Welcoming the National Audition Tour to Torrington
February 19, 2013
Sometimes it’s fun to be a little house-proud. Just ask the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory!
This past weekend was the perfect opportunity for The Nutmeg Ballet to shine. It was the first in a series of three open auditions at home in the spacious state-of-the-art studios on Torrington’s Main Street. The next is scheduled for March 15th with the final at-home open audition taking place on April 12th.
Despite the snow and somewhat challenging weather conditions, hopeful Nutmeg summer program students made their way to the historic downtown arts district from near and far. Whether it was from Long Island, Rhode Island, or Cape Cod, or just the next town over, there was a common sense of purpose and an undeniable spark of excitement in the air.
Even before the auditions were scheduled to begin, the building was bursting with activity. The Dance Shop was abuzz with patrons enjoying the fun atmosphere; Ms. Szabo was keeping her little dancers on task in Studio One, while Ms. Ward had her class in the charming Pas de Deux studio. Meanwhile, The Nutmeg Student Activity Committee was hosting a bake sale while a steady flow of students and parents made their way through the lobby.
It was a very eventful Saturday and it had only just begun!
As the visiting dancers filed into the multi-purpose CAP room with their parents, there were reassuring faces to welcome them and check them in. They were warmly greeted by JoAnne Lavine, The Nutmeg’s Registrar, who clearly enjoys what she does. Ms Lavine was assisted by one of the lovely Nutmeg dancers named Jenn, who happened to be very adept at soothing frazzled nerves as she handed out audition numbers and collected audition photos.
With the auditions scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., the pace was brisk, but comfortable. Very quietly, Artistic Director, Victoria Mazzarelli, made her way through the crowded room to formally introduce herself, welcome the auditioners to The Nutmeg Ballet, provide a brief orientation about the summer program and audition process, and answer any questions.
The eager auditioners were then placed into groups and escorted to one of three studios. Once the students were focused in class upstairs, the emphasis turned to the parents waiting patiently below. The Nutmeg Parent Network volunteers were on hand to answer any additional questions and provide guided tours of the building.
First stop on the tour was the CAP room where the Conservatory Academic Program takes place each school day during the year-round program. Tour guides pointed out the adjacent office, with its large window that looks on to the CAP room and that has an almost-always open door, where Academic Director, Donna Mattiello keeps a sharp eye on the students of the academic program.
After learning, much to their delight, that the original part of the building on Main Street had originally been Torrington’s Chamber of Commerce building, the tour guide directed visitors through the bright and lively lobby to the front office where, they were informed that Mrs. Mary Dante, Registrar, has been keeping an eye on the dance program since her daughter, Sharon E. Dante, founded the school in 1969. There she was, busy as always, chatting with parents and buzzing people in through the security doors with her friendly, “Come in, please.”
In Dance Shop, Holly Watson, Dance Shop Manager, greeted each of the visitors with a smile. She told them that the Dance Shop was once a jewelry store which would explain the beautifully timeworn vault behind the checkout desk. The rich wood cabinets that now displayed various types of dance related merchandise were at one time display cabinets for exquisitely crafted jewelry, she explained.
Onward and upward, the group of visitors followed their tour guide to the second floor, where they would see Studio Two. There, Ballet Master, Tim Melady, was teaching a technique class to The Nutmeg trainees along with a group of the auditioning students putting their best foot forward.
As is customary on a Saturday morning, Resident Director, Karen Tuck, was busy cooking something delicious for the resident student’s lunch that day and so she stopped and chatted with the curious visitors responding to any questions they might have about resident life.
The third floor’s breathtaking Premiere Studio was experienced from the observation deck one floor above. From this eagle-eye-view parents had the rare opportunity to observe classical repertoire coach and famed ballerina, Eleanor D’Antuono, teaching technique not only to Nutmeg trainees, but to some of the auditioning students as well.
Needless to say, it was a wonderful experience, not just for those visiting The Nutmeg on that snowy Saturday for the very first time, but for all the staff, volunteers, and trainees who had the opportunity to share all the many reasons that the great building of steel and bricks and glass makes them so very proud to be a part of the magic.
