#Rubies ballet

[balanchine-ballet-master]

Interview with Emma von Enck

This is from the Kennedy Center's blog. All photos are by Erin Baiano via the Kennedy Center.

By Brittany Laeger

The stages of the Opera House have extra sparkle this week with the opening of New York City Ballet in Jewels, one of George Balanchine’s iconic works. In between rehearsals and company ballet classes, we caught up with Principal Dancer Emma Von Enck to chat about why she thinks Jewels is timeless, the ever fascinating question of what’s in one’s dance bag, favorite recipe, and more.

Emma hails from Cleveland, Ohio and began dancing when she was five with enrolling as a full-time student at SAB (School of American Ballet) in 2012. She joined NYCB in 2016 and was recently promoted to Principal in May 2024. Read on to get to know her better!

Did dance find you or did you find dance?

I guess you could say that dance found me. I have two older sisters who do ballet, and I remember specifically picking gymnastics, because I wanted to be different. But it only took my seeing one or two of my sisters’ shows to realize, Actually, I want to do that. I begged my mom to put me in dance. I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to perform like they did.

Congrats on your recent promotion to Principal Dancer! You'll be performing as the lead in "Rubies" during the KC run—what's surprised you in the rehearsal process as you have worked on learning this role?

The first time I debuted this role was last fall, and every rehearsal has been so fun. With your partner, you have to discuss what works because the partnering is different than classical ballet—it's more angular, leaning off balance and catching each other at the last second. And it took a second to digest some of the counts. The corps in the Rubies, which I did previously, is actually much harder to count than the principal part. Now, it's almost like breathing, I don't even think about it. And paired with the choreography—Balanchine and Stravinsky is just the perfect partnership, it feels so natural.

As you prepare for these Kennedy Center performances, what do you think makes Jewels timeless?

It's such a beautiful full-length that's so different from many of the traditional classical ballets. Each Jewel has its own specific flair and inspiration. When I first got into the company, the second ballet I ever performed was Emeralds. I love the music—it's so grand and the opening has you weaving in and out of different patterns shaped like a jewel, framing the other dancers. And then I moved to Diamonds, which I adore. The finale gives me chills every single time.  And then I moved to the corps of Rubies. It is full circle to get to do the lead—I remember being at the School of American Ballet and watching Rubies and specifically thinking, Oh my gosh I want to do that so bad.

Dancers amass a lot of stuff in their dance bags—what's the number one thing you can';t live without?

Pointe shoes. I cart around far too many pointe shoes because I spread them out to make them last longer—5 to 6 pairs of pointe shoes take up a lot of space. I can't be without a water bottle. I always have snacks, especially for long rehearsal days.

Certain items are staples for when I’m about to perform—a Theraband is essential, always do the foot exercises. Deflated balls for ab series. Cliff chews—I choose the non-caffeinated because I'm very sensitive to caffeine, and the adrenaline is enough!

What's your go-to karaoke song/favorite song to sing in the shower?

"Paper Planes" by M.I.A. because you don't really have to carry a tune—and it's classic, everyone knows it, it's a bop. And then in the shower, it really depends—pop, folk, classical are all on the playlist. Sometimes, if they have scores that I love, I will put the ballets I'm doing that season into rotation.

Go-to recipe? 

I try to implement one new recipe each month. Tortellini soup has been a new go-to—I make a large quantity that I can spread out through leftovers. I usually have a sandwich every single day. I'm a huge smoothie person—after barre, it's the first thing I crave, especially if I'm going right into another rehearsal. My current recipe is spinach, cucumber, pineapple, mango, ginger, lemon juice, water, and cashews if I really need protein.

With the upcoming 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, we have to ask—if you were competing, what's your sport of choice?

I love swimming, although I couldn't hold a candle to anyone actually competing. Gymnastics is so fun to watch, but I have a heart attack every time they do the balance beam. It's super stressful. But they are such professionals who train their whole lives for it—I'm sure it's similar to when people ask, "How do you do a pirouette?"

Is there anything that you do backstage pre-performance that's unique/notable?

I put my pointe shoes on before my costume to let my feet acclimate to the shoes. I try to give myself until the last second to see if I've chosen the right ones, before sewing in, which is where you tuck your ribbons in and sew them down—you would hate for your ribbons to come undone onstage.

What's the craziest thing that's happened to you during a performance?

I remember coming onstage for a pas de deux once and the music was supposed to switch—and it didn't. This happens, the scores are so complicated and instruments come in and out. And I just looked at my partner Jovani and he didn't miss a beat. And we just plowed on pretending as if we were dancing to our normal music. It's strange to turn off your brain in that way because you're so used to listening for the music, but honestly, your body will sink into the muscle memory. And most of the time the orchestra will pick it up. It's unexpected but it's show business, sometimes that's how it goes!

Dancing runs in your family as your two sisters also dance professionally, what has been a favorite memory you have from supporting each other on- or -off stage?

With the frequency that we perform, there are always those shows that just don't feel as good. And I remember recently after a performance, I just felt it wasn't my best—most people wouldn't be able to tell, but I know myself—and I was feeling really upset. And I remember calling my oldest sister, who is a Principal at Texas Ballet Theater, and asking her, "How do you get over bad performances? I just don't know how to move on." And she gave me advice that I think about a lot. She said, "Time—you have to put in several other good shows for the sting of the memory of it not going so well to fade." And that was reassuring. Perfectionism can be a good thing at some level, because that's what keeps you pursuing excellence. But it can be destructive and upsetting when you feel like you didn't live up to that standard. So her giving me that advice soothed the stress of it.

