Or, "Remember your mom!" Happy happy Mother's Day to my wonderful, fabulous, funny, brilliant, charming Momma T--I miss you, a big fat kys og knus across the pond today and every day :)
You put up with years and years of this, and for that I am eternally grateful and forever apologetic :)
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Gaga for Gaga...still
This video--quite popular in the ballerina world right now (at least, the ballerina world on Facebook...)--combines a lot of my favorite things. Ballerina dancing; Lady Gaga; a choreographer with an oddly-spelled version of a common name (Jaered); platinum blonde wigs; general ridiculousness...enjoy :)
Friday, May 7, 2010
Blue tulle, with a side order of man-eating bug...
We had our first "kost/mask/foto" (aka "costume/makeup/photo") run of the final program of the season today, at the Operaen in Christianshavn. This last program is interesting (to me, at least) because it's the M/K Program, running May 20-June 5 at the Operaen. Which means Male/Female. Which means that during the 12 performance run, 6 of the shows feature all- or mostly-male ballets; and the other 6 all- or mostly-female.
For me, this is a heavy program. Of the five ballets on the bill for the ladies, I'm in three: George Balanchine's Serenade; Jerome Robbins' The Cage; and Kim Brandstrup's world premiere Eleidon. While I cannot offer you a preview of the latter, I can offer sneak peeks of the former, thanks to photographer David Amzallag and my fellow corps member Birgitta :)
Without further ado, then, some lovely photographs snapped during Serenade rehearsal by David Amzallag:
Moi, between entrances in our main studio, Malersal.
Just before we "peel off" in succession...I love this moment.
The iconic Serenade pose, apparently inspired when Balanchine saw one of his students shielding her eyes from the sun's glare. Here, up-and-coming corps member (and all around lovely, wonderful person) Hilary Gusweiler (in the beige practice skirt) enters as the Waltz Girl.
Exiting the stage as the Waltz Boy (in this case, new principal Ulrik Birkkjær, not pictured) enters. This is a really nice moment for me--you're leaving the stage, walking into this blue light wearing a blue confection of tulle, with your hair in a French twist, and the music is beautiful, and also you know you've got maybe two minutes offstage to breathe once you hit the wings.
And now for something completely different (but equally enjoyable)...The Cage, in which we portray man-eating, praying mantis sort of bugs. My big, wild hair is a pro (for once!) in this ballet, and I. Love. It. Tak to Birgitta for snapping these post-runthrough goofing around shots in our dressing room today:
This isn't even all of my hair. The hairdressers didn't want to deal with all of it, so they didn't pull the ponytail fully through the elastic.
The detail on these costumes is amazing--kudos to our wardrobe department. We were individually fitted for the front piping and back "spine" work, so that each of those features would fit each person's individual body shape. (Example: So the piping would cover our, well, nipples.)
And now, after a long day at work, I'm having a girls' night in with some of my fellow ballerinas. Takeout and Twilight are in my very near future; I very much look forward to the former, and eagerly await an opportunity to mock the latter :) Happy fredag, København!
PS--Happy Birthday to Tchaikovsky! And a big fat tillykke to Google for promoting ballerina dancing through its logo today :)
For me, this is a heavy program. Of the five ballets on the bill for the ladies, I'm in three: George Balanchine's Serenade; Jerome Robbins' The Cage; and Kim Brandstrup's world premiere Eleidon. While I cannot offer you a preview of the latter, I can offer sneak peeks of the former, thanks to photographer David Amzallag and my fellow corps member Birgitta :)
Without further ado, then, some lovely photographs snapped during Serenade rehearsal by David Amzallag:
Moi, between entrances in our main studio, Malersal.
Just before we "peel off" in succession...I love this moment.
The iconic Serenade pose, apparently inspired when Balanchine saw one of his students shielding her eyes from the sun's glare. Here, up-and-coming corps member (and all around lovely, wonderful person) Hilary Gusweiler (in the beige practice skirt) enters as the Waltz Girl.
Exiting the stage as the Waltz Boy (in this case, new principal Ulrik Birkkjær, not pictured) enters. This is a really nice moment for me--you're leaving the stage, walking into this blue light wearing a blue confection of tulle, with your hair in a French twist, and the music is beautiful, and also you know you've got maybe two minutes offstage to breathe once you hit the wings.
