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Romeo, Juliet and an 18-Hour Flight: Breaking Down Houston Ballet's Tour to Australia

Final stage rehearsals before opening night.

Photographed for Pointe by Taylor-Ferné Morris

What does it take to bring a major production on tour? In July, Houston Ballet mounted a 12-show run of artistic director Stanton Welch's Romeo and Juliet in Melbourne, Australia. The tour was the company's Australian debut, and a homecoming for Welch, who is from there. The ballet premiered in Houston the previous year, and while it was well received, it was untested by time and tradition. “We had only performed it 9 or 10 times before," says Welch.

Touring a full-length production halfway around the world is a bit of a “beast," says Welch, involving serious logistical planning. Flights were booked the previous September, while set pieces, costumes and theater cases were shipped—by boat—two months before the opening. (The elaborate sets, designed by Roberta Guidi di Bagno, include 10 onstage towers.) Ballet master Steven Woodgate traveled to Melbourne several weeks in advance to rehearse the cast of children from The Australian Ballet School. In addition to 64 dancers, Houston Ballet brought all of its own staff and crew—a total of 91 people!

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Houston Ballet Down Under #7: Goodbye, Melbourne

From left: Me, Madeline Skelly and Natalie Varnum

From June 24–July 10, Houston Ballet is embarking on its biggest tour yet to Melbourne, Australia, hometown of artistic director Stanton Welch. Pointe asked demi-soloist Jacquelyn Long to keep a diary of her experiences.

July 10, 2016

Today we said goodbye to Melbourne—well, some of us did. A few of the dancers are staying in Australia to travel because we are now on a two week layoff! Woohoo!

 

Our last shows of Romeo and Juliet went well.  The Australian audience really responded to the performances, and many of the reviews were very enthusiastic about our company. There was a champagne toast on the last evening to celebrate the success. I think everyone was happy to finish the tour.

 

One last glimpse of the Melbourne skyline

We are about to get back on that 16 hour flight, but I miss my puppy and it's worth it! I think what I am going to miss most about Melbourne is their strong coffee and chocolate Tim Tam cookies. I hope all of you enjoyed following my journey on this tour! I really did enjoy writing for you. If you want to keep following me, my Instagram account is jac_long.

XO,

Jacquelyn

Romeo and Juliet costumes

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Houston Ballet Down Under #6: My Big Debut!

From June 24–July 10, Houston Ballet is embarking on its biggest tour yet to Melbourne, Australia, hometown of artistic director Stanton Welch. Pointe asked demi-soloist Jacquelyn Long to keep a diary of her experiences.

July 8, 2016

With my sisters Tyler Donateli and Soo Cho

We are nearing the end of our tour and I think everyone is trying to rally as we approach show number 10. We've had a long week with performances every day, including some double show days.

I got to debut the part of Miranda this week! It was a lot of fun. She is quite a sassy character! It's difficult though—there is intense acting, fouettés and lots of jumping. It was rewarding to emote onstage and get lost in a character. Something fun about that role is she has to wear a red wig! I took a little time lapsed video to show you guys what wig prep in the ballet world looks like.

 

 

 

We took class in the Australian Ballet studios yesterday, which was very nice. We've been using the rehearsal room at the theater, which is pretty small in comparison to their studios and what we are used to back in Houston. We had another guest teacher this week as well, Australian Ballet artistic associate and principal coach Fiona Tonkin. I think everyone enjoyed her class. There was also a class onstage with an audience, which our ballet master Steven Woodgate taught. He had a microphone so that the people could hear him correct and teach. He used to dance with the Aussie Ballet and was always a part of these demonstrations when he was with the company. I think it was neat for him to do it again.

Soloist Allison Miller and dancers of the company at the Australian Ballet studios

 

XO,

Jacquelyn

 

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Houston Ballet Down Under #5: A Trip to the Bloch Store

From June 24–July 10, Houston Ballet is embarking on its biggest tour yet to Melbourne, Australia, hometown of artistic director Stanton Welch. Pointe asked demi-soloist Jacquelyn Long to keep a diary of her experiences.

Madeline Skelly and Natalie Varnum at the Bloch store.

July 3, 2016

Hey everyone, I hope you have been enjoying my posts! We had three shows and a tech rehearsal since my last one and we just enjoyed a nice day off.

A lot of us have been shopping at some of the local Australian shops in our time off and updating our dance wardrobe. For instance, we've been frequenting the Bloch store, which is based in Australia! The most popular purchases have been their booties and warm ups. Also, dancers of the Australian Ballet have a line called Keto Dancewear that many of us have been quick to purchase! Below I am pictured with a group of us sporting our new leos and tights.

Sporting our new leos (from left): myself, Katherine Precourt, Melody Mennite, Kaleigh Courts, Jordan Veit, Emily Seymour and Natalie Varnum.

 

Nao Kusuzaki. Photo by Chunwei Chan, Courtesy Long.