I love ballet and I have had to make it my own, but it is so tethered to my family, my sisters specifically. My sister Claire and I lived together when I first got into the Company, but she was very respectful of letting me find my own way and I was so thankful to have that support. My sisters, we each have our own journey and specific relationship with ballet, but I've been so grateful to have that communal understanding.

And…bonus question as we also would like to congratulate you on graduating from Fordham University recently! What was your favorite class within your studies?

For my English major, I took a Jane Austen in Context class, which was one of my favorites—with Professor Greenfield, she was amazing. I also loved my Virginia Woolf class—I wasn't even supposed to be able to take it because it met on Wednesdays in the middle of the day, when we have rehearsals. I reached out to this professor explaining that I would most likely not be able to make 50% of the classes. But she was so accommodating, and she let me take the class anyway. I wrote all the essays and made it when I could.

[longelk]

SIR JAMES

[balanchine-ballet-master]

Diana Vishneva, Emmanuel Thibault, Marie-Agnes Gillot and the Paris Opera Ballet.

Diana Vishneva. The Rubies.

[lemon-snickety]

My top 5 ballet dream roles

#5- Rubies Soloist (Jewels)

I love the energy of the role and all the petite allegro

#4- The Firebird (Firebird)

So much drama in this role, I’m also dying to wear the costume

#3- Dark Angel (Serenade)

Even though this role is generally for taller dancers (I’m only 5’5), but I love adagio. Also, serenade for strings makes me cry

#2- Gamzatti (La Bayadère)

I just love a good diva, and that’s exactly what Gamzatti is. Her wedding variation is my absolute favorite classical variation

#1- Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)

This would be my dream lead role. The Rose Adagio is probably my favorite section from any classical ballet and I would kill to do it. She also doesn’t have to do the big 32, which makes me so happy because I hate fouettés with a burning passion

[flats-fan]

[haveamagicalday]

Duel of the American Girl Dolls: Dance (Final Round)

This is a poll in the Duel of the American Girl Dolls. Other polls can be found here

[vinnystaysawake]

Pokémon Tumblr look at my (serious) crackship RIGHT NOW. I am blasting psychic waves into your minds to make you see my vision.

[tikitania]

I’m in NYC for work, so of course I got a ticket to see NYCB! Rubies; Dig the Say & In Creases by Justin Peck; & Underneath, There is Light by Amy Hall Garner — a new work for this season.

Rubies! It was my first time seeing this live. I have yet to see Jewels in its entirely and it’s on my bucket list, but I was so thankful so have seen this with Emma von Enck, Joseph Gordon, and Emily Kikta.

Also, Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia in Dig the Say! Just incredible!

A few photos from curtain calls, and a shot of the chandelier because it’s exquisite! 💎

[emayuku]

Ruby Ballerina

Ruby Ballerina

https://www.scribd.com/document/743036212/Ruby-Ballerina

In an encore performance, Ruby Ballerina returns in this refreshed picture book from acclaimed author Elizabeth Mayuku and celebrated artist Rosie Winstead!

Ruby is a pretty little Japanese girl who wants nothing more than to be a ballerina. She dances all the time—at home, at school, even in her dreams! In fact, she’s so busy dancing that she forgets all about the other things she’s supposed to do, like cleaning her room and joining her family for breakfast!

Her parents don’t know what to do—especially after her arabesques in the kitchen knock over the milk! Then one day they come up with an idea that will change Ruby’s life forever…

With Elizabeth Mayuku’s lively writing and Rosie Winstead’s charming illustrations, the original story, now refreshed and re-released, will continue keeping a whole new generation of young ballerinas leaping with delight.

@kaseylovesacnh

@rosiewinstead-blog

@blog-tokyocityballet

@ballettights

@ballerina-dreamer-blog

@balletroyale

@balletyoga

@tokyoballetmane

@dance-world

@lovelyballetandmore 

@angelinaballerlna

@angelinaballerinaa

@angelinaballerina007

@angelinaballerina417

@toonguy2000

@emily-e-draws 

[magicapandora]

Clara and The Nutcracker Prince

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays @piyangg !! I was your secret santa all along!! >:DDD

And I had to draw your mc and Merula as Clara and The Nutcracker Prince from The Nutcracker! I had recently watched the Barbie version of it and I got inspired! I hope you enjoy it! and again, Merry Christmas!!

@hphmsecretsanta

[marcart122]

Ruby Rose V7 dress design

A very fancily-dressed V7 Ruby with a little extra…

Did I mention that she's gonna wear this in a coming fic of mine?

5/22/2023

[fonteyn]

How dare you? Really, how dare you write the most filthy and hot Marquis de Gramont fic… I can’t get over it, YOU CAN’T LEAVE ME LIKE THIS 😭, PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE

Sksksksksks THANK YOU SO MUCH. It was honestly so fun writing for him. When I left the movie theater after seeing him serve cunt in his pretty little suits I was like WHERE ARE THE FICS??????? And there's so few out there that I HAD to write something to contribute.

I have some more ideas for fics, but considering my work & study schedule I'll have to think them through before committing (I literally wrote this one-shot in a desperate frenetic state bc I could not let this idea go lmao 💀💀

[golvio]

I fell down a ballet rabbithole during a special interest-related research binge, which eventually led me to Balanchine's "Jewels." "Rubies" is one of my favorites of the stuff I've found because the costume design and the really unusual, athletic choreography was unlike anything I'd ever seen up to that point. It's one of those pieces that really pushes the boundaries of what "ballet" can look like.

[miss-mollys-ballet-blog]

No one will ever dance the tall girl soloist role in Rubies better than Ekaterina Shipulina.

[spicyicymeloncat]

I want you to know I don’t know jackshit about ballet my only reference for the shoes is the childhood memory of this book

Ballet Cole ✨

[flats-fan]