Fish First!

The warehouse at the Tsukiji Fish
Market in Tokyo

Konnichiwa! It’s Friday afternoon here in Japan and we’re aboard the bullet train traveling to Osaka where we are to perform this weekend. After a whirlwind of shows in Tokyo and exhilarating experiences sightseeing, I’ve finally found some time to write as I sit by the window of the train watching the mountains roll by.  Today has been one of the best days so far, and it has only just begun.  

You might think I’m crazy, but after a day of performing Symphony in 3 Movements, Balanchine’s Swan Lake, and Symphony in C in Tokyo, I woke up this morning at 2:30am to go to the famous Tsukiji Fish Market.  Each weekday, tourists are allowed to view the iconic tuna auction located in a warehouse, in which freshly caught tuna is displayed and sold to buyers who make the most delectable sushi in Japan.  Only the first 120 people are guaranteed a spot to witness the event, and for this reason, you must arrive at least two hours prior to the 5:25am showing.  The auction is one of those once-in-a-lifetime events, so despite my exhaustion from performing, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see it.  My friends and I marveled at the freshly caught tuna – frozen and cut open to display the quality to the perusing buyers – and listened to the chants of the auctioneer echoing throughout the chilly space.  Before bidding, buyers tested the tuna quality by thrashing picks against the tuna’s flesh, and sometimes even tasting a bit of the raw fish before purchasing! Who knew tuna was such a big deal? Among the top Japanese chefs, sushi making is an art form that requires careful selection of ingredients and the skill of creating such masterpieces. I was able to observe their craft after the auction by going to a distinguished sushi bar in the market for breakfast – yes BREAKFAST.

At the sushi bar about to try sea urchin!

 Seated at the bar, we witnessed the creation of sushi right in front of out eyes, and enjoyed the chef’s selection of raw fish.  Oh my goodness it was so fresh! It makes sense seeing that it was literally brought directly from the ocean. I’m no sushi connoisseur, but I know I will never taste sushi like that anywhere else. We tasted raw tuna, prawn, sea urchin, eel, and squid (the latter giving us all difficulty because of its thickness and rubbery-ness).  But we ate it all! Before 7am, I saw how a body of raw fish was bought, transferred, prepared, and ultimately enjoyed by people like us. I left the market constantly saying “WOW.”

S'mores in a Jar at
The Smith

I wish that for this week’s NYC excursion I could tell you of an amazing Japanese sushi restaurant tucked away in Greenwich Village or Chelsea, but I have not been to many sushi restaurants myself to give you that advice.  But I will tell you that I’ve eaten one of the best fish dishes at a cool urban restaurant called The Smith, located on the Upper West Side, in the East Village and Midtown.  Their salmon is perfectly seared and complimented by a bed of leeks, mushrooms, and Brussels sprouts. It’s one of those meals that will melt in your mouth.  If salmon doesn’t suit you, the restaurant also has a wide variety of other fish, including oysters, mussels, shrimp, and delicious non-fish meals such as the chicken pot pie (another personal favorite).  Be sure to save room for the “s’mores in a jar” dessert – a rich chocolate pudding infused with graham crackers and toasted marshmallows.  You won’t get a taste of Japan by eating here, or experience the wonder of freshly caught and immediately prepared fish, but your taste buds will delight in the flavors of these classic and innovative dishes. 

As we are approaching the Osaka train station, I just want to say one last thing; arigatuo gozaimasu (or thank you very much) for reading! 

Rest and Recuperation

The "downward dog" pose in Yoga

Everyone needs a little “R&R” from time to time, and for dancers, this is most indispensable after the end of a performance season.  Last Sunday evening, after tearing off our pointe shoes and scrubbing off our makeup, it was time for some serious rest and recuperation.  For me, this usually means eating, sleeping, watching movies, and just doing good things for my body – for the most part anyway.  My family and friends will attest that I have a large appetite, and sometimes I go overboard on the food and later regret the “food coma” that causes me to root myself to the couch. (We’ve all been there done that right?) Aside from eating sumptuous foods, I do find therapeutic solutions to fatigue and muscle tension by getting a massage or doing Pilates. If I’m sensing sore feet and feeling strong-willed, I’ll also soak my feet in an ice bath – BRRR!

Perhaps an ice bath isn’t your idea of a relaxing time, and I don’t blame you.  But here’s a suggestion for a calming, invigorating, and free (!) experience on the Upper West Side.  Each Sunday, the Lululemon store, which sells the over-priced but incredibly comfy athletic garb, holds a yoga class called Sunday Salutations at 9:30am, with space available for the first 40 people to sign up that day. (There are a few locations throughout the city, but considering what I propose to do after the class, you might want to try the location on Broadway and 64^th street).  If you’re a newcomer to yoga, you may think that the strange positions will make you sore, and you’re probably right. But on the plus side, it is not a strenuous activity since much of it involves maintaining your balance, stretching your muscles, and breathing into each pose. I always feel rejuvenated after taking a yoga class, even if my arms feel limp from doing so many “downward dogs!” 

