GETTING READY
NYC Ballet prepares to take the stage at SPAC
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » The New York City Ballet returns to Saratoga Performing Arts Center for five days next week, and the preparation for the performances has already begun.
The production and backstage crew recently unloaded tractor-trailers full of stage sets, lighting, costumes, physical therapy equipment, special ballet floors and more in the SPAC’s Amphitheater and backstage areas.
NYCB’s Director of Production, Marquerite Mehler, explained the challenges with the set.
“The storage of the set is a whole choreographed event onto itself because it’s so big,” said Mehler. “…The dancers are quick changing between every scene. The back-stage choreography is almost as intense as the on-stage choreography because there’s so many people, so many costumes, so many dressers, and there’s not enough space.”
With shows scheduled this weekend at SPAC, preparing the sets has already begun. In total, more than 1,000 toe shoes, three miles of cable for lighting, over 500 sheets of lighting gels, a washer and dryer, a sprung floor and marley were moved off tractortrailers.
The New York City Ballet begins Tuesday, July 17, ending Saturday July 21. The ballet includes All Balanchine, 8 p.m. July 17 and 18; “Romeo + Juliet”, 2 p.m.
July 19 and 21 and 8 p.m. July 20; SPAC Premieres: 21st Century Choreographers, 8 p.m. July 19; New York City Ballet Gala: Robbins/Bernstein Centennial, 8 p.m. July 21 and the SPAC premiere of Warren Carlyle’s “Something to Dance About,” which pays tribute to the Broadway career of NYCB’s co-founding choreographer Jerome Robbins.
About 90 dancers will participate in throughout the shows, while over 100 costumes will be visible throughout.
“The ‘Something to Dance About,’ costumes are really exquisite, they’re really incredible. The detail, up close, is so beautiful. That really does transcend from the stage. There’s quite a bit of distance from the stage to the audience, but you really get that feel,” said Mehler. “Some of those are just some of my favorite things. They’re so pretty.”
The full orchestra set up includes two pianos. An entire truck is dedicated to transporting the hundreds of ballet costumes. Scenery for Romeo + Juliet, are among the other items being moved to SPAC for the ballet’s Saratoga residency.