We had a birthday on our day off: Nao Kusuzaki! Nao is another dancer who will be ending her career here in Australia. She joined the Houston Ballet from Boston Ballet in 2004 and was promoted to soloist in 2008. Nao dances with a grace that will be missed. She will be studying to achieve a business degree.

Well, Happy Independence Day to everyone in America! It feels strange to not be home to see any fireworks, but we have another show tonight. It is the premiere of the third cast of leads, so I'm sure that will be exciting!

 

XO,

Jacquelyn

 

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Houston Ballet Down Under #4: Opening Night

From June 24–July 10, Houston Ballet is embarking on its biggest tour yet to Melbourne, Australia, hometown of artistic director Stanton Welch. Pointe asked demi-soloist Jacquelyn Long to keep a diary of her experiences.

June 30, 2016


Getting notes backstage after dress rehearsal. They were practicing scene changes on the stage, so we squished.

Opening night was a success! We had a dress rehearsal in the early afternoon with a different cast, and I think everyone was a bit tired. A few of us even napped in our dressing rooms to get a boost. There’s also a cafeteria in the theater, which is so nice. I wish we had one in Houston! Most of the dancers got their food and coffee there during the break.

The audience was packed for opening night. There were definitely some nerves in the air, but I think the cast felt very ready to get the shows rolling. The leads all danced beautifully. The show itself went very well from what I saw, and the audience was very responsive. There were even gasps during the fight scenes. We had an actual sword-fighting teacher work with us when it was originally choreographed, so it definitely gets scary. I'm scared on stage sometimes, and I know the choreography!

Before opening night as Katerina. Yes, I brought Cheez-Its to Australia!

After the show there was a reception with The Australian Ballet. It was very nice to mingle with the Aussie dancers. They were all so sweet and eager to help us with recommendations of restaurants and shops. Actually, everyone in Melbourne has been nothing but nice, from coffee baristas to shop owners. It makes traveling to a foreign country so much more fun.

I'm excited for another show tonight!

 

Xo,

Jacquelyn

(Photos by Jacquelyn Long.)

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Houston Ballet Down Under #3: Casting Changes and Jet Lag

From June 24–July 10, Houston Ballet is embarking on its biggest tour yet to Melbourne, Australia, hometown of artistic director Stanton Welch. Pointe asked demi-soloist Jacquelyn Long to keep a diary of her experiences.

June 29, 2016

The State Theatre at Arts Center of Victoria. Photo by Chunwai Chan, Courtesy Long.

We had our first day of rehearsals yesterday in the Arts Center of Victoria rehearsal room. We did a run through of Romeo and Juliet and rehearsed the Australian Ballet School children into the production. They have a beggar’s dance and are also town children in the show. The run went well, and I think everyone is excited to go onstage!

In the dance world there are some things that come with the job—and casting changes is one of them. Due to injuries or passport problems, we had some fittings during rehearsals yesterday. I have to be a ball guest now and one of Juliet's friends, so I had a few costumes to try on. I also will be dancing Katerina (a tavern sister), a role I originated when the ballet was created. And, I get to premiere Miranda, who is the main tavern sister—Mercutio's girl.

Dancers Megumi Takeda and Aoi Fujiwara exploring Melbourne. Photo by Long.

After rehearsal, I think everyone was feeling the jet lag. If you have never experienced jet lag, it feels like it’s 1:00 am when it’s only 7:30 in the evening! Some of my friends and I walked the city to get food and drinks. We lasted until 10:15 before we were home in bed. I must say though, I feel better today after forcing myself to stay awake.

This morning, we got to take class from Australian Ballet staff member Eve Lawson, a fellow American.  It was fun to have a guest teacher while on tour. The floors here are a bit slippery, but I think the boys, especially, are enjoying turning on them. If you have a chance, check out the videos on Instagram of that! Following the hashtag #hbtakesaustralia

We have a technical rehearsal first today and then a dress rehearsal later tonight. I hope all goes smoothly! I'm looking forward to letting you guys know what the stage is like.

 

Xo,

Jacquelyn

Bridget Kuhns working on her lines before rehearsal. Photo by Chunwai Chan, Courtesy Long.

Houston Ballet Down Under #2: We Made It to Melbourne!

From June 24–July 10, Houston Ballet is embarking on its biggest tour yet to Melbourne, Australia, hometown of artistic director Stanton Welch. Pointe asked demi-soloist Jacquelyn Long to keep a diary of her experiences.

June 26, 2016

We made it! Dylan Lackey, Emily Seymour and Jenna Gooden.

We are in Melbourne! I think everyone was happy to be done with the long flight. We arrived at 7:30am and had the whole day to explore. They say the best way to learn a city is by walking it, and that is what many of the dancers did today.

I started my day with coffee, the usual, but I must say the coffee here tastes stronger than in America. A few of us explored the South Melbourne Market, which has a bunch of local shops. I was taken aback by some of the sizes of the local foods—after all, I thought everything was bigger in Texas! Apparently not (see my pictures below).

Everything is bigger in Melbourne!

