My birthday was last Friday and I was all set for that “get in free on your birthday” Disneyland offer. But, alas, my beloved Torin was sick and there was no way that a rainy, damp, windy day outside was going to help him fight off the tail end of his cold.
So… on a whim I decided to see if I could find The Nutcracker playing nearby at the last minute! Yes, there it was – at The Irvine Barclay, opening night (opening night tickets were only $20/person, regular tickets will be $38/person) and offered by The Festival Ballet Theatre. We hopped in the car and got to the box office when it opened and wonder of wonders they did have two seats that had been turned in!
I had been a dancer in Ballet Pacifica’s The Nutcracker for years as a young woman and this was going to be a real trip down memory lane! My roles had included a principal snowflake and flower, an angel, a big rat (our rat king was very heavy by the way when we had to carry him out!) and a soldier. And in school I’d danced the parts of the Arabian and the Spanish dancers!
This opening night featured two guest principal dancers from American Ballet Theatre, Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky. A husband and wife team who had received their initial training from the Kiev Ballet School, this Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier were extraordinary to say the least. Technically perfect, lyrically complementing in their Pas de Deux and just an all around fine treat; such lift, such turnout, such extention!
As I sat there enjoying the also excellent youngsters in The Festival Ballet ensemble (Megan Yamashita as Clara was endearing and technically spot-on) my thoughts also turned to many of my “ballerina brides”.
Who hasn’t had a few ballet lessons (some of us much more than a few!) in our youth? Our moms and dads excited to see us up on stage in cute outfits doing the prerequisite jumps and spins??
So many of my brides say to me:
“Oh I’ve had ballet training but I’m not sure it will help a ballroom dance.”
“I took ballet when I was in high school years ago when I had more time.”
“In college I did ballet class several times a week just for fun.”
Although an old instructor of mine years ago said that ballet was not helpful in the least to ballroom, I do believe that ballet can add good things to a bride’s first dance.
First, ballerina brides are familiar with listening to music and hearing a beat.
Second, they have graceful arms and use their necks and heads well.
Third, they like to dance and can be patient with their grooms so they can enjoy something that they already know can be very fulfilling!
Of course ballerina brides also have to be very careful to avoid some pitfalls…
1) Since they do understand beat and music they need to realize that their groom will be leading and they will be following and they will have to be just a “hair” behind in the music.
2) Ballet uses a “center” that is high (especially if you were en pointe) often up in the neck and chest region while ballroom prefers a lower center in the abdomen.
3) Since ballerina brides already can technically “dance” they need to be super patient with their grooms so their gentlemen learn in a relaxed fashion and want to dance often with their lovely ballerinas!
Sometimes grooms will worry that they can’t ever be good enough to dance with their ballerina brides.
My response is certainly you will since a) you’re leading and she has to do what you lead and b) you’re going to practice lots and learn all my little technique points to make you confident and handsome on the floor!
So if you’re a bride who has had a little ballet and are ready for first dance lessons know that I’ve been there too. I had to adapt and learn and it has been worth it!
Below is a lovely picture of one of my ballerina brides from years ago. Marisol and her handsome groom, Gabriel, had their reception at the Richard Nixon Library and did an outstanding rumba for their first dance.
And yes Marisol lowered her center and Gabriel learned to lead and dance with musicality and good form! I saw them the other day and they are still dancing together, this time learning the Argentine Tango.
Marisol and Gabriel's Romantic Rumba Kiss!
