Resources

The Costume Shop Manager
Our in-house staff constructs most costumes for BalletMet dancers. The Costume Shop Manager is in charge of the construction of the costumes and also keeping them clean, in good repair and fitted to the dancers who will wear them.

The Production Manager
The Production Manager is in charge of coordinating all the technical aspects of the performance, including lights, scenery and sound. Although much advance planning is necessary, the few days in the theatre immediately before the performance are very busy for the whole production team. They must transform the bare walls of the theatre into whatever magical setting the Artistic Director has in mind.

The Lighting Designer
The Lighting Designer makes sure that all the stage is suitably illuminated for a performance. He or she also plays a pivotal role in drawing the audience’s attention to certain areas of the stage, creating a sense of time of day or location and designing a unifying look to all the elements on stage.

The Stage Manager
When it’s time to coordinate all the activities on stage, the Stage Manager takes control. He or she makes sure that everyone is in the correct place on stage, tells the backstage crew when to execute their instructions, lighting and sound cues and takes responsibility should an emergency arise. This is definitely a high-pressure job.

BalletMet’s Mission: To entertain, engage and educate through dance.

BalletMet ranks among the 20 largest dance companies in the nation and has been present in Central Ohio since 1978. Wayne Soulant acted as BalletMet’s first Artistic Director and was later followed by John McFall starting in 1986, David Nixon starting in 1994 and Gerard Charles starting in 2001. In 2005, BalletMet purchased a city block in downtown Columbus. This purchase included its home and two additional buildings, one of which was reconstructed into a scene shop and a performance space that was unveiled in 2006.

Edwaard Liang became BalletMet’s fifth Artistic Director in July 2013. A former dancer with New York City Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater, Liang has built an international reputation as a choreographer. Over the last decade, he has created work for the Bolshoi Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Kirov Ballet, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Shanghai Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Singapore Dance Theatre and Washington Ballet as well as for the dancers of BalletMet.

During the Middle Ages, the church in Europe claimed that dancing was sinful, but when the Renaissance began in the 1400s, dancing became popular once again. It is due to the European courts of the 16th and 17th centuries that the true origins of ballet were discovered.

Why are so many ballet terms in French?

Although ballet began in the Italian courts, the French were among the first to write down ballet steps. Many ballet terms are everyday French words. For example, ‘Plier’ is French for ‘bend.’

Is the word ‘ballet’ French as well?

The word ‘ballet’ is French but it actually comes from the Italian word ‘ballare’ from which we also get the word ‘ballroom.’

The First Ballet:

During the 16th century, the French and Italian royals competed to have the most splendid court. The monarchs would search for the best poets, musicians and artists. At this time, dancing became increasingly theatrical. This form of entertainment was called the ballet de cour (court ballet). It featured elaborate scenery and lavish costumes plus a series of processions, poetic speeches, music and dancing. The first known ballet Le Ballet Comique de la Reine choreographed by Balthasar de Beaujoyeulx was performed in 1581 at the request of Catherine d’Medici, the Queen of France. She was originally from Italy and was an avid supporter of the arts.

Ballets were first performed at the Royal Court. In 1669, King Louis the 14th opened the first opera house in Paris and ballet was then viewed publicly in the theater as part of the opera. The first opera featuring ballet, Pomone, included dances created by Beauchamp. Women participated in ballets at court, but were not seen in the theater until 1681. As the number of performances increased, courtiers who danced for a hobby gave way to professional dancers who trained longer and harder. The physical movement of the first professional dancers was severely hindered by their lavish and weighty costumes and headpieces. They also wore dancing shoes with tiny heels, which made it rather difficult to dance with pointed toes.

Early in the 18th century, the ballerina Marie Camargo shocked the audiences by shortening her skirts – to just above the ankle. She did this to be freer in her movements and to allow the audience to see her intricate footwork and complex jumps, which often rivaled those of the men. At this time, female dancers began to dominate the stage over their male counterparts. Ballet companies were established in France to train dancers for the opera performances. The first official ballet company was based at the Paris Opera and opened in 1713.

In 16th century, French and Italian royalty competed to have the most splendid court. The monarchs would search for and employ the best poets, musicians and artists. At this time, dancing became increasingly theatrical. This form of entertainment, also called the ballet de cour (court ballet), featured elaborate scenery and lavish costumes, plus a series of processions, poetic speeches, music and dancing. The first known ballet, Le Ballet Comique de la Reine, choreographed by Balthasar de Beaujoyeulx, was performed in 1581 at the wedding of the Queen of France’s sister.

Is ‘ballet’ a French word?
Yes, but it actually comes from the Italian word “ballare,” from which we also get the word “ballroom.”

Why are so many ballet terms in French?
Simply because the French were the first to write them down. Many ballet terms are actually everyday words that just sound fancy to us. For example, “plier” is French for “bend.” Ballet dancers use french terms for the names of the steps. Learn the words and try a few steps yourself!

