This is it. My favorite holiday of the year. Although most people go home to their
families for the weekend, or simply for the day, my family journeys to me in
the city because I start performing the Nutcracker on the following day. Ever since I joined NYCB (about four years ago), they have come to
visit on Thanksgiving weekend – to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade along the curbs
of Central Park West, to cook a hearty meal in my tiny kitchen, and to spend
time together. It has become a Kretzschmar family tradition that we look
forward to each year, and I believe the city of New York is at least partly
responsible for our love of this tradition. Because we’re in New York, we not only get to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but also be in it. Yes it’s usually very cold and windy, but
the city scenery is cheerful; the streets are sprinkled with fall leaves,
decorated with twinkling lights, and filled with Christmas tunes wherever we
go.
Family (minus brother) cooking in my kitchen
If we feel like dealing with the crowds, we’ll stroll to
Rockefeller Center during the afternoon to see the majestic Christmas
tree glimmering above the ice skating rink. And after eating a glorious
meal prepared by my mom and sister, we often watch Elf and point out the various places the main character, Buddy, travels to in the city.
(We can literally quote every line and point out every musical cue in this movie since
we have seen it too many times).
Although it is not the home I grew up in, New York City feels like home,
and Thanksgiving feels complete with my family present. Someday I’d like to experience this
holiday again in North Carolina, with my mom’s big kitchen and the beautiful
forested landscape to gaze out at while we cook. But for now, I couldn’t be more thankful for this special city tradition that I get to share with my family.
We have yet to perform the Nutcracker this year, but NYCB
has already started rehearsing ballets that will be performed in the 2014 winter season! As crazy as it may seem, this is actually the usual procedure
each year; in order to be ready for the 20-30 ballets we perform in January
through March, we have to rehearse whenever we can find time. And there is still time now before the
Nutcracker rush.
In London - Couldn't resist a photo with one of their telephone booths
Earlier this week we had our first rehearsal for Union Jack, a ballet that pays homage to
British culture. This hour-long ballet is divided into three parts, in which you
see traditional Scottish dances performed wearing kilts, a comical pas de deux
with the “Pearly King and Queen of London,” and finally, lively jigs performed
by dancers dressed as members of the Royal Navy. With 74 total dancers involved, this ballet is quite the spectacle. I
first performed it soon after joining the company, dancing in the
“MacDonald of Sleat” regiment. The music for “Sleat”
is solely the pounding of drums, and the drummers' intensity is matched by our quick and intricate steps. I remember
feeling like an army cadet, dressed in my red kilt and black cap, moving to the
beat of the drums alongside my fellow dancers. I also remember being extremely nervous about messing up the
quick choreography. If you missed one step, it’d be a struggle to catch back up!
I can't believe I found this clip (below) from the sailor section! Some of my former teachers are dancing!
This past summer my family and I journeyed to London and
experienced some of the classic British traditions; one of my favorites (and
also my mom’s) was perhaps high tea at the Ritz Hotel, where we sampled finger
sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, and of course, world-class tea. If you can afford this excursion, I highly
recommend going. But if that’s not
in your future, never fear; Tea and Sympathy is the place for you right here in
Manhattan.
Tea and Sympathy Store
Located in Greenwich Village, this TEENY restaurant offers
only the most authentic British foods.
From tea to shepherd’s pie to sticky toffee pudding, this place has it
all. Not only is the food
delicious and authentic, but the royal collectibles on the walls and humble
decor also make you feel as if you are in a cute café in Covent Garden. I was introduced to this restaurant this
past summer by my friend, Maria, who grew up in the UK… so it's safe to say that
she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to British delicacies. My one
warning is do not go with a group of more than 4 people; even as a party of two
we had a hard time squeezing into a table by the window. In addition, remember to stop by the
Tea and Sympathy store next door, which sells British jams, candies, teapots,
and more. You’ll be delighted by this
little gem in Manhattan, and mind you,
do stop by the Koch Theatre to see Union Jack this winter!
