two tweets for 5 days + 3 FB posts per week and one FB blast

2 weeks out:

Three tweets for 5 days + 4 FB posts per week and one FB blast

1 week to release:

Three tweets for 7 days + 5 FB posts per week and one FB blast

Total of 51 tweets, 14 FB posts and 3 FB blasts

What we will need from you before we can begin:

Twitter and FB usernames/passwords

Any pertinent dates regarding release, pre-release parties/events, etc.

Copy of CD/track listings/artwork/press materials/reviews/etc.

URLs/links for FB, Twitter and any other relevant sites Video/photos for upload Deposit for equal 1/3 of payment

Filed Under: 4dancers, 4teachers, Editorial Tagged With: ballet dancer, black swan, choreography, dvd, mao's last dancer

Costuming For Black Swan – An Inside Look

April 18, 2011 by 4dancers

As many of you already know, Black Swan was released on DVD at the end of March. What you may not know is what type of work went into the costuming for this popular movie.

Amy Westcott was the designer for these pieces, and you can get the inside story on how she came up with the various looks for the characters in the movie in a series of webisodes on YouTube. Pretty interesting–thought you might want to take a look.

I have yet to see the movie myself (I know, I know, it’s terrible to say, seeing as that I’m a dance blogger), but the little bit I have seen of the costuming looks fabulous. I’m looking forward to checking out the webisodes myself.

If you happen to take a peek at them, let us know what you think…

Filed Under: 4dancers, 4teachers, Editorial, Online Dance Resources Tagged With: amy westcott, black swan, black swan movie, costumes, costuming, dvd

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