By Debra Schreiber/Pittsburgh
It’s opening night for Ballet West.
“This is it, this is what you’ve been waiting for,” said Christiana.
“You’ve been great, so just do it, and enjoy,” Adam told the dancers, 24 hours before first cast and 48 hours before second cast went on the stage.
It’s Ronnie’s first opening night with Ballet West, and Adam thinks it will help him earn the promotion he wants. He believes Beckanne will bring down the house. He knows he has given a lot of responsibility to Allison, but thinks she can pull it off. He only hopes that Rex is focused enough to make it through with Christiana, an older and more experienced dancer, as his partner.
Courtesy of Buddytv.com
So, performance day superstitions? Christiana has a pre-performance routine with food. Beckanne enjoys shopping. Ronnie refuses to get sucked into a routine.
“Everybody’s really tense,” Adam said. “I’m really tense.”
Rex’s and Allison’s families are there to see them perform, which Allison said just ads more pressure. Allison is still nervous about her tempos.
Ronnie’s solo in “Paquita” is a hit.
“It’s what I live for,” said Beckanne of her solo. Adam liked what he saw.
Courtesy of Buddytv.com
Allison was not pleased with her solo’s tempo.
Next up, “Emerlands.” Both Christiana’s husband and Adam were very proud of her performance.
Then, “Petite Mort.” This one freaks Adam out “the most.” This one has props. But everything went well…tonight.
“Overall I was so happy with how opening night went. I was pleased with my dancers, and the audience loved it,” said Adam. “Tomorrow, second cast, we do it again.”
Adam believes second cast is challenging because every changes roles. Allison will be dancing in Christiana’s role, which is really stressing her out. Beckanne will be dancing second cast as well because the dancer she shared the role with for “Paquita” is injured. Christiana and Rex are dancing the leads in “Paquita.”
Everything goes well until “Petite Mort.” Rex fell.
“It’s just not a fun thing to fall onstage,” he said. “But I still had to go one…I couldn’t let it get to me.”
“Falling happens onstage. What’s important is how the dancer gets up,” Adam said, adding that he was proud of the way Rex handled himself.
Next week we get a glimpse of what’s going on with Ronald and Katie…and closing night.
Tune in next Thursday at 8/7c CW for more “Breaking Pointe” and watch full episodes online here.
