With our production of Coppélia now only a week away, we want to spotlight Dancing Arts Center student Gabrielle Schmid, age 16, of Holliston, who will be dancing the lead role of Swanilda!
Gabrielle has been training at Dancing Arts Center for over 8 years and has already collected many accomplishments. At age 12 Gabrielle was a Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) finalist with her performance of the Princess Florine variation from the ballet Sleeping Beauty, travelling to New York City to perform and take part in master classes with other elite students. At age 14, she danced the wedding pas de deux adagio from Sleeping Beauty with fellow student Trevor PinterParsons, placing in the top six of the ensemble category in the regional YAGP competition as well as performing the duet in Dancing Arts Center’s 2019 spring concert. Later that year, Gabrielle performed as the Sugarplum Fairy alongside Trevor in Dancing Arts Center’s The Nutcracker at the Norwood Theater, reprising the role in 2021. Gabrielle remained committed to her training through the challenges of 2020 and 2021 and this summer will be attending American Ballet Theater’s program at Kaatsbaan for the second consecutive year.
Gabrielle’s next challenge is performing as Swanilda in Dancing Arts Center’s first full-length presentation of Coppélia. In preparing for the role, she has taken advantage of the performances available online to watch different ballerinas’ interpretations of the character, creating her own version by taking inspiration from how they portray Swanilda with their acting and movements. Gabrielle said, “Swanilda is a very fun character to play as she’s extremely prideful, mischievous, and spirited.” While her favorite parts to dance are the Act II workshop scenes, full of fun choreography and antics with her friends, the biggest challenge she has faced is building up the stamina the part requires, beginning with a solo variation, continuing with plenty of ensemble dancing in Act I, long scenes with Dr. Coppelius in Act II, and ending with more ensemble dancing, a full pas de deux, and finale in Act III.
Comparing the role of Swanilda with that of the Sugarplum Fairy, Gabrielle said, “Sugarplum is very regal and withheld whereas Swanilda has a strong personality and shows her emotions completely. Sugarplum is also on stage a lot less so choreographically I get a lot more on-stage dancing time with Swanilda! Both roles are very empowering to play and I’m very glad to have the opportunity.” Gabrielle is also thrilled to dance again with her former partner Trevor, who is returning from his year as a trainee with Cincinnati Ballet to perform the role of Franz. “It’s been a long time since I’ve last done a full pas de deux with Trevor. He is an incredible partner and very fun to work with, so I look forward to it.”
In addition to being a beautiful and talented dancer, Gabrielle is a hard-working, intelligent, kind, and mature young woman. Dancing Arts Center is extremely proud of her accomplishments, and we look forward to watching her continued growth. If you haven’t yet purchased tickets for Coppélia, click here. Don’t miss the chance to see Gabrielle, Trevor, featured dancers Juliana Losada, Alexandra Tokar, Courtney Fricker, John Fumia, and Dancing Arts Center co-director Gregg Saulnier, as well as all of Dancing Arts Center’s students in our fun and family-friendly production of this popular ballet!