Ballet may be a form of art that is unfamiliar to a large part of Southwest Virginia. That is something Southwest Virginia Ballet’s Artistic Director, Pedro Szalay, plans to continue to change. In his seventh year with the youth dance company, he holds high hopes that their latest production of the Shakespeare staple, Romeo and Juliet, which is slated for performances on April 27th and 28th at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theater, will be the ultimate expression of emotion through dance.
For 18-year old Jonah Sunnen, who will portray Romeo, such an expression is almost second nature. Having taken ballet since the age of five, the Lexington native began dancing for a now-defunct private school, moving on to the Shenandoah Academy of Dance in Buena Vista before joining the Southwest Virginia Ballet. “I was asked by my parents at the age of four if I wanted to take ballet and I wasn’t interested,” he recalled. “I was interested when they asked me again the next year and I’ve been taking ballet ever since.” Even with a seasoned veteran like Sunnen, the role of Romeo is a unique experience. “It’s challenging, but fun,” the high school senior said. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done before.”
Dancing her way into the role of Juliet since the age of two, 16-year old Patrick Henry High School junior Sara Cate Bingham says that such a role has provided her with an opportunity to showcase the talents of her lifelong passion. “The death scenes and others where love gets in the way are particularly challenging,” she noted. The Roanoke native says she plans to make ballet her main goal in terms of her career path as well.
Szalay also acknowledges the challenge of performing Romeo and Juliet, a story that epitomizes love, passion and relationships between adult couples, especially when the production consists of a youth ensemble as opposed to the professional adult companies that typically perform the complicated Shakespeare classic. “It is difficult for these youth to convey those emotions,” he noted. “The complex characters are described in great details through dance, which is extremely challenging for a young person.”
However, Szalay says he could not be happier with the ability his cast has shown for the upcoming production and says he is grateful for the trust of his cast members as well as their trust in each other. With costumes acquired from the now defunct Ballet Florida and the unbelievable talents these young dancers have displayed, Szalay feels the relevancy of the story, which still exists today, will be justifiably showcased to audiences.
It is also the goal of the Southwest Virginia Ballet to relay to everyone within its service region the importance of expressing emotion through the art of music and dance. “It is the most beautiful of all human expression,” Szalay stated. “It can convey a message from one person to another without a touch or a spoken word.”
Szalay also noted a number of surprises that will add to the authenticity of the production. For example, a priest from Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church in Roanoke will fulfill the legendary role of Friar Lawrence. He also reveals that real swords are being used during the dueling scene. Of course, the most gripping part of the show will be the collective emotional performance given by the cast, which must be seen to experience.
Tickets are on sale now at the Roanoke Civic Center box office and website. Discounted tickets are also available for groups and school classes who wish to attend the performance. Show times are 7 P.M. on Saturday the 27th and 3 P.M. on Sunday the 28th. Ticket prices are $14, $19, $23, $31, and $43. For more information, please visit the Southwest Virginia Ballet online at www.svballet.org.
By Zach Cooley
A columnist, novelist and author of various other book genres, Zach Cooley lives in Wytheville with his wife Emily.
