It's our 100th blog! Looking back over our past blogs, all the parties, tutus, and glitter and giggles that are found here give me the warm and fuzzies; I just love sharing my love of dance with my students, party clients and you readers, and I'm so glad to have a platform to reach out to all you fellow dance and balletomanes!
So, I figured any milestone deserves a treat, and in this case, I've chosen a cupcake - that is Cupcakes and Conversation via the lovely Ballet News site. And this is an extra special Cupcakes and Conversation; the interview is with the inspiring Gillian Murphy, currently a guest artist with the Royal New Zealand Ballet and Principal with American Ballet Theatre. The Cupcakes and Conversation series that Ballet News does is always a wonderful look inside the many artists and companies that contribute amazing things worldwide to the art of dance, and this interview with Ms. Murphy is just delicious. Below are a few excerpts of the interview - read the full version here. Enjoy the beautiful photography and interview, and cheers to our 100 posts!
Why ballet ?
“If you have to ask, you wouldn’t understand.” That’s the motto plastered across Harley Davidson shirts around the world regarding why people drive motorcycles. In this case, I imagine anyone reading Cupcakes and Conversation gets it. Ballet is a universal language full of incredible grace, athleticism, and artistry. To be a ballet dancer is a privilege, and to dance is to be exhilarated by the joys of movement. It sounds over-the-top, but the feeling of dancing is larger than life. Ballet is my favorite form of expression, and I love that it is a constant balancing act between control and abandon.
 |
| Qi Huan and Gillian Murphy - Photograph by Evan Li |
I sew ribbons and criss-crossed elastic to my Gaynor Mindens, and then I’m ready to go! They don’t need to be broken in, and they last quite a while, so I like to wear a new or fairly new pair for performances (so they are nice and clean), and then I’ll continue to wear that pair either for other performances or throughout the rehearsal process.
 |
| Gillian Murphy - Photograph by Rosalie O'Connor |
Who inspired you to dance ?
I always loved to dance, but seeing videos of many great ballerinas as a young kid inspired me further. Also, I was truly fortunate to have such a supportive family that allowed me to leave home when I was fourteen in order to pursue dance as a potential career.
What is your best piece of advice ?
Get the best training that you can, and also develop your awareness and perspective outside of the studio. Aside from giving you personal fulfillment, your growth as a person will feed your artistry as a dancer so that you can use the structured language of ballet to express the passion and texture of music and your emotions as an individual and/or character.
No comments:
Post a Comment