I had the opportunity to email interview LeeAnn Walker, who will be dancing the lead role of Princess Aurora in our upcoming performances of Sleeping Beauty on March 14th at 2 PM and 7:30 PM at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach.
LeeAnn is a former student and has come back several times to perform with BVI. I’m always struck by how pure and beautiful her dancing is and if you read this interview you’ll see that it is really just who she is that is shining through in her dancing.
What’s your favorite part as far as the choreography for this part?
So far my favorite part of Aurora’s choreography is all the different pas de deux and variations she has through out the whole ballet. I like how the choreography is challenging and gives me something to continue to work at and perfect. Overall, I think I am most excited to learn and perform the Rose Adagio from the first act and the wedding pas de deux in the third act. I think both of them are beautiful, and I learned parts of them at summer intensives when I was younger so it is really exciting to now be able to perform them for an audience.
What does being the lead dancer in this famous ballet mean to you?
Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite ballets and it is an honor to be able to perform the role of Aurora. I find it so intriguing that the same ballets that were created over a century ago are still being performed today, and I feel privileged that I get to be part of its lineage. At the same time being the lead in such a famous ballet does add extra pressure. I hope I can move the audience just has much as all the amazing dancers that have previously performed the role of Aurora.
What was your reaction when you were asked to be Aurora?
I was very honored and excited when BVI asked me to be Aurora. I think it will be the biggest role I have performed in my career and it boosted my confidence when I found out they wanted me to be Aurora.
What do you think will be the biggest challenges of this role for you?
I think the biggest challenge I will face in this role is gaining the stamina to perform the whole ballet to my fullest potential because it will definitely be the most dancing I have done in one performance. I am also excited to dance with a new partner, but we will only have a week to rehearse together before the performances. In the end I know everything will come together and I am so excited to once again perform will BVI.
