Senior ballerina Lauren Fadeley didn't spend her time dancing at her high school prom. Instead, she dedicated her time to preparing for the stage of the New York City Ballet. Being in the NYC ballet became overwhelming and an unhealthy atmosphere, she said. So now Fadeley has traded a professional career for an education and is spending her hours being a student and dancer in IU's Ballet Theater productions, including this weekend's Fall Ballet. \nMore than 30 IU ballet students will combine their talents for the Jacobs School of Music Fall Ballet this weekend to produce a show ballet department chair Michael Vernon said has something for everyone.\nThe Fall Ballet will debut at 8 p.m. Oct. 6 and 7 with "From Balanchine to Baker: An International Evening of Dance," according to a press release. With Vernon as the newly appointed chair of the ballet program, this marks the first ballet at IU under his direction.\nFive pieces comprise the ballet which is choreographed by five artists from different countries, the release said. The Fall Ballet will also feature guest dancers Julie Kent of the American Ballet Theatre and Damian Woetzel of the New York City Ballet. The pair will perform a piece for the conclusion of the ballet, Vernon said. \n"They're world-renowned international ballet stars," he said. "They're just so experienced nothing is gonna throw them."
'An Evening of Dance'\nThe types of music and tempo change with each piece in the ballet, Vernon said, ranging from pretty to energetic to "very, very fast." \nAlthough Vernon has only been at IU a few weeks, he has choreographed since the 1970s and taught all over the world, according to the Jacobs School of Music Web site. He most recently taught at the American Ballet Theatre from 2001 to 2002 and was a guest teacher for the Juilliard School in 2001.\nThis year's Fall Ballet will include the piece "Allegro Brilliante," a piece Fadeley and senior Caitlin Griffey said is like running a marathon.\n"You have to have a lot of stamina," Griffey said. "You can't fake anything." \nThe 17-minute piece does not even allow the dancers to leave the stage, she said. \nVernon's piece "Cathedral" -- another portion of the ballet -- is unique because the music relies on a lone guitar, something Vernon said is unusual for ballets, which often showcase full orchestras. He describes his style as "classical ballet with a modern look."\n"It's going to be quite haunting," Vernon said of the guitar music. "It has some sort of spiritual quality about it."
sh: Balancing school and dance\nThe dancers in the Fall Ballet have rehearsed a little more than a month -- but for many hours a day. After ballet class from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day, the dancers practiced from 1:30 until 5:45 p.m. This week they have had additional dress rehearsals from 7 to 10 p.m. each night.\nBut Fadeley and Griffey are used to lengthy rehearsals and preparation, as they have both danced in professional companies after beginning their dance education at ages 4 and 7, respectively.\nThey each decided they wanted to combine dancing and studying. Going to school and dancing is much healthier, said Fadeley, who was previously part of the New York City Ballet company. \n"We're still in college," she rationalized. "We go to parties. We eat (junk food) all the time."\nWhat's unique about IU's highly competitive program, Vernon said, is that it mirrors the way a ballet company works.\n"They come out of it really ready to join a company and also with an education," Vernon said. \nsh: Tough competition\nMore than 170 students audition for the ballet program each year, but only 10 percent are accepted, ballet faculty member Doricha Sales said.\nA lot of dancers try to join companies instead of going to college, said freshman ballet dancer Danny Morales.\n"This is basically the number one place to go if you're going to dance in college," Morales said. Advantages of dancing in college instead of going straight to a professional company range from getting your name out there to just improving technique, he said. \n"You want to look pleasing, and you want to make it look easy," Morales said. "Fifty percent of it is how you perform."\nA big misconception about ballet is that it's hard to understand, so people don't go, Vernon said.\n"You don't have to be a dancer to enjoy ballet," he said. \nAlthough Vernon said he has inherited the program's excellence and tradition, he believes he has put his stamp on this year's production.\n"Not every ballet is a success," Vernon said. "(But) it's a performance and learning experience for the majors. I'm really happy for them to have interesting ballets to perform"