And now for something completely different (but equally enjoyable)...The Cage, in which we portray man-eating, praying mantis sort of bugs. My big, wild hair is a pro (for once!) in this ballet, and I. Love. It. Tak to Birgitta for snapping these post-runthrough goofing around shots in our dressing room today:
This isn't even all of my hair. The hairdressers didn't want to deal with all of it, so they didn't pull the ponytail fully through the elastic.
The detail on these costumes is amazing--kudos to our wardrobe department. We were individually fitted for the front piping and back "spine" work, so that each of those features would fit each person's individual body shape. (Example: So the piping would cover our, well, nipples.)
And now, after a long day at work, I'm having a girls' night in with some of my fellow ballerinas. Takeout and Twilight are in my very near future; I very much look forward to the former, and eagerly await an opportunity to mock the latter :) Happy fredag, København!
PS--Happy Birthday to Tchaikovsky! And a big fat tillykke to Google for promoting ballerina dancing through its logo today :)
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Naked
Here's your chance to see photographs of a few Royal Danish Ballet dancers...naked. Opening on May 14th as part of the Copenhagen Photo Festival, The Naked Diary Photo Project is a collaboration between two friends of mine--photographer Noam Griegst and my fellow ballerina child/blogger/art director Cecilie Lassen. It will be fun to see my friends and colleagues performing normal daily activities in their birthday suits, and if you want a chance to see some rockin' bods as snapped by one of Denmark's top fashion photographers, well here's your golden opportunity :)
For more information on this exhibit, check out: http://www.copenhagenphotofestival.com/noam-griest
(And no, Mom and Dad, I am not one of the naked ballerinas ;-P)
For more information on this exhibit, check out: http://www.copenhagenphotofestival.com/noam-griest
(And no, Mom and Dad, I am not one of the naked ballerinas ;-P)
INSPIRATION
For my last four performances of Othello, courtesy of U.S. soldiers stationed in Afghanistan...this dancer salutes your skills :)
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Likes and Dislikes
I've recently been inspired to renew my interest in the "little things" in life. Because it is precisely these little things which make the big thing of life so wonderful (or, on certain days, not-so-wonderful). Here, then, are simple likes and dislikes. And yes, this post was inspired by my recent re-viewing of one of my all-time favorite movies, Amelie :)
I like to cut up six-pack plastic rings before throwing them out, even though I know now that it doesn't make much of a difference for the fish.
I dislike seeing said six-pack rings littering the streets of Copenhagen. (I pick these up, snip them apart with my always-handy sewing scissors, and throw them out. Yes, I've been stared at as though I have multiple heads.)
I like stirring sugar into my latte less than is necessary for it to fully mix in with the coffee. Because then, at the end of the latte, there is a sugar mixture which is almost too sweet to stomach...but just sweet enough. And when the drink is gone, I like removing the lid and scooping out the leftover foam. (I drink coffee like a five-year-old.)
I dislike when my coffee is served at any temperature below "searing hot." This is why I frequent Lagkagehuset over Holm bakery.
When the sun is out, I like to walk across Knippelsbro while listening to my iPod, close my eyes, and feel the springtime on my face. I look idiotic, perhaps, but it is such a nice sensation.
I dislike coming home to hear my cantankerous neighbors fighting in slurred Danish, stopping the fight when their dog begins to howl--at which point the lovely couple howls along with their pet.
I like to buy myself flowers from the stands in Israel Plads on Sundays. Cherry blossoms are my favorite, followed closely by daisies, sunflowers, and orchids.
I dislike when the flowers die mere days later. I feel like I cannot keep anything (other than myself) alive for very long. Though at the beginning of the season I did have an orchid which lasted three months...
On free weekday nights like this evening, I like to put on my biggest sweater--it reaches my knees--and fuzzy knee socks, curl up in bed right after eating dinner, and watch a happy sort of movie while eating Dumle candies and drinking "red," a flavor of blended juice sold in Denmark.
I dislike when the Dumle wrappers pile up and the movie ends, because by that point I am quite cozy and do not want to get up to throw the wrappers away. But I have to. I cannot sleep in a bed of red plastic.
When I go out with friends, I like to collect the free postcards offered at most cafes and bars. I have a collection of over 200 now. (I also like taking pictures of lost shoes while out. There are more lonely shoes in Copenhagen than you'd think. See previous post for photographic evidence.)
