Local children get in shape for ABT’s ‘The Sleeping Beauty’
They are learning teamwork, perseverance and dedication to craft while honing their balance and form.
And next week, 60 local children will put their skills on display with the American Ballet Theatre’s return to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts for the world premiere of “The Sleeping Beauty.”
The child dancers, who auditioned at the center’s Samueli Theater in January, had to be strong and meet age and height requirements. And after rehearsing for five hours every weekend for a month, the students have stepped up practice with evening and daytime rehearsals during the week.
It’s up to Lorin Johnson, the local rehearsal master, to oversee the children and keep them in shape until the rest of the American Ballet Theatre team arrives in town.
“Let’s get you warmed up,” he said to a group of children dressed in dance wear on a Saturday afternoon.
Children ages 10 to 15 brushed their slippers across the Judy Morr Theater to the sounds of Tchaikovsky’s score and extended their arms.
Performing with the American Ballet Theatre requires intense preparation because it is recognized as one of the greatest dance companies in the world.
Since its founding in 1940, ABT has annually toured the United States and also made more than 30 international tours to 43 countries. The company was created to develop a repertoire of the best ballets from the past and to encourage the creation of new works by talented choreographers. ABT has commissioned works by prolific choreographers of the 20th century, including George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Twyla Tharp and many others.
“The Sleeping Beauty” features choreography by Marius Petipa and restaging and additional choreography by Alexei Ratmansky.
Ratmansky, artist in residence at ABT in New York since 2009, was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and served as a principal dancer with the Ukrainian National Ballet, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet. He directed the Bolshoi Ballet from 2004 to 2008, nurturing a new generation of dancers such as Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev, who performed at the Segerstrom Center in July.
The children will have the opportunity to meet with the 46-year-old choreographer, who matches classical ballet with contemporary styles.
“It’s significant because Alexei Ratmansky is one of the most celebrated choreographers, and he is overseeing the production,” Johnson said.
Johnson, an associate professor in the dance department at Cal State Long Beach, performed with the San Francisco Ballet before joining ABT. Since 2004, he has served on the faculty of ABT’s summer intensive program and adjudicates West Coast audition classes.
Having the company make its 23rd visit to the center is exciting and special, said Judy Morr, the Segerstrom Center’s executive vice president.
“It’s almost like having a member of the family come home,” Morr said. “It’s an honor we will have here.”
In January, Segerstrom announced it had partnered with ABT to create a ballet training program for children at the William J. Gillespie School at the center. The program, designed for children ages 3 to 14, will be led by certified faculty members of ABT’s national training curriculum. The inaugural class begins in September.
“I think it’s fantastic that we’re able to have so many people from our community be a part of this production,” she said.
The classic story tells the tale of a princess cursed to sleep for 100 years by an evil sorceress until she is awakened by the kiss of a prince. It was first performed at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg in 1890. The ballet, composed by Tchaikovsky, is considered one of classical repertoire’s most famous ballets.
The production, inspired by the Ballets Russes production that premiered in London in 1921, will showcase sets and costumes inspired by Leon Bakst designs. Tchaikovsky’s score will be performed by the Pacific Symphony. Principal dancers include Diana Vishneva, Marcelo Gomes, Gillian Murphy and James Whiteside, among others.
The opportunity to dance alongside the master ballerinas required the children meet some tough challenges, like the beginning of Act 1, when Aurora celebrates her 16th birthday.
“Remember when Aurora pricks her finger?” Johnson asked as he observed the ballerinas positioned before a barre. “Pretend the floor is hot so your pique is a bit more raised.”
“It’s a very hard dance,” Johnson said as he walked around the mirrored room. “It takes a lot of stamina because the steps are very difficult. But I think it’s going to be an amazing opportunity for these students to embark on this body of work. I think the experience will be thrilling for them.”
If You Go
What: American Ballet Theatre: “The Sleeping Beauty”
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday, March 3 through 8
Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: Starts at $29
Information: (714) 556-2787 or scfta.org