During Cassandra Trenary’s debut as Juliet last summer at American Ballet Theater, there was a moment when the audience forgot she was performing and believed she truly became Juliet. She portrayed the character with raw emotion and vulnerability, reaching a furious and despondent state. In the ballet’s final moments, instead of the typical drawn-out death scene, Trenary collapsed with shocking suddenness, creating a stunningly gorgeous moment.
Trenary, a principal dancer with Ballet Theater, strives to be authentic in her performances. She wants to make it seem as though life is unfolding in front of the audience through ballet, which is a language that can seem inhuman at times. This approach brings a modern sensibility to her classic roles, such as Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet.”
As she prepares for her upcoming performance of “Romeo and Juliet,” Trenary imagines what it would be like if the ballet were a movie. She aims to strike a balance between being human and stripped down, while still maintaining the classical ballet elements. This struggle is intriguing to her and pushes her to explore new possibilities in her performances.
Trenary became a principal dancer in 2020, amid theater closures due to the pandemic. Returning to the stage has been a process for her. While she has become more fully formed as a person during the pandemic, she also faced fears and self-doubt regarding her technical abilities in classical ballet. She wanted to make the stories she tells onstage resonate with her own experiences and acknowledge the cultural appropriation and lack of representation within the art form.
During the shutdown, Trenary found ways to express her creativity outside of ballet. She choreographed and performed in non-ballet projects, broadening her artistic horizons. She also went through a personal breakup with her husband, which led her to question her identity and what she wants from her life.
In the current season, Trenary feels more confident as a dancer. Ballet Theater is showcasing her talents, with performances in “Like Water for Chocolate” and “Romeo and Juliet.” Her intelligence and analytical approach to her characters have been admired by Ballet Theater’s artistic director, Susan Jaffe. Jaffe appreciates how Trenary connects with her characters authentically and expresses emotion through her entire body, not just her face.
Trenary’s confidence and strength as a dancer have been bolstered by her experience working with choreographer Twyla Tharp. Tharp’s belief in Trenary and her encouragement to explore and take risks have made her feel free and empowered.
As she navigates her career as a principal dancer, Trenary acknowledges the changes happening within Ballet Theater. The company has a new artistic director, Susan Jaffe, and recently experienced the sudden resignation of its executive director. Additionally, Alexei Ratmansky, who played a significant role in Trenary’s career, has moved to New York City Ballet. Despite these changes, Trenary appreciates Jaffe’s understanding and firsthand knowledge of being in her position as a dancer.
Earlier this year, Trenary had a disappointing performance during the first act of “Giselle.” She was distraught and felt embarrassed, but Jaffe and Irina Kolpakova reassured her and reminded her of the beauty in her performance. This moment highlighted Jaffe’s compassionate nature and Trenary’s excitement to work with her.
As Trenary prepares to dance Juliet again, she is reminded of Lynn Seymour, the ballerina who originated the role. She had the opportunity to meet Seymour and spend time with her, learning from her firsthand. This experience allowed Trenary to see the differences in how the role was taught at Ballet Theater and gain valuable insights from a legendary dancer.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
