Spring 2012 - Lourdes College

Realizingher dreamsOne of her fondest memoriesis performing in ToledoBallet’s 65th production of TheNutcracker. “I was the lead inthe show at age 12 and hadthe opportunity to work withamazing artists as well as agood group of young aspiringdancers.” World renowned primaballerina and artistic directorSoili Arvola flew into Toledo tocast and stage the production.Auditioning for the productionjust 2 months after moving toToledo, Meredith was surprisedand honored to be cast asClara. “Soili not only helped metremendously with my techniquebut she taught me to never giveup on anything I start and toalways give it everything I have.”At such a young age, hermaturity as a performer isevident. “It is amazing to thinkthat just 6 years ago, I was ayoung dancer finding myselfand figuring out how to bea technically and artisticallystrong ballerina. Upon my returnto Toledo, I auditioned and wasinvited to be a Corps de Balletmember and this year I am aproud Principal Dancer in theCompany!”Since returning to Toledoin 2009, Meredith hasperformed the roles of LeadSnow, Flute, Dew Drop, andthe solo in The Waltz of theFlowers with the Toledo Ballet.Prior achievements includeperforming in Unlock the Magic,The Rock School for DanceEducation’s patriotic version ofThe Nutcracker at the KimmelCenter in Philadelphia, as wellas in The Nutcracker Suite withInternational Ballet Classiqueat Neumann College where shedanced in their annual gala asa snowflake and demi-soloist inWaltz of the Flowers.In the spring of ‘08, shecompeted in the Youth AmericaGrand Prix (YAGP) as a soloistand member of an ensemble,dancing variations from theclassical ballet Copellia. Theensemble placed regionallyand was invited to competein the YAGP finals at New YorkUniversity. That fall, she joinedFirst State Ballet Theatre inWilmington, DE, where sheperformed in the Corps deBallet for several performancesincluding The Nutcracker,Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote.Another plus in her career ishaving worked with her dadTom. The two have performedtogether in two of the ToledoBallet’s productions. “It was alot of fun to have my dad as a‘party parent’ in the beginningof Nutcracker when I was Clara,and to ‘fight’ with him in the roleof pirate in Peter Pan when I wasan Indian.”LuminationsconnectionLast year, the talentedballerina performed atLourdes’ scholarship fundraiserLuminations! as part of theToledo Ballet’s Museum ofDreams production for whichshe played the lead nemesis.“I was thrilled to be a part ofthe production, to perform atLuminations! and to help makea Lourdes education possiblefor those who need a littleextra financial support,” shesays. “Education makes such apositive difference in a person’sfuture success, but it can bequite expensive, especially inthis current economy.”Learning topersevereThere have been manylandmarks in her 15 years ofdancing. Meredith rememberswith pride when she beganpointe at age 10 while dancingat Wichita Falls Ballet Theatre inTexas, learned to manage herlong legs when doing a grandjete (a large jump while doingthe splits in mid air) and whenshe regained her solid techniqueafter a major growth spurt. Sheconsiders her24 ATLOURDES MAGAZINE | Spring 2012