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Over the rainbow: ABQ native brings Dorothy to life in 'The Wizard of Oz Ballet'
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Stephanie Karr fell in love with ballet when she was 3 years old.
The sa国际传媒官网网页入口 native grew up in Edgewood, where she began studying in a small studio.
鈥淚 was kind of a ham on stage and I loved it,鈥� she said.
Over the rainbow: ABQ native brings Dorothy to life in 'The Wizard of Oz Ballet'
On Saturday, April 6, she will dance the role of Dorothy in 鈥淭he Wizard of Oz Ballet鈥� with the New Mexico Ballet Company and the New Mexico Philharmonic at Popejoy Hall.
The role represents a full circle moment for the ballerina.
鈥淚 love Dorothy,鈥� she said. 鈥淪he was my favorite character when I was growing up because my first name legally is Dorothy. It鈥檚 the classic story of a young girl going out on her own.
鈥淪he鈥檚 the sweetest character,鈥� Karr continued. 鈥淪he wants to help everyone.鈥�
Karr described the dancing as classical but with a contemporary twist.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very fluid,鈥� Karr said. 鈥淵ou can see the music in the choreography.鈥�
The music is primarily classical.
鈥淟ots of Beethoven, a lot of things people will recognize,鈥� she continued. 鈥淭here鈥檚 some music from 鈥楩antasia.鈥�
鈥淓verything in ballet is about the music,鈥� Karr said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where the artistry is for me.鈥�
After those early classes in Edgewood, Karr traveled around the country taking dance intensives. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in communications, then left to join the Nashville Ballet.
鈥淚 danced my whole way through college,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 love the athleticism. I鈥檓 very into fitness and the striving for perfection.鈥�
Karr left for Tennessee in 2016, only to return in 2020 in time with the pandemic.
鈥淚 came back to the company when we were doing classes over Zoom.鈥�
She returned to the stage in 2021 as the lead in the 鈥淲altz of the Flowers鈥� dance of 鈥淭he Nutcracker.鈥�
Karr says she is 鈥渧ery settled here.鈥� A classic overachiever, she plans to return to school to study biology. She wants to attend graduate school and maybe even medical school within the next two years.
鈥淚鈥檓 doing my best to stay balanced,鈥� Karr said. 鈥淒oing something cognitive balances me out with the ballet.鈥�
