The World Dances recently spoke with talented and forthcoming Christopher Ruud, Principal Artist with Ballet West and former cast member of the CW's Breaking Pointe, about his dancing and choreography, recovering from injury, plans for the future, life after the TV show and much more!
You have created several works in the past few years. How did you get started with your choreography and what are you working on now?
I've been dancing with Ballet West for 16 years now. When [Ballet West Artistic Director] Adam Sklute came into the company, he introduced a late spring program for us called Innovations. The program offers the chance for company members to submit an idea for choreography, workshop it, and then -- if your piece is selected -- to present your choreography in one of Ballet West's professional shows. I chose to try it the first year, and that was my first foray into choreography. Since then I've created a few more works for Ballet West. Now I'm working on a brand new piece called Great Souls. It's going to be presented in this year's Innovation program. That's going to be in May, so I have to get in gear! I've gotten tons done already, but it's quite a process.
Can you tell us about Great Souls, or will it be a surprise?
Wow, I should have been prepared to say yes or no to that question. Well, no time like the present! In my life, I have had the privilege to know and love people who stand out and above, in my mind, as great souls in many different ways. The unfortunate thing is that I've also had to say goodbye to these great souls in one way or another, whether they've died, moved away, or moved on. The ballet is about loving these people and saying goodbye. The music is Beethoven. For me, Bach was God's voice, Mozart was God's beauty, and Beethoven was God's fire. And for me, fire is love. Love burns. Your passion and intensity is something that can be hot, intense, or sometimes burn out. The Beethoven pieces that I chose have a beauty to them, but also a deep and desperate longing. I hear the melodies and the notes and the key it's written in, and it makes me think of what it was like to know these people and what it was like to deal with having to say goodbye.
Speaking of fire and intensity, your choreography seems to have a very physical, powerful quality to it. Would you characterize your work that way generally?
Yes, I would say that I try to approach and infuse my work with athleticism and dynamism. I've always been an athlete. I was a gymnast when I was younger, and throughout my career my best roles have required a great deal of athleticism. I want to put that into what I make, and for the audience to feel it as well. I tend to ask for a lot of reach and a lot of stretch from my dancers. I always want my dancers to reach farther, but it has to be with an athleticism that comes from within -- a kind of reaching, stretching, yearning power. Also, throughout my career, what I've been known for is partnering. With the partnering that I like to give and try, I hope that it's challenging, different, and maybe a little bit dangerous at times.
Click here to read what it's like working with Ballet West dancers Chris knows so well, recovering from knee surgery, how his father has influenced his life and his future plans.
Does your foot hurt when you walk barefoot, especially first thing in the morning? You might have Plantar Fasciitis. Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, Hospital for Joint Diseases at NYU Langone Medical Center explains that Plantar Fasciitis is an overuse injury affecting the sole of the foot. The tough, fibrous band of tissue (fascia) connecting the heel bone to the base of the toes becomes inflamed and painful. Most often people will experience pain first thing in the morning when they step out of bed. Dancers will often experience an increase in pain after class, or following lengthy weight bearing activities. Plantar fascia pain can also be influenced by tightness in the calf or the Achilles tendon, or dancing on a hard surface or a non-sprung floor.
