The truth about understudies

Are you understudying a part (or parts) in this year’s Nutcracker or winter show?  Are you feeling disappointed that you aren’t performing that role as part of the main cast?  Here’s why you should actually feel good about being an understudy.

 1.  The artistic director trusts you.  He or she thinks you are reliable and won’t get sick or hurt and have to drop out of a performance. 

2.  The choreographer believes in you.  He or she thinks you are able to pick up choreography and perform it on stage with fewer rehearsals (and probably no dress rehearsals) than the main cast.

3.  The artistic director recognizes your hard work and humility.  He or she knows you are good enough to dance the part, but also knows that you are mature enough to handle not being in the main cast.

It can be totally boring to stand in the corner of the studio and mark steps while the rest of the company rehearses, but try to remember that being an understudy is an extremely important part of what makes the company run successfully.  Even though it may not feel like it, being an understudy is an honor.