SAN ANTONIO — Ballet San Antonio is wrapping up their 2023-2024 season with the World Premiere of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
San Antonio’s professional ballet company is transforming William Shakespeare’s comedic play into a performance that fits everyone including the company’s dancers, the students at the ballet school, and the score.
The story revolves around two lovers, Hermia and Lisandro – whose love is called into question by their friends and families. The show is playful, chaotic and full of hilarious moments that mostly take place in a magical forest.
Approximately 30 students from the school will be in the production – the biggest production they’ve ever produced, according to Artistic Director Sofiane Sylve.
“It takes a village to put on a production like that,” Sylve said on the company’s Facebook page.
The show's choreographer Rafael Ferreras set on to create a more narrative dance rather than a traditional one and his creative decision resonated with many of the dancers.
“There are moments where he (Rafael) really draws on the people playing the roles and not just the roles themselves to create sort of interpersonal interactions I think, and those very like human moments are some of the best parts,” Andrea Huymh, a dancer who portrays an Air Amazon said.
Despite the funny atmosphere surrounding the show the techniques and high energy required for "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" can be both challenging and rewarding.
“Keeping the energy. The same energy you start with you have to finish it the same way and after like nine minutes of back-to-back it’s a little bit pushing for us,” Buse Babadag, a dancer who portrays a Fire Amazon said.
The dedicated dancers rehearse rigorously throughout the week but find themselves laughing and having fun during practice.
“The fairies. Our core ballet ladies are so fierce and so amazing. Often times, the fairies are very light and cute and fun but they really get to be the power of the show and it’s so entertaining to watch,” Elaine Blank who plays an Earth Amazon said.
"A Midsummer Night’s Dream" is full of mischief and magic but the show at its core has a significant lesson for all who attend.
“I think the moral of the story is that things will unfold the way they need to and that things work out and you sometimes have to just let it play out on its own,” Julia Davies a dancer who portrays a Water Amazon said.
Performance dates:
Friday, February 23 at 7:30p.m.
Saturday, February 24 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 25 at 2 p.m.
You can purchase your tickets by clicking here.
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