On Pointe (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 6 - Showtime! - full transcript
Opening night arrives. A student wins an award from Lincoln Center. SAB closes due to COVID-19.
(CAR HORNS HONKING)
(DRAMATIC CLASSIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Being on stage
just came naturally for me.
I love it.
First time I stepped on that stage,
I was like, "Oh, my God."
I actually look
into the audience a lot.
I feel like I'm giving something
to whoever's watching.
DOMINIKA: To perform at the end
is the best part,
because you can see
what you're striving for.
My favorite thing is when they laugh
and cheer you on.
(APPLAUSE)
KAY: They adore being on stage.
It's a big deal.
(APPLAUSE)
BRANDON: Tonight is opening night
of The Nutcracker.
-It's probably going to rain. Definitely.
-Okay, so not too bad,
people will probably still come
-and not give up their tickets.
-BRANDON: Yes.
Everything is either going to be the best
or the worst there
because your adrenaline is, um,
like, really high,
'cause it's opening night,
but you're also kind of scared.
Every time, for me, it always feels
like it's the first time he's performing.
It's like I don't know how he does it,
'cause I get butterflies in my stomach,
and I'm literally sitting downstairs
watching on a screen.
(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)
BRANDON: I'm one of those people
who is there very early.
I've been here since 4:00.
And the show starts at 7:00? Seven.
It's my biggest pet peeve
when someone arrives
at the dot of where
you're supposed to be.
You couldn't have just
come ten minutes earlier?
KELLY: Opening night,
what you've been working for.
SOPHIA: We do 25 performances,
which is a lot.
Right before I was like,
"What if I don't feel
like I've learned everything."
But after the dress rehearsals
I feel really ready
Close your eyes, babe.
All right sweetie, what do you need?
-KELLY: I love this.
-Hi!
MEGAN: And a sponge. And a…
-SUZY: Okay, good.
-MEGAN: This is exciting!
I keep using the word "surreal"
because it really is kind of a dream,
especially when I see her up there
next to the principal dancers.
-It's pretty cool, right?
-Mm-hmm.
MEGAN: Tonight
I'll be performing the Dew Drop.
Dancing with the kids
is really fun because
I remember being a kid myself.
I'm dancing the role
of the Sugarplum Fairy tonight.
You dream about this role
when you're a little girl.
I did probably every single child part
you could do, starting with a mouse.
I remember my first Mother Ginger
and I had a crush on him. (LAUGHS)
MARIA: My first solo
I'm surrounded by Angels.
it's really nice to look at their innocent
little faces and just kind
of get that extra little energy.
MEGAN: It's a full circle moment
for every single person
that's in the company.
OLIVIA: Whenever I'm backstage
and about to go on,
I'm afraid that like, "Oh, maybe
I'll fall on my face or I'll trip."
Just like jittery.
It's all those nerves racked up together.
You can't bottle this, she's just happy…
happier than she's ever been.
ANGELICA: (IN SPANISH)
-(CHILDREN CHATTERING)
-Hi, guys, how's everybody today?
-CHILDREN: Good.
-Are we ready for a great show?
-CHILDREN: Yes!
-Whoo!
I am definitely ready
for a great show.
After all this lead up, yes,
we are finally here.
-No. You're not.
-Yeah. You can. Yeah. You can.
DENA: They live here for the run
of The Nutcracker,
because it's almost six weeks.
A lot of them have dinner,
others do their homework
'cause tomorrow they have school.
People become really close friends.
GIRL 1:
It looks exactly like that.
DENA: They create memories here
and they never forget them.
Wow! A little angel.
It's a small space,
but it's full of joy. (CHUCKLES)
(EXCITED CHATTERING)
What about that?
DENA: The girls put on makeup
for the first time in their lives
and do it for an hour long.
You know when you think everything's
gonna look great
-and then it's just like…
-I know!
SABRINA: People will have to say…
Oh, my gosh, Brandon you're not
even spraying it in the back.
That might be a fire hazard
-at this point.
-Right?
SUSY:
KELLY: Oh, never, Ms. Suzy.
SOPHIA: Mm-hmm.
SUSY:
KELLY: Okay.
This is how
my quick change goes.
So, I walk backstage,
and it's in the dark,
I give my sword to someone,
I put my head, I run…
-I put my head?
-I mean I take the Nutcracker off,
this other guy he lifts me up
and the guy has the pants,
he walks to the side…
BRANDON: You lost me when
you said, "I take my head off." (LAUGHS)
(KAI SMACKS LIPS, GROWLS)
(IN SPANISH)
Yeah, do that.
Daddy's coming down,
I'm gonna switch out
-'cause I'm gonna go see it. I love you.
-Okay. Bye.
Boy Polichinelles,
keep that diagonal open.
So, lots of energy,
lots of joy,
listen to the music,
and now you're not nervous anymore,
because you're ready to go out there
and give the audience a great show.
-Okay? Have a great time.
-CHILDREN: Thank you.
FEMALE SUPERVISOR: Party Scene,
we'll be calling you in about 15 minutes.
BOY 1: I'm not nervous.
BRANDON: Hopefully,
you won't do that in the show.
-GIRL 2: Sophia, you nervous?
-Yeah.
GIRL 2: The Nutcracker,
25 chances to mess up. (LAUGHS)
BOY 2: I'm so nervous.
BOY 3:
I'm scared about my hair.
More than 1,000 people watching us.
GIRL 3: I'm more worried
about Ms. Abergel seeing the mistakes,
than I'm worried when
my family's watching.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
STEVE: It doesn't seem real yet.
We can't wait to see Sophia on stage
doing what she loves.
It’s gonna be great.
They flew in
from Virginia Beach yesterday.
KAI'S GRANDPA:
We're going to see Kai.
He's the Nutcracker, the Prince,
the whole show.
I feel that Balanchine was able
to capture in his Nutcracker,
this really iconic family feeling
of holiday and celebration.
I think that's partly why so many
people bring their children at first
and sometimes only
to The Nutcracker.
(PERFORMANCE START BELL DINGING)
Hey, guys! You feel good?
-Yeah.
-Okay. Can't wait to see you guys.
(ORCHESTRA STARTS PLAYING)
MALE STAGE CREW:
(APPLAUSE)
("THE NUTCRACKER" BALLET
MUSIC PLAYS)
BRANDON: I was a bit nervous with Sophia
when we were sitting on the chair.
But after that I was, like,
I got this. (CHUCKLES)
SOPHIA: Getting to play Marie
was super special.
You definitely get to connect
with the whole cast.
(APPLAUSE)
And he used to go to SAB.
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
-GIRL 3: No.
-Oh, God. What?
GIRL 4: There's Tenzin,
is Prince. He's right here.
-GIRL 5: Where?
-ELLA: And there's me!
GIRL 6:
They tried to paint over them,
-but everybody rewrote them.
-ELLA: I wrote my name for Party Scene.
(BALLET MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-Go, go, go, go, go.
-FEMALE STAFF: Come on guys, quicker.
And remember, when you're in your wing,
take out your tail. Go.
Don't drag your tails,
hold them until you get in your wing.
JOHN:
Okay.
(APPLAUSE)
GIRL IN MOUSE COSTUME 1:
GIRL IN MOUSE COSTUME 2:
GIRL IN MOUSE COSTUME 3:
GIRL IN MOUSE COSTUME 1:
GIRL IN MOUSE COSTUME 1
GIRL IN MOUSE COSTUME 3:
FEMALE SUPERVISOR:
When I see Kai
dance on the stage,
in The Nutcracker specifically,
-I feel terror. Uh…
-(KAVITA CHUCKLES)
CHRIS: There's a green room and a screen
that monitors the live performance
and sometimes I have to leave the room
for a few minutes.