Kelly and me at Alice's Tea Cup (with Alice's
florentine, two scones, and a pot of Indian Chai Tea)

After your yoga wake-up, stroll north up Columbus Ave, eventually making your way to Alice’s Tea Cup on the corner of 73^rd street.  If you could try only one brunch restaurant in Manhattan, this is absolutely the one to experience.  This quaint, calming café underground is best known for its tea and scones; the wall behind the pick-up counter is lined with an assortment of fresh tea blends, and their scones are perfectly crisp on the outside while remaining buttery and soft on the inside! (My mouth is watering just thinking about them).  For a sweet option, I suggest the pumpkin scone with its caramel glaze on top, but my sister would highly recommend the French toast, which comes doused in an apricot-maple syrup. For a savory meal, I’d order the “Alice's florentine” (eggs benedict served on a buttermilk or ham and cheese scone).  Just a heads up, Alice’s does not take reservations and they are usually busiest at brunch on the weekends. BUT, you can give them your name and phone number, go wander around nearby shops or Central Park, and then return to the restaurant when they call you with an availability. Once you have the comforts of a cup of tea and a warm scone in your hands, you’ll enter a world of perfect tranquility that will take away all your stress.  And if you don’t believe a day of yoga, tea, and scones can do that, go try it out for yourself and let me know how you feel!  

Stay tuned for a Japanese-inspired post - we're off to perform in Tokyo and Osaka this week! Sayonara for now NYC!

All Things Vintage

A little jazz entertained audience members this week at NYCB in our performances of Slaughter on 10^th Avenue.  Slaughter (our shortened name for the piece) isn’t your typical ballet.  In fact, none of the dancers even wear pointe shoes.  Instead, we don black fishnet tights, short frilly dresses, and heels, all of which give us a 1920s saloon dancer appearance.  Since the music was taken from a 1936 Rodgers and Hart musical called On Your Toes, the dancing is all Broadway inspired, with lots of jazz hands and high kicks.  Although it is a short piece, it is somewhat complex because depicts a story within a story, and it is packed with romance and violence.  As the title suggests, there are murders, but they are so melodramatic that they're funny.  In the beginning, a Russian ballet dancer hires a thug to kill his rival – the leading dancer in the premiere of the ballet that the audience is about to witness. As the curtain ascends, the audience watches the new ballet in which this leading man falls in love with a stripper in a New York saloon. I won’t give away the ending, but I will say that the thug is persistent in his attempts to fulfill the Russian dancer’s mission.  All in all, Slaughter is like a miniature Broadway show with fewer spoken words and a lot of sass.  The sassy part is especially fun to portray.  Besides Halloween, when do you get to wear black fishnets and a corset and not feel out of place?  This leads me to another point; if you’re a woman trying to convince your husband/boyfriend/male friend to come to the ballet, just describe the costumes and I’m sure you’d win him over.

We're all ready onstage at the bar - I'm fifth from the left

Chandeliers at the GreenFlea
Antique Market

Slaughter renders a certain vintage appeal with its costumes, music, and saloon-style sets, which is why I’ll suggest a visit to the GreenFlea outdoor antique market on the Upper West Side.  It’s open every Sunday from 10am to 5:30pm and is located on Columbus Avenue between 76^th and 77^th streets.  They have a wide range of furniture, jewelry, art, trinkets, and more.  I bought a red silk scarf here for about $15, and I’ve found many unique earrings that make great gifts for friends.  They have an incredible chandelier vendor as well – I just wish I could put one in my rental apartment!  There is also the added bonus of food at this market.  I have yet to try them, but the Greek kabobs and spinach pies look delectable.  If that’s not your cup of tea, they also have other cuisines and baked goods.  The beloved pumpkin season is here so you can bet that there will be many pumpkin flavored treats. 

