Current AAYC News
June Event- Paquita by Gallery Ballet
Recital performances
Friday through Sunday June 2-4 Main stage at Gallery Theater 210 NE Ford Street in downtown McMinnville. “However,” adds Castle, “advance tickets for ‘Paquita’ available now. Tickets are on sale through Oregon Stationers and the Copy Cabana located at 217 NE 3rd Street. Call (503) 472 – 5181 or go to http://galleryballet.com/ for more information. Paquita: Love in the Time of Napoleon
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Declaring “Spain must be French”, the Emperor Napoleon’s army set out to seize control of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain and the lands of southern France in what would come to be called “The Peninsula War.” Raging from 1807 – 1814, it resulted in the French occupation of Iberia and Spain under Napoleon’s army. This military campaign overlaps the period of what is known in Spain as Guerra de la Independencia Española (the Spanish War of Independence), which erupted on May 2, 1808 and is illustrated in Francisco Goya’s painting “The Second of May 1808”, also known as “The Charge of the Mamelukes”.
A young girl discovers an injured man during the civil strife caused by the encroaching French army of Napoleon. She helps him and they fall in love only to be targeted for reprisal by the local governor through the machinations of Inigo, Paquita’s spurned suitor. This provides the socio-political background for Joseph Mazilier and Paul Foucher’s ballet “Paquita” in which a young girl (Paquita) falls in love with a French officer after saving his life. He in turns woos her and they fall in love. The story takes place in an Iberian village, and tells a tale of courage and terror, redemption and betrayal and persecution and love in a time when bloody skirmishes were the standard across large swathes of Europe. In Spain, Napoleon's army is an occupational force, and therefore, is opposed by the Spanish authorities.
Set to music by Edouard Deldevez it was first performed April 1st in 1846 by the Paris Opera Ballet at the Salle Le Peletier, after which the piece remained part of the standard repertory for almost five years. This year it is Gallery Ballet’s June recital, and will be performed on the main stage of Gallery Theater.
The production is distinct in that “Paquita” has not often been performed on American stages. Says director Edwina Castle “The ballets we re-stage are over a hundred years old, so they are classics; but times change and we challenge our dancers to meet those challenges and give each performance that extra boost of commitment to “wow' their audiences. We perform on the Gallery Theater’s mainstage, but we rehearse here at the studio (906 NE 11th Street in McMinnville) right up to the week of opening. Recital performances are Friday through Sunday June 2- 4 on the main stage at Gallery Theatre 210 NE Ford Street in downtown McMinnville. “However,” adds Castle, “advance tickets for ‘Paquita’ are available now for purchase.” Much like a vaudeville troupe, we rehearse at one location (the studio) until almost opening night; we pack up our props and costume and show up at Gallery Theater and dress rehearse just before the night of the first performance.”
Castle emphasizes the athleticism and stamina necessary for dancers to perform, saying: “When you have an audience of adults and young people, the young boys are usually skeptical about watching guys dance ballet. Then the first time the male partner catches a ballerina in full leap, lifts her overhead and turns her, you usually hear at least one guy in the audience say ‘whoah!’ – because it really is impressive.”
Castle has scheduled classes for male dancer in which they focus on upper body strength and endurance. Castle explains “It takes a lot of upper body strength and stamina. That's why we work hard in the studio on upper body and core strength, because this activity is intensive, just like any competitive sport – and ballet is a very masculine sport. Along with strength, it requires timing, flexibility, determination and focus - it is a very demanding discipline.”
A young girl discovers an injured man during the civil strife caused by the encroaching French army of Napoleon. She helps him and they fall in love only to be targeted for reprisal by the local governor through the machinations of Inigo, Paquita’s spurned suitor. This provides the socio-political background for Joseph Mazilier and Paul Foucher’s ballet “Paquita” in which a young girl (Paquita) falls in love with a French officer after saving his life. He in turns woos her and they fall in love. The story takes place in an Iberian village, and tells a tale of courage and terror, redemption and betrayal and persecution and love in a time when bloody skirmishes were the standard across large swathes of Europe. In Spain, Napoleon's army is an occupational force, and therefore, is opposed by the Spanish authorities.
Set to music by Edouard Deldevez it was first performed April 1st in 1846 by the Paris Opera Ballet at the Salle Le Peletier, after which the piece remained part of the standard repertory for almost five years. This year it is Gallery Ballet’s June recital, and will be performed on the main stage of Gallery Theater.