I dislike forgetting to bring my own plastic bag to the grocery store. Buying them there costs 3 kroner, and I have quite a stash at home, so the whole situation is mildly frustrating and costs me money (albeit not much, but still).
To combat my neighbors' noise, I like to play very old music at a fairly loud level. Not rock and roll, but go back a little further. I feel the contrast will maybe send them a message: Yes, I can play your game; but I will do it with style.
I dislike the nights where I cannot sleep because I am homesick or upset or feeling like a 21-year-old single American girl in Denmark. These nights are few and far between, but they are annoying. Plus I wake up tired for work, and my profession is not so easy to begin with, being quite physical in nature and all.
I like finding surprising new places to go out to dinner or brunch or for drinks. (A few of my favorites, for their atmosphere and music and decor, are Mesteren & Lærlingen, Cafe Din Nye Ven, Cafe Intime, The Living Room, Dalle Valle, Sofie kælderen, Christianshavn Beboerhus, Månefiskeren, Dag H, Pastis, I'll stop here but needless to say, Copenhagen has many excellent places for day or night...)
I dislike going to a place that makes me uncomfortable. Most trendy, hip nightclubs and other places where "cool people" go give me that sort of feeling. (I went to a place called TS Bar once. It has no listed address, and you must either be on the list or a guest of someone on the list--I was one of the latter, obviously--in order to get in. Outside the basement-level entry is a sign reading "Shhh..." and inside was very dark and overpriced. The quiet sign put me off straight away, and the prices put the nail in the coffin. I much prefer good food, drinks, and old music in a relaxed atmosphere. No lists, and no high heels.)
I like my new Danish friends. A lot :)
I dislike missing my family. A lot :(
Finally, I love my newly adopted little-big city of Copenhagen. I love what I do, and I really love the people I've met in the last ten months. So a big fat tusind tak to all involved, and a happy free Tuesday evening to moi :)
I like to cut up six-pack plastic rings before throwing them out, even though I know now that it doesn't make much of a difference for the fish.
I dislike seeing said six-pack rings littering the streets of Copenhagen. (I pick these up, snip them apart with my always-handy sewing scissors, and throw them out. Yes, I've been stared at as though I have multiple heads.)
I like stirring sugar into my latte less than is necessary for it to fully mix in with the coffee. Because then, at the end of the latte, there is a sugar mixture which is almost too sweet to stomach...but just sweet enough. And when the drink is gone, I like removing the lid and scooping out the leftover foam. (I drink coffee like a five-year-old.)
I dislike when my coffee is served at any temperature below "searing hot." This is why I frequent Lagkagehuset over Holm bakery.
When the sun is out, I like to walk across Knippelsbro while listening to my iPod, close my eyes, and feel the springtime on my face. I look idiotic, perhaps, but it is such a nice sensation.
I dislike coming home to hear my cantankerous neighbors fighting in slurred Danish, stopping the fight when their dog begins to howl--at which point the lovely couple howls along with their pet.
I like to buy myself flowers from the stands in Israel Plads on Sundays. Cherry blossoms are my favorite, followed closely by daisies, sunflowers, and orchids.
I dislike when the flowers die mere days later. I feel like I cannot keep anything (other than myself) alive for very long. Though at the beginning of the season I did have an orchid which lasted three months...
On free weekday nights like this evening, I like to put on my biggest sweater--it reaches my knees--and fuzzy knee socks, curl up in bed right after eating dinner, and watch a happy sort of movie while eating Dumle candies and drinking "red," a flavor of blended juice sold in Denmark.
I dislike when the Dumle wrappers pile up and the movie ends, because by that point I am quite cozy and do not want to get up to throw the wrappers away. But I have to. I cannot sleep in a bed of red plastic.
When I go out with friends, I like to collect the free postcards offered at most cafes and bars. I have a collection of over 200 now. (I also like taking pictures of lost shoes while out. There are more lonely shoes in Copenhagen than you'd think. See previous post for photographic evidence.)
I dislike forgetting to bring my own plastic bag to the grocery store. Buying them there costs 3 kroner, and I have quite a stash at home, so the whole situation is mildly frustrating and costs me money (albeit not much, but still).