KAVITA: It's just great
to see your children
engaged in something so deeply.
I live a little vicariously
through my kids.
There's a joyfulness and a pleasure,
and this elation that you can sense.
It's like I can almost feel it.
(BALLET MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
WOMAN: Let's go, you guys.
KID IN RABBIT COSTUME:
That's not yours
-anymore.
-Come on.
(BALLET MUSIC PLAYING)
(APPLAUSE)
BALLERINA 1:
BALLERINA 2: Nice job.
DENA:
SOPHIA AND KAI: Thank you.
DENA:
(SOPHIA CHUCKLES)
There's so much snow.
There's a lot on my back.
REGINA: Okie-doke.
So, what are you gonna do
with a cup of confetti snow?
I don't know. (LAUGHS)
-GIRL 7: Sophia, you did great.
-GIRL 8: Yeah.
-CHRIS: You happy?
-Yeah, really happy.
I think I was better on stage
than I was in rehearsal.
It's almost as
if you're performing more in the story
and it continues instead of stopping
in places to fix things. So…
ULRIKA: Was it fun up there?
-Yeah.
-Yeah?
Were you nervous?
A little. Not really
when I was on stage.
But definitely in the beginning.
While we were waiting.
-But it felt good afterwards, doesn't it?
-Yeah.
Yeah. That's good
-It was pretty awesome.
-KAI: Thank you.
Guys look at my wings,
I'm flying. (GIGGLES)
I'm flying.
ANGEL 1:
Those are the hoops. Look.
-Look what she's wearing.
-ANGEL 2: Oh.
Oh, my God, boy Poli costumes,
it's like pregnant men,
like an alternate universe.
FEMALE SUPERVISOR: Walk on over in a line.
Hoops at the back door.
CHILDREN: Merde!
-ANGEL 3: Going on stage
-ANGEL 4: Are you nervous?
Sort of. Sort of. Like, kind of.
MAN 1: You're welcome.
MAN 2:
-Thank you.
-MAN 1: You're welcome.
ANGEL 5: Merde. Goodbye.
(INTERMISSION WARNING MUSIC PLAYS)
DENA: Remember behind your "X"s, girls,
before the Sugarplum dance, okay?
-(APPLAUSE)
-Trees below your chins. Below your chin.
(BALLET MUSIC RESTARTS)
LUIS: (IN SPANISH)
ANGELICA: (IN SPANISH)
-(MUSIC STOPS)
-(APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC RESTARTS)
(APPLAUSE)
CHILDREN:
-(MUSIC STOPS)
-(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
(INAUDIBLE)
(MUSIC RESTARTS)
GABBIE: When you hear the orchestra
it makes you feel, like, weird
because you've listened
to a piano play it all this time.
And then there's this loud music
with all this instruments.
It's pretty cool.
And actually, the Hoop costume
is sort of an instrument.
(APPLAUSE)
(GIGGLING)
(MUSIC STOPS)
(APPLAUSE, CHEERING)
JULIE: This will be her last year
in children's division,
then it would be a jump
to the intermediate, if she's accepted.
So, we think about it,
but we try not to focus on it.
OLIVIA: Where's Meredith?
-(GIRLS MURMURING)
-DENA: Come on, girls.
OLIVIA:
I just love performing on stage.
I become the person that I want to be.
-ELLA: It's cool to have an audience.
-(BALLET MUSIC PLAYING)
It's weird too though
'cause you're like,
"There's people watching me."
JANIE: Well, once you stop crying,
because of course
it's amazing to see your child up there,
it's incredible.
You see her up there,
excelling at something like that.
Every parent, I think,
wishes that for their child,
to be a part of something like this.
It's so cool.
(APPLAUSE)
(CHEERING)
(MUSIC STOPS)
DENA: That was the best one!
-GIRL 9: Seriously?
-You guys were great.
Yes! It was great!
Everyone was exactly on their count
sautéing into the skirt, right?
-I'm so proud of you guys. It was great.
-Thank you.
DENA: How was it for you?
It looked great.
-That was great for me.
-DENA: It's was really good.
PRESTON:
Thanks, guys.
-Okay.
-(MUSIC RESTARTS)
(APPLAUSE)
(CHEERING)
(GRAND FINALE MUSIC PLAYS)
-(MUSIC STOPS)
-(APPLAUSE)
(GRAND FINALE MUSIC RESTARTS)
-(FINAL DRUM ROLL)
-(APPLAUSE, CHEERING)
-(MUSIC STOPS)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING CONTINUES)
-GABBIE I'm so sorry. (LAUGHS)
-GIRL 10: It's okay.
-Good job, guys!
-GIRL 11: You too!
DENA: Hey, guys,
it was a great show!
Did everyone feel good?
-CHILDREN: Yeah.
-Great job.
-Thank you.
-DENA: See you next time.
-BIANCA: Thank you. You did amazing!
-KELLY: Okay, let's go.
-You did really good.
-Thank you.
FEMALE SUPERVISOR:
Do remember to take your cheeks off.
-KAI: Bye.
-You did so good! Do you feel good?
All of a sudden
I really was teary-eyed,
but I had to pull myself
together a little bit.
-JULIE: First one down.
-GABBY: Yeah, 24 to go.
JULIE: Goodnight!
-RUBY: Mind if I wear a skirt for that?
-KAY: Okay. The skirt's fine.
-So, do you remember this?
-Yeah.
I learned it back at PNB,
I never learned it here.
-Okay. So why don't we go over it first?
-So...
Kay Mazzo and Jonathan Stafford
have chosen me
for the Lincoln Center
Emerging Artist Award,
which is an award that is given
to one person
from each of the cohorts
of Lincoln Center.
And then behind you
and then you go here…
RUBY: And I get to perform a variation,
and there's a dinner.
Kay Mazzo wants me to do
the jumping variation from Raymonda,
which I learned back when I was
at Pacific Northwest Ballet.
-(BALLET MUSIC PLAYING)
-(KAY CLAPPING RYTHIMICALLY)
RUBY: I haven't done it
in a few years.
I think it's much better for you.
I know you haven't done it
that fast maybe,
but I think it's gonna be just fine,
it's gonna be good.
(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)
-ELISE: Hi. How was rehearsal?
-RUBY: Hello. It was good.
-ELISE: Hi
-Hi, nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you, I'm Elise.
I've heard so much about you.
You're gonna see her onstage
and be surprised.
Awesome. Well,
we're gonna feed her a little bit
-and then get ready…
-KAY: Good. Stay warm.
-'Cause it's cold.
-Yes, it's chilly.
KAY: Bye-bye.
My brother Endre, who's closest to me,
we were each other's best friends,
and still are.
RUBY: I've never seen you
in a suit before.
ENDRE: Yeah, I've never
seen me in a suit either.
-RUBY: These shoes.
-ELISE: Aw.
RUBY: Yeah. Kay gave these
to me for the show.
-ELISE: Oh, my gosh, I love it.
-RUBY: Yeah. They're clip-ons, yeah.
-(ELISE GASPS)
-Yeah.
-(CLICKS TONGUE)
-Oh, that's really sweet.
-Yeah.
-ELISE: I'm so proud of you, Ruby.
Mmm. Mwah.
-Bye, Endre. See you backstage.
-Bye.
-Six o'clock?
-ELISE: Yeah.
-I'll text you when we're on our way.
-Okay.
Hi, Isa. This is the first time
you've seen my dress.
Hi! It looks so beautiful!
Oh, my goodness.
Turn around.
LARISSA:
Are you proud of your sister?
Oh, yeah, definitely, yeah.
