Iron Mountain, Mich. (WZMQ) – Natalia Brown, who took on the Northern Michigan Dance Academy’s leading role playing “Ariel” for the “Little Mermaid” ballet production, said that the role was a challenge, but she’s proud of where it got her.
“It was definitely a stressful role. I was happy to take it on at first, but when everything started I wasn’t sure how it was all going to come together, but it came together really good. It took a lot of memorizing and hard work, but it was worth it, and I’m glad that I could finish the season with this,” reflected Brown.
It’s the bittersweet end of an era for Brown as she heads off to Michigan State University where the people are in the fall, and her final curtsy in the Northern Michigan Dance Academy’s Little Mermaid production was a final fairy-“tail” goodbye to the Northern Michigan Dance Academy. She waved her fin goodbye to the Braumart at the final show over the weekend. She does plan to keep in shape with her dancing.
“I’m going to try to get into a club for ballet specifically, just kind of like I have now. Just kind of keep on what I’ve been going at and just use it as a good way to exercise,” Brown revealed. “This was a great experience being a part of Northern Michigan Dance Academy and creating lifelong friendships,” she added.
Brown isn’t the only senior heading off to become a Spartan. The show’s villainous sea witch, a role that senior Anja Kleiman hit the nail on the head with, is also saying goodbye to the dance academy.
“The show, I’m usually the villain. It’s typically what happens. So playing Ursula was just kind of something I’m used to. I like playing the villains, it’s just fun,” Kleiman remarked. Kleiman added, “I’m going to be going to Michigan State to study Nursing and become a medical aesthetician,” she commented. She plans to come back and visit the Braumart Theatre to support the many friends she has made within the academy, and she wants to continue helping poor unfortunate souls with her dance skills, and will pursue dance further when she heads off to Michigan State.
The Northern Michigan Dance Academy’s “Queen Triton”, will stay with the academy and continue to inspire the younger jellyfish and sea kelp.
“It was a dream, because even just seeing the little kids get so excited over this and to be the older person in the production for them to look up to it really was inspiring,” Ella Rizzo commented. “We do summer intensives over the summer for ballet just to get us conditioned, and to keep us conditioned. Then we do practices starting from fall to winter, and then we have Nutcracker right in the winter,” she informed. Rizzo added that she’s super proud of all of the dancers.
Dancers looking to get involved with the Northern Michigan Dance Academy can swim around the website at:
https://www.nmdanceacademy.com/
Those interested in contributing to Dickinson County’s up and-coming arts and culture venue, the Braumart, can visit:
