My favorite day during my internship was not your typical workday. Members of ABT are entitled to several events throughout the year, one of which is attending an on stage company class. This summer the class fell on a Saturday, which also happened to be the day Misty Copeland was taking her turn as Odette in Swan Lake. Of course Misty was stunning and breathtaking, but I’m here to talk about company class.
I was handed a calendar my first day in the office that had a bunch of member events I could help out with. My eye was immediately drawn to company class. I loved the idea of getting to watch ABT’s company members in their natural habitat; taking class, just like every other aspiring dancer in the world. To top it all off class was held on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House. My excitement could not be contained.
The day of the event I was tasked with helping people find their way into the theatre and handing out membership brochures, a typical task for interns in the Development department during the performance season at member events. Once my tasks were complete I got to watch class.
I sat in my own little section of the Met and it felt like there was no one else in the theatre. I was literally on the edge of my seat grinning from ear to ear. There is something so special about getting to watch ABT’s dancers take part in this ritual that connects every ballet dancer in the world together. One of the greatest takeaways from the day was realizing that ABT’s dancers are just like us. They have technique they’re working on in class, they still get corrections in class, and they like to goof around with each other. Just like us. Yes, they are unbelievably talented and have unrivaled abilities, but they’re humans too.
I am also incredibly grateful to the Development department for welcoming me this summer. Getting to work with such a fun group of people made this summer so special for me. I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity to be a part of an institution I’ve admired for so long. ABT was the perfect place to begin my career.
Brendan Rosell
Membership Intern
Summer 2016
Brendan Rosell with fellow interns Ranisha Shelton and Yasmeen Enahora
abtinterns 
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