South Melbourne Market

After we checked in to the Short Stay Apartments, a few of us checked out the pool and the gym to try moving a little bit after the flight. I lasted about 7 minutes in the pool. It was too cold, even though it was heated and indoor.

Michael Ryan and Mallory Mehaffey

In the evening, we walked aimlessly, trying to fight the jet lag. We strolled around an area called Southbank and saw some street dancers performing. Since Australia’s summer feels like our winter, it was freezing outside and the walk back to the hotel once the sun went down was brutal! It’s crazy how it can be so hot at home and so cold here. Thankfully the temperature during the day hasn't gotten too bad, yet.

Well, our first day of tour is down—15 more to go! Tomorrow we have just a ballet class scheduled, and I am hoping my body isn't too tight from the long travel. Now I'm off to sew some pointe shoes!

XO,

Jacquelyn

Meeting up with our Aussie friend! Myself, Gabby Johnson, Will Newton, Madeline Skelly, Queensland Ballet dancer Joel Woellner, Aaron Robison, Derek Dunn and Natalie Varnum. (All photos courtesy Long)

 

For more news on all things ballet, don't miss a single issue.

Houston Ballet Down Under: Introducing Guest Blogger Jacquelyn Long

Jacquelyn Long, Photo by Amitava Sarkar, Courtesy Houston Ballet.

From June 24–July 10, Houston Ballet is embarking on its biggest tour yet to Melbourne, Australia, hometown of artistic director Stanton Welch. Pointe asked demi-soloist Jacquelyn Long to keep a diary of her experiences.

Friday, June 24, 2016

I'm so excited to be guest blogging for Pointe to give you a behind the scenes look at tour life! A bit about your blogger: I was born in Cleveland, Ohio (go Cavs!) and lived most of my life in Virginia Beach, Virginia. I joined Houston Ballet’s second company in 2010, and became a corps de ballet member in 2012. In May, I was promoted to demi soloist. My favorite pastime is probably a good Netflix binge or playing with my Pomeranian.

"Looking natural at the airport..." Photo by Long.

The company is touring Stanton Welch’s Romeo and Juliet to Melbourne, Australia! The story is beautiful and one of my favorites. Our production premiered in February, 2015 in Houston. It has been fun to revisit the ballet and I think we are all anxious to see what the Aussies think.

Right now we’re in Los Angeles LAX Airport! After a three and a half hour flight from Houston, I'm anxious for what the 17-hour flight to Melbourne will feel like. My ankles already feel swollen, which is the worst part about flying as a dancer. Some of my colleagues are wearing compression socks to help reduce the swelling, and I would say tennis shoes are everyone’s favorite pick for footwear. My boyfriend and I each bought a new pair of Nikes earlier today— with all the walking that comes with traveling, comfy shoes are essential!

This trip comes with some bittersweet feelings, as some of our dancers will be retiring afterwards. Rupert Edwards, pictured here with his beautiful wife Karina González, will be continuing his studies of kinesiology after the tour.

Photo by Chunwai Chan, Courtesy Long.

Now off to find some food. More to come!

Jacquelyn

 

For more news on all things ballet, don't miss a single issue.

Plan Your European Audition Tour: Insider Tips for Job-Hunting Abroad

Via Pixabay

Ever dreamed of dancing your way through Europe? Of discovering new companies and wandering the streets of historic cities? For Kelsey Coventry, an American dancer with Leipziger Ballett in Leipzig, Germany, moving abroad was the perfect next step. “I thought that I would try to spread my wings a little further," she says.

Europe also comes with another lure: lengthy, stable contracts with good benefits. “Since I work for an opera house here, and we're government funded, I'm considered a government employee," says Coventry. “We're paid 13 months out of the year, with a 2-month vacation. It's a pretty good deal."
But before you get the job, you need to audition. If you've never traveled abroad, planning a European audition tour can seem daunting. But with advance planning and the right blend of organization and flexibility, it can be an easier and more affordable experience than you think.

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Have Pointe Shoes, Will Travel

The streets of Beijing’s Forbidden City witnessed some impromptu tendus when San Francisco Ballet’s dancers went sightseeing during their November tour to China. The com­pany’s first visit to the People’s Republic, arranged by private donors to coincide with the government’s 60th anniversary, gave dancers the opportunity to perform for audiences that rarely see a Western troupe. The tour also marked a homecoming for prima ballerina and Shanghai native Yuan Yuan Tan. Critics and audiences alike greeted her Swan Lake with special enthusiasm.

 

The excitement of encountering a new and very different culture outweighed some of the two-week tour’s rigors. “We have never toured to a non-Western country before,” says corps member Dana Genshaft. “China’s architecture looks futuristic, but you can turn a corner and women are washing their clothes in a basin on the street. It’s a place of extremes.”

 

“The students wanted to get everything just right and they were so impressed by their
visitors. Their mouths were like little ‘O’s.”
—Yuan Yuan Tan

 

The audiences loved that Yuan Yuan had come home to dance. When we did the Black Swan pas, I was thinking, ‘Just don’t mess up YY’s stuff!’ ”—Tiit Helimets

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