Don’t expect to see just tutus and pointe shoes at this year’s Loyola Spring ballet production. An American Ballet Theatre student will be a featured dancer.
Megan Adams, management sophomore, was accepted to the American Ballet Theatre in New York City in January after trying out in an open-audition in Baton Rouge, LA. Adams will be attending American Ballet Theater this summer for its Summer Intensive Program, that will include both lecture and technique classes.
“I kind of just wanted to go for the audition experience — I didn’t think I would get into it because (American Ballet Theatre) is a highly acclaimed company, especially their school,” Adams said.
Adams’ professor and artistic director of Loyola Ballet Laura Zambrano was excited.
“I was thrilled. I think it’s a wonderful experience for Megan,” Zambrano said.
“She has steadily improved through the (Loyola) program, and I think this would be an excellent time for her to take another leap forward with her training. Also to have the opportunity to go to New York, a place heavy with dance,” she said.
Adams is one of many students involved in this year’s spring performances, which will celebrate National Dance Week.
The performance will feature excerpts from “La Fille Mal Gardée,” the comedic story of a young woman in love a man much to the dismay of her mother, who is trying to get her daughter to court a different, wealthy but un-intelligent suitor.
Act 1 from “Giselle,” “Albinoni Adagio,” “and “Zimbabwe,” an African-inspired piece, will also be performed.
“We have classical, contemporary and character works,” Zambrano said.
Along with the Loyola students taking part in the production, guest performers include students from the Komenka Ethnic Dance Ensemble; Colleen Murphy A’08 and Kenneth Bryan A’08; Kimberly Matulich, formerly of the Alabama Ballet; and Scott Spivey of the Memphis Ballet.
When selecting any of her ballet performances, Zambrano said she takes several elements into consideration.
“There are several things that go into play, you look at what is going to be good to develop the students, and give them an opportunity to have a variety of classical, character and contemporary pieces, because they’re all different,” Zambrano said.
“They require different preparation for rehearsals and performances.”
Zambrano said she tries to bring a different tone and feel to the ballet pieces every year.
“Every ballet has its own story line, its own development of artistry, so everyone that we do includes different styles of ballet,” Zambrano said.
After much preparation with dedicated class time and long rehearsals, Zambrano hopes to put on a memorable show.
“Most importantly, I want the students to grow physically and artistically, to see them express themselves in the character they’re trying to portray, and get those feelings and emotions and stories across to the audience,” Zambrano said.
“We always like to give a variety to the audience.”
Some of the ballet students will also be performing in the Loyola Opera Theatre performance of “Dido and Aeneas,” set to open Monday, April 27.
The Loyola Spring ballet production will take place Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Roussell Performance Hall, in the Communications/Music Complex. General admission is $12, and admission for students, faculty, staff, seniors and children is $8.
Jaune Jackson can be reached at [email protected].
