VOL. XXIV, NO. 3
DECEMBER 2, 1982
Julie Fanta performs in "Cinderella"
Ballerina makes her dream come true
Ballerina makes her dream come true
by Lisa Kinnear
She twirls around the stage on pointe in her full skirt. After rehearsal at the Chicago City Ballet Company, for "Cinderella", Julie Fanta '83, painfully removes her shoes. "You can't stop rehearsing because of tendonitis; it's so common among other dancers," said Julie. "It's something you have to accept."
How did a senior from Maine West get the chance to dance in a Chicago City Ballet production? Julie's dancing career started when she was ten years old. Her mother saw an ad in the newspaper for the Peoria Civic Ballet School, which said that no experience was necessary to dance.
After being enrolled at the school for only one year, Julie received her toe shoes. "It made me feel like a real ballerina," Julie replied.
Before her junior year at Peoria High School, Julie's dancing teacher, Shirley Scheer, suggested that Julie take dancing lessons in Chicago. After taking classes all summer, her ability was recognized and she was offered a scholarship to the Chicago City Ballet School, which she promptly accepted. Now she is deeply involved in training for the Company.
Because of the great distance between her hometown, Peoria, and Chicago, Julie's aunt offered her a place to stay. Although she is currently living with her aunt, she still finds that, "My parents are real supportive; they send me money for my car and come up to see me in all my performances," she said.
In an advanced level at the ballet school, Julie goes to classes which last one and a half hours, six days a week. Besides ballet, Julie has added character and jazz classes to her already hectic schedule.
Another addition to her work load is rehearsing for the upcoming Chicago Ballet Company's Christmas performance, "Cinderella." In order to attend all the rehearsals, Julie must take off many days of school. "Taking off of school is difficult but it is something that must be done." Julie works with her teachers to see that her makeup work is completed.
She twirls around the stage on pointe in her full skirt. After rehearsal at the Chicago City Ballet Company, for "Cinderella", Julie Fanta '83, painfully removes her shoes. "You can't stop rehearsing because of tendonitis; it's so common among other dancers," said Julie. "It's something you have to accept."
How did a senior from Maine West get the chance to dance in a Chicago City Ballet production? Julie's dancing career started when she was ten years old. Her mother saw an ad in the newspaper for the Peoria Civic Ballet School, which said that no experience was necessary to dance.
After being enrolled at the school for only one year, Julie received her toe shoes. "It made me feel like a real ballerina," Julie replied.
Before her junior year at Peoria High School, Julie's dancing teacher, Shirley Scheer, suggested that Julie take dancing lessons in Chicago. After taking classes all summer, her ability was recognized and she was offered a scholarship to the Chicago City Ballet School, which she promptly accepted. Now she is deeply involved in training for the Company.
Because of the great distance between her hometown, Peoria, and Chicago, Julie's aunt offered her a place to stay. Although she is currently living with her aunt, she still finds that, "My parents are real supportive; they send me money for my car and come up to see me in all my performances," she said.
In an advanced level at the ballet school, Julie goes to classes which last one and a half hours, six days a week. Besides ballet, Julie has added character and jazz classes to her already hectic schedule.
Another addition to her work load is rehearsing for the upcoming Chicago Ballet Company's Christmas performance, "Cinderella." In order to attend all the rehearsals, Julie must take off many days of school. "Taking off of school is difficult but it is something that must be done." Julie works with her teachers to see that her makeup work is completed.
A typical day in Julie's life begins with school which she attends from 8 am. until 1:53 p.m. She then goes home and prepares for her ballet class. After a 40 minute drive into Chicago, Julie must warm up for one hour before beginning class to get her muscles toned for the difficult tasks required during practice. Class runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Julie finishes the day by eating dinner and staying up late to finish her homework. When Julie does finally have time to relax she finds that, "I never really have ballet off my mind. Even when I sleep I dream about ballet," stated Julie.
Marie Tallchief, the Artistic Director of the Company and a former prima ballerina, has repeatedly requested Julie to come to the earlier class with the rest of the Company. Because the dance class is in the morning, Julie has been unable to fulfill this request. Therefore, she says, "I have to graduate from Maine West in January. Maria said that I would become much stronger with two classes a day instead of one."
Her classes at Maine West are mainly secretarial courses. Julie is preparing herself with this skill just in case her dancing career fails. "If I broke a leg, or wouldn't be able to dance anymore, I have to choose another career," Julie said.
Her future goals are to get an apprenticeship with the Company. After that, Julie will understudy all the parts for one year. Hopefully she will then be named a dancer in the Company. Because of the hectic ordeal of leaving for Chicago at 3:00 p.m. every day from Des Plaines, Julie and a girl friend will probably get an apartment in Chicago after she graduates.
Though it sounds great to have a dancing career, a career can restrict other activities. Maria Tallchief tells her dancers that they can not swim, jog, be in gymnastics, or ride a bicycle because these sports develop the wrong muscles for a dancer. "I can do these activities every once in a while, but not on a regular basis," Julie said.
Because of her dancing, Julie is away from her parents, follows a hectic schedule, and has no time for other hobbies. When asked whether or not dancing was worth the inconveniences Julie answered, "Yes, there are many sacrifices, but it is a wonderful opportunity and worth all the effort that is takes to be a ballerina."
Julie finishes the day by eating dinner and staying up late to finish her homework. When Julie does finally have time to relax she finds that, "I never really have ballet off my mind. Even when I sleep I dream about ballet," stated Julie.
Marie Tallchief, the Artistic Director of the Company and a former prima ballerina, has repeatedly requested Julie to come to the earlier class with the rest of the Company. Because the dance class is in the morning, Julie has been unable to fulfill this request. Therefore, she says, "I have to graduate from Maine West in January. Maria said that I would become much stronger with two classes a day instead of one."
Her classes at Maine West are mainly secretarial courses. Julie is preparing herself with this skill just in case her dancing career fails. "If I broke a leg, or wouldn't be able to dance anymore, I have to choose another career," Julie said.
Her future goals are to get an apprenticeship with the Company. After that, Julie will understudy all the parts for one year. Hopefully she will then be named a dancer in the Company. Because of the hectic ordeal of leaving for Chicago at 3:00 p.m. every day from Des Plaines, Julie and a girl friend will probably get an apartment in Chicago after she graduates.
Though it sounds great to have a dancing career, a career can restrict other activities. Maria Tallchief tells her dancers that they can not swim, jog, be in gymnastics, or ride a bicycle because these sports develop the wrong muscles for a dancer. "I can do these activities every once in a while, but not on a regular basis," Julie said.
Because of her dancing, Julie is away from her parents, follows a hectic schedule, and has no time for other hobbies. When asked whether or not dancing was worth the inconveniences Julie answered, "Yes, there are many sacrifices, but it is a wonderful opportunity and worth all the effort that is takes to be a ballerina."