It's cool to be here.
Like, I know it's not every day.
Some people asked me what
my biggest inspiration is
as an artist.
Definitely my family is where I get a lot
of my love for music and art.
But also just the city
and the place that I live.
(CAR HORN HONKING)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-RUBY: I'm excited.
There's like a singer
and there's a violinist,
and they gave the award to one dancer
from New York City Ballet.
And I'm the only high schooler.
At a time when most of her peers
back in Seattle are worrying about prom,
she is making a new home
and new career for herself
-here in the greatest city in the world.
-(APPLAUSE)
(PIANO PLAYING)
RUBY: Raymonda, it's really short,
it's not too challenging.
Like the steps are relatively simple.
But it's, it has a lot of room
for artistic…variation?
You can make it your own.
My strong suit is jumping.
And it has a lot of jumps, which is fun.
-Tiring but fun. (CHUCKLES)
-(APPLAUSE)
It is now my great honor to present
the 2020 Martin E. Segal Award
to Ruby Lister.
Things like that don't happen every day.
Out of the 24 incredibly talented people
in my class, they chose…
It's crazy.
(PIANO PLAYING)
MALE INSTRUCTOR: A little better.
SAM: I think I'm the only one
in my class, at this point,
who's had a consistent injury that's…
stopped them from dancing
for this long.
So it makes me feel like
I'm really far behind.
At this point I'm not able to audition
for any summer course programs.
Sometimes they're able to communicate
with different directors at the schools
and try to get you a spot
in those summer courses.
Before I got injured I was definitely
looking a lot into Miami and Boston.
But, at this point I'll take anywhere.
(LAUGHS)
My parents are both coming up to New York,
and me and a lot of my friends
are going out to brunch.
(FRIENDS CHATTERING)
-GIRL 1: Wait, smile.
-Oh, that's so cute.
BOY 1: That's kinda cute.
Well, today is
Sam's seventeenth birthday.
This is the day.
GIRL 2:
SAM: No!
ELLE: Since he was having
a difficult semester…
He has been dealing with an injury
for several months…
We thought that it would be a great idea
to give him a party to cheer him up.
GIRL 3:
GIRL 4:
-GIRL 5: Is it coming out today?
-GIRL 6: Yeah.
-BOY 2: I didn't get into Boston.
-They came out?
-They came out a week ago.
-Oh, okay.
Is the Miami one today or tomorrow?
We don't really know, right?
-GIRL 7: Friday.
-GIRL 8: It's supposed to be Friday.
Wait, that's actually nerve-wracking.
I haven't gotten like audition results
since 2018.
-MARK: Where do you want to go, Dominika?
-Miami.
(WHOOPING)
ELLA: He's where he belongs,
he's in his element.
Yeah. It is really great
to see him smile so much.
ALL: (SINGING)
Happy birthday to you
Whoo!
SAM: I feel like my friends
have really been there for me.
The spring workshop this year,
it's something I've been
looking forward to.
I'm gonna be 100% back by then.
(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)
KATRINA: Come on, you guys, let's go.
Today we are going to the Queens Theatre
to do a lecture demonstration
that promotes our spring
community auditions.
Twelve of our dancers
from our advanced division,
they're gonna be showing
how we work from the studio
all the way to the stage.
Count again, why am I nervous?
Four swans, raise your hand.
That's what makes me nervous.
-One, two, three, four.
-(LAUGHING)
KATRINA: If we only had three,
it would not be good.
Pointe, partnering we have…
Queens, here we come. Whoo-hoo!
GIRL 1: That is the theatre.
GIRL 2: It looks so weird.
Oh, gosh.
(STUDENTS CHATTERING)
DOMINIKA: Lecture demonstrations
are really great because we get to travel
all over New York.
And I get to visit places
I've never been before.
It is great for us
to show what ballet is
and what the school is like
to many other people.
KATRINA: A lot of this audience
is gonna be very young. Like,
-this age. Okay?
-(STUDENTS CHUCKLE)
This is probably their very first time
to see ballet.
It's so, so important, right?
Giggles,
laughs, loud noises,
clapping, exuberance.
Whatever it is, you are doing what?
What we do, right?
It's very, very important
that we keep it like that.
We're gonna show this young audience
what it is actually
to become a ballet dancer.
We show barre.
We show how we work en pointe.
Then we have six excerpts
that we'll be showing the audience.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Alright, we're at five minutes to show.
Five minutes to show.
That's a places call for Jaslyn,
Kye, McKenzie, Charlie,
Katrina and Leo.
Okay, folks, you guys break legs,
have a good show.
I'll be upstairs.
I'm on the stage right side.
GIRL 3: We all heard.
KATRINA: Merde everybody. Have fun.
TAELA: What was after the tendu, tendu?
One and two and three and four,
five, six, seven, eight.
-Close en pointe. Wait…
-And then one.
-No, I think that was right.
-(LAUGHS)
One and two and three and…
TAELA: I think there was only
three combinations.
-Oh! Plié up, plié up.
-Yeah!
-(BOTH VOCALIZING)
-Okay, that was it,
-that was all of them. Okay.
-That was it, yeah.
(PEOPLE CHATTERING)
Let's have house come down.
KATRINA: Hello, everyone.
I'm Katrina Killian, I'm a teacher
from the School of American Ballet.
I'm gonna be your host today.
Pointe work is very difficult,
and it's even harder
when you're attached
to three other dancers.
Pas de deux. Can you say pas de deux?
AUDIENCE: Pas de deux.
(BALLET MUSIC PLAYING)
KATRINA: Every young ballet dancer hopes
she'll get to be
the Sugar Plum Fairy when she grows up.
TAELA: Am I next? Am I next?
-Wait, Stars and Stripes.
-GIRL 4: That's you.
TAELA: All of us, we're kind of like,
jittery a little bit.
-But you just have to let yourself…
-(APPLAUSE)
…feel the music and go with it.
Just ends up becoming second nature.
KATRINA: We're going to show you a solo
from a famous ballet by George Balanchine
called Agon.
Watch how the steps Taela dances
are responding to this unusual music.
(BALLET MUSIC PLAYS)
(CHUCKLES) Oops!
Let's go.
Thank you, Taela.
Very nice. Good job.
So a dance for three people in ballet
is called pas de trois.
-Can you say pas de trois?
-AUDIENCE: Pas de trois.
KATRINA: Perfect.
Now we're going to show you
one of the most entertaining pas de trois
that George Balanchine ever made.
(BALLET MUSIC PLAYS)
DOMINIKA: I'm very aware of the audience.
But it's a good thing for me
because I'm not only dancing for myself,
but for other people,
which makes me I feel like do better.
And I like to show people what dancing
is like and how enjoyable it is.
KATRINA: I'd now like to bring on all
our dancers for one last bow.
And I'd also like to thank our pianist,
Mr. Leo Shih.
Swanies in the front,
Kye over here, Taela there.
Look at the audience
taking pictures of us.
-We started something.
-(CHUCKLES)
Whoo! (LAUGHS)
DOMINIKA: Spring workshop
is a big performance coming up soon.
So many rehearsals,
so many exciting costumes.
All of us are very, like,
out of this world excited.
Good job everybody. Yay.
Good job. Thank you! Thank you.
There's so many things to look forward to.
WOMAN: Autograph…
Thank you!
Kai! You did an excellent job.
You were wonderful! Right, hon?
Very good.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Wait, on the back or the front?
On the back. Everyone can sign my shirt!
How's the green cast
feeling today?
(CHILDREN CHEER)
I just wanna tell you all it has been
a wonderful, wonderful run
of Nutcracker.
I have been so pleased and so proud.
