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Emery LeCrone is currently a freelance choreographer and dancer with The Metropolitan Ballet and New Chamber Ballet. Stephanie Chrosniak is a student at School of the American Ballet. Candice chats via email with Emery LeCrone and Stephanie Chrosniak, after the LOLAstretch 2010 Calendar shoot, about their thoughts on modeling and hope for the New Year. CT: What are your biggest goals for 2010? EL: Wow, that is a hard question. I would say my biggest goal is to continue dancing and choreographing at the same level or at a higher level than 2008. I hope to make new contacts and develop new opportunities to create new works in The New Year. SC: The most important goal I'd like to set is to challenge myself beyond any point I've set so far. I now know more of what I need to do here. I need to absorb the stylistic differences that I'm learning at SAB, so I can get to the point where I'm completely comfortable with them, like second nature. I've already faced the challenge of recovering from injury, recently. It took enormous patience! So now I know I have the ability to do that. I'm recovered now and excited to make up for lost time, and I know that I've got to use that patience to make sure that I take things steadily--which is hard to do. I get to come to NY and study at my dream school and what do I do....get injured on my first day! Who DOES that??? I also know I need to increase my personal time with Pilates in my daily regimen. Easy to say, but also tricky to do when I have acadmics in the mix. But I think it will be the key to keeping myself on safer ground in pointe shoes. CT: How do you even begin to take all that on? SC: I CAN make mental notes to myself and follow through....to a point. I know I have to make sure that I schedule my time and place things I have to do in proper order. I have to make sure to take care with the really important things, take them seriously, and then follow through. Living in a dorm can really hold temptations when it comes to prioritizing my work. CT: Do you make New Year's Resolutions too? EL: Not really....I try to put as few demands on myself as possible and to just be open to whatever the New Year will bring. To me, the New Year is more about celebrating the opportunity of new experiences and new friends. It is a starting-over point. It's like getting a clean slate. I celebrate the passing of one year and the coming of another. If I had to make a resolution, it would be to fill 2010 with good friends, family, and experiences. SC: I do make New Year's Resolutions, though I am not the best at following or successfully completing them. This year I am just shooting for myself to do really well in school; to continue getting good grades and building up my strength in ballet in order to make my dream of dancing with New York City Ballet a reality. CT: Do you have a role or ballet you are most looking forward to dancing or choreographing in 2010? EL: I am most looking forward to the continuation and development of all the projects and connections I have made in 2008. I have some exciting opportunities to create works for The Columbia Ballet Collaborative and Novaballet, but honestly, I am just happy to be dancing and choreographing in general. My calendar has upcoming performances with New Chamber Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. SC: Well, I have no idea what's in store for us, but I'm pretty sure that I'll have something to do in the SAB workshop this Spring. We all can't wait to know what we'll be dancing! And then there is also the choreo workshop. I'm hopeful! If I could choose, it would be Jewels and I'd love to do the role of Ruby. CT: How do you go about putting your best foot forward in a new year, in order to get those roles or choreographic connections? More specifically, what percentage would you give hard work vs. looking your best/being on time/making a good first impression? EL: I think it's a combination of all of the above put together as best you can. But if the work is there, everything else can sometimes be forgiven. Not to say you should be late and look a mess, it always depends on the situation. Ideally, it would be an even balance with work 50% and presentation (looking good, being on time, good impression) 50%. People will judge your work based on your presentation--that is just the way the world works. SC: Maybe 70% hard work and 30% for the other, because hard work speaks for itself or at least I hope that the hard work helps to make a good first impression! CT: You ladies are both 5'9", totally dwarfing me at the photo shoot. Did you ever consider being a fashion model instead of a dancer? EL: And give up food? Never! No I am kidding. I have considered it, but having had friends in the industry I don't think I would be very happy trying to model professionally. I love to do little photo shoots here and there, though just more commercial work. SC: LOL. Am I really tall enough to be a pro model? And Candice, you're not short, you are what we call "fun-sized"! I've done about 10 shoots, all for dancewear, and I've always enjoyed the fun of it: the make up artists, the hair and the whole production of trying on the costumes and leos. I have watched my share of Top Model and while it seems like all glam, it really is hard work. And if I'm going to work hard on a regular basis, I know I'd rather be dancing. But there is something really special about being the focus of a shoot and yours was so much fun. CT: Wow, "fun-sized". I like that one. It belongs in the dancer's dictionary with terms like "fierce", etc. Do you get nervous before a shoot? How does it differ for you from a dance performance? EL: I like to be involved in the creation of beautiful images whether through dance, choreography, or photography. It's a different medium, but it is still art and expression. I don't really get nervous, especially for a dance shoot. I actually get excited because for me its fun and interesting, like performing for the camera instead of an audience. In some ways it can be easier. SC: I get a thrill just being in front of the camera and trying to make something of the poses that the designer is asking for. I do get a bit nervous, but it is usually due to meeting the new designer and the people working with them. Of course after I met you and your staff and everyone else working at the space, I was comfortable and ready to go! This shoot was really the most fun I'd ever had at a modeling job. I loved the space we were in. Loved the designs! There was so much energy! So many fun poses and challenges that I'd never tried before. Yeah, I could do definitely do it again! CT: Now that you have modeled nearly all of my current styles, do you have a favorite :-)? EL: Yes. CT: Ok, we will let that remain a trade secret. Stephanie? SC: Hmmm, well of course all of your leotards are pretty great! They're very modern and unique, so it is certainly hard to pick just one, not to mention the colors. But I think that the ¾ sleeved sheer black leotard that Emery wore for the shoot had to be my favorite of your styles! I've always been drawn to sleeves, and own a few that I enjoy wearing, both 3/4 and caps. There's a certain look that makes sleeved leos stand out. CT: The leo in question is the Asymmetrical Sass leotard with sleeves. Thanks ladies, you were brilliant!
{Stephanie in a Sheer Power Long Unitard and Emery in a Sputnik Sweetheart Leotard and Stars Legwarmers. Photo by Steven Schreiber.} The views expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, LOLAstretch. Archived Featured Dancer Interviews: Winter 2008 -- Cara Cooper, The Colorado Ballet (English National Ballet) |
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