Student Cast Member Name: Lillian Crocker age 12
Student Cast Member Name: Hannah Steincamp age 13
Student Cast Member Name: Marjorie Sherman age 12
Student Cast Member Name: Emily Jordan Peters age 14
Student Cast Member Name: Elle McNeill age 13
Student Cast Member Name: Sarah Echols age 12
Student Cast Member Name: Kaeley Andrews age 12
Student Cast Member Name: Odessa and Isadora Bless (Twin sisters)
-When did you start dancing?
Emily Jordan Peters: I started dancing at Richmond Ballet when I was 4. Ms. Kathy was my first teacher. I also had Katie Lynch [wife of current Richmond Ballet dancer Phillip Skaggs] and Anne Sidney Hetherington in the Children's Division. I once saw Mr. Burn [Malcolm Burn, Artistic Associate & Ballet Master at Richmond Ballet] in costume as an evil step-mother in a behind the scenes field trip with my class. He had his wig off and makeup on and it was really funny. Ms. Grace was the teacher that opened my eyes and made me want to dance forever.
Sarah Echols: I started dancing when I was 3 years old. When my older sister started dance classes and my mom decided to sign me up too.
Odessa and Isadora Bless: We started dancing about four years ago through Minds in Motion and the Stoner Winslett Scholarship.
-How many hours each day do you practice?
Lillian Crocker: About 3 hours on weekdays, and about 4 hours per day on the weekend.
Kaeley Andrews: Usually two to three hours a day.
Odessa Bless: It ranges depending on the day, but approximately three hours each day, plus dancing around the house.
-What is it like dancing with Richmond Ballet ballerinas Valerie Tellmann and Cody Beaton in George Balanchine’s Mozartiana?
Lillian Crocker: It is really inspiring to work with such beautiful professional dancers, and it makes me want to be just like them. Valerie is also really funny and she could be an actress if she was not a ballerina. Cody gave me a bracelet when I performed in Cinderella back in February – that meant a lot to me!
Hannah Steincamp: Dancing with these company members is an amazing experience. To be able to dance with them [while rehearsing and working] on Mozartiana is nerve-racking but at the same time, so much fun.
Marjorie Sherman: Its lots of fun getting to dance with Valerie Tellmann and Cody Beaton. I learn a lot from watching them dance. They are both very nice and really fun to talk to backstage and dance with.
Elle McNeill: It is so inspiring to dance with Valerie and Cody because they are such amazing dancers and they make me want to work as hard as they do.
Emily Jordan Peters: I adore Valerie and Cody. They are both wonderful dancers and have been so kind and supportive. We really do look up to the company members. This experience has been so positive.
Sarah Echols: It is lots of fun. You get to dance with Cinderella and the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Kaeley Andrews: An honor - amazing. The best thing in the world!
Odessa Bless: Dancing with company members Valerie Tellmann and Cody Beaton is so inspiring. I get to see them in rehearsals and backstage unlike the audience and I learn so much from their focus in rehearsal to getting prepared for the show to performing on stage.
Isadora Bless: It is inspiring to be dancing right beside Valerie Tellmann and Cody Beaton. I feel amazing dancing with them and overjoyed being able to be in productions with the company.
-What is your favorite performance memory?
Lillian Crocker: Performing as green party girl in The Nutcracker last year was so much fun! This year I get to be Clara, and I think the party scene is a blast.
Sarah Echols: My favorite memory is the first time I went on the big stage for The Nutcracker when I played a little black lamb. I loved it when the audience laughed and clapped for us.
Odessa Bless: My twin sister (Isadora) and I were performing in The Nutcracker on our birthday. We were waiting backstage in the Green Room before our performance time and rumor got around that it was our birthday. At that time, we were sharing our room with the snowflake chorus singers and next thing you know they were in front of us singing "Happy Birthday." It just goes to show how there is a sense of "family" backstage during Richmond Ballet performances.
