Melanie Rodrigues | Season in Review

One of our Ballet 5:8 traditions at the end of each performance season is to ask the artists of the company to share some reflections with us. A special thank you to the artists of the company for sharing about their experiences in the 2021/22 Season.

Melanie Rodrigues in Julianna Rubio Slager’s Día de Los Vivos

Q. Pick one word to describe the 2021/22 Season. Why?

A. Exciting! It was really fun to bring back archived ballets for the 10th Anniversary Season. I especially enjoyed revisiting the ballets I have been a part of as a Trainee and seeing the growth since we last danced the ballets, for myself and as a company.

Q. Can you share a favorite moment from on or off-stage?

A. My favorite on stage moment was performing Julianna Rubio Slager's All God’s Children at the Harris Theater! It was the first piece of the night and hearing the audience cheer and be so supportive of my fellow dancers and I was truly so touching and encouraging. 

Q. What or who has inspired you this season?

A. Creating a space where we can share stories of those who don’t have a voice and those who don’t feel seen or loved has been what has inspired me this season. Particularly Reckless has deeply impacted me this time around, as well as Día de Los Vivos.