TWO DANCERS TAKE THEIR FINAL BOWS

Two of Louisville Ballet’s company members bid farewell to the stage this year — Emily Reinking O’Dell and Hailey Bowles. Their stories show the divergent paths an artist can take toward a career in ballet. T

EMILY REINKING O’DELL

Emily Reinking O’Dell is the Eli Manning or Cal Ripken of dance. She spent her entire career with Louisville Ballet and retires having danced dozens of leading roles and carrying a lifetime of memories. Now, she will create new ones with her three children — Maya, age 12, and 8-year-old twins Eli and Bella. Both Bella and Maya are students at the Louisville Ballet School.

Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Emily trained and danced at Fort Wayne Ballet. She earned her degree in ballet and arts administration from Indiana University in 2000 and joined Louisville Ballet upon graduation.

Emily had the distinctive privilege of working under the directorship of three Artistic Directors: Alun Jones, Helen Starr, Bruce Simpson, and Robert Curran. Some of her most memorable classical roles include Fairy of Charm in Sleeping Beauty, Winter Fairy in Cinderella, Rose in The Nutcracker, and Two Swans in Swan Lake.

How did you decide it was time for the next phase of your career?

Some of her favorite contemporary roles have been in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Square Dance, Concerto Borocco, the Pas de Trois in Agon, Rubies, and Theme and Varations, as well as Paul Taylor’s Company B, Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs, and Ma Cong’s Tethered Pulse. Emily’s favorite moments have been working with Adam Hougland to create new works such as Cold Virtues, Made to be Broken, Devolve, Unyielding Radiance, Union, and above all, performing the principal role as the Chosen One in his Rite Of Spring.

Emily Reinking O’Dell and Leigh Anne Albrechta in Serenade. Choreography by George Balanchine. © The George Balanchine Trust. Photo by Sam English.

I’ve been toying with it for a very long time. For the past 10 years, I’ve had the great fortune of not being plagued with injuries. Lots of people get plagued with injuries and their body tells them, “It’s time to go.” That hasn’t happened to me. Genetically, some people are a little more blessed to have a body that can withstand the strains of ballet. I worked hard at ballet. The older I got, the better I got. Now that my children are getting older, it was time to give someone else a chance for the great career I’ve had.

How will ballet help you with the next phase of your career?

Hopefully, the discipline and hard work I’ve had in ballet will carry me forward. I’ll take the passion and drive, taking pride in my work, and being incredibly focused to my next career. Having had a career I loved for such a long time that fulfilled my heart, I hope whatever I do next provides some of that same passion. Although I know it will be different, I expect to find that same fire and love in work. That next step might be in ballet. I’ve talked to Robert (Curran) about it. I do have a degree in arts administration. I would love to stay within the nonprofit world and work with people. While there may be things to learn, as a dancer I’ve had to learn and adapt so quickly in the studio.

What is your favorite role or memory from your time at Louisville Ballet?

Without question, my favorite role and memory was playing the Chosen One in Adam Houghland’s Rite of Spring. He choreographed it on Louisville Ballet. I was in the corp de ballet [ensemble] the first time he staged the work. [New York City Ballet principal] Wendy Whelan worked with us for weeks. I watched her do the role and then later was able to perform it. It was such a special time. In ballet there are often two casts that alternate. The Chosen One in the other cast was my friend, and I was able to watch her tackle the role. After the ballet was over, I got pregnant with the twins! They all combine to make that ballet stand out. Adding to the icing on the cake, Adam became a close personal friend.

A dancer’s life is so regimented. What are you looking forward to now that you have new flexibility in your schedule?

I’m hopeful there will be more normalcy in my schedule. As much as I loved theatre week, I relied on community to help me with my children. I look forward to adapting to my new schedule and having the ability to take on more normal hours. I also look forward to being able to leave work behind. As a dancer coming home at the end of the day, sometimes you can’t stop thinking about choreography. You have the music stuck in your head. I look forward to not taking it home, but I also know maybe people are never able to be separate from their job.

I’m also curious to see what life will be like without exercise. Ballet has been my lifeline for that. Now I will have to find something else to keep me healthy. Ballet has provided amazing perks and benefits to my life.

Is there anything you are looking forward to eating now that you aren’t training all the time?

I’m a pretty healthy eater, but I am looking forward to having dinner with my children.

What’s special about Louisville Ballet?

