An Interview with Ballet Hispanico Dancer Nicholas Villeneuve

Yesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of interviewing veteran Ballet Hispanico Dancer Nicholas Villeneuve.

Mr. Villeneuve was born in Montreal and raised in Jamaica. He has studied at the Alvin Ailey school and Juillard. He has worked with master choreographers such as Agnes de Mille and has performed with celebrities like Patti Labelle. Mr. Villeneuve has made several appearances on Broadway, including Toronto's production of The Lion King. Currently in his fifth season with Ballet Hispanico not only is Mr. Villeneuve an established dancer he's also a choreographer and teacher.

I was fortunate enough to get a-last-minute telephone interview with the dancer from his hotel. Here are some are the responses I received...

• How did you become involved in dance?
• I was born in Montreal and raised in Jamaica. I was apprenticing with a local dance company in Jamaica and I went on a trip to New York, with the company, and got lost trying to find the train and found the Juilliard School. I filled out an application and eventually auditioned and got in on a scholarship.

• Where you dancing before then?
• No, I was a musical theatre major. I was asked to join the company because they recognized my potential as a dancer. They were more of a folkloric dance company.

• What do you most enjoy about dance?
• Across-the-board, what I like about dance is the fact that it’s not like a regular job. It allows me to be creative and expressive, allows me to share my talent to the rest of the world. It allows me to travel and learn about new cultures.

• What styles/genres of dance are you trained in?
• Ballet, Modern and Jazz

• What’s your favorite style and why?
• Modern because it draws in all the elements of ballet and jazz, its more expressive and allows you to have more of an abstract expression.

• Can you describe what it was like attending the Alvin Ailey School & Julliard?
• I was very intimidated because it was one of the very first dance schools I attended. I knew at the time I was lacking in technique but the Ailey school prepared me for Juilliard and when I arrived to Juilliard I was still intimidated but was a better dancer.

• You were dance captain/swing for Toronto’s production of the Lion King, What did that involve? How did you get that position?
• I was required to teach all the male parts on the show, I worked as a stand in when someone was sick, injured or went on vacation. I was also required to send weekly reports to Disney telling them how the show was going. I also ran rehearsals. I auditioned for the position.

• How long have you been teaching dance?
• I started teaching dance once I left college, I’ve been teaching since 2001.

• How long have you been choreographing dances? How many works would you say you’ve produced? Could you please describe the process involved in choreographing? What types of things inspire you?
• I started choreographing in 2000; I’ve been doing it for about 10 years. I’ve produced 12 ballets. The process varies... it depends ... sometimes I’ll go into the studio and make a movement phrase then the rest of the work will come, or I’ll be inspired by a song and try to come up with several movements, or it could be story driven where I’m inspired by a common story and I’ll want to tell that story through movement, then I put the phrases together in the studio with dancers. It takes about 2-3 weeks to come up with a 20-25 minute performance

• How did you get started with Ballet Hispanico?
• After I finished up with Lion King the former Artistic Director, Tina Ramirez, invited me to join in 2005

• Could you please describe a typical day working with Ballet Hispanico?
• We start the day off at 10am we hold ballet technique class until 11:15, we have a break, and then at 11:30 we hold rehearsal until 6 with 5 min breaks after every hour. We rehearse all repertory that’s going to be on the tour or that we’re going to be doing in the fall.

• What advice do you have for aspiring dancers?
• Take class everyday, work hard, never give up, it’s about perseverance and dedication.

• If you were not a dancer, choreographer and teacher what other profession would you like to try? Why?
• I would want to be a pilot, I’m interested in aviation I think its quite amazing. I would like to add that I’m working on getting my private pilots license.

• If you could address Detroit audiences what would you say?
• I would like to say that our Artistic Director, Eduardo Vilaro, has put together an eclectic group of dancers and that they should come out and see us and be inspired.

You can learn more about Nicholas Villeneuve and the other dancers of Ballet Hispanico by following this link Dancers' Biographies.

