{"id":179799,"date":"2021-12-07T07:30:31","date_gmt":"2021-12-07T12:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=179799"},"modified":"2023-06-27T12:59:33","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T16:59:33","slug":"student-led-university-ballet-co-prepares-for-inaugural-performance-its-almost-a-way-to-be-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2021\/12\/student-led-university-ballet-co-prepares-for-inaugural-performance-its-almost-a-way-to-be-free\/","title":{"rendered":"Student-Led University Ballet Co. Prepares for Inaugural Performance; ‘It\u2019s Almost a Way to Be Free\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Angelia Prip ’22 (BUS) has been dancing since she was 4 years old, and, beginning in elementary school, she would typically practice every day. When she arrived at UConn, and discovered there was no ballet company here, Prip was devastated.<\/p>\n

She set out on a mission to create the University Ballet Co., and, to her surprise, her initiative attracted 100 dancers, many of whom had trained with prestigious dance companies, including the Boston Ballet, the American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, The Hartt School, the Nutmeg Conservatory and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I dance, I connect with other people and feel like I\u2019m the most full version of myself,\u2019\u2019 says Prip, an Honors student and accounting major. \u201cWhen I\u2019m on the stage, I\u2019m my most confident, most joyful self. It\u2019s almost a way to be free!\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Inaugural Performance Features Well-Loved Dances<\/strong><\/p>\n

The University Ballet Company\u2019s inaugural performance<\/a> is tonight, Tuesday, Dec. 7 at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. The company will perform excerpts from \u201cThe Nutcracker Ballet.\u2019\u2019 The performance will begin at about 8:20 p.m., following a presentation by the UConn Dance Company that starts at 7 p.m.. Tickets are $5 or $7.<\/p>\n

\u201c \u2018The Nutcracker Ballet\u2019 is a tradition and a great way to celebrate the holidays. It\u2019s a magical story,\u2019\u2019 Prip says.<\/p>\n

Prip, who not only founded the University Ballet Co. but also serves as its choreographer, director, prop manager, marketing champion and more, said the company has not only been an artistic outlet, but also a source of tremendous fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe work hard, but we also laugh during rehearsals. We have so much fun on stage!,\u2019\u2019 she says. \u201cThis ballet, and the music, is beautiful. I think people will feel that energy. We\u2019d love to have people come out. We\u2019d love to meet them and share that positive energy.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Karolina
Karolina Zimny ’23 and Angelia Prip ’22 (Photo courtesy of Julia Crane).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prip founded the ballet company two years ago, as a freshman. The company is inclusive, welcoming everyone from curious novices to dedicated dancers. The company started auditions in spring 2020, and Prip felt that she didn\u2019t want to exclude anyone who wanted to try.<\/p>\n

\u201cBallet can be for anyone,\u2019\u2019 she says. \u201cIt was important to me that everyone felt welcome. We don\u2019t cut anyone. Most of us have been dancing for years, but our newer dancers still have roles, just less featured and demanding ones. But it\u2019s a good way to start.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI really love it,\u2019\u2019 says Prip, a native of Brookfield, who devotes about 25 hours a week to the company. \u201cIt\u2019s a big commitment, but it\u2019s so rewarding seeing it come together. It gives me chills!\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019ve never regretted doing this. It\u2019s one of the best parts of my life. I was surprised how many people were interested and I wanted it to be such a great experience,\u2019\u2019 she says. \u201cA video team came in to interview the dancers and they reiterated all the things that are important to me\u2026that this club is friendly, committed to the art, that the ballet technique is excellent.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

The company would not have survived, were it not for Prip\u2019s determination.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew I wanted to start the company right away. I posted all over social media to generate interest. We needed six people to start a club, and over 100 people responded. We\u2019ve got people from all majors, undergraduate and graduate students, too,\u2019\u2019 Prip says. The next challenge was finding rehearsal space.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I want something, I\u2019m very motivated,\u2019\u2019 Prip says, laughing. \u201cI will try every different way. When we first started out and we needed rehearsal space, I called every school, every auditorium, and every church I could think of. I told them, \u2018We\u2019re here and we want to do this!\u2019 \u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

The COVID pandemic ruined the company\u2019s plans for its first performance but Prip persevered, teaching classes via Zoom.<\/p>\n

Assisting Prip is long-time friend Karolina Zimny ’23 (CLAS).<\/p>\n

\u201cAngelia and I had been friends and dance partners for a long time, so when she asked me about helping her start this club, I immediately agreed, as ballet is a hobby we are both passionate about,\u2019\u2019 says Zimny, a junior from New Milford, who is majoring in environmental science.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngelia\u2019s work ethic\u00a0is very strong as she is always willing to finish what needs to be done. She does indeed have a strong sense of purpose regarding the whole company and making each and every dancer feel welcome and included,\u2019\u2019 she said. \u201cWe are both very excited\u00a0to see where this club will lead us to and for the overall future of the company here at UConn.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

The admiration is mutual, Prip says. \u201cI really appreciate Karolina and I am so glad to have her help. We work well together and have similar perspectives about what we want to achieve.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

The Ultimate Goal: Delivering a Good Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prip is often asked how her work in the arts mixes with her career goals in accounting. She said she enjoys the focus of both.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the wonderful thing about the School of Business. I\u2019m not only learning accounting, but also marketing, management and finance,\u2019\u2019 she says. And with the ballet company, she\u2019s not just working on choreography and dance but also music and set design.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether you\u2019re in business or the arts, you\u2019re focused on delivering a good experience. These are all things we talk about in class and I\u2019ve used those skills when setting choreography, working with the theater to plan the performance, and more,\u2019\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

Prip sees herself owning her own business some day and believes that having knowledge of business and experience in leadership will serve her well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I could go through my life without dance. When I wasn\u2019t dancing it was just really weird. Accounting and dance are both parts of me. Accounting is very methodical and involves making good judgements. Dance, in many ways, is the same thing.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tickets: The UConn Ballet Co. will perform excerpts from The Nutcracker Ballet at 8:20 p.m. tonight at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts.<\/a> Tickets are $5 and $7. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test is required, as are face masks. The presentation will be preceded by a UConn Dance Co. performance that begins at 7 p.m.<\/em><\/p>\n

Anyone interested in auditioning for spring semester can reach out to universityballetcompany@gmail.com.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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