Isadora Bless: My favorite dance memory was when I was in my first year in Team XXL and we performed a Maggie Walker themed dance. I was one of the dancers who were chosen to partner with the professional company members. My dance partner was Thomas Garrett. During each performance, Thomas and I would dance together and then he would pick me up over his head and carry me across the stage. It was a lot of fun and I will never forget that memory.
-What do you do to get mentally ready before a show?
Sarah Echols: I run through the steps in my head and when I start to dance on stage the steps just come out of me.
Kaeley Andrews: I run the dance in my head and then we talk to each other to relax.
-What advice do you have for other young dancers?
Lillian Crocker: A lot of people think that ballet is all about talent, but it is really about hard work. If you work hard and set goals, there are a lot of opportunities for you.
Hannah Steincamp: My advice would be to always know who you are. Don’t compare yourself to others and focus on your own goals.
Elle McNeill: My advice for other young dancers is to work hard to achieve your goals and enjoy the journey.
Emily Jordan Peters: Focus on yourself. Do not compare yourself to other dancers. Everyone is different and advances at different rates. Be supportive of one another. I learned these things from my ballet teachers.
Isadora Bless: My advice for other young students is never be harsh on yourself. Always believe in YOU and never be tempted to give up. Just like Martha Graham once said, ”Nobody cares if you can dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion.”
-What do you like to do when you are not dancing?
Hannah Steincamp: I enjoy spending time with my friends and listening to new music.
Marjorie Sherman: I enjoy hanging out with my friends and drawing.
Elle McNeill: When I am not dancing, I like to sing and write stories.
Emily Jordan Peters: I dance when I'm not at dance but I like to spend time with my friends from the ballet. I have some wonderful girlfriends from the ballet.
-What is your dream dancing role?
Hannah Steincamp: My dream role would definitely be the Waltz Girl in Serenade by George Balanchine or [one of] the Spanish dancer in The Nutcracker.
Marjorie Sherman: My dream role is Cinderella.
Elle McNeill: My dream dancing role is the Butterfly in [Richmond Ballet’s production of] The Nutcracker.
Emily Jordan Peters: Odette from Swan Lake. I was fortunate to be cast in one of the children's roles in Swan Lake but I dream one day to have the title role. [Former Richmond Ballet dancer] Shira Lanyi was beyond beautiful [Lanyi danced the lead during the 2013 production at the Carpenter Theatre].
What are some of your favorites? Book, food, movie?
Hannah Steincamp: I have always liked the Divergent series and the movie Forrest Gump. I have an addiction with anything topped with cinnamon. I also love pumpkin-themed foods, avocados, strawberries, Nutella, and kettle corn.
Marjorie Sherman: My favorite book is The Fault In Our Stars, my favorite foods are egg rolls, and my favorite movie is If I Stay.
Elle McNeill: My favorite book is The Summer I Turned Pretty. My favorite foods are sushi and pasta. My favorite all time movie is First Position and a very close second, A Fault in Our Stars.
Mozartiana Choreography by George Balanchine. © The George Balanchine Trust
Carmina Burana with Mozartiana and Danse Macabre With Richmond Symphony and Richmond Symphony Chorus
Carmina Burana | Choreography by John Butler | Music by Carl Orff
In Celebration: 40thAnniversary of The School of Richmond Ballet
Mozartiana | Choreography by George Balanchine | Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Danse Macabre | Choreography by Stoner Winslett | Music by Camille Saint-Saëns
Friday, October 31, 7:00 pm Saturday, November 1, 2:00 pm and 7:00pm Sunday, November 2, 2:00 pm
IMG_1994: One student cast for Mozartiana – (from left to right) School of Richmond Ballet students Kaeley Andrews, Emily Peters, Majorie Sherman and Sarah Echols. Choreography by George Balanchine. ©The George Balanchine Trust. Photo by Sarah Ferguson.