Cupcake Station & DOH Challenge Audiences to Channel their Inner Pastry Chef or... dare I say... Mad Scientist in this "sweet" contest

In line with the new Mel Brooks musical, Young Frankenstein, showing here at the Detroit Opera House, February 23rd to March 14th, Cupcake station has invited audiences to participate in their latest cupcake creation.

Calling it "a Monster Cupcake", audiences are encouraged to go online and list off what characteristics they believe should go into making the new cupcake on behalf of the musical. One winner will have their cupcake creation "come alive" and receive four tickets to the show. He/she will also get a chance to meet with the cast of Young Frankenstein. But that's not all! four runners up will be selected who will also receive four tickets EACH to the show.

The deadline for the competition is Wednesday, February 10th so don't miss out on your Chance to momentarily live your dream as a Pastry Chef or... you know...a Mad Scientist!

For more information click on the link below.

Create a Monster Cupcake Contest

Allow Detroit Opera House to Heat up your Valentine's weekend with Ballet Hispanico

Looking for something exciting to do this Valentine's Day? Looking to add a little sizzle to your weekend? This month Ballet Hispanico, the nations foremost latin dance company, will make its second appearance at the Detroit Opera House, Saturday, February 13th and Sunday, February 14th. Come watch as they fuse ballet, modern, and latin dance on stage and perform choreography by some of the world's most progressive choreographers.

Audiences will also have the opportunity to participate in a host of weekend long events and offerings that include; Latin Salsa classes, taught by various members of the Ballet Hispanico company, on Friday, February 12th which are free to Ballet Hispanico ticket holders.

For more information call (313) 237-3251.

A special Valentine's Weekend Package called "la noche del amour" or "night of love" which includes two premium box seats, two beverages and a bouquet of chocolate roses for $190 during Saturday night's performance. Audiences also have the option of enjoying a three course meal at Shiraz, with our "Wine, Dine and Let us Take The Lead" Package. The package includes a premium seat and transportation to the restaurant from the Opera house and back for $89 per person during Saturday night's performance.

For reservations and information call (313) 237-7464.

Looking for something a little less expensive or coming alone? Audiences who qualify for our Access.Opera/Access.Dance program also have the opportunity to enjoy main floor seating at $20/ ticket during Saturday's performance. As well as a complimentary drink and a chance to mingle with the Ballet Hispanico cast during a exclusive post-performance reception.

For more information or to purchase tickets contact Felicia Burgess (313) 961-3500, option 6, extension 3200 or via email fburgess@motopera.org

Ballet Hispanico events officially wrap up Tuesday, February 23rd with our Tuesday Night Dance Film Series. Come enjoy food, drink, film and discussion during our showing of the dance film "Latin Nights" at 7pm.

For more information call (313) 237-342 via email dance@motopera.org

David DiChiera's "Cyrano" music at the Scarab Club!

Maybe you missed the world premiere of Cyrano -- MOT General Director David DiChiera's first opera in 2007. But all is not lost! Chamber Music at the Scarab Club will be presenting a concert featuring the American premiere of David DiChiera's "Souvenir d'Arras," a trio based on his opera Cyrano. The concert will be held at Marygrove College on Sunday, January 24th at 3:00pm.

The program will include two other pieces on the theme of Cyrano with a narration by Karen Landers, expressly written for the concert, linking the music to the timeless Rostand story. Performers include Lillian Scheirich violin, Mary Siciliano piano, and MOT Orchestra principal cellist Nadine Deleury. The concert will also include the premiere of a piece by MOT bassist Clark Suttle and a Quintet by S. Prokofiev.

For ticket information, please call (248) 474-8930 or email ndeleury@sympatico.ca.
For more details about the concert please visit: www.scarabclub.org/chambermusic.

The Delightful Lisa Vroman

By Wendy German

I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Lisa Vroman who takes the role of Charlotte Malcolm in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music playing November 14-22, 2009 here at the Detroit Opera House. She was gracious enough to share a little of her life with me. What an enchanting lady, with a fantastic approach about her singing, theatre career and towards life. She has made worldwide appearances due to the ease with which she navigates the rage from musical theatre to opera. She played Christine Daae in the Phantom of the Opera on both coasts and touring for years. Her list of vocal performances and theatrical appearances is extensive.

