WOW! Today was a pretty compact day. We woke up rather early to head to High School #9 for two Lecture Demonstrations. Well I actually only had to dance one Lec Demo but I was scheduled to conduct an assembly with ensemble dancers Alex Jacob and Lourdes Rodriguez, at the A C Bilbrew Library.
As our taxi pulled up in front of the high school, I was baffled by how utterly gorgeous the architecture was, and how big it was for a high school. Walking through the “campus” I realized that it was a performing arts high school. A feeling of happiness mixed with sadness came over me for a little while. I was taken back to the days when I was in my performing arts high school (Fiorello H. LaGuardia HS). I was happy that there was a chance to inspire future dancers and change lives. At the same time, it was sombering to think about the struggles and challenges that I faced along the way. I thought about how much one goes through in a school full of talented people their age, which can sometimes be overwhelming if one isn’t strong and confident in them self. With these things in mind I prepared myself to give my very best! The Lecture demonstration performances mean so much to me. Standing at a barre and showing a ballet class right after having one, is not a trip to Disney Land, but thinking about what the Lec Demo did for me seeing it at 8 years old brings me joy and makes it a privilege to give back.
The auditorium there was beautiful! They had a nice size stage, an orchestra pit, and the house was very similar to LaGuardia’s. I instantly felt at home! However THERE WAS NO MARLEY ON THE FLOOR! Usually when a ballet company comes to a theater, stage hands or technicians lay down marley on the floors. This makes it safer for pointe shoes and ballet slippers. The floor was pretty rough to dance on, but I secretly didn’t care. I just wanted to perform for the students. Some ballets had to be taken out, and some choreography had to be altered but we pushed through!
After the Lec demo ended, Ashley Murphy, Loudes, Alex, and I headed out to meet our driver who was going to take us back to our hotel, to relax and prepare for the other services we had been scheduled to do. Ashley was scheduled to teach a master class in a school located a little north of where we stayed and the three of us had to do the video assembly. Back at the hotel I napped a little, then woke up to prepare my thoughts and ideas to share. We then enjoyed a ride in a stretch limo to the Library! We traveled in style and we realized more than ever one of Mr. Mitchell’s axioms, “You are representing something much larger than yourselves. You are representing The Dance Theatre of Harlem.”
The assembly was supposed to consist of two videos and then some questions and answers, but due to technical difficulties, the videos didn’t play. Instead we began to share our journeys to DTH. I grew emotional thinking about how much the Dance Theatre of Harlem has changed my life. I was so happy to be able to open up and inform people about such an institution.
The day ended with an amazing Brazilian dinner and me finding out that my debit card had been duplicated in NY and cleared out by a thief. Thus putting a freeze on my accounts! Panicking much?……I am!
Wow Christopher, what a beautiful piece. I loved reading it. Both my parents were dancers, my mom, ballroom, my dad, ballet. He danced with Jerome Robbins Ballets USA for a season, and when I was 6 we went to Europe to see him! It was always great to see my dad on stage, whether in “Music Man” in San Francisco, or co-choreographing the Sonny & Cher show in rehearsals in Hollywood.
I hope you keep writing. Your visions are from the heart and are so meaningful.
And I hope DTH comes to northern California where I live. I haven’t seen the company in years and they are my favorite.
Many good wishes to you,
Sincerely,
Kristy Thomposn