Hear from Ballet 5:8 Solo Artist Samuel Opsal as he reflects on his experiences during the 20/21 Season.

Samuel Opsal in Julianna Rubio Slager’s Dry Bones — *Samuel Opsal in Julianna Rubio Slager’s* Dry Bones

Pick one word to describe the overall season. Why?

Expansive. It was incredible to me to see how God provided and allowed Ballet 5:8 to grow in depth of work even though the difficulties of this year. We were able to create 5 new works including the powerful full-length ballet Reckless and the technically virtuosic Golden Sessions. Performances ranged from outdoor, black-box, theater, and online streaming, allowing Ballet 5:8 to be seen not only across the nation but also internationally, which was special to me having some family members see me dance for the first time.

Can you share a favorite moment from on or offstage?

One unique moment was preparing for the world premiere of Reckless. With the many closings due to the pandemic, we had just over one year without performing in a traditional theater, the longest such period since I had started dancing. The special moment for me was during the warm-up class—I not only felt ready and happy to be there but also an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the many challenges and blessings over the past year that allowed me to feel stronger and more confident than the stage performances the year before.

Out of all the works you performed this season, does one stand out as the most meaningful or most notable for you personally? Why?

The most meaningful was portraying the role of Hosea in the full-length ballet Reckless. I appreciated the longer creative process which allowed for more character development and nuance. Through the research, I was inspired by the amount of empathy and faith that is evident in the character of Hosea.

Is there a particular quote or idea that has been inspirational to you this season?

I have been continually inspired by all of Romans chapter 12 this past year but particularly verse 12: "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."

What are you up to this summer?

This summer I look forward to finding some rest and letting my body recover from the season. I will also be teaching at Ballet 5:8's Summer Intensive and then the 2021/22 season will be right around the corner so I will be building strength and stamina for that.