Q: What led you into the world of musical theatre?

A: I had a crossover path, my mother was a choral music educator and my dad was an undertaker. We grew up listening to Ella Fitzgerald music all the at home when I was little. My parents would go so often to see her in concert in New York City that I believed this was my “Auntie Ella”, but that is not so.

Q: What motivates you to continue your theatre life?

A: We are the relief for people having a bad day. In this economy, it is the first response to go and put on a CD and listen to your favorite music. We as theatre people provide that escape from the everyday.

Q: What are the best and worst parts of the travel aspect of touring?

A: The worst parts, missing family, my husband and my dog. Best part, I get to travel the world, I was recently in Hong Kong and am booked to work in Beijing for the opening of a new opera house in 2010.

Q: Have you ever performed A Little Night Music before?

A: Yes, I have done ALNM three times, so I know the piece well from all aspects.

Q: How far in advance to you begin to prepare for a role?

A: As soon as I know I am going to do it, however long that is.

Q: What was it like meeting Stephen Sondheim?

A: He was at a rehearsal and tapped me on the shoulder, when I turned around and saw him, I couldn’t speak. Stephen is beautiful music; the complexity of his composing is on another level.

Q: Have you ever visited/performed in Detroit before? Is there anything that stands out for you?

A: Yes, Three times in concert with the Detroit Symphony and also while touring. There is a Pewabic tile store I can’t wait to visit!

MOT Allesee Dance and Opera Resource Library Online!

The Michigan Opera Theatre’s Allesee Dance and Opera Resource Library just opened up to the public this past month. This is an awesome piece of MOT’s history as it creates a new and very useful resource for Michigan’s cultural history.

The database was created online through a partnership between MOT and Wayne State University. Masters students from WSU’s School of Library and Information Science began working on the project after receiving a $1 million grant in start-up funds from Maggie and Bob Allesee, which also assisted in the transformation of the physical library’s structure.

“What an incredible opportunity to open MOT history to the world through this state-of-the-art online database and our partnership with Wayne State’s School of Library and Information Science,” says MOT Archivist Tim Lentz. “We hope this will be a model for other arts organizations to follow around the country.”

The online database includes a complete performance history and a catalogue of thousands of unique items, including scores, books, CDs, videos, reviews, and many other unique items from MOT productions.

CHECK IT OUT! http://motlibrary.slis.wayne.edu/.

A Review: Lost in the Phantom's World

So that you can keep Jonelle and I (and our blogs) straight, I’ll briefly reintroduce myself; I’m Wendy German, a student at the University of Windsor pursuing my B.A. in English and Arts Management. I have a dance, vocal and theatre background and a love of the performing arts. As promised, a review of the Friday September 11th, 2009 evening performance of Phantom.

Phantom of the Opera is a spectacle for the senses. Christine’s naiveté and fear as she steps into the underground lair are almost palpable. The Phantom himself is a magician, manipulative and a monster, both literally and figuratively. The music continues to replay itself over in my mind and is eerie and beautiful. The full company singing Masquerade in elaborate, glittering outfits is a fitting backdrop to the Phantom’s dominate red, skull-faced pirate attire. There are so many moments to mention, the chandelier floating up to the ceiling of the opera house, far above the stage was brilliant. Even thought I watched it happen, it is still hard to believe, how do they do that? (I realize the answer is a wire, however this is an unromantic, logical answer and I prefer to think of it as the magic of theatre!) The evening ended with a standing ovation for the leads, notably appropriate in my opinion. There is still time for you to get lost in the Phantom’s world. The show is here until September 27th.

The next event at the Detroit Opera House is Verdi’s Nabucco. This is an opera about religious epiphany, ascension to the throne, sibling rivalry and a love triangle (what’s opera without a love triangle or two?). With some planning and a little luck I am hoping to view a rehearsal, as we get closer to October. I’ll also have to start thinking about a costume for the Haunted in the House/Opening night of Pilobolus evening; it will have to be something whimsical!