The National Ballet of Canada's Residency Programme - an Instagram Recap

Hello lovely reader, happy new year to you!

In the last article, I had proudly mentioned my acceptance into The National Ballet of Canada’s Residency Programme. In a nutshell: The National Ballet of Canada recently launched this program, which basically comprises 1-2 weeks of free studio time at the NBC’s home base on the lakeshore of Toronto. The whole idea and concept is a brainchild of Choreographic Associate Rob Binet - he decided that it’s kind of a pity to leave all the beautiful studios empty while the company trains at their theater during certain performance periods. So the Residency Programme was born - it allows dancers from all walks of life to apply with a little project that they would like to work on during that time.

In my case, I applied - without much hope - with the idea to create two new ballet solos for street performances. I didn’t want to give myself any slack, haha, so I applied for the first available block of nine full studio days in early/mid December. Realistically, I didnt think that my application would go through, so I didnt prepare myself for it - but at least I didn’t make any appointments during that time, just in case. Well, the application went through and I had 10 days to organize EVERYTHING, like, where my son would be, teachers and mentors, my musician/singer friend, new pointe shoes etc. All that while I am still quite new to Canada, and have a child with a handicap, so just finding people he could stay with proved to be quite challenging (in the end I took him along to the studio on the weekend days). But when something is meant to be, it just happens.

Anyway. I did a sort of a daily recap on Instagram throughout all nine days, but I know not everyone is on Instagram, so I thought I would share my Instagram recaps here in this blog post (thanks god for embedding technology!). And if you follow me on Instagram - well, maybe you missed one or you enjoyed them so much that you want to give it another read. Here we go!

Day 1 - Goals and Lots of Empty Space

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National Ballet of Canada's Residency Programme, DAY 1. . My main goal for the residency: Choreograph two solos for my street performances in the spring and summer 2019. . *** . I was so intimidated by all the empty space, physically, and creatively. That air of excellence everywhere. Even just the dancers' pictures on the walls 🙈😁 . So I took the smallest step possible. Looked at my warm-up plan for the day and got started. . Started the first solo's music, which is a bit of an experiment, a sassy country style, listened, moved, don't know what happened, and half of the song was choreographed. (Swipe left + turn on sound to see some raw beginnings.) I felt empty, my brain strained from doing something it wasn't used to (creating dances). . In the afternoon, my mentor @trickyruth came in. My empty brain gratefully picked up her corrections, and her ideas for the second half. Especially that manege that will require everything from me 😁 We did and tried, and corrected, and played, and there it was. Working version of first solo completed. DONE. For the day. . That empty space wasn't easy. It wasn't comfortable or smooth at all. But it was possible. And so deeply satisfying. . *** . Huge gratitude to @nationalballet and @rbinet for the generous studio time, and for the visionary Residency Programme initiative! And special thanks to @trickyruth - for sensing what I needed today, and for sharing her experience, clean technique, calmness, and creativity with me 🙏 . #ballet #residencyprogramme #choreography #newlanguage #immersion #directorsstudio #waltercarsencentre #brainfood

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Patricia (MSc, B of Sports) (@latetothepartyballet) am

Day 2 - Exhaustion and Simplicity

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Residency, DAY 2. I was a complete mess today. Already tired from the past weeks, last night's restless sleep completely wiped me out. In fact I was so out of it today, that I forgot to put on mascara and eyeliner this morning, which hasn't happened since I started using make-up in my teenage years. . And I wanted to choreograph my second solo today. Dream on. . But my deranged state turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Because I had so little energy, I decided to make this day about simplicity, and efficiency, of both my approach to choreography, but also in my movements. . So I actually prepared the piece much better before I even started. I looked for the "story structure" in the music, broke it down into digestable chunks. . And while I did create dynamic elements, like jumps en manege, turns etc, I alternated them with moments of almost stillness. Maybe just a head movement. Slow, articulated port de bras. Walks. Simple steps. (I am actually obsessed with learning how to walk beautifully. Anyone else, too? It's so hard, but it can add so much suspense to a dance.) See two examples from somewhere in the middle and at the end of my choreography. . So I did finish this beast - which means that both solos are done, and I am on schedule so far! And I am almost grateful for my restless night - or let's say for the the discoveries that it entailed. Still, aiming for more sleep in the future. Also because I am starting to put everything on pointe from tomorrow on, so the easy days are over 😁 . Thanks to @avinoamsilverman for bringing some life into my arabesques and pirouettes this morning 🙏 . #ballet #workinprogress #adultballerina #adultballet #adultballetlearning #creating #choreography #bach #johannsebastianbach #jagdkantate #huntingcantata #wasmirbehagt #simplicity #balletwalk #portdebras

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Patricia (MSc, B of Sports) (@latetothepartyballet) am