You guys have brought that magic
of Mr. Balanchine's Nutcracker
to thousands and thousands
and thousands of audience members.
Remember our first rehearsal?
CHILDREN: Yeah!
Do you… Do you think
you learned a lot since then?
CHILDREN: Yes.
And you have been led so beautifully
by Kai and Sophia in this cast.
So, I wanna congratulate you all.
Nutcracker!
(THEATER PUBLIC APPLAUDING
AND CHEERING )
KAI: It is always kind of emotional.
Like you've been working
and then it's over.
I'll probably be too tall next year.
-GIRL 5: Wait, can you sign this?
-Yes.
It's been a long run of hard work.
But I feel like being in The Nutcracker
has been a super experience,
and I will never forget it.
GIRL 6: Gabbie's already crying.
I remember… I remember…
I'm really sad
that this is my last year…
Can you get us all?
…because it's a big family almost.
And then we get to do it here.
It just feels like I'm losing a part
of my life, you know?
My favorite, when we would play cards
in the middle of the dance.
DENA: It's always
bittersweet for them. You know,
it just goes on, and they progress,
and they get to the next thing.
-Thank you.
-You've done such a beautiful job
as Marie. So effortlessly.
-Thank you.
-You really, um,
made the ballet come alive.
-Thank you.
-So congratulations.
SOPHIA: Being Marie is gonna be
a really special memory that I have.
-GIRL 7: Bye, Ms. Abergel.
-DENA: Bye!
As long as I've been in Nutcracker,
it's been a tradition
-to have a wrap party.
-CHILDREN: Green cast, green cast…
We do a circle…
-(CHEERING)
-…and everybody
goes in and does some dances
that they know.
Yeah, it's a lot of fun.
(DANCE MUSIC PLAYING)
It's weird to think that's the last time
I did that step,
and that's the last time
I exited the stage or I went into costume.
-Group hug, group hug.
-I'm not crying.
-Group hug, group hug. Everyone in.
-Now you're gonna make me cry.
ELLA: But it's also like,
the new people need
to come in and do
what they need to do, so…
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-GIRL 8: Bye Sophia!
-SOPHIA: Bye.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
SOPHIA: My life kinda felt empty
after Nutcracker for a little bit,
just because
I was so used to that busy schedule.
FEMALE INSTRUCTOR:
Sophia, first position.
Take your right leg, sweetheart.
Front, that's a girl. Half.
SOPHIA: When you go back to class,
it's kind of weird
that you don't have to go
to rehearsal afterwards
or you don't have a show the next day
or things like that.
But, eventually, you kind
of go back into the schedule,
and class is more, I guess, exciting.
…your head high.
SOPHIA: I'm definitely looking forward
to progressing en pointe.
FEMALE INSTRUCTOR:
Very good, Sophia.
-Hi, Ella. Standing tall in first.
-(CHUCKLES)
ELLA: We're learning how
to work with our feet en pointe,
like the proper positions.
Sometimes you do new stuff
and those
are really exciting classes.
I love ballet.
And I want to continue with ballet
for as long as possible.
KAI: It's kind of weird in January
when nothing's really going on.
You feel like your schedule
is so open sometimes.
ARCH: Glissade, full arm, up and in.
KAI: I wanted to get to ballet class
right away.
ARCH: Good, guys.
Good, good, good.
Reach it long!
Yeah! Good. Let's go left.
In Level V,
we're working on our turns.
If I do make it
into the company,
it will be a long time
until I get back on that stage.
So, it drives me
to work really hard.
Okay.
ISA: There are some kids who are…
-changing to leave tomorrow.
-SION: Good. Okay.
We had to make
the very difficult decision
to extend our spring break
from one week to five
because of the Coronavirus.
Yeah, so when should I leave the dorms,
if my flight is at 11:40?
TAELA: I'm not gonna be packing a lot.
WOMAN: Get home safe.
Only ballet clothes and homework.
ELIAS: I'm flying home on Saturday.
We're supposed to start
workshop rehearsal on Monday.
So, it sucks that
we're gonna have to wait
over a month before we start.
It's our end of the year performance.
-Bye!
-Bye.
-Bye, guys.
-Bye.
RUBY: It'll be interesting
to see how this affects workshop.
'Cause normally we're working
on these ballets for months.
SION: I think the thing
they're gonna miss the most
is spending five weeks
in the studios with their friends.
That's the hardest thing.
I can't remember the last time
I've gone five weeks without dancing.
KAY: Okay. So how do…
Katie, how do I then…
Oh, there they are.
Hello everybody.
Hello, hello, hello, hello, hello.
I'm seeing them coming on.
Wait, now I lost my gallery view.
Girls it looks so good.
Everybody looks like
they're in great shape.
RUBY: After the fourth week being at home
they sent out an email saying, like,
the rest of the year is canceled.
We were all, like, so disappointed
that like we didn't give better goodbyes.
-They were crying.
-Yeah.
Nice and big, juicy tendu,
and high, high relevé, okay.
CHRIS: I know Kai
gets a little frustrated
because we were all hoping
his online classes would be temporary.
But I feel like he's embraced them
more fully in the last couple of weeks.
ISABELA: It's hard 'cause we're trying
to regain our strength
since we were away for a while.
ELIAS: I'm doing pretty well.
We figured out the ballet studio,
so that was a big help.
And I can dance a couple hours every day.
SOPHIA: We're definitely doing a lot more
than I thought we would.
And overall, I think
pointe is progressing.
RUBY: When they
announced that the workshops
and SAB was canceled,
it scared me a little bit.
You look forward your whole life
to your senior…
It's like senior prom,
but it's workshop.
I'm gonna be going
into my first job next year.
I wanna be able
to put my best foot forward.
Jonathan Stafford told us,
"It's okay.
"You are still all gonna get
to be apprentices next year."
Which was… (EXHALES)
…a huge sigh of relief.
SAM: I haven't been doing any ballet
or dance classes online.
It's been really helpful
because it's allowed me to recover.
I want to dance professionally,
but I've been looking at a few colleges
that I would be interested in going to.
DOMINIKA: It's been hard, but right now
there are bigger problems in the world.
Just trying to stay in shape
and get ready for anything
that happens when we get back
is the most important thing right now.
ARCH: Great, good. Follow Brandon.
SABRINA: It was always such a pleasure
-to watch him go to SAB every day…
-Yeah.
… because you could see it in his face
and all the other kids' faces.
It reminds me even more that SAB
is really family.
MALE INSTRUCTOR: One, two…
KELLY: I watch Sophia,
and on days where she has class,
she's happier, she feels connected.
One-two, three-four,
-five-six, seven-eight.
-ELLA: I'm excited for when
I get to interact with my friends
in person again.
FEMALE INSTRUCTOR:
Plié and straight, go side…
ELLA: I didn't realize how much
more real ballet is in the studio
than it is like online.
-Plié, sous sous. Plié, sous sous…
-RUBY: When anything like this happens
it makes you realize
how much you took for granted
when it's taken away.
Beautiful!
That's right, that's right.
RUBY: This is really pushing everyone
in the dance community,
not just as dancers and athletes,
but also as artists.
JONATHAN:
That's where we need to be.
That side of me
still needs to be replenished.
-JONATHAN: There! Good. Not bad.
-RUBY: Nothing compares
to being in the studio.
-ARCH: Knees away, knees away.
-RUBY: So, I know that once
I get back into the studio
I'll be that much more grateful for it.
ARCH: Good guys. Good, good, good.
Anyone wanna go one more time
on the same sides?
-One, two, up, up.
-KAY: …three, four,
five, six, seven, eight.
-ALLEN: Thank your partner.
