Supers

[Perfect Performer]

I Just have a question, What exactly is Supering, And how ccan I get a chance to do it? What I have heard, It sounds really cool.

[Victoria Leigh]

"Supering" is when you get to be a "Supernumerary", which is like an "extra" in movie, except it's in a large ballet. Usually Supers are needed in big court scenes in the full length ballets.

[Perfect Performer]

How would someone get the chance to be a super?

[Victoria Leigh]

Well Mary, first of all I guess you have to live in a city where the major ballet companies appear and bring the big ballets If they need supers they usually contact the major ballet schools in that city and give them a list of what ages and sizes they need. So, hopefully your school would have this information if Kirov is coming with Sleeping Beauty or ABT with Swan Lake or La Bayadere, etc.

[Mel Johnson]

There is however, a downside to supering for those still in school, or other hard-to-get-out-of commitments. Sometimes, touring companies maintain the old tradition of the Wednesday matinee, which can make getting there difficult. I used to have fun supering, but I did it mostly in times when I knew my schedule was clean otherwise, and I could take it on without compromising a serious appointment.

[Perfect Performer]

How could I find out if there was a company coming that needed supers?

[Mel Johnson]

Let me answer that question with a question:

 

How do you find out if there's an elephant in your refrigerator?

 

If there's a major US or international company coming to a local performance venue and they're bringing a full-length Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet and such like, the chances are better than middling that they might need supers. You DO read the newspapers, I trust?;)