Interview with Jennifer Lauren

CC: Can you tell me your name?

JL: My name is Jennifer Lauren

CC: What do you do?

JL: I'm a professional ballet dancer.

CC: What company are you with?

JL: I dance with the Alabama Ballet.

CC: What is your role at the Alabama Ballet?

JL: We're not labeled so...I'm just a company dancer.

CC: What are you dancing right now?

JL: Right now we're working on Romeo and Juliet and I'm working on the role of Juliet.

CC: Now, and how old are you?

JL: I'm 21 years old.

CC: How long have you been dancing.

JL: I've been dancing since I was three years old.

CC: How did you first get involved and why?

JL:I believe the way I got involved in ballet was my sister was in ballet class and I came to watch her ballet class one day. And I told my mom that I wanted to be in ballet class too and so and then on, I was in ballet class.

CC: Are you from here originally?

JL: No, originally I'm from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

CC: Which cast of Romeo and Juliet are you in?

JL: I'm in the second cast of Romeo and Juliet.

CC: What are the differences between the first and the second cast.

JL: The first cast with Roger and Tatiana. They're much more experienced. They have a whole background of doing many Romeo and Juliet's and for Kfir and I this is our first full length Romeo and Juliet that we've ever done. So it's a completely different feeling for us than it is for them. They've done it many times so they're more comfortable with the role and they know that it's in their bodies. And for us we're just now getting it into our bodies and we're having to really work hard to live up to really be able to do this role.

CC: What is the most challenging aspect?

JL: It's all challenging: the emotion, the character, getting that right, making people believe that you're really Juliet. That you're not just Jennifer Lauren acting as Juliet. That can be difficult. But the technique part can also be really difficult. Roger has really choreographed some difficult pas de deux and solos and variations.

CC: What's the most difficult part as far as the dancing?

JL: Probably the most difficult part of the dance would probably have to be the balcony pas de deux. It's very challenging. There's a lot of choreography and Roger is very musical and he wants us to be right on the music. Sometimes that's a little difficult because it's so hard and on top of that, we have to bring the character to that.

CC: As a young dancer, what are the differences between an older cast and a younger cast?

JL: Tatianna and Roger bring certain maturity to their dancing and their technique is already there. They don't need to worry about that. It's in their bodies and they've got it. Tatiana and Roger just get out there and do it and they do it right and it's perfect and beautiful. And for Kfir and I, we really need a day-by-day rehearsal and we need to start and stop and start and stop and figure out what I can do different here or what doesn't look so good on me or where Kfir needs to do a different arm here. When it comes down to performance, I hope Kfir and I will be ready. I know we'll be ready. I hope that people will like us just as much as they like Tatiana and Edward.

CC: Have you ever had any injuries that you're concerned about?

JL: My injuries right now? I sprained my ankle a couple of months ago five months ago. It doesn't bother me when I'm dancing and I'm in the moment. But when I'm just working in class and trying to get myself warm, it's a little bit harder than it used to be. It's kind of stiff and sometimes it gets a little swollen but IB Profen and icing and stuff like that helps a lot. I don't think it holds me back when I'm actually rehearsing and performing.

CC: I guess that's something to be concerned about too. I suppose that every year that you get older, you have something else to be concerned about.

JL: Something always happens. You won't meet a dancer who hasn't been injured in one point of their life. Probably they've been injured more than once. It happens to everybody. It's just a matter of time. I don't know one dancer who hasn't sprained their ankle or broken their finger or...something. So there's always a battle story.

CC: What are you looking forward to in terms of opening night?

JL: In terms of opening night, I'm looking for relaxation and to just be calm and to enjoy being out on stage. If I didn't enjoy it then why would I want to do it. The only way you can be real and make people believe that you are Juliet and you are in love with Romeo, is to kind of be yourself and let it loose and let it out.

CC: Is there anything you do to prepare for the acting side of it?

JL: Kfir and I get together a lot and we kind of study other people and see how they take the role and make it happen.I watch Tatiana and we kind of just learn from other people and then we take it and turn it into our own. Also I listen to the music a lot-- I listen to it all day at the studio and then I go home and listen to the whole thing before I go to bed.

CC: Do you get stage fright?

JL: Maybe I get a little bit...uneasy. I wouldn't say nervous because I don't want to be nervous. There's no point in being nervous because it just kind of upsets your nerves and you get kind of tense in the beginning. Once I'm out there, I'm so comfortable. You can't see the audience and you can't see anybody's eyes on you. So, it's actually a lot more comfortable for me to be out on stage than it is to rehearse in the studio where you can see all your peers' and other dancer's reactions to what you're doing. So, the stage is actually more comfortable for me.

CC: Is there any part of the production that makes you laugh? Any part that you find humorous?

JL: I don't think there's a part that makes me laugh. What Roger has done with the choreography is beautiful.

CC: How about this? Do you have a favorite scene?

JL: I really don't have a favorite scene. All of the scenes mean something to me. Like when Juliet and Romeo first see each other, when they first--when they actually get to touch each other and they kind of really get to know each other in the balcony scene. And the bedroom scene where that's the last time they see each other alive. I like the dramatic part of it. So there's no favorite scene for me.

CC: This is the last question. Working with Tatiana who was classically trained in Russia, what have you learned from her?

JL: The difference in my training and Tatiana's training is that she was trained in Russia and I was trained here with Wes and Roger. Her training was very intensive, I'm sure. But Tatiana does bring some things to me that I haven't necessarily been told that really helps me a lot. Sometimes she'll come up to me and she'll say, "Stand up straight, Jennifer." She just keeps me up on my posture. Tatiana has taught me so much. I've watched her every since I've been here with this company for five years. I don't think I would be the dancer I am today if it wasn't for me just watching Tatiana and soaking in everything she does.