-STUDENTS: Thank you!
ALLEN: Thank you. Goodbye.
(UPLIFTING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
(DRAMATIC CLASSIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Being on stage
just came naturally for me.
I love it.
First time I stepped on that stage,
I was like, "Oh, my God."
I actually look
into the audience a lot.
I feel like I'm giving something
to whoever's watching.
DOMINIKA: To perform at the end
is the best part,
because you can see
what you're striving for.
My favorite thing is when they laugh
and cheer you on.
(APPLAUSE)
KAY: They adore being on stage.
It's a big deal.
(APPLAUSE)
BRANDON: Tonight is opening night
of The Nutcracker.
-It's probably going to rain. Definitely.
-Okay, so not too bad,
people will probably still come
-and not give up their tickets.
-BRANDON: Yes.
Everything is either going to be the best
or the worst there
because your adrenaline is, um,
like, really high,
'cause it's opening night,
but you're also kind of scared.
Every time, for me, it always feels
like it's the first time he's performing.
It's like I don't know how he does it,
'cause I get butterflies in my stomach,
and I'm literally sitting downstairs
watching on a screen.
(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)
BRANDON: I'm one of those people
who is there very early.
I've been here since 4:00.
And the show starts at 7:00? Seven.
It's my biggest pet peeve
when someone arrives
at the dot of where
you're supposed to be.
You couldn't have just
come ten minutes earlier?
KELLY: Opening night,
what you've been working for.
SOPHIA: We do 25 performances,
which is a lot.
Right before I was like,
"What if I don't feel
like I've learned everything."
But after the dress rehearsals
I feel really ready
Close your eyes, babe.
All right sweetie, what do you need?
-KELLY: I love this.
-Hi!
MEGAN: And a sponge. And a…
-SUZY: Okay, good.
-MEGAN: This is exciting!
I keep using the word "surreal"
because it really is kind of a dream,
especially when I see her up there
next to the principal dancers.
-It's pretty cool, right?
-Mm-hmm.
MEGAN: Tonight
I'll be performing the Dew Drop.
Dancing with the kids
is really fun because
I remember being a kid myself.
I'm dancing the role
of the Sugarplum Fairy tonight.
You dream about this role
when you're a little girl.
I did probably every single child part
you could do, starting with a mouse.
I remember my first Mother Ginger
and I had a crush on him. (LAUGHS)
MARIA: My first solo
I'm surrounded by Angels.
it's really nice to look at their innocent
little faces and just kind
of get that extra little energy.
MEGAN: It's a full circle moment
for every single person
that's in the company.
OLIVIA: Whenever I'm backstage
and about to go on,
I'm afraid that like, "Oh, maybe
I'll fall on my face or I'll trip."
Just like jittery.
It's all those nerves racked up together.
You can't bottle this, she's just happy…
happier than she's ever been.
ANGELICA: (IN SPANISH)
-(CHILDREN CHATTERING)
-Hi, guys, how's everybody today?
-CHILDREN: Good.
-Are we ready for a great show?
-CHILDREN: Yes!
-Whoo!
I am definitely ready
for a great show.
After all this lead up, yes,
we are finally here.
-No. You're not.
-Yeah. You can. Yeah. You can.
DENA: They live here for the run
of The Nutcracker,
because it's almost six weeks.
A lot of them have dinner,
others do their homework
'cause tomorrow they have school.
People become really close friends.
GIRL 1:
It looks exactly like that.
DENA: They create memories here
and they never forget them.
Wow! A little angel.
It's a small space,
but it's full of joy. (CHUCKLES)
(EXCITED CHATTERING)
What about that?
DENA: The girls put on makeup
for the first time in their lives
and do it for an hour long.
You know when you think everything's
gonna look great
-and then it's just like…
-I know!
SABRINA: People will have to say…
Oh, my gosh, Brandon you're not
even spraying it in the back.
That might be a fire hazard
-at this point.
-Right?
SUSY:
KELLY: Oh, never, Ms. Suzy.
SOPHIA: Mm-hmm.
SUSY:
KELLY: Okay.
This is how
my quick change goes.
So, I walk backstage,
and it's in the dark,
I give my sword to someone,
I put my head, I run…
-I put my head?
-I mean I take the Nutcracker off,
this other guy he lifts me up
and the guy has the pants,
he walks to the side…
BRANDON: You lost me when
you said, "I take my head off." (LAUGHS)
(KAI SMACKS LIPS, GROWLS)
(IN SPANISH)
Yeah, do that.
Daddy's coming down,
I'm gonna switch out
-'cause I'm gonna go see it. I love you.
-Okay. Bye.
Boy Polichinelles,
keep that diagonal open.
So, lots of energy,
lots of joy,
listen to the music,
and now you're not nervous anymore,
because you're ready to go out there
and give the audience a great show.
-Okay? Have a great time.
-CHILDREN: Thank you.
FEMALE SUPERVISOR: Party Scene,
we'll be calling you in about 15 minutes.
BOY 1: I'm not nervous.
BRANDON: Hopefully,
you won't do that in the show.
-GIRL 2: Sophia, you nervous?
-Yeah.
GIRL 2: The Nutcracker,
25 chances to mess up. (LAUGHS)
BOY 2: I'm so nervous.
BOY 3:
I'm scared about my hair.
More than 1,000 people watching us.
GIRL 3: I'm more worried
about Ms. Abergel seeing the mistakes,
than I'm worried when
my family's watching.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
STEVE: It doesn't seem real yet.
We can't wait to see Sophia on stage
doing what she loves.
It’s gonna be great.
They flew in
from Virginia Beach yesterday.
KAI'S GRANDPA:
We're going to see Kai.
He's the Nutcracker, the Prince,
the whole show.
I feel that Balanchine was able
to capture in his Nutcracker,
this really iconic family feeling
of holiday and celebration.
I think that's partly why so many
people bring their children at first
and sometimes only
to The Nutcracker.
(PERFORMANCE START BELL DINGING)
Hey, guys! You feel good?
-Yeah.
-Okay. Can't wait to see you guys.
(ORCHESTRA STARTS PLAYING)
MALE STAGE CREW:
(APPLAUSE)
("THE NUTCRACKER" BALLET
MUSIC PLAYS)
BRANDON: I was a bit nervous with Sophia
when we were sitting on the chair.
But after that I was, like,
I got this. (CHUCKLES)
SOPHIA: Getting to play Marie
was super special.
You definitely get to connect
with the whole cast.
(APPLAUSE)
And he used to go to SAB.
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
-GIRL 3: No.
-Oh, God. What?
GIRL 4: There's Tenzin,
is Prince. He's right here.
-GIRL 5: Where?
-ELLA: And there's me!
GIRL 6:
They tried to paint over them,
-but everybody rewrote them.
-ELLA: I wrote my name for Party Scene.
(BALLET MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-Go, go, go, go, go.
-FEMALE STAFF: Come on guys, quicker.
And remember, when you're in your wing,
take out your tail. Go.
Don't drag your tails,
hold them until you get in your wing.
JOHN:
Okay.
(APPLAUSE)
GIRL IN MOUSE COSTUME 1:
GIRL IN MOUSE COSTUME 2:
GIRL IN MOUSE COSTUME 3:
GIRL IN MOUSE COSTUME 1:
GIRL IN MOUSE COSTUME 1
GIRL IN MOUSE COSTUME 3:
FEMALE SUPERVISOR:
When I see Kai
dance on the stage,
in The Nutcracker specifically,
-I feel terror. Uh…
-(KAVITA CHUCKLES)
CHRIS: There's a green room and a screen
that monitors the live performance
and sometimes I have to leave the room
for a few minutes.
