“ It’s never just black and white
” emphasizes this year’s
Syracuse City Ballet’s performances of
Swan Lake .
The basement of Robinson Memorial Church in Westvale was filled with ballet dancers — men and women, adults and children — talking and preparing for rehearsal on the afternoon of Saturday, May 2. This is the 11th year the organization has been putting on the Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ballet. The dancers stretched, chatted and seemed at ease.
Kathleen Rathbun, Stephanie Dattellas, Rachael Cierniakoski, and Harriet Casey sat behind a white table in the studio. The four sat upright, and their eyes were focused. The performers flooded into the space dressed in costume. Bob Dwyer, the man behind the lighting, held up a key ring of color filter samples when he wasn’t drawing and mapping out character stage movements.
The symphonic score blared, the rehearsal took flight.
Ballet speaks for itself. A story is told through dance and backed by a symphonic track. Some may view and associate the evening with a class stereotype, but the most expensive tickets — $55 at the most for the adults, $10 for children 12 and under for any seat — are less than many of the big-name acts, shows and musicians that come into town.
“It’s the ultimate live experience. The arts community. It’s one of the greatest reasons to get out in Syracuse,” said Rathbun.
Since 1997, the Syracuse City Ballet has sufficiently provided this form of art. The regional company does bring in sets and dancers, but the majority of the cast is made up of local talent. This provides that ballet companies on the national level look out for the well being of other, smaller companies.
Rathbun stated that Syracuse-native Jake Casey and a couple members of the Cincinnati Ballet will be performing in this month’s production. Peter Kurta, also a Central New York native performing with the Tulsa Ballet, is also returning for the production. Both starred in our ballet’s original production of Swan Lake .
“The dancers we have coming in will be playing the lead roles,” said Rathbun. “Blending the local and national talent will be seamless. The caliber of what we’re going to share will be high.”
The local dancers practice seven days a week. When considering the ages of some of the dancers (most are students), Rathbun said they come to practice after a day at school and are there all night. She complimented their dedication and ability to stay organized. “They manage their time very well, and get their homework done. Whether they dance later in their lives or not, they’re on the road to success.” Of course, she hopes they stay involved with ballet.
Practice is intense. Ballet includes dancing and fancy footwork, but the head and hand movements emphasize the roles and characters. At times, the dancers seem to float in slow motion through the air. The footwork is so quick and precise that focusing on the number of times the corps de ballet members touch their toe to the ground is dizzying. The placement of hands and bending of fingers, the angles the dancers have to tip their heads, the expressions on their faces, and the minutes of having to stay perfectly still — thinking about it is even mentally and physically exhausting.
Syracuse City Ballet presents Swan Lake on May 15 + 16 at the OnCenter’s Crouse Hinds Theater.
Holly Piselli Alice Patterson The Nutcracker around during the winter holiday season. “We will continue to perform the traditional Nutcracker , changing a little each performance to make it more unique and more humorous.”
Swan Lake , being a big show in many regards, there are a few things to be considered. The Syracuse City Ballet has set up a GoFundMe account Swan Lake to be the epitome of all ballets. The story, the battle between good and evil and the love elements are critical. Albeit, this is one of the most difficult ballets to dance to, according to Rathbun. “Dancers, especially the lead, will go through three or four pointe shoes.” A small fact: pointe shoes range to $100 a pair.
Syracuse City Ballet’s Swan Lake
Swan Lake has multiple endings. Romantic, tragic, and detrimentally tragic. There is truly only one possibly true happy ending. “I’ve reseached a lot,” said Rathbun. “I’ve decided what I wanted to do. This is the second time I’ve done this ballet, so I don’t plan on changing it, so you’ll have to come to see it.”
With the true fate of Sigfried and Odette still up in the air, Swan Lake ‘s notoriety and the quality that Syracuse City Ballet exudes should be enticing enough. Sure, it’s ballet and artistic storytelling.
And let’s not forget Tchaikovsky’s composition. All of the parts add up to an appealing display. “The music and the moving,” Rathbun said. “I still tear up at parts.”
Just the Facts:
Syracuse City Ballet presents Swan Lake
The OnCenter Crouse Hinds Theater
May 15 at 7:00 p.m.
May 16 at 2:00 p.m.
MORE INFO – CLICK HERE
TICKETS