To combat my neighbors' noise, I like to play very old music at a fairly loud level. Not rock and roll, but go back a little further. I feel the contrast will maybe send them a message: Yes, I can play your game; but I will do it with style.
I dislike the nights where I cannot sleep because I am homesick or upset or feeling like a 21-year-old single American girl in Denmark. These nights are few and far between, but they are annoying. Plus I wake up tired for work, and my profession is not so easy to begin with, being quite physical in nature and all.
I like finding surprising new places to go out to dinner or brunch or for drinks. (A few of my favorites, for their atmosphere and music and decor, are Mesteren & Lærlingen, Cafe Din Nye Ven, Cafe Intime, The Living Room, Dalle Valle, Sofie kælderen, Christianshavn Beboerhus, Månefiskeren, Dag H, Pastis, I'll stop here but needless to say, Copenhagen has many excellent places for day or night...)
I dislike going to a place that makes me uncomfortable. Most trendy, hip nightclubs and other places where "cool people" go give me that sort of feeling. (I went to a place called TS Bar once. It has no listed address, and you must either be on the list or a guest of someone on the list--I was one of the latter, obviously--in order to get in. Outside the basement-level entry is a sign reading "Shhh..." and inside was very dark and overpriced. The quiet sign put me off straight away, and the prices put the nail in the coffin. I much prefer good food, drinks, and old music in a relaxed atmosphere. No lists, and no high heels.)
I like my new Danish friends. A lot :)
I dislike missing my family. A lot :(
Finally, I love my newly adopted little-big city of Copenhagen. I love what I do, and I really love the people I've met in the last ten months. So a big fat tusind tak to all involved, and a happy free Tuesday evening to moi :)
Saturday, May 1, 2010
48 Hours
I figured today I'd give a glimpse into my daily life--not that I'm especially fascinating, but it's something to write about, and yesterday and today offer good examples of both my free day and work day schedules.
Yesterday was Friday, and in Denmark, something called "Stor Bededag," which basically means Big Pray Day/a day off from work. Basically, from what I know, in the days of yore Danes had "pray days" sprinkled liberally throughout the calendar year. Then, a German guy came into office and decided it would be efficient to combine the pray days into one Big Pray Day...and there you have the explanation for yesterday being a "free day" for me :) Most of the shops were closed, and I elected to catch up on some much-needed sleep, rising at the semi-decent hour of 11:30am. I futzed around on the Internet, changed out of my pajamas at noon, and made a trip to Lagkagehuset for a pastry and a latte. After I was done eating and stumbling through a Danish newspaper, I went to work to do some laundry and sauna. (Yes, we have washers and dryers at the theatre; and yes, we have a wonderful lovely sauna.) I came back home at around 2, Skyped with family, noodled about the Internet some more, ate dinner and watched my favorite movie ever, Amelie. I fell asleep reading British Elle at 10pm. It's official: I do indeed live the most exciting life ever.
Today was a work day for the ballerinas (and ballerinos) of Royal Danish Ballet, despite most other government-sponsored jobs having the day off. (Here in Denmark, May 1 aka May Day is a big excuse to find a park in Copenhagen, start drinking beer well before afternoon hours, and basically do that all day. General frivolity seems to be the description of May Day celebrations.) At any rate, I got to the theatre at 9 to change and warmup and get coffee from the Kantine. There is a small group of us who get to work at pretty much the same time every day, and we've dubbed ourselves "The Breakfast Club." So I sat and chatted with TBC, others arrived, and at 10 we had (optional) morning class with our boss, Nikolaj Hubbe. (Daily class is technically optional, though my personal physical makeup requires that I take every morning. Plus, I enjoy ballerina class.) At 11:30, we had rehearsal for Serenade--the Holy Grail of Balanchine ballets, in my humble opinion--for an hour. I. Love. That. Ballet. 12:30 meant lunchtime today. (On performance days, lunch is shortened to 35 minutes and starts at 12:30; non-performance days, we have a leisurely 45 minutes though break starts an hour later.) At precisely 1:05, I had a 55 minute rehearsal for the Kim Brandstrup world premiere, debuting in our final program starting May 20. To end my rehearsal day, I trekked up to the studio known as Siberia for an hour's work on Jerome Robbins' fabulously weird The Cage.
