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Lel and his Snow Maiden |
Next month, Sonoma Ballet Conservatory again takes to the stage with its production of The Snow Maiden, as a fundraiser for the historic Sebastiani Theatre. Reprising his role as Lel, the young man who falls in love with the Snow Maiden and must fight to win her from the clutches of the Snow Queen, is James Melendy.
One year ago, sixteen year old Melendy was a fairly new student at Sonoma Ballet, having started ballet classes in late August 2010. Finding that he absolutely loved dancing, Melendy put in the extra effort and hours needed in the studio to get him up to speed with the other dancers his age. “The hardest thing about ballet was getting used to the rigorous schedule that comes with wanting to be a professional,” Melendy recalled. “It slowly consumed my life, but it’s what I love!”
Melendy’s love for ballet indeed shows in his accomplishments. Last spring, after only six months of ballet training under Patricia O’Reilly of Sonoma Ballet, Melendy presented himself to an international governing body of classical ballet, London’s Royal Academy of Dance, for examination. Having learned and practiced much a set of exercises and variations intended for an intermediate dancer, Melendy not only passed this exam but with the honor of “Merit,” one of the highest a dancer can receive. And last winter, when Melendy was recruited to perform in Oakland Ballet Company’s production of The Nutcracker, he also was given the opportunity to audition for the part of “Russian.” Winning the role, Melendy danced with ease and poise alongside Oakland’s professional company dancers. This experience only increased Melendy’s desire and confidence to dance professionally in future: “I don’t know if I’ll go to college for dance, but I’d definitely consider going to a professional ballet school, if I don’t feel ready to audition for a company--but I’m working my way there every day!”
Returning in February to the stage of the Sebastiani Theatre to reprise his role as Lel, the love-sick village boy, Melendy is indeed a different young man than he once was, one with steady and serious dreams, a finely shaped and much stronger body, and the warm sense of community he found through dance: “I’ve been adopted into a family here at Sonoma Ballet,” Melendy shared. “Everyone here is so amazing!”
Finally, for other young men interested in ballet, Melendy encourages them to not keep waiting and thinking about it, as he did: “Just do it! Guys have it so easy in the ballet world: the odds of making it professionally in the dance world are way better than the odds of becoming a professional baseball player.” And in Melendy’s opinion, dance is much more fun to watch.
Sonoma Ballet Conservatory presents “The Snow Maiden” at the Sebastiani Theatre on Saturday, February 11, and Sunday, February 12, at 1:00pm; tickets are $17-22. For more information, call: (707) 996-9756 or (707) 938-1424.