by Natalie Ogonek, Student, Canada’s National Ballet School
Hi! My name is Natalie Ogonek, and I am a 17-year-old student at Canada’s National Ballet School. The 50th Anniversary events have already taken the school by storm. With the Assemblée Internationale coming up in less than two weeks, rehearsals are well under way. I am in A Corps, Essence, the piece choreographed by Florent Melac from the Paris Opera Ballet School, and am also a Cygnet in NBS’ Swan Lake. The two pieces are complete opposites, but both have been demanding and exhilarating.
We performed Swan Lake for Spring Showcase last year, so we all know the choreography. In rehearsals now we are bringing the piece up to scratch and making it even more beautiful and touching than it was in May.
Learning the student choreography has been a real challenge, but an invigorating one. Trying to figure out the choreography with our backs to the video but still somehow trying to watch the video at the same time can lead to some outrageous contortions which the choreographer never intended, and whose origins I am never quite sure of. We finished learning the whole piece two weeks ago, but I think that we’ve only just started discovering the ideas and movements it contains. The movement style is very foreign to me, but the more I work on the piece the more I love it, and the more I find subtleties and nuances within the choreography. There is always the fear, though, that when the choreographer comes he’ll ask us, “Whose piece are you doing?” We can’t help but wonder if we’ve interpreted it all wrong! When the partner schools come next month, we shall see.
I’m so excited to see all the choreographies come together, and to meet all the people from our partner schools!
Bonjour Natalie ,
I’m Caroline from the Opera Paris Ballet School.
I’m 17 years old too and I ‘m coming for the Workshop . I’m so excited to see you because I’m in the piece of my school “a corps,essence” like you. In addition , the choreographer:
Florent is very kind ! You can be sure that he will help you.
In Hamburg, two weeks ago ,we met a Danish dancer who will make the piece of Florent too. Do you know others students who dance with us ?
Another question: How is the weather in Toronto yet ?
See you soon
P S : I hope you understand few words…I’m not so good in English!
Caro
Salut Caroline! Tu vas danser dans « A corps, essence »? C’est formidable! Moi aussi j’ai bien hâte de te rencontrer! Je ne connais pas les autres danseurs dans la chorographie de Florent. Ça sera incroyable de rencontrer tous les autres. C’est très excitant!
Cette semaine il ne fait pas trop froid ici (10 degrés) mais cela pourrait changer rapidement! Je te conseille d’apporter des vêtements pour l’hiver (un chapeau, des gants, un foulard, de bottes, etc.) J’espère que le temps doux qu’on a maintenant durera jusqu’à la fin de la semaine prochaine.
Je sais que notre école pourrait être un peu intimidante, mais c’est vraiment une communauté très chaleureuse et accueillante. Je sais que si les rôles étaient renversés, c’est moi qui aurais la trouille d’aller à l’Opéra de Paris! Nous sommes tous excités que vous soyez invités chez nous! N’oubliez pas d’apporter vos manteaux d’hiver! Je te verrai dans trois jours!
– Natalie