Photo Credit: Ari Denison Dancer Credits: Tessa Jianas and EBC dancer Goh Shibata

KCB School Student Profile—Tessa Jianas

Kansas City Ballet School student and high school junior, Tessa Jianas, has spent the last month rehearsing and dancing in Sleeping Beauty with Eugene Ballet Company in Eugene, Ore.

How did she score this amazing opportunity you ask?

“Peter Pawlyshyn recommended me because he knew they needed some extra people,” Tessa said. “I took open class this summer at KCBS with Sean Duus. Toni Pimble (EBC’s artistic director) was in town teaching for the Summer Intensive Program. So she and Mr. Pawlyshyn watched me dance and she agreed to bring me on.”

Toni Pimble cofounded EBC in 1978 and has led the 21-member fully professional company to not only put on four shows a year in Eugene and the surrounding region, but to tour the U.S. and internationally.

Working with a professional company is a great opportunity for an aspiring dancer. But, it also has its challenges. Tessa was plugged into three dances on her first day.

She quickly adjusted to the schedule of dancing all day and doing her schoolwork afterward. And, in the evenings she enjoyed her host family. One of their two daughters was her age and also was in the cast.

Tessa’s attention to detail during rehearsals really paid off. During pre-performance class at 5 p.m. on opening night, one of the company members called in sick and highly contagious. Tessa was given a quick 20-minute emergency rehearsal and proceeded to dance the part of one of Carabosse’s four pages in the subsequent performances.

“She was flawless,” Toni Pimble said.

“I was really thankful to get this experience,” Tessa said. “My parents were really supportive and they understood that it was going to be a challenge to miss a month of school. I know they appreciate what I love to do, and they have helped me be a better dancer.”

Her advice for other students: “Always try your hardest and do things you may not always be comfortable with because it could be a good experience. Every day is like a tryout. You never know who is watching, or what you’ll get out of it.”

EBC’s Sleeping Beauty performances were Oct. 17 at Oregon State University (OSU) and Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in Eugene, Ore.

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