Definitely its family atmosphere. When I was a trainee, I saw how Bruce Simpson cared about everyone, and Robert [Curran] has carried that on. At Louisville Ballet, people care about people. They support people. So many of us invest our lives here, and people stay because they are loved and looked out for. We’re allowed to build families. It’s a wonderful city that loves its arts.

HAILEY BOWLES

Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Hailey Bowles began dancing at the age of 11. In 2010, she joined The Louisville Ballet School to further her training in classical ballet and attended summer intensives with Pacific Northwest Ballet and San Francisco Ballet.

Hailey Bowles waits backstage, with fellow dancer Madison Alston, in the Brown-Forman Nutcracker. Photo by Sam English.

After she graduated from Ballard High School, she joined the company as a trainee in 2016 and in 2018 accepted a contract as a company dancer. She’s enjoyed performing roles in ballets such as Robert Curran’s Swan Lake, Val Caniparoli’s The Brown-Forman Nutcracker, Alun Jones’ Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, and George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, and Rubies. Next fall, she will attend Bellarmine University to pursue her degree in physical therapy.

How did you decide it was time for the next phase of your career?

I had decided to go into Louisville Ballet’s trainee program as a tester to see what a career as professional dancer was like. I was on the fence if I should go straight to college or pursue dance. Having the opportunity as a trainee gave me a taste of what it was really like to pursue a career as a professional dancer. Once I really tested the waters and I got that coveted contract to be in the company, I knew Louisville Ballet was for me. It was something I had set my sights on and worked hard to obtain.

I realized over time being a professional dancer wasn’t what I wanted to do for a long-term career. In the back of my mind, still had that desire to get a degree and expand the knowledge that comes with going to college. I could say I enjoyed four years in the professional dance world. I felt so happy with what I got to do and felt really fulfilled. Even though it was a short time, I am really satisfied with the repertoire I got to do and all my different experiences.

So being reflective of what I had done, it just felt like the right time to step away and start something new.

There’s so many things to learn in the professional company, but what I’m looking for now is to expand my horizons. I want to learn more about myself and more about the world beyond the four walls of the studio. I’m sad to be leaving but ready to grow more as a person and see what the world holds.

How will ballet help you with the next phase of your career?

The self-discipline and work ethic I learned in ballet will help me. You can’t get far as a dancer without a strong work ethic. I didn’t start at Louisville Ballet until I turned 12. I had a lot of work I had to make up. I felt so behind, I wanted to be at the level that I should have been for my age. I put in so much work. I now realize how valuable that work ethic is— especially when it comes to school work. It’s hard to have that self-discipline and sit down and get that work done. I’m hoping my work ethic will transfer. I’m hoping that discipline will help me overcome the four-year gap between high school and my starting college.

What was your favorite role or memory from your time at Louisville Ballet?

My favorite role was the whole process of learning the choreography for George Balanchine’s Rubies. It was the second Balanchine work I learned. The first was Theme and Variations.

Rubies was by Stravinsky, and the music is so difficult, the [music] counts keep changing. Everyone was counting out loud in rehearsal: 12, then a nine, and then 10, then six. It was crazy. I had never danced to anything with such inconsistent counts. The choreography was quirky and different. It was so fun, everybody coming together to solidify the counts. I had a blast. It was difficult and frustrating, but I had so much fun dancing on stage.

A dancer’s life is so regimented. What are you looking forward to now that you have new flexibility in your schedule?

A dancer’s routine is insane compared to a typical person’s daily routine. Everything is timed out and regimented. I’m not sure what I am going to do. I never realized how little free time I had until now.

Is there anything you are looking forward to eating now that you aren’t training all the time?

Cheesecake! It is the best, and you can’t eat it and then go on stage and perform.

What’s special about Louisville Ballet?

Robert Curran. I had my first experience with him when I was a senior in high school. Robert taught us every day! It was special to have that time with him. He was so knowledgeable about everything. It made me want to work with him longer. I’d seen such a big progress in myself and how I could grow as a dancer.

After my second year as a trainee, it was time to audition for other companies. The more I saw, I realized I really wanted to dance in Louisville. I loved Louisville’s family atmosphere. I didn’t want to dance anywhere else. I absolutely loved working with everyone there. Each company has its bond. Louisville Ballet, because it is so small but still an upscale company, you literally feel like a big family. That is my favorite thing.