‘Tis the season
of Balanchine's The Nutcracker. We aren’t quite ready to perform just
yet, but the rehearsals have begun.
Unlike last week, in which I was constantly learning new choreography,
this week will be more of a “refresher course,” since I have performed this
ballet with the company 48 times each year, for the past three years. That’s a lot of Nutcrackers. But I can honestly say that I’m not
tired of it. In fact, I look forward to it each year. The pros definitely outweigh the cons.
Children from the School of American Ballet enjoying the "Party Scene" in Balanchine's The Nutcracker
Pros of The Nutcracker:
Balanchine’s choreography, Tchaikovsky’s music, the sets,
and the costumes are all gorgeous, and together create a near perfect production
of The Nutcracker.
We get to participate in a holiday tradition that has been
around for almost 60 years! (Balanchine’s The
Nutcracker premiered on February 2, 1954).
It draws a range of audience members – ballet fans,
tourists, New Yorkers. The house
is almost always full, making it NYCB’s biggest moneymaker.
There are lots of children involved, whose energy and pure
joy easily put a smile on our faces.
As corps dancers, we perform the same roles each night, which allows us to become comfortable with the movements – enough so that we
are able to work on perfecting even the smallest details while onstage.
It’s such a festive show for the holidays! During the snow
scene in particular, I feel like I am in a winter wonderland.
Many of my friends and family come to see the shows. Even if
I’ve done 34 shows already, I’ll make sure they see my best one yet.
Cons of The Nutcracker:
We hear the music EVERYWHERE. It follows us into the malls, our TV
commercials, hotel lobbies… We’re surrounded!
Rehearsing during the day and doing 8 or 9 performances
of the same Nutcracker each week is
exhausting, and there is little downtime to do anything else besides
dance.
Sometimes the snow scene feels more like a snowstorm;
I can’t seem to see my own hands with the wind and fake snow coming at us from
all directions.
The fake snow always finds its way onto my
clothes, my couch, and my bedroom floor.
No matter how much I vacuum at home, those little white bits keep
appearing.
One-of-a-Kind Display at Barney's New York
To conclude, despite the repetition and physical exhaustion,
The Nutcracker is a magical ballet, both
to watch and dance. Not only is the
ballet magical, but also all of New York City radiates with the festive
spirit. One of my favorite holiday
activities is to walk down 5th Avenue and simply look at the window
displays. They don’t just embody
the holiday spirit, but they also reflect the artistry of the designers. The
designers often put a twist on the traditional images of the holidays (such as turkeys,
Christmas trees, menorahs, and snow), as Barney's did with the window display of a Thanksgiving table in 2010. The display shows the chaotic side of Thanksgiving, with Food Network stars battling it out; the turkey is chef Mario Batali's head! I’ve also seen some displays that use
unconventional materials, like coffee filters, to make holiday shapes and scenes in the windows.
Christmas Day (2010) at Rockefeller Center with my sister, Natalie, and brother, John
These displays are works of art and not to be missed.
Although it’s fun to go closer to Christmas, or even on Christmas (as my family
and I did a few years ago), now is perhaps the best time to visit 5th
Avenue. As there is still much
time to shop before the holidays, the crowds are smaller, which makes the
streets easier to maneuver. I’d recommend starting at F.A.O Schwartz on 58th
street, and working your way down to 45th street. Be sure to stop at Rockefeller Center
to get a glimpse of the Christmas tree (coming soon) above the ice-skating rink – an iconic
symbol of the holidays in New York. Around the corner from Rockefeller Center
is Magnolia Bakery (49th and 6th Ave) where you can stop
in for a sweet snack. They are
famous for their banana pudding, but my personal favorites are the hummingbird
cake, chocolate cake with vanilla frosting, and the Snickers icebox pie. As you can probably tell, I have tried
a number of Magnolia’s desserts, but these are my go-to options. (P.S – the
cakes are a better buy than the cupcakes because you get so much more cake for
only a dollar more!) With a Magnolia treat in hand, and the festive window
displays to feast your eyes, you will surely get into the holiday mode.