The production is distinct in that “Paquita” has not often been performed on American stages. Says director Edwina Castle “The ballets we re-stage are over a hundred years old, so they are classics; but times change and we challenge our dancers to meet those challenges and give each performance that extra boost of commitment to “wow' their audiences. We perform on the Gallery Theater’s mainstage, but we rehearse here at the studio (906 NE 11th Street in McMinnville) right up to the week of opening. Recital performances are Friday through Sunday June 2- 4 on the main stage at Gallery Theatre 210 NE Ford Street in downtown McMinnville. “However,” adds Castle, “advance tickets for ‘Paquita’ are available now for purchase.” Much like a vaudeville troupe, we rehearse at one location (the studio) until almost opening night; we pack up our props and costume and show up at Gallery Theater and dress rehearse just before the night of the first performance.”
Castle emphasizes the athleticism and stamina necessary for dancers to perform, saying: “When you have an audience of adults and young people, the young boys are usually skeptical about watching guys dance ballet. Then the first time the male partner catches a ballerina in full leap, lifts her overhead and turns her, you usually hear at least one guy in the audience say ‘whoah!’ – because it really is impressive.”
Castle has scheduled classes for male dancer in which they focus on upper body strength and endurance. Castle explains “It takes a lot of upper body strength and stamina. That's why we work hard in the studio on upper body and core strength, because this activity is intensive, just like any competitive sport – and ballet is a very masculine sport. Along with strength, it requires timing, flexibility, determination and focus - it is a very demanding discipline.”
The production features both dancers as well as says director Edwina Castle: “It has a more adult theme in terms of conflict. Paquita is a gypsy girl that the Gypsy Prince Inigo decides he loves – he thinks she should marry him, and assumes she will accept his offer of marriage. When Paquita rejects Inigo and later falls in love Lucien, well, now days we would say Inigo has ‘anger issues.”
Starring Ruby Janzen as Paquita and Patrick Janzen as Lucien d’Hervilly, the role of Inigo the Gypsy Chief is danced by Cobey Jacoby; rounded out by a cast that includes Mark Evans as the French General Le Compte and Norm Tognazinni as the Spanish Governor Don Lopez de Mendoza.
The role of the heroine Paquita is danced by fourteen year old Ruby Janzen, an eight year veteran of Gallery Ballet, having begun her dance training at the age of six. Of the role, Ruby says “I have never danced ‘Paquita’ before, so I had to research the story and terms used as well as look at some You Tube videos to get an idea of the characters and the way the story has been performed in the past.” Ruby noted the ballet has a series of partnered dances, but also features solo and group dances. “Of the whole performance, my favorite is toward the end when we perform the Grand Pas, because I really enjoy partnering with another dancer, and because the Grand Pas has a crazy amount of turns.” Ruby dances the role opposite her seventeen year old brother, Patrick Janzen.
Patrick began studying dance at Gallery Ballet about a year ago after his sister and Castle encouraged him to sign up at the studio. Ruby enjoys working with her brother, adding “Patrick and I get along pretty well. Being siblings, when we are at home we practice. Since I have been dancing longer, he can ask me questions about the correct term for a particular move.” Ruby has had experience in more than ballet training, though, emphasizing “In addition to ballet, I have also studied 'lyrical' dance, which is a more contemporary style.”
Recently accepted into the Oregon Ballet Theater Summer Intensive, Ruby will attend the Portland program in August. “In addition to ballet, I have also studied 'lyrical' dance, which is a more contemporary style”. I am really looking forward to it, especially since my 15th birthday is right before the recital, so I will have my birthday and then the recital and then go up to Portland for the summer. It’s going to be a really busy time for me…but in an exciting way.”
Starring Ruby Janzen as Paquita and Patrick Janzen as Lucien d’Hervilly, the role of Inigo the Gypsy Chief is danced by Cobey Jacoby; rounded out by a cast that includes Mark Evans as the French General Le Compte and Norm Tognazinni as the Spanish Governor Don Lopez de Mendoza.
The role of the heroine Paquita is danced by fourteen year old Ruby Janzen, an eight year veteran of Gallery Ballet, having begun her dance training at the age of six. Of the role, Ruby says “I have never danced ‘Paquita’ before, so I had to research the story and terms used as well as look at some You Tube videos to get an idea of the characters and the way the story has been performed in the past.” Ruby noted the ballet has a series of partnered dances, but also features solo and group dances. “Of the whole performance, my favorite is toward the end when we perform the Grand Pas, because I really enjoy partnering with another dancer, and because the Grand Pas has a crazy amount of turns.” Ruby dances the role opposite her seventeen year old brother, Patrick Janzen.
Patrick began studying dance at Gallery Ballet about a year ago after his sister and Castle encouraged him to sign up at the studio. Ruby enjoys working with her brother, adding “Patrick and I get along pretty well. Being siblings, when we are at home we practice. Since I have been dancing longer, he can ask me questions about the correct term for a particular move.” Ruby has had experience in more than ballet training, though, emphasizing “In addition to ballet, I have also studied 'lyrical' dance, which is a more contemporary style.”
