Richard [Landry] and I recently got married on the beautiful island of St. Lucia. I know some people may say we rushed into things for it was a mere ten years before we made the decision to get hitched. Let me tell you it was the best decision we ever made. The day we got married was the best day of my life.

The whole trip to St. Lucia was a blast. In total, we had 32 friends and family members join us, 12 of which were dancers from the company. We had tons of beach filled days and many parties where copious amounts of rum were consumed.

As for the actual wedding day, well I have to say it was perfect. A few of the girls came over to my villa early to help me get ready. They curled my hair and advised me perhaps I was applying too much make-up. I guess I was just so nervous I kept putting more and more on. They helped me into my dress, which was generously given to me by Justina McCaffrey.

We were married on a private beach. When my father walked me down the aisle (sandy path), I was very emotional, especially seeing Richard and his linen clad boys. My maid of honor, Liisa advised me to think of lobsters if I started to loose it. This worked somewhat for I pulled myself together. The ceremony was short but very moving. We choose our own vows and a lovely poem. Richard shed a few tears, which of course led me to shed a few more. We then kissed, had champagne and took photos as the sun set, just perfect.

The reception was at a waterfront restaurant, where we had cocktails, dinner and many speeches, which were so touching. We then had cake and danced the night away. Now that it is over I just want to do it all again. My dress is still hanging in the hallway. I keep looking at it wondering where I could possibly wear it again, perhaps I will just wear it around the house. I still can’t believe how fortunate we are to have such amazing friends and family who made the crazy journey with us to St. Lucia. It’s an incredible feeling. As for Richard and I, I’m sure we will live happily ever after… for he is the cheese to my macaroni.

(photos: Top left, Julie Hay and Richard Landry. Above from left, Christopher Body, Ryan Boorne, Guy Landry, Richard Landry, Julie Hay, Liisa Winkler, Laura Jess, Tanya Howard)

It’s a new year at the National Ballet and we have surveyed some of our dancers and staff to find out what resolutions they have made, what music keeps them moving and where they like to dine when they are out in the city.

This week’s contributors are:

Principal Dancer Zdenek Konvalina, First Soloist Jillian Vanstone, Second Soloist Alejandra Perez-Gomez, Corps de Ballet member Selene Guerrero-Trujillo and Wardrobe Assistant Grant Heaps.

Q: What is your New Year’s resolution for 2008?

Zdenek Konvalina – “I want to have a painting exhibition of my work.”

Jillian Vanstone – “I know this sounds strange for someone who is on stage as a profession, but my resolution for 2008 is to overcome my shyness.”

Alejandra Perez-Gomez – “To be less perfect [ha ha].”

Q – What is the latest download on your iPod?

Zdenek Konvalina – “I have been listening to podcasts from National Public Radio (NPR).”

Jillian Vanstone – “Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana, (a little late, I know)”.

Alejandra Perez-Gomez – “Jimmy Cliff and some French Baroque ‘viole de gambe’ music”

Selene Guerrero-Trujillo – “My last download was Vamos a Comernos Eso by Condor, a hilarious Spanish Salsa song”.

Grant Heaps – “I am loving a song called Wonderkiller by Liz Janes, also Joni Mitchell’s first 5 albums always keep me afloat.

Q – What is the most recent restaurant you have been to, or your favourite restaurant?

Zdenek Konvalina – “The Keg.”

Jillian Vanstone – “Peter Pan on Queen Street. My husband and I had our first date there and we just celebrated our 5^th anniversary of that night on January 17^th.”

Alejandra Perez-Gomez – “ I’m a huge fan of the all-you-can-eat Jewish brunch at the Free Times café on Sundays.”

Selene Guerrero-Trujillo – “Taqueria El Trompo is my favourite Mexican restaurant in the city, which I truly recommend. It’s located in Kensington Market.”

Grant Heaps - “I love M & B Yummy Ethiopian Vegetarian restaurant at 1263 Queen West.”

(photos: Zdenek Konvalina, Jillian Vanstone and Alejandra Perez-Gomez by Cylla von Tiedemann, Selene Guerrero-Trujillo by Sian Richards and Grant Heaps by Ernest Abugov)

January is a time for reflection. I am reminded that January 2 is my National Ballet anniversary. I have been gainfully employed here since January 2, 1985. I’ve seen a lot of costumes in that time, a lot of loads of laundry sorted, a few incredibly unbelievable wardrobe malfunctions and many hours spent in the wings waiting for things to go wrong. They always do…

Sometimes on reflection, I think “How the heck did I get here???” I learned to sew at my Mom’s knee when I was four. I think it was her trick to make me sit still and be quiet while trying to keep me from getting underfoot. Pretty great that a hobby I honed all the way through high school could become a career.

This job has given me the opportunity to travel to some pretty cool places all around the world and to work with some wonderfully talented and amazingly dedicated artists. I have dressed Carla Fracci and Natalia Makarova. I’ve gone to work under the sky at an ancient Roman amphitheatre on the shore of the Mediterranean and to the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. I have had dinner with Yehudi Menuhin in Bermuda and the Crown Prince of Japan has helicoptered in to see our show in Tokyo. I’ve done planes, trains and washing machines in more countries than I ever would have been able to travel to on my own.

So far this year, I have tours to San Francisco and Ottawa on the horizon. I’ll get packing.

(photos: Barbara deKat with costumes for The Sleeping Beauty, Caesarea, Israel, 1994)

For many, the month of December is synonymous with certain events or sensations. Whether this is celebrating holidays like Christmas or Hanukkah, or wondering why Mariah Carey is being played in every store, this month usually has a strong connotation for people. For dancers in companies that are classically-based, December means only one thing: The Nutcracker.

Although this is only my second year in the company, it’s actually my third time performing in James Kudelka’s version of this holiday staple. My first time performing in this ballet was as a grade nine student at Canada’s National Ballet School. I remember being in complete awe of everything, from the size of the theatre to the skill of the company dancers, while I fulfilled my roles as child in the party scene, unicorn in the snow scene and courtier in the land of The Sugar Plum Fairy. It’s extremely interesting to now be on the other side. My roles this year include Aunt in the party scene, a Snowflake in the snow scene, and a Flower in the land of The Sugar Plum Fairy. Though the production is exactly the same as it was seven years ago, with the exception of casting changes, it’s unbelievable how different it feels. This time around, the magnitude of the production has really hit me – the sets, the orchestra, the costumes, and the number of students involved from mice and lambs to those who sing in the choir.

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