When she was 4 years old, Lilah DuBoff started dancing and doing impromptu shows for her parents in her living room. Now, she’s nine and performing with a group of other ballet students from around the state at SPAC with the New York City ballet in July.
She fully understands how monumental her participation is for such a young dancer, she said, but she’s also excited for a different reason.
When I heard it [the performance] was going to be from 8 to 10 p.m., I was like ‘Oh my God’ because I go to bed at 8, so it’s a chance to stay up late and that will be fun, said DuBoff, who is homeschooled in Saratoga Springs.
DuBoff takes ballet lessons at Saratoga Ballet Academy and auditioned to be part of an ensemble of amateur dancers that will dance as bugs alongside the professionals. She’s been to `a bunch of ballet shows` at the Egg and SPAC and while she has shows through her school, she said she’s excited to have her own role in a bigger one this summer.
`Sometimes the music sort of speaks with the dancers and accompanies them. It helps you relax, it builds up your muscles and it’s just fun,` said DuBoff. `I like all the moves and don’t have a favorite.`
Her mother, Heather DuBoff, said she was surprised and excited her daughter has such an `incredible` opportunity so early in her dance career. Going into the audition, she said she put an emphasis on doing your best and having fun so there wasn’t too much pressure or disappointment.
Lizzie Usack is only 11 but she’s getting ready to dance on the SPAC stage for the third time. She’ll join DuBoff, 20 other children and the NYC ballet this summer and while she’s somewhat of a veteran, her biggest goal going into this year’s audition wasn’t even to be selected.
`I really wanted [the ballet mistress] to remember me because I’ve don’t it twice before. Even if I didn’t make it, I wanted her to remember me. It gives you that familiar feeling that makes you feel really good inside and exciting,` said Usack.
When Usack was five, her mom took her to watch a ballet class. Pretty soon, Usack was standing of in the corner dancing along, and now she said she has no problem dancing every day if she has to.
`It’s fun to do and enjoyable. I can tell I keep improving. I mostly like jumps and turns because they’re more fun and faster, so it’s more exciting and energetic,` said Usack. `It feels natural when I do it.`
Onstage is where she’s most comfortable, said Usack. Even when she’s on a stage like SPAC that seems massive in comparison to her small frame, she said she doesn’t get nervous.
`When I’m doing something besides dancing, like a play, I freak out but when I’m dancing it’s not scary at all. I think because I’ve been doing it so long and with rehearsals, I know my steps so I don’t normally mess up and it’s something I like,` said Usack.
Dancing will always have a place in her life, said Usack, and the lessons she learns outside jumps and twirls are what makes it even more valuable.
`Dancing holds on to you. Once you start you feel like you’re part of it and can’t really stop,` said Usak. `You make friends and connect with your teachers and it’s really special. Sometimes when your friends don’t get a part, they know they messed up and you say ‘it’s OK’ and you wish they were in it too. It’s kind of sad for both of you because you’re disappointed your friend didn’t make it but at the same time you’re happy because you did; it’s mixed emotions.`
`A Midsummer Night’s Dream` was the first ballet ever performed at SPAC, said Marcia White, president and executive director. Her own daughter danced as a child with the ballet in 1980 and she said it’s a great opportunity that continues to return each year.
`It’s great for these young dancers who really work very hard and have the real opportunity to dance in nothing but the world’s best ballet company,` said White. `It’s very exciting for them to dance on a stage steeped in history and a proud moment when parent can sit in the audience and see them perform with a company like the NYC ballet, especially this year that has such an amazing aura about it because it’s the work that inaugurated our stage.`
Being a proud mother in the audience is exactly what Jenn Usack is looking forward to on July 7, 8 and 10.
`I try very hard not to cry when she gets up on stage because she’s so tiny on that huge stage but acts like it’s so natural to be there. I look around at the other mothers and we all see who’s going to cry first,` said Jenn Usack.
Information and tickets are available on SPAC’s website, http://www.spac.org or by calling 584-9330.
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