After my last rehearsal, a couple of girlfriends and I took advantage of that awesome sauna. Then I showered, did a little grocery shopping before the stores closed at 5, and now I am home, blogging and Tweeting and Facebooking and all sorts of virtual communicating. Since I have a performance of Othello at 8 tonight, I will take a nap--or at least lie down and do absolutely nothing!--for about an hour. (Fun fact: Ballet dancers, at least at RDB, are big fans of naptime. Never call your friends between the hours of 4 and 6 on performance day. It's naptime.) I'll head over to Skuespilhuset to be there around 7, and get my greasepaint on and pigtails ready to soldier forth at 8. Othello is quite short, clocking in at 45 minutes, and we have tomorrow off, so following the performance a bunch of people from our little group hope to go out and celebrate May Day for a bit...take advantage of a few hours of blissful normalcy.
So there you have it. 48 hours in the life of a ballerina child. It's not exactly Page Six-worthy stuff, but it's a daily life I rather enjoy :)
Yesterday was Friday, and in Denmark, something called "Stor Bededag," which basically means Big Pray Day/a day off from work. Basically, from what I know, in the days of yore Danes had "pray days" sprinkled liberally throughout the calendar year. Then, a German guy came into office and decided it would be efficient to combine the pray days into one Big Pray Day...and there you have the explanation for yesterday being a "free day" for me :) Most of the shops were closed, and I elected to catch up on some much-needed sleep, rising at the semi-decent hour of 11:30am. I futzed around on the Internet, changed out of my pajamas at noon, and made a trip to Lagkagehuset for a pastry and a latte. After I was done eating and stumbling through a Danish newspaper, I went to work to do some laundry and sauna. (Yes, we have washers and dryers at the theatre; and yes, we have a wonderful lovely sauna.) I came back home at around 2, Skyped with family, noodled about the Internet some more, ate dinner and watched my favorite movie ever, Amelie. I fell asleep reading British Elle at 10pm. It's official: I do indeed live the most exciting life ever.
Today was a work day for the ballerinas (and ballerinos) of Royal Danish Ballet, despite most other government-sponsored jobs having the day off. (Here in Denmark, May 1 aka May Day is a big excuse to find a park in Copenhagen, start drinking beer well before afternoon hours, and basically do that all day. General frivolity seems to be the description of May Day celebrations.) At any rate, I got to the theatre at 9 to change and warmup and get coffee from the Kantine. There is a small group of us who get to work at pretty much the same time every day, and we've dubbed ourselves "The Breakfast Club." So I sat and chatted with TBC, others arrived, and at 10 we had (optional) morning class with our boss, Nikolaj Hubbe. (Daily class is technically optional, though my personal physical makeup requires that I take every morning. Plus, I enjoy ballerina class.) At 11:30, we had rehearsal for Serenade--the Holy Grail of Balanchine ballets, in my humble opinion--for an hour. I. Love. That. Ballet. 12:30 meant lunchtime today. (On performance days, lunch is shortened to 35 minutes and starts at 12:30; non-performance days, we have a leisurely 45 minutes though break starts an hour later.) At precisely 1:05, I had a 55 minute rehearsal for the Kim Brandstrup world premiere, debuting in our final program starting May 20. To end my rehearsal day, I trekked up to the studio known as Siberia for an hour's work on Jerome Robbins' fabulously weird The Cage.
After my last rehearsal, a couple of girlfriends and I took advantage of that awesome sauna. Then I showered, did a little grocery shopping before the stores closed at 5, and now I am home, blogging and Tweeting and Facebooking and all sorts of virtual communicating. Since I have a performance of Othello at 8 tonight, I will take a nap--or at least lie down and do absolutely nothing!--for about an hour. (Fun fact: Ballet dancers, at least at RDB, are big fans of naptime. Never call your friends between the hours of 4 and 6 on performance day. It's naptime.) I'll head over to Skuespilhuset to be there around 7, and get my greasepaint on and pigtails ready to soldier forth at 8. Othello is quite short, clocking in at 45 minutes, and we have tomorrow off, so following the performance a bunch of people from our little group hope to go out and celebrate May Day for a bit...take advantage of a few hours of blissful normalcy.
So there you have it. 48 hours in the life of a ballerina child. It's not exactly Page Six-worthy stuff, but it's a daily life I rather enjoy :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)