Sophia Snider | 22/23 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 2022/23 Season.
Photo by Kristie Kahns.
Q. Pick one word to describe the 2022/23 Season. Why?
A. Explorative. The past ten months were full (to the brim!) of exploring. I spent many hours developing my artistry, playing with complex musicality, and discovering my storytelling voice as it pertains to the mission of Ballet 5:8. It has been fun to experiment, watch other artists, try new ways of moving and expressing, and enjoy the beauty that graces the studios every day. Matthew 7:7 comes to mind: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Q. Can you share a favorite moment from on- or off-stage?
A. It’s difficult to pinpoint a specific moment, because I share special memories with each member of the company and I would love to record them all. However, in addition to the victorious moments during rehearsals, and exciting travels and premieres, one memory that will stay with me is the 2022 BareFace Summer Residency and the “Till We Have Faces” roundtable discussion held with C.S. Lewis scholars at the Wade Center. Creating a new story ballet is always a detailed, thought-provoking, and challenging endeavor, and I was “over the moon” to experiment with ways to bring the myth of Cupid and Psyche to life through movement. I have never felt more collaboration among artists than during this week!
Q. You performed many works this season! Does one stand out as the most meaningful or most notable for you personally? Why?
A. One of the most notable performances from last season was the fall premiere of The Living Room Series at the Colvin House in Chicago. The Living Room Series is such a unique, fluid ballet, and it combines quite a few art forms. I performed the role of the Piano Girl, and much to my delight, I both played a beautiful grand piano and danced in the same evening. The intimate setting, historic location, and ornamental, avant garde experience was paired with a story that I live out all the time: receiving God’s grace every day. To be able to dance alongside a small cast of close friends in a story much like my own was an unmatched experience.
Q. What or who has inspired you this season?
A. On the days when I felt lacking in inspiration, I looked to nature and God’s beautiful creation. The seasons of nature directly reflect the seasons of life, and I am inspired by God’s unending creativity. He is the definition of the word “creative”. During company technique class last spring, I noticed clouds floating through the sky and trees rooted firmly in the ground outside the window. The clouds and trees were doing exactly what God created them to do! Through that simple but profound revelation, God encouraged me to do the same. He created me to dance, and continues to inspire me to be faithful to my call.
Q. What are you looking forward to next season?
A. The Ballet 5:8 company is an ever-growing community, and I am excited to dance with incoming artists who are new to the team. I also look forward to diving deeper into pieces of repertoire created over the years I have been with the company. We are always peeling back the layers of each story, and I find this process interesting, rewarding, and a welcome challenge.