We’ll, I’m off to rehearse the Waltz of the Flowers now...
Here’s to the start of another Nutcracker
season, and the future celebrations in the city!
Principal Dancer Wendy Whelan and Soloist Craig Hall working on a past NY Choreographic Institute
Executing a combination of ballet steps is hard enough, but trying
to come up with new steps and ways for dancers to connect is a whole nother ball game. This week I’ve been partaking in the creative process with the New York Choreographic Institute. Founded by NYCB artistic director, Peter Martins, and arts philanthropist, Irene Diamond, the institute gives three promising
choreographers the time, studio space, and dancers to create a new work. The environment is relatively relaxed;
over a period of two weeks, the choreographers work three hours each day to make
a 10-15 minute piece on NYCB and School of American Ballet dancers, and the
final product is performed in a studio without stage lights, makeup, or
costumes. The nature of this program allows the choreographers to really experiment
with new ideas, shapes, and movements, and simply gain more experience. For the
dancers involved, it is equally an enriching experience. We learn how to make steps work and communicate
with the choreographer when certain steps feel awkward. We also try to inspire the choreographer to create intriguing
new movements, and then develop our own artistries by making the movements our own.
This year I’m in a piece titled “Four on the Floor,”
choreographed by George Williamson, who holds the title of “Associate Artist”
with the English National Ballet. His style is expressive and more modern than
say the classical Symphony in C, so returning from Japan to rehearse this piece
made me a little sore. Modern
movement in particular requires being what we call “grounded,” or in other
words, feeling a strong connection of your feet and legs to the floor. You have to
really engage your quads, which explains why (at first) my quads felt like they
were bruised! Perhaps another reason for my soreness was due to the process of
choreographing – the dancers must keep trying the same steps over and over
again in order to make sure that they fulfill the choreographer’s wants. The process
is about trial and error, particularly when it comes to choreographing
partnering sections, since figuring out how two bodies can move together is
challenging. We had a lot of errors before we reached the desired results – believe me. There was falling to the floor, girls crashing down from a
lift, partners smacking each other in the face… but in the end we managed to
get these kinks out, and hopefully presented both accurately and beautifully our choreographer's vision.
Inside the Artists and Fleas Market
In light of our choreographer’s creativity, you might want
to venture to the Artists and Fleas pop-up shop at Chelsea Market, where you’ll find
individuals selling their hand-crafted goods such as household items, clothes,
jewelry and more. You’ll find
items here that you won’t find anywhere else. A few weeks ago, my mom purchased
a cool 70s-inspired dress, and I found tees printed with old cigar box art that
each came packaged in the old cigar box itself! We also enjoyed looking at a
designer’s “Man-eater series” of button-down shirts, which had on them tiny
cartoon prints of sharks or tigers eating humans. Seems like a grave subject for a colorful shirt… but they were
actually quite cute and made my mom and me laugh. The creativity of these
artists is refreshing, particularly since so many of our products are
mass-produced and found almost anywhere in the world. The designers will even tell
you of the process of creating each piece, which just shows the amount of care
and skill that is required to do what they do.
The Highline (on right) amidst the city
The BEST spot to sit at The Highline - the lawn chairs located at the southern end of the path
Before you leave, be sure to check out the Chelsea Market food vendors, located in the same building. They offer
everything from delicious donuts to classic Italian fare. But next, head to one
of Manhattan’s most popular new destinations – The Highline. The Highline is a public
park constructed on an elevated old railroad that offers a show of plants and
views of the Hudson River, the New Jersey skyline, and the Empire State
Building. It is only a 15-minute walk away from Chelsea Market and
well worth the trip. Although Central Park is still my favorite, this one is
unique because you can see up close the contrasts between the steel buildings
surrounding the park’s path, and the vegetation displayed along the way. Like
other designers or choreographers, the creators of The Highline clearly had a
vision in mind, constructing not just a park but also a point of fusion between
modern and natural elements, which interestingly compliment each other. It is
the perfect spot for a peaceful stroll; even on the dreary day that my mom and
I walked its path, we felt both relaxed and captivated by the unique blend of
scenery.
