Samuel Opsal | 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.
Samuel Opsal in Julianna Rubio Slager’s Ripple Effect
Q. Pick one word to describe the 2021/22 Season. Why?
A. Expansive. This season has not only showcased work from the past ten years, but we also created three new works. The over 5 hours of choreography performed throughout the year demonstrated the depth of artistry that Ballet 5:8 has as a company.
Q. Can you share a favorite moment from on or off-stage?
A. One of my favorite moments was performing the Eros pas de deux from Julianna Rubio Slager's Golden Sessions on the stage of the Harris Theater. It is a demanding piece but so exhilarating and being able to dance it on an iconic stage for dance in Chicago felt like a milestone.
Q. You performed many works this season! Does one stand out as the most meaningful or most notable for you personally? Why?
A. A very meaningful piece was reprising my role in Ripple Effect as the embodiment of Lies. That ballet was the very first one that was created the season that I arrived, six years ago. That was the longest time for me between performing the same role and it allowed me to develop it further than when I performed it my first year. Also, seeing the growth, not only in myself but also in the whole company, was wonderful to experience.
Q. What or who has inspired you this season?
A. I have been most inspired by my coworkers this season. There have been moments of exhaustion for all of us, but there is always someone there with a kind word or a smile so that we can all keep pushing forward!
Q. What are you looking forward to next season?
A. I am most looking forward to Julianna Rubio Slager's new full-length work BareFace, which is based on C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces. The opportunity to perform full-length works allow for more depth of character development and storytelling.