KAVITA: It's just great
to see your children
engaged in something so deeply.
I live a little vicariously
through my kids.
There's a joyfulness and a pleasure,
and this elation that you can sense.
It's like I can almost feel it.
(BALLET MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
WOMAN: Let's go, you guys.
KID IN RABBIT COSTUME:
That's not yours
-anymore.
-Come on.
(BALLET MUSIC PLAYING)
(APPLAUSE)
BALLERINA 1:
BALLERINA 2: Nice job.
DENA:
SOPHIA AND KAI: Thank you.
DENA:
(SOPHIA CHUCKLES)
There's so much snow.
There's a lot on my back.
REGINA: Okie-doke.
So, what are you gonna do
with a cup of confetti snow?
I don't know. (LAUGHS)
-GIRL 7: Sophia, you did great.
-GIRL 8: Yeah.
-CHRIS: You happy?
-Yeah, really happy.
I think I was better on stage
than I was in rehearsal.
It's almost as
if you're performing more in the story
and it continues instead of stopping
in places to fix things. So…
ULRIKA: Was it fun up there?
-Yeah.
-Yeah?
Were you nervous?
A little. Not really
when I was on stage.
But definitely in the beginning.
While we were waiting.
-But it felt good afterwards, doesn't it?
-Yeah.
Yeah. That's good
-It was pretty awesome.
-KAI: Thank you.
Guys look at my wings,
I'm flying. (GIGGLES)
I'm flying.
ANGEL 1:
Those are the hoops. Look.
-Look what she's wearing.
-ANGEL 2: Oh.
Oh, my God, boy Poli costumes,
it's like pregnant men,
like an alternate universe.
FEMALE SUPERVISOR: Walk on over in a line.
Hoops at the back door.
CHILDREN: Merde!
-ANGEL 3: Going on stage
-ANGEL 4: Are you nervous?
Sort of. Sort of. Like, kind of.
MAN 1: You're welcome.
MAN 2:
-Thank you.
-MAN 1: You're welcome.
ANGEL 5: Merde. Goodbye.
(INTERMISSION WARNING MUSIC PLAYS)
DENA: Remember behind your "X"s, girls,
before the Sugarplum dance, okay?
-(APPLAUSE)
-Trees below your chins. Below your chin.
(BALLET MUSIC RESTARTS)
LUIS: (IN SPANISH)
ANGELICA: (IN SPANISH)
-(MUSIC STOPS)
-(APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC RESTARTS)
(APPLAUSE)
CHILDREN:
-(MUSIC STOPS)
-(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
(INAUDIBLE)
(MUSIC RESTARTS)
GABBIE: When you hear the orchestra
it makes you feel, like, weird
because you've listened
to a piano play it all this time.
And then there's this loud music
with all this instruments.
It's pretty cool.
And actually, the Hoop costume
is sort of an instrument.
(APPLAUSE)
(GIGGLING)
(MUSIC STOPS)
(APPLAUSE, CHEERING)
JULIE: This will be her last year
in children's division,
then it would be a jump
to the intermediate, if she's accepted.
So, we think about it,
but we try not to focus on it.
OLIVIA: Where's Meredith?
-(GIRLS MURMURING)
-DENA: Come on, girls.
OLIVIA:
I just love performing on stage.
I become the person that I want to be.
-ELLA: It's cool to have an audience.
-(BALLET MUSIC PLAYING)
It's weird too though
'cause you're like,
"There's people watching me."
JANIE: Well, once you stop crying,
because of course
it's amazing to see your child up there,
it's incredible.
You see her up there,
excelling at something like that.
Every parent, I think,
wishes that for their child,
to be a part of something like this.
It's so cool.
(APPLAUSE)
(CHEERING)
(MUSIC STOPS)
DENA: That was the best one!
-GIRL 9: Seriously?
-You guys were great.
Yes! It was great!
Everyone was exactly on their count
sautéing into the skirt, right?
-I'm so proud of you guys. It was great.
-Thank you.
DENA: How was it for you?
It looked great.
-That was great for me.
-DENA: It's was really good.
PRESTON:
Thanks, guys.
-Okay.
-(MUSIC RESTARTS)
(APPLAUSE)
(CHEERING)
(GRAND FINALE MUSIC PLAYS)
-(MUSIC STOPS)
-(APPLAUSE)
(GRAND FINALE MUSIC RESTARTS)
-(FINAL DRUM ROLL)
-(APPLAUSE, CHEERING)
-(MUSIC STOPS)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING CONTINUES)
-GABBIE I'm so sorry. (LAUGHS)
-GIRL 10: It's okay.
-Good job, guys!
-GIRL 11: You too!
DENA: Hey, guys,
it was a great show!
Did everyone feel good?
-CHILDREN: Yeah.
-Great job.
-Thank you.
-DENA: See you next time.
-BIANCA: Thank you. You did amazing!
-KELLY: Okay, let's go.
-You did really good.
-Thank you.
FEMALE SUPERVISOR:
Do remember to take your cheeks off.
-KAI: Bye.
-You did so good! Do you feel good?
All of a sudden
I really was teary-eyed,
but I had to pull myself
together a little bit.
-JULIE: First one down.
-GABBY: Yeah, 24 to go.
JULIE: Goodnight!
-RUBY: Mind if I wear a skirt for that?
-KAY: Okay. The skirt's fine.
-So, do you remember this?
-Yeah.
I learned it back at PNB,
I never learned it here.
-Okay. So why don't we go over it first?
-So...
Kay Mazzo and Jonathan Stafford
have chosen me
for the Lincoln Center
Emerging Artist Award,
which is an award that is given
to one person
from each of the cohorts
of Lincoln Center.
And then behind you
and then you go here…
RUBY: And I get to perform a variation,
and there's a dinner.
Kay Mazzo wants me to do
the jumping variation from Raymonda,
which I learned back when I was
at Pacific Northwest Ballet.
-(BALLET MUSIC PLAYING)
-(KAY CLAPPING RYTHIMICALLY)
RUBY: I haven't done it
in a few years.
I think it's much better for you.
I know you haven't done it
that fast maybe,
but I think it's gonna be just fine,
it's gonna be good.
(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)
-ELISE: Hi. How was rehearsal?
-RUBY: Hello. It was good.
-ELISE: Hi
-Hi, nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you, I'm Elise.
I've heard so much about you.
You're gonna see her onstage
and be surprised.
Awesome. Well,
we're gonna feed her a little bit
-and then get ready…
-KAY: Good. Stay warm.
-'Cause it's cold.
-Yes, it's chilly.
KAY: Bye-bye.
My brother Endre, who's closest to me,
we were each other's best friends,
and still are.
RUBY: I've never seen you
in a suit before.
ENDRE: Yeah, I've never
seen me in a suit either.
-RUBY: These shoes.
-ELISE: Aw.
RUBY: Yeah. Kay gave these
to me for the show.
-ELISE: Oh, my gosh, I love it.
-RUBY: Yeah. They're clip-ons, yeah.
-(ELISE GASPS)
-Yeah.
-(CLICKS TONGUE)
-Oh, that's really sweet.
-Yeah.
-ELISE: I'm so proud of you, Ruby.
Mmm. Mwah.
-Bye, Endre. See you backstage.
-Bye.
-Six o'clock?
-ELISE: Yeah.
-I'll text you when we're on our way.
-Okay.
Hi, Isa. This is the first time
you've seen my dress.
Hi! It looks so beautiful!
Oh, my goodness.
Turn around.
LARISSA:
Are you proud of your sister?
Oh, yeah, definitely, yeah.
It's cool to be here.
Like, I know it's not every day.
Some people asked me what
my biggest inspiration is
as an artist.
