The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts opens Thursday night. Last Thursday I watched the last pre-Tobin practice of Ballet San Antonio.
Dancers took it all in, clearly ready to make adjustments. Afterwards, I spoke to Ballet San Antonio Artistic Director Gabriel Zertuche and I asked how long it has been to get to this point.
“You know, we’ve been rehearsing for about five weeks: preparing the dancers, coaching them, getting them ready with choreography, and style, and those type of things," Zertuche said.
Thursday night’s Tobin grand opening isn’t a single ballet, but excerpts from several popular ballets. Zertuche detailed the dances for me.
“We have five different -- very different -- styles going on. From "Swan Lake," which is very, very classical, going into "Scheherazade," which is neo-classical, almost contemporary. And then switching gears and getting into the Spanish feel for the" Carmen," and then finishing out with "Love is Here to Stay," which has that Gershwin feel -- think Gene Kelly, that sort of era," Zertuche said. "We want to showcase that we can do very different styles in every genre.”
Zertuche said the Tobin’s mechanical floor will actually place most of the action almost within the audience.
“And the dancers and the singers will actually be performing within the hall," he said. "It’s very unconventional, but I think it really will showcase all of the artists that evening.”
Zertuche said he thinks the Tobin promises big things ahead for the arts.
“It’s a great time to be a San Antonian, especially when you love the arts as much as I do," he said. "It’s terrific. I’m just thrilled to be a part of this evolution, if you will.”
- For more on opening night visit: www.tobincenter.org