Recently accepted into the Oregon Ballet Theater Summer Intensive, Ruby will attend the Portland program in August. “In addition to ballet, I have also studied 'lyrical' dance, which is a more contemporary style”. I am really looking forward to it, especially since my 15th birthday is right before the recital, so I will have my birthday and then the recital and then go up to Portland for the summer. It’s going to be a really busy time for me…but in an exciting way.”
Patrick Janzen, a high school junior, performed last year in Gallery’s winter recital of “The Nutcracker Ballet” as the Prince and as the Nutcracker, dances the role of the Paquita’s hero, the young French aristocrat Lucien d’Hervilly. Says Patrick of his work on stage “My first work at Gallery Ballet was in ‘Coppelia’ in the summer of 2015, but I began acting when I was eight years old, in Gallery Theater’s production of ‘Oliver!’. Then I started studying dance last fall before the ‘Nutcracker’.” The last year has been a growing experience in more than dance instruction, Patrick noted. He experienced a boost in his height as well as strength over the last two years. He laughed, “Yeah, I started out shorter then I am now; I was only about 5’5” and could hardy lift anyone at all. Now I’m 6’3” and when I partner with Ruby, I can lift her right up over my head.” The last few months has provided Patrick with the chance to explore more of the intricacies of dance. “I’ve been learning a lot of new stuff this year in rehearsal - there's more solo work in ‘Paquita’ than in the ‘Nutcracker’. It’s taken much more practice; so I come into the studio 6 times a week as well as studying.” He noted the role of Lucian was especially challenging, explaining “Mostly there are a lot of new moves to learn plus the combinations of simple and complex moves - a real mix of everything. Basically the character of Lucian is an aristocrat and a soldier, but as a person, as an individual outside of being a soldier, he really wants to find a wide and be married.” The role demands several instances of partnering; Lucian and Paquita have several dances together involving lifting and spinning.
Other than dancing, Patrick is involved with musical training, but says he doesn’t pursue many sports or fitness training schedules. “I don’t work out at a gym or anything like that,” he says. “I work on a farm and that is so I get a lot of exercise in my work regimen.” When not working in the studio, Patrick manages his family's 400 acre farm. “We are getting ready for strawberry season – but we also have been getting ready for planting wheat, grass and corn as well as the berries, so I get up between 4 and 430 in the morning. Being home schooled, my time is spent studying, working on the farm and when I’m not studying or doing farm work, I’m here at the studio working on rehearsing.” He adds, “Playing the drums and percussion as well as piano has benefits in terms of upper body stamina, timing, balance and precision; working on drums lends extra strength and dexterity in my arms and wrists; timing and balance are very important in dance, especially when partnering.”
The role of the ‘heavy’ in ‘Paquita’ is that of the Spanish Governor Don Lopez de Mendoza, who schemes with Inigo to kill Lucian. Actor and playwright Norm Tognazzini plays the villainous governor, and has been involved with Gallery Ballet for several years. “Paquita is my 11th ballet,” he noted. “I got started with Gallery because I have two daughters that were in ballet, but ballet I have done ballet since I was about five years old as both a dancer and an actor.” Tognazzini explained Castle has called on his skills several time, noting “I’ve played numerous roles in plays Edwina has in her repertoire. This role in Paquita is one where I get to play the evil person - which is kind of rare. (Mendoza) is a fun role. I usually play a king, a friend or someone who befriends another character.
Other than dancing, Patrick is involved with musical training, but says he doesn’t pursue many sports or fitness training schedules. “I don’t work out at a gym or anything like that,” he says. “I work on a farm and that is so I get a lot of exercise in my work regimen.” When not working in the studio, Patrick manages his family's 400 acre farm. “We are getting ready for strawberry season – but we also have been getting ready for planting wheat, grass and corn as well as the berries, so I get up between 4 and 430 in the morning. Being home schooled, my time is spent studying, working on the farm and when I’m not studying or doing farm work, I’m here at the studio working on rehearsing.” He adds, “Playing the drums and percussion as well as piano has benefits in terms of upper body stamina, timing, balance and precision; working on drums lends extra strength and dexterity in my arms and wrists; timing and balance are very important in dance, especially when partnering.”
The role of the ‘heavy’ in ‘Paquita’ is that of the Spanish Governor Don Lopez de Mendoza, who schemes with Inigo to kill Lucian. Actor and playwright Norm Tognazzini plays the villainous governor, and has been involved with Gallery Ballet for several years. “Paquita is my 11th ballet,” he noted. “I got started with Gallery because I have two daughters that were in ballet, but ballet I have done ballet since I was about five years old as both a dancer and an actor.” Tognazzini explained Castle has called on his skills several time, noting “I’ve played numerous roles in plays Edwina has in her repertoire. This role in Paquita is one where I get to play the evil person - which is kind of rare. (Mendoza) is a fun role. I usually play a king, a friend or someone who befriends another character.