Inside Prohibition

If you go to the market in the late afternoon, why not hit up the local bar called Prohibition for happy hour? (At one point in Slaughter, the cops invade the saloon presumably searching for illegal alcohol, which always makes me think of the prohibition era).  Of course, this part of the excursion is only for those 21 and up, and if you need a babysitter, I’m in the neighborhood. At Prohibition, located on Columbus Avenue between 84^th and 85^th streets, the ambiance is as cool as the drinks. Rustic light fixtures illuminate the central bar and a small dance floor across the way, and there’s even a billiard table in the back room.  But perhaps the best feature is the live music played nightly, and there's no cover charge! When I went a few weeks ago with my friends Katherine and John, it wasn’t just any old mediocre band either.  They could play songs by Jackson Five, Rihanna, Mumford and Sons, and sing them with their own unique harmonies. That’s some versatility to say the least!  The music may not take you back to the 1920s, but the space itself, in addition to the antique market experience, will surely inspire the cool, jazzy mood of Slaughter on 10^th Avenue. 

Just For Fun

NYCB has always been working to broaden its audience, since its funding and support relies on ticket sales in addition to large donations.  Recently, the company’s focus has been on the younger generation – getting children, teens, and young adults interested in the ballet by holding seminars, post-performance parties, and putting together performances that they can relate to and enjoy.  Click the video below to see the level of curiosity and awe  that the ballets can incite in young children and their families.  Warning: you might wish these kids were your own. They are that adorable. 

Like these "Family Saturdays," our “Just For Fun” program seeks to bring in these younger audiences with its very family-friendly, youthful vibe. On these nights, we perform Jeu de Cartes, in which we mimic playing cards, and also The Four Seasons, in which the sections capture the essence of winter, spring, summer and fall.  We also perform my personal favorite, Carnival of the Animals, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon and set to Camille Saints-Saëns’s famous music of the same name.  In this visually captivating and often comical piece, a boy named Oliver gets locked inside the Museum of Natural History at night and dreams of his classmates and teachers acting as different animals. We portray these different animals as we dance, and the brilliant choreography allows us to easily embody a certain animal's personality. 

The Cockerels and Hens from Carnival of the Animals

As this ballet is “Just For Fun,” here as some fun facts about Carnival of the Animals:

1.  The ballet was premiered on May 13, 2003 at the New York State Theatre (now named the David H. Koch Theatre).   

2.  John Lithgow originated the role of and wrote the accompanying narration for the policeman character.  The policeman finds the young boy in the museum, and then relays Oliver’s story to the audience.  

Me (right) and Harrison Coll (left) as hyenas 
with Brooks Landegger as Oliver

3.  The star of the show is Brooks Landegger, an 11 year old who plays Oliver with such delightful curiosity and joy.  He rehearsed for about two hours a day for three weeks leading up to the show, coached by teachers at the School of American Ballet.  His favorite part of the ballet is the "baboon dance," in which he dances in sync with his piano teacher, Herr Dr. Von Loon, who looks and dances like an ape. 

4.  In order to look like he has extra long ape-like arms, Amar Ramasar, who plays Herr Dr. Von Loon, holds small-crutches under his sleeves.  He even does cartwheels on these extended crutch-arms!

5.  There are about 50 costumes involved with this 35 minute production, and it took our costume shop about 16 hours to get them ready for the show. 

6.  I play one of the hyenas, weasels, and rats from the Oliver’s class, and our signature moves include sliding to the ground through our partners’ legs and doing splits on the floor.  It’s very acrobatic choreography, and in one rehearsal, Christopher Wheeldon told us to “be sharp like the Russian gymnastic team!” Even though she's technically not a Russian athlete, I try to channel Nastia Liukin.  

Entrance to the Bronx Zoo

With so many animals portrayed in Carnival of the Animals, this is the perfect chance to mention the Bronx Zoo.  Located in the heart of the Bronx, it’s about a 30-minute drive from midtown Manhattan, or an hour trip on the subway, making it a very do-able getaway from the busy city streets.  I have not been recently, but I remember really enjoying my last experience here. You could check out the Congo Gorilla Forest in honor of Brooks’s favorite baboon dance, or see the big-eyed lemurs that we have come to love in the Madagascar movie series.  Be sure to hop on the Wild Asia Monorail – a relaxing way to see many beautiful animals without having to trek across the zoo’s expanses.  (This saved me during the middle of the day when I was loosing steam).  The Bronx Zoo is only open through November 3, so your time to visit is somewhat limited! Right now there is a kid-friendly (but fun for all ages) festival on weekends called Boo at the Zoo, offering Halloween inspired activities such as costume parades, 3D pumpkin displays, hay mazes, and magic shows. We all love to look forward to the winter holidays, but why not enjoy the magic and mystery of Halloween while it’s here?  Zoo animals + seasonal activities + a beautiful outdoor escape = a fun-filled day. The zoo is open from 10:00am to 5:00 or 5:30pm and admission for adults is $34.  If you buy tickets online you save about $4 per ticket, and on Wednesdays the price is only a suggested donation of $15.  But this trip is sure to be worth much more that the cost of admission!