I'm a Ballet Buff

Who knew? Prior to a few years ago, I’d never given much thought to the art and discipline of ballet. I’ve never been a dancer, and though I’ve always enjoyed watching dance, the extent of my experience with ballet consisted of an occasional trip to the Benedum at Christmastime to see the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre perform The Nutcracker. Or if by chance my ballet-loving friend Beth, who always had a season subscription to PBT, would take me along.

That all changed three years ago when my friend and fellow writer Luke, whose daughters are both ballerinas, invited me to a matinee performance by the Lake Charles Civic Ballet (LCCB). Unlike at the Benedum, where, invariably, I’d be sitting near the back and the dancers appeared as large ants onstage, at the Rosa Hart Theatre there’s no such thing as a bad seat. By sitting close to the stage, I can see every expression on the dancers’ animated faces. And I’ve discovered that these dancers are not only dancing: they are acting.

This was profoundly evident last weekend when my friend Mischelle and I attended LCCB’s spring performance, called Assemblé 2013. Assemblé is a French word (as well as a ballet term) meaning to come together. The show was appropriately named because LCCB’s goal was (and will continue to be) to bring together many various forms of art into one exciting show. Mission accomplished. I can’t recall a time when I have been so thoroughly entertained by such a variety of sights and sounds in one performance. The show combined a myriad of dance styles, musical genres with onstage musicians, and visual arts. I laughed. I cried. I said WOW!! a gazillion times. The show included classical ballet, Broadway, and original LCCB pieces. For the complete story, read my article in this recent Jambalaya News issue here.

Mischelle and I on the “red carpet,” eagerly anticipating the show.

From Graduation Ball. 

 

 

West Side Story.

In Trepak, Death is a beautiful seductress.

In The Fable, an original LCCB piece, a group of blind men each experience an elephant in different ways – the ears, trunk, tusks, skin. “Only through multiple perspectives do we understand the truth,” said Lady Holly Hathaway Kaough, artistic director of LCCB.

 

LCCB’s next performance is May 19, 2013. If you live in southwest Louisiana, do yourself a favor and don’t miss it! And if you aren’t one already, you’ll become a ballet buff like me.

Photos used courtesy of Danley Romero of Romero and Romero Photography and with permission by the Lake Charles Civic Ballet.

Weekend Happenings

Prior to moving from the big city to a smaller town, a concern I had was that there wouldn't be much to do, comparatively. Not yet knowing anything about Lake Charles, I associated the town with industry. How much fun could there be?

I could not have been more wrong. And I'm so glad to say that! Lake Charles embraces a vibrant cultural scene, with music, arts, and festivals galore. If I could clone myself, there still would not be enough of me to see and do everything I'd like around here.

Take this weekend for example. Tonight begins a music fest called Live @ the Lakefront. For the next three consecutive Fridays, Arts and Humanities Council and the City of Lake Charles host bands at the lakefront outdoor amphitheater. And I'm thrilled because this evening, one of my favorite artists, Wendy Colonna, takes the stage. See a video of her music here. Click here for more info on Live @ the Lakefront.

I belong to a kayaking club called the Pelican Paddlers, and I'll be out on the Calcasieu River Saturday morning with them. More on that in a future post. There's a gardening expo this weekend at Burton Coliseum. I promise to write more on the joys of gardening in southwest Louisiana sometime soon, too.

There's the Iowa Rabbit Festival, but I went to that last year. Read the post I wrote last year here.

Saturday evening, I'm so excited to attend the long-awaited dual production of The Sleeping Beauty by the Lake Charles Civic Ballet and the Lake Charles Symphony. Info on this event is everywhere -- they've done a grand job of marketing. But look here if you need more.

Nearly simultaneously, our beloved Banners series presents Rhythmic Circus, one of Andrew's favorite shows. Feet Don't Fail Me Now! We haven't yet figured out the logistics of attending both of these events Saturday night.

But it promises to be fun! What are you doing this weekend?

Lake Charles Civic Ballet presents Rudolph

I attended Lake Charles Civic Ballet’s production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer last weekend. One word comes to mind – DELIGHTFUL. The colorful costumes and charming sets really brought the story to life, as did, of course, the wonderful dancers. Scene to scene, the show was pure fun. And a refreshing change from the season’s standard Nutcracker. All the dancers did a great job, but I really enjoyed seeing Gabby Saucier in the spotlight. Hard to believe this talented young lady is only in 8th grade.


Gabby’s sister Addie beautifully danced the role of the Snow Queen.


I’ve seen several productions by this ballet company, and they are all wonderful, but this was my favorite so far. Can’t wait till March 17 to see Sleeping Beauty! Watch the LCCB website for ticket info.

Many thanks to my guest photographer Cameron Durham! Read my post about Cameron on the ballet blog here. Check out Cameron’s awesome photography on his website here.