Unlocking a Ballet's Mysteries at BalletX

November 28, 2001

 

Last year, BalletX’s Chloe Felesina shone brightly in 
Sunset, o639 Hours
, prompting Pointe to name her portrayal one of the Standout Performances of 2014. Now, she’s wrapping up another spectacular season with BalletX’s Summer Series, a triple bill of works by Adam Hougland including a world premiere. For Pointe‘s biweekly newsletter, we caught up with Felesina before the production hits the stage July 8-12.


What are you looking forward to on this program?

Mashup 
was made a few summers ago, and I was part of the original cast. Those rehearsals with Adam are some of my fondest memories. We made a really funny solo to “Like a Virgin” by Madonna that’s covered by a band that makes it sound like a 50s song. But a week and a half before the show I had a freak injury and couldn’t dance. I’m looking forward to finally doing this part.



This Summer Series features a variety of live and recorded music. Is it challenging to dance to such a range?
Oh, no. That’s more helpful. I think it would be harder for me to dance to similar music and have to change myself. I’m affected by music easily–I think that’s how most dancers feel.


What are you focusing on during these final rehearsals?
I want to work on the physicality, so my body feels super comfortable with everything I ask of it. But I also want to have a really big well to pull from. 
I want to find all of the secrets and mysteries in the choreography and the music and in my fellow dancers. Then, when I get onstage, I’ll have all that available. It leads to a much more enriching experience than just knowing your choreography.




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Above: Felesina in rehearsal with Daniel Mayo. Photo by Bill Hebert, Courtesy BalletX.