Young ballet students arrived to rehearsal, several of them with hair tied into perfect ballerina buns and dressed in form-fitting leotards.
By 5:30 p.m. they were all in place, ready to go. As the teachers instructed their pupils, they listened attentively, eager to learn and continue to improve.
Creating the next generation of ballerinas and professional dancers starts with the expertise and direction of those who have been through the rigorous process first-hand, many of whom have extensive background in the dance style. Through a very integrated program at the Jacobs School of Music, college students and ballet instructors are doing just that.
The Jacobs School of Music’s Pre-College Ballet Program will perform its spring recital at 2 p.m. May 2 in the Musical Arts Center with free admission.
The Pre-College Ballet Program is geared toward a wide range of students by offering classes for pre-professional and recreational dancers ages 3 to 18.
The recital will include two pieces, the first comprising excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty.” This portion of the program involves a lot of the older, more advanced students, as well as some of the youngest.
“Nancy Drew’s Scarlet Slipper Mystery” is the second segment of the show, with original choreography by Michael Vernon, director of the Pre-College Ballet Program and the IU Ballet Theater. The “Sleeping Beauty” portion of the show was also choreographed by Vernon. The younger students’ choreography was ?created by other teachers.
With music by George Gershwin, “Nancy Drew” features several jazz standards audiences will recognize, including “Fascinating Rhythm”, “I Got Rhythm” and “‘S Wonderful.” The story line comes from an actual Nancy Drew book, with Vernon adapting it into a ballet.
“It’s an interesting story,” said Olivia Maughan, administrative assistant for the IU Pre-College Ballet. “It has to do with valuables getting stolen on a plane and Nancy investigates, and there’s this ballet class.“
The recital is the final product of the hours of rehearsal the dancers have put in since February, Maughan said.
No audition process is necessary to become a student in the program — anyone can register. However, as students advance in levels of difficulty, they are placed based on skill and technique. Many students stay with the program for several years. Some were able to work with dancers from “The Nutcracker” and take class once a week with dance majors and Vernon.
Grace Mullins, a 14-year-old ballet student, will perform in the spring recital. A ballet student of 11 years, she has ?competed in the Youth America Grand Prix dance competition. Out of her 11 years of work, six of her years of instruction were spent in the music school’s Pre-College Ballet Program.
Rehearsal for this competition began four to five months in advance, and Mullins prepared a contemporary piece, as well as three variations.
“It can be kind of nerve-wracking, but once you’re up on stage it’s really fun, and you have to become the role,” Mullins said. “It really becomes a part of you.”
She attributed much of her success to the instructors and mentors she has worked with through the Pre-College Ballet Program.
“The teachers are wonderful,” Mullins said. “They give really great corrections.”
Mullins will play the lead role of Nancy Drew in the program’s spring recital.
“The Nancy Drew books are awesome, and it’s great to be able to make that come alive on stage,” Mullins said of her upcoming role.
Azro Akimoto, a fourth-year student in the program, explained that his evolution as a dancer is largely because the college students he worked with from the Spring Ballet’s “Swan Lake.” The 15-year-old said although he did not perform in the production, working alongside them was a treat in itself.
“They helped me with my turns,” ?Akimoto said.
Having the opportunity to have male mentors was a highlight for Akimoto. Aside from the college students, he also cited his teachers as the main force behind his growth as a dancer.
“I’ve learned a lot, and recently I’ve started to learn partnering,” he said.
Even some of the program’s younger students are already learning the essential lessons and patience it requires to be a ballet student.
Grace Kang, 9, said she wants to be a professional dancer someday and is already learning important tips.
“I think the most important thing is to stretch your legs and to balance well,” Kang said.
In addition to its spring recital, the Pre-College Ballet Program will offer two-week intensive summer ballet classes for all ages. The classes begin June 1 and end June 18. A few classes a week for all levels are available, with a small, informal show at the end.