New York City never looked better than it did on Monday
night as we rode our bus into Manhattan, after journeying for 22 hours across
the globe from Japan. Each time I go away for a length of time, I return with
this similar sentiment. I realize
just how inviting the city lights feel, how comforting the honks and street
noises sound, and how cozy my little apartment is, tucked away from the busy atmosphere
below. With all its commotion and
oddities, the city is my home.
Nevertheless, Japan was a breath of fresh air (both
figuratively and literally) and I felt extremely fortunate not only to experience
their culture, but also to perform a wide variety of iconic Balanchine ballets. In one show we
performed Balanchine’s Swan Lake (which is a condensed version of the 2.5 hour
ballet), The Four Temperaments, and Symphony in C – each with their own distinctive
flair. You have the dramatic score
and elegant swan-like port de bras in Swan Lake, the edgy and hip-thrusting
movements of The Four Temperaments, and finally, the purely classical Symphony
in C, performed by a cast of 48 dancers – the women all in dazzling white
tutus. I had performed Balanchine’s Swan Lake before, but this was my first
time dancing the first movement corps in Symphony in C. Hearing the joyous
music and sensing the sparkling effect of our costumes made me feel radiant and
utterly happy to be onstage. And we were in Japan! Being in this exciting place, performing this new part and
such an array of repertoire reinvigorated my passion for dance. (Here's a clip about the new design of our Symphony in C costumes - it gives you a feel for the ballet's radiant tone, and the background music is actual selections from the ballet!).
Natalie and I at Smorgasburg
It’s safe to say that our performances in Japan were like a
smorgasbord, because in one show you could see the many different styles of the
New York City Ballet. So for this
week’s excursion, I’m going to take you to Smorgasburg in Brooklyn – only the
best round-up of local and innovative foods. Smorgasburg is an outdoor food market with views of the
Manhattan skyline that takes place on Sundays from 11am to 6pm at Pier 5 in
Brooklyn Bridge Park. (There’s
also another location in Williamsburg open on Saturdays if Sunday doesn’t work
for you). I first experienced
Smorgasburg with my sister, Natalie, and my friend Grace this summer, and we
were blown away. Vendors offered a range of products
from tofu salads to grilled cheeses, and each put a unique spin on the
traditional meal. I chose a 10
layer Mexican sandwich with fried chicken on a ciabatta roll (!!), and I was in
heaven. For dessert, I had no ordinary peanut butter shake, but instead one
blended with a slice of s’mores pie! I did wish that the peanut butter flavor
was more prominent, but nonetheless I was excited to taste this inventive
treat. If it is still warm enough
outside for ice cream, Grace highly recommends an ice cream sandwich from The Good Batch – they even have seasonal flavors right now such as the Pumpkin Chai
and Mexican Chocolate sandwiches. You might just see me there next weekend...
My incredible 10 layer Mexican sandwich!
After all this eating, you’d probably want to walk it off,
and walking is particularly pleasurable in the crisp fall weather. You’ve probably all seen pictures of
the Brooklyn Bridge, but have you ever walked it? The bridge’s arches look even
grander when standing beneath them, and the city views from above the East River are stunning. It’s only a
20-minute walk north of Smorgasburg, and to walk across the bridge itself, set
aside a good 45 minutes – you need extra time to get that Instagram-worthy
photo! Not only are you looking at
something beautiful, but also something with historical significance; it
connected Manhattan and Brooklyn for the first time in 1883, and was the
longest suspension bridge in the world for 20 years. But no matter all the
research you do, there’s nothing like taking it all in from beneath those
majestic arches.
The Brooklyn Bridge
If you didn’t already love New York, you might just fall in
love with it after this adventure. Smorgasburg and the Brooklyn Bridge respectively
capture the diversity and history of city. Even though the city may not feel like home to all,
especially with those loud and crazy cab drivers, at the end of this day
you’ll feel satisfied, humbled, and inspired. Perhaps a new perspective will
also reinvigorate you, as Japan did for me.
