Dance Magazine: When the curtain rises on American Ballet Theatre’s Swan Lake, the audience falls under the spell of the dancing, tragic romance, and moonlight. What they don’t see is the backstage sorcery that makes the magic happen, an elaborate choreography carried out by an ace crew of nearly 80 costumers, dressers, makeup artists, carpenters, property masters, lighting operators, and stagehands—the unsung heroes of the story. “They’re some of the best in the world,” says Vincent Roca, ABT’s head of production, “and they care so deeply about the work that goes onstage.” Here’s a look behind the scenes during a recent Swan Lake tech rehearsal, putting the team—and some of their secrets—in the spotlight.
1 comment:
I used to do ballet, and performed a couple shows, so I know the amount of work everyone is putting in for the show to be perfect. For some reason, I didn't really make the connection between the similarities between theatre and ballet, but after reading this article, I suddenly realized that ballet shows are very similar to theatre productions, especially with the things that goes on backstage, especially the technical elements and costumes. Everyone is so involved and working hard in their own respective parts, and I really want to experience what its like to work on a dance instead of a play or musical. A lot of musicals have quick changes as well, and I really have respect for the dressers, as they have to help the actor get changed as quickly as possible, but still making sure that the costume is on properly and will not come apart onstage.
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