Day 3 - Pointe Work Spike

Day 4 - Standing on Two Legs

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Residency DAY 4. Little shift, big impact. It was a short day today (4h), and I was feeling pretty beat. So apart from working on the diagonals and maneges of my solos, I used some time for a) breaking in a new pair of pointe shoes and b) some sensing work, i.e. noticing and playing with little postural and technical details that I usually don't have enough time for. . Like: standing on two legs. . I had been noticing that I tend to be a bit too far back. You see this in the left pic - how my weight is in my heels. Also, you can see how the neck muscles are tense, because the head pulls forward to compensate for the ribcage being too far back. This is especially a thing for me in pointe shoes, just because the foot is in less contact with the floor, and the front of the foot is more squeezed. . The right pic may not be so different, but it is 😊 You can see from the line between the mirrors that my ribcage has moved front. The neck is relaxed, and the weight is more evenly distributed along the foot. . All this makes a big difference for moving - much easier and more powerful to transition from one leg to the other when the weight is more in the front. . Anyone else wrestling with this? How do you work on it? . #ballet #smallthingsmatter #dowhatyoucan #awareness #residencyprogramme #nationalballetofcanada #adultballetstudent #posture #alignment

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Patricia (MSc, B of Sports) (@latetothepartyballet) am

Day 5 - Collaborating, When You’re an Introvert

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Residency DAY 5. Collaborating, when you're an introvert. . I am quite good at working on my own. In fact, I would go as far as to say that it's my preferred mode of creating. It's in solitude that I am able to reach deep and come out with good stuff (sometimes), in typical introvert fashion. (It can be a tough stance to take, in a world that favors team players and extroversion! ) . At the same time, it's only in connection with others where the true magic happens. . So one of the most important parts of this Residency was to get over my fear of showing my most vulnerable, the flaws of my work, my insecurities and hopes to others. I connected with teachers, friends, mentors and my idea was to work with at least one person every day. I was lucky to get together a group of smart, experienced and super kind people, on a very short notice! . So while I enjoy the solitude of an empty studio, everyone who has joined me there has made everything so much better 🙏❤️ . Pictured: @kate_kernaghan who has been so supportive of this whole blog idea from the start, and is introducing me to Fletcher Pilates. @trickyruth who is super helpful in cleaning up my choreographies. Pictures by @rollyastrom who patiently put up with my obsessed Residency self today 😁 . #ballet #adultballetlearning #pilates #choreography #collaboration #solitude #creating #improving #together #residencyprogramme . Supported by the @nationalballet of Canada's Residency Programme.

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Patricia (MSc, B of Sports) (@latetothepartyballet) am

Day 6 - Accountability Over Everything

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Residency Programme DAY 6 – accountability! . Working on your own and being in charge of your schedule is nice! At the same time, there is a downside to this freedom: the risk of not getting anything done. Or – getting too ambitious and ending up in non-productive perfectionism. . So to me, self-imposed accountability is super important when being in a self-directed project like this. Or in other words: Showing your work before you are ready to show it. . Here are three things I do for accountability during my Residency Programme: . 1. Working with collaborators/teachers/mentors, because you’re constantly showing yourself. . 2. Daily write-ups here for you guys – because it makes me reflect and solidify my day’s work and learning experience, and I am putting raw material in front of the eyes of an international audience 😃 So thanks to all of you for the help! I really enjoy your comments and encouragement. . 3. The most important: performing, as soon as possible. Also, because my actual street performances are still months away. So what I did shortly after I got the acceptance letter: I scheduled a private showing for the last day of my Residency. And today, before I took class at the In Studio (the National Ballet’s adult program), I asked my lovely teacher @kate_kernaghan if I could perform my pieces after class, for the students. She agreed, the students, too 🙏 This was actually quite interesting: While the setting didn’t change much (it was still in a studio, in front of people I mostly knew), EVERYTHING changed 😊 It takes so much more energy to perform in front of others, and it was such valuable feedback to feel what was working alright and what wasn’t at all. Thanks to everyone for sticking around after class! . Honestly, it’s not that it’s the most pleasant thing to show work that is still in progress. It’s quite uncomfortable. You’re essentially showing mistakes and flaws. But it’s also very liberating, because then you don’t have to hide them. . *** Other than that: More Pilates ❤️ (torso length!), and rehearsal focus for today: diagonals/manege of the Bach solo 🏞️ . #ballet #residencyprogramme #adultballerina #workinprogress #accountability

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Patricia (MSc, B of Sports) (@latetothepartyballet) am