Definitely my family is where I get a lot
of my love for music and art.
But also just the city
and the place that I live.
(CAR HORN HONKING)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-RUBY: I'm excited.
There's like a singer
and there's a violinist,
and they gave the award to one dancer
from New York City Ballet.
And I'm the only high schooler.
At a time when most of her peers
back in Seattle are worrying about prom,
she is making a new home
and new career for herself
-here in the greatest city in the world.
-(APPLAUSE)
(PIANO PLAYING)
RUBY: Raymonda, it's really short,
it's not too challenging.
Like the steps are relatively simple.
But it's, it has a lot of room
for artistic…variation?
You can make it your own.
My strong suit is jumping.
And it has a lot of jumps, which is fun.
-Tiring but fun. (CHUCKLES)
-(APPLAUSE)
It is now my great honor to present
the 2020 Martin E. Segal Award
to Ruby Lister.
Things like that don't happen every day.
Out of the 24 incredibly talented people
in my class, they chose…
It's crazy.
(PIANO PLAYING)
MALE INSTRUCTOR: A little better.
SAM: I think I'm the only one
in my class, at this point,
who's had a consistent injury that's…
stopped them from dancing
for this long.
So it makes me feel like
I'm really far behind.
At this point I'm not able to audition
for any summer course programs.
Sometimes they're able to communicate
with different directors at the schools
and try to get you a spot
in those summer courses.
Before I got injured I was definitely
looking a lot into Miami and Boston.
But, at this point I'll take anywhere.
(LAUGHS)
My parents are both coming up to New York,
and me and a lot of my friends
are going out to brunch.
(FRIENDS CHATTERING)
-GIRL 1: Wait, smile.
-Oh, that's so cute.
BOY 1: That's kinda cute.
Well, today is
Sam's seventeenth birthday.
This is the day.
GIRL 2:
SAM: No!
ELLE: Since he was having
a difficult semester…
He has been dealing with an injury
for several months…
We thought that it would be a great idea
to give him a party to cheer him up.
GIRL 3:
GIRL 4:
-GIRL 5: Is it coming out today?
-GIRL 6: Yeah.
-BOY 2: I didn't get into Boston.
-They came out?
-They came out a week ago.
-Oh, okay.
Is the Miami one today or tomorrow?
We don't really know, right?
-GIRL 7: Friday.
-GIRL 8: It's supposed to be Friday.
Wait, that's actually nerve-wracking.
I haven't gotten like audition results
since 2018.
-MARK: Where do you want to go, Dominika?
-Miami.
(WHOOPING)
ELLA: He's where he belongs,
he's in his element.
Yeah. It is really great
to see him smile so much.
ALL: (SINGING)
Happy birthday to you
Whoo!
SAM: I feel like my friends
have really been there for me.
The spring workshop this year,
it's something I've been
looking forward to.
I'm gonna be 100% back by then.
(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)
KATRINA: Come on, you guys, let's go.
Today we are going to the Queens Theatre
to do a lecture demonstration
that promotes our spring
community auditions.
Twelve of our dancers
from our advanced division,
they're gonna be showing
how we work from the studio
all the way to the stage.
Count again, why am I nervous?
Four swans, raise your hand.
That's what makes me nervous.
-One, two, three, four.
-(LAUGHING)
KATRINA: If we only had three,
it would not be good.
Pointe, partnering we have…
Queens, here we come. Whoo-hoo!
GIRL 1: That is the theatre.
GIRL 2: It looks so weird.
Oh, gosh.
(STUDENTS CHATTERING)
DOMINIKA: Lecture demonstrations
are really great because we get to travel
all over New York.
And I get to visit places
I've never been before.
It is great for us
to show what ballet is
and what the school is like
to many other people.
KATRINA: A lot of this audience
is gonna be very young. Like,
-this age. Okay?
-(STUDENTS CHUCKLE)
This is probably their very first time
to see ballet.
It's so, so important, right?
Giggles,
laughs, loud noises,
clapping, exuberance.
Whatever it is, you are doing what?
What we do, right?
It's very, very important
that we keep it like that.
We're gonna show this young audience
what it is actually
to become a ballet dancer.
We show barre.
We show how we work en pointe.
Then we have six excerpts
that we'll be showing the audience.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Alright, we're at five minutes to show.
Five minutes to show.
That's a places call for Jaslyn,
Kye, McKenzie, Charlie,
Katrina and Leo.
Okay, folks, you guys break legs,
have a good show.
I'll be upstairs.
I'm on the stage right side.
GIRL 3: We all heard.
KATRINA: Merde everybody. Have fun.
TAELA: What was after the tendu, tendu?
One and two and three and four,
five, six, seven, eight.
-Close en pointe. Wait…
-And then one.
-No, I think that was right.
-(LAUGHS)
One and two and three and…
TAELA: I think there was only
three combinations.
-Oh! Plié up, plié up.
-Yeah!
-(BOTH VOCALIZING)
-Okay, that was it,
-that was all of them. Okay.
-That was it, yeah.
(PEOPLE CHATTERING)
Let's have house come down.
KATRINA: Hello, everyone.
I'm Katrina Killian, I'm a teacher
from the School of American Ballet.
I'm gonna be your host today.
Pointe work is very difficult,
and it's even harder
when you're attached
to three other dancers.
Pas de deux. Can you say pas de deux?
AUDIENCE: Pas de deux.
(BALLET MUSIC PLAYING)
KATRINA: Every young ballet dancer hopes
she'll get to be
the Sugar Plum Fairy when she grows up.
TAELA: Am I next? Am I next?
-Wait, Stars and Stripes.
-GIRL 4: That's you.
TAELA: All of us, we're kind of like,
jittery a little bit.
-But you just have to let yourself…
-(APPLAUSE)
…feel the music and go with it.
Just ends up becoming second nature.
KATRINA: We're going to show you a solo
from a famous ballet by George Balanchine
called Agon.
Watch how the steps Taela dances
are responding to this unusual music.
(BALLET MUSIC PLAYS)
(CHUCKLES) Oops!
Let's go.
Thank you, Taela.
Very nice. Good job.
So a dance for three people in ballet
is called pas de trois.
-Can you say pas de trois?
-AUDIENCE: Pas de trois.
KATRINA: Perfect.
Now we're going to show you
one of the most entertaining pas de trois
that George Balanchine ever made.
(BALLET MUSIC PLAYS)
DOMINIKA: I'm very aware of the audience.
But it's a good thing for me
because I'm not only dancing for myself,
but for other people,
which makes me I feel like do better.
And I like to show people what dancing
is like and how enjoyable it is.
KATRINA: I'd now like to bring on all
our dancers for one last bow.
And I'd also like to thank our pianist,
Mr. Leo Shih.
Swanies in the front,
Kye over here, Taela there.
Look at the audience
taking pictures of us.
-We started something.
-(CHUCKLES)
Whoo! (LAUGHS)
DOMINIKA: Spring workshop
is a big performance coming up soon.
So many rehearsals,
so many exciting costumes.
All of us are very, like,
out of this world excited.
Good job everybody. Yay.
Good job. Thank you! Thank you.
There's so many things to look forward to.
WOMAN: Autograph…
Thank you!
Kai! You did an excellent job.
You were wonderful! Right, hon?
Very good.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Wait, on the back or the front?
On the back. Everyone can sign my shirt!
How's the green cast
feeling today?
(CHILDREN CHEER)
I just wanna tell you all it has been
a wonderful, wonderful run
of Nutcracker.
I have been so pleased and so proud.
You guys have brought that magic
of Mr. Balanchine's Nutcracker
to thousands and thousands
and thousands of audience members.
