Ballet WR’s Greyjoy: Excited about Virtual Performances

Cate Greyjoy, artistic director of Ballet Western Reserve in Youngstown, is coming back strong. To learn more about Ballet Western Reserve, check out its website.

What are some ways your organization is dealing with the effects of COVID-19?

After months of quarantine, Ballet Western Reserve (BWR) is excited to re-open its doors for the Fall 2020 season. The health and safety of our dancers continues to be our top priority as we resume in-person and remote options for all dance classes. Our time apart from the studios allowed BWR to strengthen its virtual presence and reach families through regular online interactions. These avenues will continue to shape how BWR connects to its customer base and the community at large. 

More than ever, our students are eager to be back training, whether at home or responsibly distanced in the studios, and we are thrilled to offer our full schedule of classes: ballet, modern, jazz, tap, yoga and many more!  We are incredibly excited to present a virtual production of our beloved classic, The Nutcracker! We hope our production will be a bright spot in the upcoming holiday season, as many local companies have had to cancel their performance seasons.

What’s been the reaction from students and parents so far?

Our students and their families demonstrate tremendous support for BWR, and they show their dedication with continued enrollment in Summer Intensive classes and our late-summer Warm-Up Series. Last month, we held Nutcracker auditions to a fantastic turn-out and rehearsals are already underway. Fall term begins next week and we anticipate considerable success revealing updated studios which accommodate live virtual and in-person instruction.

What impact has the outbreak had on you personally?

This year has presented its share of challenges but also afforded opportunity for reflection. My days are full of researching teaching methodologies, refining ballet technique, and discovering new ways to connect to and communicate with those close to me. As these arts transition to online formats, I embrace new technologies, acquiring new skills to better interact with this digital shift. Between live performances, archival footage, and interviews with an incredible array of dancers and directors, ballet has never been so accessible to a world-wide audience. I am eager to share what previously might have been unavailable with my students. I am also delighted BWR’s virtual platform will allow teachers to reference online material live, in class, where students have the opportunity to engage in immediate discussion and broaden horizons together.

On a more personal note, I am incredibly excited to be a part of this vibrant community! I recently relocated from Portland, Oregon, and Youngstown has welcomed me with open arms. I am eager to share my passion for arts with all ages and backgrounds! It is a great honor to be part of an icon like BWR, and I plan to take us into the 2020s with exceptional training, excellence in teaching and powerful community ties.

What advice are you sharing with the people you love?

This unpredictable year has revealed that change is the only guarantee in life. Though often uncomfortable, change demands perseverance, strengthening our ability to accept and handle the unexpected. We must be patient with ourselves and reasonable in our expectations; with support and love for one another, our combined strength can overcome any challenge. Finally, health is wealth: stay hydrated, keep the mind and body active, and take pleasure in treating ourselves and others with kindness.