NL_121318

newlenoxpatriot.com life & arts
the New Lenox Patriot | December 13, 2018 | 21
Local dancers featured in annual ballet performance
Show at Lincoln-Way
West takes place
Dec. 15-16
Amanda Villiger
Assistant Editor
The sweet sound of Tchaikovsky’s
“Dance of the Sugar
Plum Fairy” is a hallmark
of the classic “Nutcracker”
ballet that spans generations.
Featuring songs from the
original ballet, Frankfortbased
Ballet 5:8’s “Beyond
the Nutcracker” will offer
audience members a modern,
spiritual take on the story.
As a professional ballet
company and school of the
arts, Ballet 5:8’s annual production
incudes professional
dance company members as
well as trainees and students
with original choreography
by Artistic Director Julianna
Rubio Slager.
Students and company
members travel from all over
the country to study at the
school, but many of their students
are from the local area
as well.
Catherine Lobash, of Mokena,
will perform in Ballet
5:8’s production of “Beyond
the Nutcracker,” which is
now in its fourth year.
“It is fun to perform with
such a great company and to
share such a meaningful message
with the community,”
Lobash said.
Sophia Snider, a junior at
Lincoln-Way Central, has
been studying ballet since she
was 5 and began at Ballet 5:8
when it opened in 2012.
“[Conservancy II] is for
preprofessional students
training to be professionals,”
Snider said about her level of
training. “It’s a very intense
schedule — Monday through
Friday from like 2 o’clock to
around 6 o’clock.
“We work on our artistry,
technique, specifically ballet,
and we train under the
company members and the
artistic director Miss Juliana
[Slager].”
Snider, who is a New
Lenox resident, will be featured
in the show’s “Snow”
scene and has a solo part in
the “English Roses” scene
where she plays a Rose
Queen.
As someone who has performed
in the show before,
Snider said the practices always
get more intense as the
opening day nears but that it
offers a unique opportunity
for improvement.
“There’s just so much room
to grow,” she said. “And you
feel it, and you keep pushing
yourself. I always look forward
to performing ‘[Beyond
the] Nutcracker.’”
James Wainwright, a recent
graduate of Lincoln-
Way West, reflected on his
recently-begun dancing career
during a recent interview
about the upcoming production.
The 18-year-old is a
trainee with the company but
only began dancing at the age
of 16.
“It’s just amazing to be at
this level and be a part of a
company,” Wainwright said.
“I am grateful for every day.”
Wainwright, a New Lenox
native, will be featured during
the “English Roses”
scene, and will be doing a
partner dance during the
“Spanish Pas.”
“I’ve always been around
dance. It has always been a
part of my life, but it always
was just around,” said Wainwright,
whose mother owned
a dance school in New Lenox
when he was young. “I didn’t
make it an integral part of my
life — it’s ironic — [until]
my mother closed her studio.”
As part of the company’s
trainee program, Wainwright’s
practice schedule
consists of full, long days of
Sophia Snider (right), of New Lenox, and Catherine Lobash (left), of Mokena, rehearse “English roses” during a dance
practice to prepare for Ballet 5:8’s performance of “Beyond the Nutcracker” Dec. 15-16 at Lincoln-Way West. Photos by
Amanda Villiger/22nd Century Media
‘Beyond the Nutcracker’
When: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 15; and 3
p.m. Sunday,
Dec. 16
Where: Lincoln-Way West
High School, Performing
Arts Center, 21701
Gougar Road in New
Lenox
Cost: $10 for children
12 and younger; $18 for
adults
Tickets: visit www.
ballet58.org or call (708)
329-8773
training, often more than 5
days a week.
“It’s a very intense level
but it’s all to make me a better
dancer, and it’s what I love,”
he said. “I couldn’t imagine
doing anything else.”
Employing traditional ballet
training, “Beyond the Nutcracker”
is a story that takes
The girls rehearse at Ballet 5:8, which is based in Frankfort.
the main character, Emma, to
different areas of the world
and back in time to the first
Christmas. The show will
feature 150 cast members as
well as original costumes,
sets and choreography.
“For me, even with my
short career, it’s already become
part of the season, like
fresh fallen snow or hot chocolate,
it just feels like when it
comes time, I wouldn’t imagine
winter and the holiday
season and celebrating the
birth of Christ with any other
way,” Wainwright said.
Performances will take
place at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 15 and 3 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 16 at Lincoln-
Way West High School in
New Lenox. Cost is $18 for
adults, and $10 for children
12 and younger. To purchase
tickets, visit www.ballet58.
org or call (708) 329-8773.