6 June 2019
A Bittersweet Goodbye
As the curtain closes on our 2018 – 2019 season, it is time to say goodbye to some of our beloved company dancers. We sat down with Mimi Tompkins, Amber Lewis, Jackson Dwyer, and Anna Grunewald, and talked about their time at Ballet Arizona and what they are all up to next!
MIMI TOMPKINS
Since joining Ballet Arizona in 2014 can you share some of your favorite memories?
From my very first day at Ballet Arizona, I felt at home. The sense of family and camaraderie is so unique and special for a ballet company. I credit this to the staff, but especially Ib. He is an incredible boss who is so passionate about what he does, but also cares for the dancers. It’s really beautiful and I think it’s what makes Ballet Arizona so successful. I remember my first season when I performed Dew Drop in The Nutcracker, Kanako, a former dancer, made me some sparkly earrings as a merde gift because it was kind of an important role. No one had ever done something like that for me and I had only been with the company for a few months at that point. Feeling supported and loved gave me a lot of courage to be a better artist and translated to my personal life. It made me a better person and I tried to contribute that same type of love to everyone.
I think what’s so interesting about training to be a ballet dancer is that we work endlessly on technique and become these very disciplined people with incredible work ethics, but what makes a real dancer is the artistry and the vulnerability that you need to touch someone. That’s something that you don’t train for, you only get through experience. My most cherished roles that I have danced were the ones I felt pushed me in those ways, forced me to open up a new part of my soul. My first principle role in Balanchine’s Rubies was so difficult for me technically. Even up until the day of the show I wasn’t sure I would be able to do it, but I did. Doing something you’re scared of makes you feel so alive. I told myself to just dance and be me, because this was my chance. I remember feeling so proud and that was the just the beginning of me feeling like I could do anything. My first principle role in a full length was in Coppélia as Swanhilda. There is a ton of acting in that ballet, something I hadn’t ever really done. Swanhilda is a devious, playful girl and there were a lot of comical moments. That role really pushed me to break out of my shell because I was responsible for telling a story. I had so much fun getting lost in the story and that is a really special feeling. Transcending your physical being is superhuman. Nikiya in La Bayadère will always hold close to my heart. I feel like I most identified with her as a character: feminine and pure. The ballet is so deliciously intricate, with love, betrayal, and forgiveness. It was a lot of different parts of myself that I got to explore. There are so many other roles that I have loved dancing, Walpurgisnacht, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, the Siren in Prodigal Son, and Emeralds, the list goes on and on. One of my final memories of dancing here at Ballet Arizona was dancing the Sylph in La Sylphide. I felt like I danced my best and my most vulnerable. I truly felt I was the Sylph and everything from the outside world just melted away. That is what’s so incredible about ballet, for the hour and a half you are in a different world and if you’re good at it, everyone in the audience is there with you.
What are you doing next?
I will be attending Columbia University this fall.
What will you miss most about Arizona?
I’m going to miss dancing of course, but mostly I am going to miss the people. As dancers we have all given up everything to dedicate ourselves to this art and it can be pretty lonely. Ballet Arizona is a home and the people have become my family. I’m going to miss Lisbet and Maria, who have watched me grow and pushed me to be better everyday. And of course Ib. I have been so fortunate to work so closely with him all these years. He has not only been an amazing coach and mentor, but has given me wings that translate to all parts of my life. I am so grateful to Ib for everything. It has been really hard for me to wrap my head around how I won’t get to be dancing around with my friends everyday. Also, Phoenix is a very magical place. I will miss the sunshine and the serene sunsets. They’re outta this world!
What are you looking forward to on your next venture?
I’m looking forward to seeing what else I can do; what other parts of Mimi are waiting to be awoken. In order to be a professional dancer you have to put ballet before everything. I have done that my whole life and now I’m taking time for me, to cultivate my other skills and talents. It was a very difficult decision to make, to leave ballet, but I am truly so excited for my chapter ahead; to see who I will become.
AMBER LEWIS
What are some of your favorite roles you have performed with Ballet Arizona?
