As the San Francisco Ballet School year comes to a close, rehearsals for the 2012 Student Showcase are kicking into full gear. This year, there will be a full range of performances – including student demonstrations; George Balanchine’s Western Symphony; Myles Thatcher’s Spinae; Francisco Mungamba’s Dunas; and even an excerpt from La Sylphide.

As students, we’re used to observing with our noses pressed up to the glass in admiration while the Company rehearses and takes class in the largest studio, named after Lew Christensen. Since the Company has finished their 2012 season, we’re privileged enough to rehearse for our Showcase in the L.C. Studio. The utter thought of dancing on the same Marley floors as the resident Company is completely enthralling and inspirational to each and every student!

San Francisco Ballet School students perform in the 2011 Student Showcase (© Erik Tomasson)

There is a sense of excitement and buzz from all the students when rehearsing; especially for the high-energy packed Western Symphony. As expected, students are coached and rehearsed by the multi-faceted faculty such as Tina LeBlanc and Jeff Lyons, but also Associate Director Lola de Avila, Principal Dancer and guest teacher Sofiane Sylve, and Bonita Borne, who staged the work for us. Needless to say, we are in quite good hands! Each one brings their unique set of advice, critiques, fun, and their own personal experiences from dancing Western Symphony.

It was a great treat having Bonnie Borne, former New York City Ballet dancer, set and rehearse the ballet on us. As a student it was a great learning experience for what it feels like to learn choreography quickly and to also adjust to a different style of ballet. Balanchine ballets are generally very precise, musical, and fast. While the foot work is sharp and exact there is a great feel of freedom and enthrallment within the movements.

The style of Western Symphony, apart from the cowboys and the “Yee-haws!” has an influence from American folk dancing which brings a whole new and different feeling to ballet steps. The only way that I can think to describe this feeling is, “ballet electrified.” Its upbeat tempo makes it easy to feel the energy and generate a response of making you want to get up and dance. As an orchestral take on popular American folk songs, the music is familiar and catchy. I even find myself humming along while in rehearsals. With the great Wild West themed choreography by the legendary George Balanchine, and the American theme of the Wild West, I am hoping the audience will enjoy watching the performance as much as we all enjoy dancing the repertoire.

San Francisco Ballet School students perform in the 2011 Student Showcase (© Erik Tomasson)

The choice of repertoire for this year’s Student Showcase is challenging both technically and artistically. As the daily Western Symphony rehearsal comes to an end, and the rehearsal for La Sylphide begins, the ambiance in the studio changes drastically. We exchange our black pointe shoes and ‘Wild West sass’ for long, white romantic tutus, transforming ourselves into the mystical characters of Sylphs.

Between their music, steps, style, and storyline, the two ballets couldn’t be more opposite. I find this extreme contrast to be exciting as a dancer. Not only is it fun to dance and act as two completely different characters, it is also testing as an artist. Throughout the La Sylphide rehearsals I find the most challenging part about the ballet is not the choreography or the technicality, but instead the style and simplicity. The steps in La Sylphide are as close to the roots of classical ballet as one could find, and almost have a reserved quality. It is within this refinement and confined range of individual interpretation that the dancer must find their artistry, while also staying true to the ballet’s pure and classical romantic style.

With La Sylphide’s romantic storyline, each step in the ballet has a heartfelt purpose. Lola de Avila and Pascale Leroy are conducting the rehearsals and have shown their expertise in coaching us on the ballet’s romantic style while also explaining each movement, step, and position in great detail. It’s been an educating and rewarding experience so far, and I, as well as the other students of the San Francisco Ballet School, am eagerly anticipating the performances, to demonstrate the culmination of our year’s hard work!