Remember our first rehearsal?
CHILDREN: Yeah!
Do you… Do you think
you learned a lot since then?
CHILDREN: Yes.
And you have been led so beautifully
by Kai and Sophia in this cast.
So, I wanna congratulate you all.
Nutcracker!
(THEATER PUBLIC APPLAUDING
AND CHEERING )
KAI: It is always kind of emotional.
Like you've been working
and then it's over.
I'll probably be too tall next year.
-GIRL 5: Wait, can you sign this?
-Yes.
It's been a long run of hard work.
But I feel like being in The Nutcracker
has been a super experience,
and I will never forget it.
GIRL 6: Gabbie's already crying.
I remember… I remember…
I'm really sad
that this is my last year…
Can you get us all?
…because it's a big family almost.
And then we get to do it here.
It just feels like I'm losing a part
of my life, you know?
My favorite, when we would play cards
in the middle of the dance.
DENA: It's always
bittersweet for them. You know,
it just goes on, and they progress,
and they get to the next thing.
-Thank you.
-You've done such a beautiful job
as Marie. So effortlessly.
-Thank you.
-You really, um,
made the ballet come alive.
-Thank you.
-So congratulations.
SOPHIA: Being Marie is gonna be
a really special memory that I have.
-GIRL 7: Bye, Ms. Abergel.
-DENA: Bye!
As long as I've been in Nutcracker,
it's been a tradition
-to have a wrap party.
-CHILDREN: Green cast, green cast…
We do a circle…
-(CHEERING)
-…and everybody
goes in and does some dances
that they know.
Yeah, it's a lot of fun.
(DANCE MUSIC PLAYING)
It's weird to think that's the last time
I did that step,
and that's the last time
I exited the stage or I went into costume.
-Group hug, group hug.
-I'm not crying.
-Group hug, group hug. Everyone in.
-Now you're gonna make me cry.
ELLA: But it's also like,
the new people need
to come in and do
what they need to do, so…
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-GIRL 8: Bye Sophia!
-SOPHIA: Bye.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
SOPHIA: My life kinda felt empty
after Nutcracker for a little bit,
just because
I was so used to that busy schedule.
FEMALE INSTRUCTOR:
Sophia, first position.
Take your right leg, sweetheart.
Front, that's a girl. Half.
SOPHIA: When you go back to class,
it's kind of weird
that you don't have to go
to rehearsal afterwards
or you don't have a show the next day
or things like that.
But, eventually, you kind
of go back into the schedule,
and class is more, I guess, exciting.
…your head high.
SOPHIA: I'm definitely looking forward
to progressing en pointe.
FEMALE INSTRUCTOR:
Very good, Sophia.
-Hi, Ella. Standing tall in first.
-(CHUCKLES)
ELLA: We're learning how
to work with our feet en pointe,
like the proper positions.
Sometimes you do new stuff
and those
are really exciting classes.
I love ballet.
And I want to continue with ballet
for as long as possible.
KAI: It's kind of weird in January
when nothing's really going on.
You feel like your schedule
is so open sometimes.
ARCH: Glissade, full arm, up and in.
KAI: I wanted to get to ballet class
right away.
ARCH: Good, guys.
Good, good, good.
Reach it long!
Yeah! Good. Let's go left.
In Level V,
we're working on our turns.
If I do make it
into the company,
it will be a long time
until I get back on that stage.
So, it drives me
to work really hard.
Okay.
ISA: There are some kids who are…
-changing to leave tomorrow.
-SION: Good. Okay.
We had to make
the very difficult decision
to extend our spring break
from one week to five
because of the Coronavirus.
Yeah, so when should I leave the dorms,
if my flight is at 11:40?
TAELA: I'm not gonna be packing a lot.
WOMAN: Get home safe.
Only ballet clothes and homework.
ELIAS: I'm flying home on Saturday.
We're supposed to start
workshop rehearsal on Monday.
So, it sucks that
we're gonna have to wait
over a month before we start.
It's our end of the year performance.
-Bye!
-Bye.
-Bye, guys.
-Bye.
RUBY: It'll be interesting
to see how this affects workshop.
'Cause normally we're working
on these ballets for months.
SION: I think the thing
they're gonna miss the most
is spending five weeks
in the studios with their friends.
That's the hardest thing.
I can't remember the last time
I've gone five weeks without dancing.
KAY: Okay. So how do…
Katie, how do I then…
Oh, there they are.
Hello everybody.
Hello, hello, hello, hello, hello.
I'm seeing them coming on.
Wait, now I lost my gallery view.
Girls it looks so good.
Everybody looks like
they're in great shape.
RUBY: After the fourth week being at home
they sent out an email saying, like,
the rest of the year is canceled.
We were all, like, so disappointed
that like we didn't give better goodbyes.
-They were crying.
-Yeah.
Nice and big, juicy tendu,
and high, high relevé, okay.
CHRIS: I know Kai
gets a little frustrated
because we were all hoping
his online classes would be temporary.
But I feel like he's embraced them
more fully in the last couple of weeks.
ISABELA: It's hard 'cause we're trying
to regain our strength
since we were away for a while.
ELIAS: I'm doing pretty well.
We figured out the ballet studio,
so that was a big help.
And I can dance a couple hours every day.
SOPHIA: We're definitely doing a lot more
than I thought we would.
And overall, I think
pointe is progressing.
RUBY: When they
announced that the workshops
and SAB was canceled,
it scared me a little bit.
You look forward your whole life
to your senior…
It's like senior prom,
but it's workshop.
I'm gonna be going
into my first job next year.
I wanna be able
to put my best foot forward.
Jonathan Stafford told us,
"It's okay.
"You are still all gonna get
to be apprentices next year."
Which was… (EXHALES)
…a huge sigh of relief.
SAM: I haven't been doing any ballet
or dance classes online.
It's been really helpful
because it's allowed me to recover.
I want to dance professionally,
but I've been looking at a few colleges
that I would be interested in going to.
DOMINIKA: It's been hard, but right now
there are bigger problems in the world.
Just trying to stay in shape
and get ready for anything
that happens when we get back
is the most important thing right now.
ARCH: Great, good. Follow Brandon.
SABRINA: It was always such a pleasure
-to watch him go to SAB every day…
-Yeah.
… because you could see it in his face
and all the other kids' faces.
It reminds me even more that SAB
is really family.
MALE INSTRUCTOR: One, two…
KELLY: I watch Sophia,
and on days where she has class,
she's happier, she feels connected.
One-two, three-four,
-five-six, seven-eight.
-ELLA: I'm excited for when
I get to interact with my friends
in person again.
FEMALE INSTRUCTOR:
Plié and straight, go side…
ELLA: I didn't realize how much
more real ballet is in the studio
than it is like online.
-Plié, sous sous. Plié, sous sous…
-RUBY: When anything like this happens
it makes you realize
how much you took for granted
when it's taken away.
Beautiful!
That's right, that's right.
RUBY: This is really pushing everyone
in the dance community,
not just as dancers and athletes,
but also as artists.
JONATHAN:
That's where we need to be.
That side of me
still needs to be replenished.
-JONATHAN: There! Good. Not bad.
-RUBY: Nothing compares
to being in the studio.
-ARCH: Knees away, knees away.
-RUBY: So, I know that once
I get back into the studio
I'll be that much more grateful for it.
ARCH: Good guys. Good, good, good.
Anyone wanna go one more time
on the same sides?
-One, two, up, up.
-KAY: …three, four,
five, six, seven, eight.
-ALLEN: Thank your partner.
-STUDENTS: Thank you!
ALLEN: Thank you. Goodbye.
(UPLIFTING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)