Day 7 - Brain = Empty

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Residency DAY 7 – I wish I could write something smart, but the truth is, I am not capable of coherent thoughts any more for today :-) It’s been an intense seven Residency Programme days so far - two more to go -, and I think I haven’t pushed myself physically that much since playing hockey a decade ago. Well, a different kind of pushing, but still 😊 . And it’s not only the physicality of it all – it’s also experiencing myself in a new environment, doing things that I never expected I would be doing. Like, choreographing ballet solos. Being in pointe shoes several hours per day. Putting together a little showing (coming up in two days!). Inviting other artists to collaborate with me. Feels a bit like – what happened in the 40 years before that? And can this not stop, please? 🙏 . Enjoyed a beautiful rehearsal with my gorgeous singer-guitar-player, was blessed to have @rollyastrom come in again today and document the day with his beautiful "record shots", all of us had to rush out for a fire alarm (turned out to be a false one), brainstormed ideas for costumes and how to tie the three (very different in style) solos together for the showing, all the while trying to pace myself today: still making good use of the studio time, but not go full out too much. (My body was clearly indicating that it needed a bit more time for adaptations, while I was pointing out that this all-day thing won’t go for that much longer. My body got the last word, tough. Luckily, I learned just a tiny bit since those hockey days a decade ago 😊) . Yep, recovery. Epsom salt baths every night; preparing nourishing food for a few days in advance, enjoying the amazing lunches at the National Ballet’s cafeteria, hydrating. Sleep could still work a bit better, but I don’t blame it. . Throwing my empty brain and tired body into lots of Epsom salt right now. Will return with more coherent thoughts tomorrow! . #ballet #ballerina #adultballerina #adultballet #residencyprogramme #nationalballetofcanada #tired #butveryhappy #rehearsal #livemusic #johannsebastianbach #blues #workinprogress #newbeginnings #andendings

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Patricia (MSc, B of Sports) (@latetothepartyballet) am

Day 8 - You Fall to The Level of Your Training.

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Residency DAY 8 – You fall to the level of your training. . So this was the last day of building and rehearsing my choreographies. Just so I would have a goal for these Residency days, I decided to have a showing on the last day – a casual gig for family and friends, in the studio. In other words: Showtime tomorrow! 🤗 . I used to be very, very nervous before any kind of occasions where I would be speaking/presenting/performing in front of others, even in very informal settings. And I do still get the butterflies to some extent….but it doesn’t consume me as much any more. I think what has helped me is nicely captured by a saying that I have come to love so much: “You don’t rise to the level of your expectations, you fall to the level of your training.” . So liberating. . It basically means: Yes, I can have all the hopes and expectations for a magnificent performance, where everything works, even much better than in rehearsal. The truth is, though, that it may very likely not happen. . But the good thing is – it can’t get worse than all the training I have put into it! The level of my training is who I am and what I am able to do at this point. Which is more than enough. . To me, this takes away a lot of pressure. It allows me to trust and let myself be carried by that foundation of all previous work. . Speaking of it: I was so lucky to have incredible “trainers” throughout the past days. Even still today, another eye-opening mentoring/coaching session with @trickyruth, where she took me through her process of getting into character and space of a dance performance. Shoutout also to @kate_kernaghan and @avinoamsilverman for their helpful contributions and support. And of course to the man @rollyastrom for capturing the mood, sweat, and joy of this incredible opportunity. And I so appreciate the love of all the friends who have come in or will come in tomorrow for the showing. This is so much better with you! . Special thanks to @rbinet and @nationalballet – this Residency Programme is an incredibly generous way of sparking creativity and community! #ballet #residencyprogramme #showtime #performing #levelofyourtraining #adultballet

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Patricia (MSc, B of Sports) (@latetothepartyballet) am

Day 9 - Final day/showing!

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Residency Programme DAY 9 – So at first I wanted to be really unhappy with many technical aspects of my performance during the showing last night. Despite having an absolutely amazing night, with wonderful people, and so much fun performing. But you know how it goes: Some steps hadn't worked. And after the show I saw so much in the videos that I know I can do better. . So just before my head started spinning its own thing, I made myself remember a few noteworthy things. That within and for NINE days, I had . *made time to completely bury myself in a studio all day (as a single mother) . *made sure that my son (who has a handicap) still got to live a good life and was well taken care of etc . *eaten well the entire time, despite almost no time for it . *stayed healthy, despite ramping up my training load by about 300% from one day to the next . *made time for an Epsom salt bath every night . *biked to the studio and back with a heavy (full ballet day) backpack, in any weather conditions . *Organized teachers and mentors to come in on a super short notice . *Started a collaboration with a guitar player/singer, danced ballet to a completely different style (Blues/Country) . *Choreographed two ballet solos, with almost no prior choreographing experience . *Staged a 45min show, for the first time ever, which included not only my solos, but also readings of texts I had previously written . *and . *the . *list . *goes . *on . And I am unhappy with technical aspects of my performance?? . Please. Give me a break 😁 🤦 . (Videos to come soon! 💞) . #ballet #residencyprogramme #nationalballetofcanada #choreography #adultballet #adultballerina #streetballerina #shownight #amazingnight #enjoy

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Patricia (MSc, B of Sports) (@latetothepartyballet) am

Thank you for following along!

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The process and work described in this and the following article were made possible by the generous support of The National Ballet of Canada’s Residency Programme.

Building the Ballet Life, Going Pro, Author's PicksPatricia Pyrkaadult ballerina, choreographer, ballet performance4 Comments