Juliet from Romeo & Juliet will always be a special role to me. I performed one show my first season here and to this day just thinking about it brings me close to tears. Most recently George Balanchine’s Square Dance has become a favorite role of mine. This past May was my third time performing this ballet. It was just as challenging as every other time but I felt completely myself while performing it. Sometimes as a dancer you feel you are trying to be someone else and it feels a little uncomfortable like wearing a slightly too small shirt, this was not the case for me this time. I felt I shined.
What’s next for you?
Next season I will be joining Hong Kong Ballet. I am so excited for this next chapter of my career and life. I’m always surprised where this profession has taken me. I never expected I’d end up in Phoenix and I most definitely didn’t think I’d ever move to Hong Kong. The ballet world is a beautiful thing and I consider myself very fortunate.
What will you miss most about Ballet Arizona and Arizona in general?
I will miss the familiar and beautiful faces of my coworkers and all of the people working for Ballet Arizona. I’ve created so many memories here in Phoenix all of which I’ll cherish. Arizona is so much more than just a desert. I have taken time over the years to visit and explore this beautiful state. Arizona is truly a gem and extremely breathtaking. Specifically I will miss the almost endless blue skies and gorgeous sunsets.
What are you looking forward to most?
I’m so excited to move to Hong Kong. The culture shock I’m in for is going to be REAL! Everything is going to be completely different and I can’t wait to dance, taste, and experience Hong Kong.
JACKSON DWYER
Since joining Ballet Arizona in 2015 can you share some of your favorite memories?
I’ve experienced a lot of growth as a dancer, but also as a human in my four years with Ballet Arizona. Dancing George Balanchine’s Apollo will always be a special memory for me. It’s a very iconic ballet and was also the first principal role of my career. Ib really devoted a lot of his energy preparing me for the part; it was great.
What are you doing next?
I am joining Hong Kong Ballet with Amber Lewis.
What will you miss most about Arizona?
I will definitely miss the friends I’ve made here at Ballet Arizona and in Phoenix. Arizona is such a unique place and I enjoyed exploring Phoenix, the state, and the Southwest. There’s a few things I missed so I know I’ll be back!
What are you looking forward to on your next venture?
There are a lot of things I’m looking forward to. I don’t think I fully believe I’ll be living in Hong Kong in less than a month. We’re going to have about two weeks to find an apartment, it will be interesting to see where we end up.
ANNA GRUNEWALD
What are some of your favorite roles you have performed with Ballet Arizona?
Despite only being with Ballet Arizona for one season, I have so many amazing memories, and it’s difficult to choose only a few to call my favorites. I’m so grateful for the performance opportunities I’ve had here, and it’s easy to say that many of my favorite memories are from the stage. Dancing the Bluebird pas de deux with Ricardo in The Sleeping Beauty was just magical. That’s when I realized that I am truly living my childhood dream. Ricardo was such a supportive partner in so many ways, and the connection I felt with him while performing is a feeling I will always cherish. One of my other favorite memories came from my last Symphony Hall performance. I was fortunate enough to finish off my time at Ballet Arizona dancing with Ricardo and Kaelyn in the Emeralds Pas De Trois. This ballet was very special to Violette Verdy, a Balanchine ballerina and my former professor at Indiana University, prior to her passing, and so it meant a lot to me to be able to dance the ballet for her. My final favorite memory is of our last performance of Eroica. While there were many sad goodbyes among the dancers, everyone made me feel so loved and appreciated, and I am so thankful for all of my colleagues’ kindness and support as I begin this new adventure.
What’s next for you?
I will be joining Miami City Ballet as a corps de ballet dancer! I’m looking forward to continuing to find growth through new challenges and learning more from every person I work with.
What will you miss most about Ballet Arizona and Arizona in general?
What I will miss most about Arizona is the landscape! I love the mountains and the cacti. I’m actually bringing a small cactus plant with me to Miami! My favorite thing to do in Arizona was to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. Coming from Pittsburgh and Indiana, I wasn’t used to seeing the sun so often! I spent A LOT of time at the pool – reading, swimming, napping, eating, and just enjoying the beautiful Arizona sky.
As for Ballet Arizona, I will most miss my colleagues. Every dancer welcomed me from the very beginning and continued to be supportive throughout the ups and downs of the season. I formed especially close bonds with the other new dancers, and they became friends both in and out of the studio. I will miss seeing them everyday, but I know these are relationships that can and will withstand distance.
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