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. Getting to know the dancers and hearing about their journey is always a treat, and this year is no exception - even in a year turned upside down by a national pandemic! A special thank you to the artists of the company for sharing about their experiences in the 2019/20 Season.
Congratulations to Ballet 5:8’s Samuel Opsal, who was promoted to Solo Artist at the conclusion of the 2019/20 Season.
Solo Artist, Samuel Opsal
Q. Pick one word to describe the overall season. Why?
A. Unexpected. I think many people can relate to this word over the past several months. The plans throughout the spring season were changed many times, but throughout all of it there were still many blessings. I never would have expected to have multiple online performances, but in doing so friends and family spread out across multiple countries had the opportunity to see Ballet 5:8 perform for the first time.
Q. Can you share a favorite moment from on or offstage?
A. Slightly longer than a moment, but the four days spent preparing and filming for the online shows are the most memorable to me. There was a limited amount of time and in the end the majority of the filming was completed in one day for both The Space in Between and Butterfly. It was amazing to see God's grace to allow us to complete the work while adhering to all the guidelines, and incredibly encouraging to see the outpouring of artistry from everyone at Ballet 5:8.
Q. Of course choosing this is probably going to be hard, but out of the works you performed this season, does one stand out as the most meaningful or most notable for you personally? Why?
A. Butterfly stands out this season, with a message of hope in the midst of suffering. Any suffering we have experienced pales in comparison, but seeing the strength and hope that was shown by the real people the story is based on has continued to be an inspiration. In Butterfly I portrayed Rafael Schächter and through that process I felt I grew as an artist. I learned a considerable amount from this role, both from the research as the ballet was being created to the different ways the ballet was performed, online and in theaters.
Q. Is there a particular quote or idea that has been inspirational to you this season?
A. The words of Psalm 19:14 have been encouraging to me this past year. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. This verse has so much to it, and recently I have been so thankful of this reminder of the Lord as our rock and the peace that can be found in it.
Q. What room did you dance in during quarantine?
A. I ended up dancing in almost every room in my apartment, but primarily I took class in my bedroom. The furniture definitely had some odd configurations in the apartment to allow for a couple months of dancing!
Q. What are you up to this summer?
A. I will be teaching at Ballet 5:8's summer intensive as well as preparing for next season. Make sure to watch out for announcements and updates for next season and the new ways to see Ballet 5:8, including outdoor performances!