TGIF

Friday was here again! We had a morning class with Sean and spent our time before lunch working with him and Karen on our dual lecture demonstration. Only a few finishing touches and it will be complete, ready to be performed on Wednesday at Family Fun Fest.

At lunchtime, our first board meeting of the year was held, and Karen introduced all the dancers plus Sean and Shannon to its members. There are a lot of returning board members plus some new faces and it is fun getting to know them!

The afternoon was spent with Shannon working on the trio. There are about seven minutes of the piece completed, which is really exciting! We also interviewed Shannon and videoed a bit of the rehearsal (had some technical difficulties with a dying camera battery) and will splice the segments together to be posted sometime this weekend! Sorry we could not get that posted for you today as originally thought.

However, there is one promise upon which can be delivered - another Dancer Profile! Get to know second-year company member, Noelle Lelakus.

Full name: Noelle Elizabeth Lelakus (known as Nol in the studio)

Age: 23

Hometown: North Canton, Ohio

College and location: Mercyhurst College / Erie, PA

Favorite TV show: the Today show

Favorite movie: White Christmas

Favorite book: Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

Favorite dancer: Elizabeth Parkinson

Most visited website: Facebook

Favorite place in Columbia: Orr St. Studios, Café Berlin, Starbucks on West Broadway or 9th

Three words to describe how you feel about this year with MCB?: Fresh, invigorating, fun!

Biggest influence in your life: My parents – the most supportive and understanding people I know!

If you could invite anyone to dinner, living or deceased, who would it be and why?: All my grandparents. Two passed away before I was born, and I was very young when I had to say goodbye to the other two. I would love to know more family stories and what they think of my dance career! Also my best friend, Jo, because our visits are unfortunately few and far between.

Favorite indulgence: Saturday brunch at Café Berlin with the crew.

Craziest moment onstage: Chris Benjamin seamlessly picking me up after a fall in Shannon Lee West’s “Waltz No. 3” at Duets for My Valentine in St. Louis last season. Performing in “Live” was pretty unreal as well!

What do you like to do in your free time?: Travel, read, shop, spend time/keep in touch with friends and family.

Words to live by?: If we didn’t laugh, we’d be dead by now!