The Female Leads of BareFace | Solo Artist Elizabeth Marlin
Julianna Rubio Slager’s newest full-length ballet, BareFace, places female athlete artists in leading roles, retelling the myth of Cupid and Psyche from a distinctly female perspective.
In honor of Women’s History Month, we are interviewing the female leads of BareFace to get to know their characters before they take the stage this spring!
Solo Artist Elizabeth Marlin by Kristie Kahns.
Q: What role/character will you be dancing in BareFace?
Marlin: I will be dancing the character of Psyche. She is Orual’s youngest sister, and is regarded for her beauty and kindness. Psyche falls in love with Cupid (in BareFace he is known as The Grey Mountain God). You’ll have to come see the ballet to find out what happens to her!
Q: How did you research/prepare for your role? What is something that stood out to you in your research?
Marlin: To start with I listened to the audiobook of Till We Have Faces, the novel by C.S. Lewis which also reimagines the myth of Cupid and Psyche. I read that at least twice cover to cover. I also went through the book more slowly after that to focus solely on any mentions of Psyche. I wanted to glean as much information as I could on how other characters view her, how she views herself, and how she actually is. From there, I put together a roadmap of character development with snippets of quotes from the book and other thoughts of mine to start creating a cohesive character. I have also been listening to the "Pints with Jack" podcast, which is just fantastic in all ways as well.
Something that stood out to me reading the book was the incredible depth and richness of the symbols, themes, and motifs Lewis uses to create his allegory. The character of Psyche, for example, can act as a Christ figure, healing people from sickness, being sacrificed on a tree, and (from Orual's perspective) rising from the dead.
Q: Describe the movement/style of the choreography. Is it different/the same as what you've done before? What is the most challenging aspect of the ballet?
Marlin: The style of the choreography belongs to a whole different world in which BareFace is based, the imaginary world of Glome! There are steps and ways of moving never before seen, incorporating and intertwining multiple styles of dance. All of the movements start with the idea of an emotion or a feeling and from there, they are extrapolated out into what those would look like in a physical way. The two most challenging aspects of the ballet so far are becoming comfortable with this novel way of moving, and then learning to dance in, on top of, through, and around our set pieces, which include moving staircases, scaffolds, and more!
Q: Why should audiences see BareFace?
Marlin: This ballet will challenge you to follow the main character Orual on a journey of self-discovery. It is an epic tale of pride, betrayal, heartbreak, and immortality, ultimately revealing our true selves, our very innermost thoughts and impulses, our barest faces.