5 Things We Learned from "city.ballet." Season 2, Episode 2

Season 2 of “city.ballet.”—the AOL On series that gives an insider’s look at New York City Ballet—is live now! We’re recapping one episode per week. Watch all 12 at dancemagazine.com. 

It’s pretty darn hard to make it as a choreographer. It’s even harder to do so while you’re dancing full-time. In the second episode of “city.ballet.” Season 2, we meet Troy Schumacher, a member of New York City Ballet’s corps, and follow him as he creates his first work for NYCB. Here are five things we learned from this particularly fascinating ep.

Schumacher at work in the studio (“city.ballet.” still courtesy New York City Ballet)

1) If you want to choreograph a great dance, choose a piece of music you’re obsessed with.
Schumacher’s ballet is set to “Clearing, Dawn, Dance,” by Judd Greenstein—which he’s been listening to for three years. And I thought I couldn’t get “Shake It Off” out of my head.

2) Casting a ballet at NYCB is like being a kid in a candy store.
Or, to use Schumacher’s better food-related simile: “It’s like going to a buffet when you’re really hungry. Everyone is excellent!” And Schumacher knows all of these dancers super well—he’s in the studio with them every day, after all—which makes the decision process even harder.

Schumacher rehearsing his chosen ones (Paul Kolnik, courtesy NYCB)

3) Ballet dancers call aerobically intense ballets “puffy.”
As in, you’ll be huffing and puffing. Cute!

4) Choreographers’ notes are
so cool. We get a peek at Schumacher’s notebook (5:17), and while I’m not exactly sure how his system works, his elaborate doodlings are a little language all their own.

5) Georgina Pazcoguin is hilarious.
The costumes for Schumacher’s ballet, dreamed up by designer Thom Browne, are basically school uniforms, complete with pleated miniskirts for the ladies. Soloist Pazcoguin’s reaction? “Ooh, Sister Marie Clarence is giving detention for this!” Hee hee.

Click the image below to watch the full episode!