Á Terre – on the ground

Adagio – at ease or leisure, slow and graceful movements

Allégro – brisk, lively

Arabesque – with the leg behind

Assemblé – to assemble

Attitude – a dance pose based on the statue of Mercury

Barre – a horizontal bar that dancers hold onto for support during exercises

Battement – beating. A beating action of the extended or bent leg

Battement Dégagé – to disengage

Battement Frappé – to strike

Battement Tendu – to stretch

Chaînés – linked. A chain of turns

Changement – to change, literally changing the feet in the air

Chassé – to chase

Corps de Ballet – a group of dancers that serve as background to soloists and principal dancers

Cou-de-pied – the neck of the foot, or ankle

Coupé – to cut

Croisé – crossed or closed to the audience

Demi – half

Derrieré – behind or back

Devant – to the front

Développé – to develop

En Croix – in the shape of the cross

En Dedans – inward

En Dehors – outward

Effacé – shaded.

En l’air – in the air

Épaulement – movement of the shoulders

Ferme – closed

Grand – big, large

Grand Battement – large kick

Glissade – to glide

Jeté – to throw

Ouvert – open

Pas de bourée – step of the bouree

Pas de Deux – a dance for two

Petite – little, small

Piqué – to prick. Stepping onto the demi-pointe of the foot

Pirouette – whirl or spin

Plié – bent, bending. A bending of the knee or knees.

Port de bras – movement of the arms

Relevé – to rise, can be done in any position

Reverence – bow, curtsy

Rond de jambe – circle of the leg

Sauté – jumped, jumping

Sous-sous – over, under

Soutenu – sustained

Spotting – the movement of the head during pirouettes

Temps levé – time raised. A hop on one foot

Temps lié – connecting steps

In general most Ballet classes follow a particular order. Some instructors may give time for students to warm-up during the class, while other instructors may ask students to take the time to warm-up before class time. Class begins with a series of exercises done at the Barre. Each exercise works on a particular skill. These exercises help the dancer to not only warm up their body but work on the elements or details that they will have to use in combinations without the barre. After barre work, many classes will have Adagio (slow, balancing movements) in the center of the room as well as other exercises such as turns. The students then move to lines at the side of the room so that they work on Petit Allégro, Grand Allégro (small and larger jumping movements) and traveling exercises across the floor. Towards the end of class the teacher will give students a fast paced coda or combination and finish with a short Reverence.

A classical ballet has certain rules that must be followed but a contemporary ballet has none. In a contemporary ballet there might not be music, costumes, scenery, story or footwear. A classical ballet has five specific ingredients that must be included.

1. It must tell a story – often a fairytale involving a boy/girl plot with a problem to be resolved by the end.
2. It must have costumes and scenery.
3. It must have music and the music must go with the story.
4. It must have a “folk” or “character” dance.
5. The female dancers must wear pointe shoes and tutus.

BalletMet performs their exciting repertoire of dance productions ranging from the classics to contemporary work throughout the year. Not only do they perform in their own Performance Space, but at the Ohio Theatre and at the Davidson Theatre in the VerneRiffe Center in the Columbus community. When show week comes around the dancers have rehearsals at the selected venue on stage before the performance. No matter how well a rehearsal studio floor is marked out, the sense of dancing in a large open space like a theater is very different. Before a performance most dancers arrive about 2 hours before the show to prepare. Not only do they have to put on their make up and costumes but there is also the need to take a warm up class to prepare the body. As any athlete knows, nerves change performance, so mental preparation is also important.

The show is about to begin; the audience takes its seat to view the work of many professionals.

Learn More

BalletMet dancers as well as audience members have expected ways of behaving or acting called etiquette.

What to Wear
Come dressed in casual but neat clothing. Although dressing up can be more fun! Usually, Opening Night of a performance is more formal that the other nights, since that is when the media and most loyal patrons attend.

Before you Attend
Learn about those who will be dancing in the performance by reading the Dancer Biographies. Study the ballet that you plan to see.

Arriving at the Theatre
Arriving early and on time is very important and courteous. Late seating is sometimes not allowed. Make sure to use the restroom before the performance begins; it is improper to leave the theatre once the curtain rises. Talking should cease once the program begins, including whispering. Cell phones should be turned off before the performance begins. Use of cell phones is not allowed.

Applause
Clapping is welcome when the conductor enters, at the end of each piece, at some exciting moments during the performance, and of course at the finale! Except in cases of extreme injury, dancers’ work very hard to perform exciting choreography no matter what occurs in the audience or on the stage. The audience is an important part of the show, creating a partnership with the dancers. Dancers love to know that the audience is enjoying themselves, so it is quite exciting to hear the audience clapping at appropriate times during the performance.

Booing is unacceptable at any performance. Taking pictures with cameras and/or camera phones can be harmful to the dancers. Videotaping is not allowed as well. Most importantly ENJOY the experience!!