For information about The Nutmeg Ballet training program, visit www.nutmegballet.org
After learning, much to their delight, that the original part of the building on Main Street had originally been Torrington’s Chamber of Commerce building, the tour guide directed visitors through the bright and lively lobby to the front office where, they were informed that Mrs. Mary Dante, Registrar, has been keeping an eye on the dance program since her daughter, Sharon E. Dante, founded the school in 1969. There she was, busy as always, chatting with parents and buzzing people in through the security doors with her friendly, “Come in, please.”
IN THE MEDIA
After 50 years of building a reputation for professionalism in dance instruction, Nutmeg Ballet was forced to put that reputation to the test this year. Audition tour director Joan Kunsch injured her arm and was unable to go on her annual 18-city nationwide recruiting tour. But, “Nothing will be canceled,” she promised in early December. “It was up to me to solve it,” said Kunsch. “I thought, ‘Who better to represent Nutmeg than the former students who are making professional company careers around the country?’” She compiled a list of about a dozen Nutmeg alumni around the country and called them. They eagerly accepted the challenge. For example, Kunsch said, “We have a Nutmeg graduate, Amy Potter, who is a principal dancer in the Oklahoma City Ballet, and I called her and she’s ecstatic to do it. She said, ‘Proudly, I would do it. Proudly.’” Another former student, Thel Moore, trained at Nutmeg from 2012 to 2015. He agreed to cover three of Kunsch’s scheduled cities, including Richmond, Va., where he is a danseur at the Richmond Ballet Company. Moore said in an email, “What I typically look for in an audition is a base in classical ballet but also a love for ballet as well. I’m looking for a spark that you usually can’t teach but mold into something beautiful.” He said students are nervous at first, but “when they see the brochure [and] how beautiful the building is and how incredibly professional the staff is, they usually lighten up and get really excited for the audition.” The far-flung team of Nutmeg-trained dancers are directing auditions in January and February in nearly 40 cities in the United States and Canada. Some of these cities are on Tim Melady’s usual itinerary as audition tour co-director. Melady, Nutmeg’s principal ballet master, is also standing in for Kunsch in several cities. Speaking by phone from an airport near St. Louis, Mo., Melady said, “I have been to the West Coast. Seattle had a good turnout. Portland had a good turnout. San Francisco had a good turnout, and they are all so interested in Nutmeg and Torrington!” He said, “We’re so lucky that we have such a respected reputation.” When an auditioning dancer asks about Nutmeg, he refers them to former Nutmeg students in the area, who are happy to talk about their experiences. Melady said the constant influx of students from thousands of miles away is enriching for them, for Nutmeg and for Torrington. “People come to Nutmeg and say, ‘Oh my God, we’re meeting people from Wyoming! From California! This is crazy.’ Everybody knows about Nutmeg Ballet. It’s wonderful!” Kunsch said that when she has gone on the audition tour – which she has done every year since 1993 – she tells dancers, “Not only are you auditioning for Nutmeg; Nutmeg’s auditioning for you.” She tells them, “We’re not looking for perfection. If you were perfect, would you need us? We’re looking for trainability.” Moore said, “Bringing talent from all over is very important because it keeps Nutmeg as one of the best schools to train at in the United States.” Melady said, “[The auditioners] have heard of us, and they’ve heard of our reputation. And that’s a real advantage. Our reputation is golden. There are more and more schools just vying for this slice of talent. And there is always talent.” Victoria Mazzarelli, artistic director, said Torrington auditions at the Nutmeg Conservatory attract not only local aspirants but dancers from New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania for both the summer and year-round programs. Remaining auditions at the Conservatory at 58 Main Street are Feb. 1, 15, 29 and March 7, from 9 a.m. to noon. And by the way, said Mazzarelli, locals are most welcome! “During these next few months, our year-round students and faculty are rehearsing and preparing for our Spring Studio Series that will be held on March 18, 19, 20 and 21,” she said.