At five
feet tall, Noemi Sambas might be the smallest member of Prelude, but she
certainly has made a big impact. She joined as a first semester sophomore in
the fall of 2011, and after this Sunday’s performance, she’ll have performed in
six shows, served as an officer (and keeper of the costume box) for four
semesters, and choreographed five pieces (not including multiple audition
pieces). And that’s just on top of sharing her lovely talent, passion, and
energy with us at each and every rehearsal!
Prelude Dance Ensemble: What was your dance experience
like before joining Prelude?
Noemi Sambas: Before joining Prelude, my dance
experience was with a pre-professional ballet school and company. We performed
3-4 full-length ballets every year, which doesn’t include recital. I took 11
years of ballet, 3 years of jazz, and a few classes of other dance styles.
PDE: How did you first hear about
Prelude and what motivated you to audition?
NS: I first heard about Prelude from
Jennifer Linke and Kayli Prpich, who are previous Prelude members. Kayli was
encouraging Jennifer to audition, and Jennifer encouraged me to audition with
her. In the end, I wanted to audition because I missed dancing. I hadn’t danced
for a year before I joined Prelude, which was a big deal if you danced weekly for
11 years of your life.
PDE: You’re studying exercise and
sport science and plan on being a physical therapist. How have you been able to
apply dance or dance concepts to your academic studies?
NS: Dance has helped me to
understand movement and the human body, which has given me an advantage as a
future physical therapist. For example, learning choreography taught me to
watch and analyze a movement. I can use these observation and analytical skills
when evaluating a patient’s movement for therapy.
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| Performing in her senior year of high school |
PDE: You come from a very
ballet-centered background. What was it like shifting to a more
contemporary-focus in Prelude?
NS: I actually loved the change in
dance style. After focusing so much on ballet and technique, it was nice to be
able to relax a little bit. Some of the contemporary choreography was somewhat
harder to grasp for me, but it was a challenge I was willing to accept. That
being said, my technique was definitely helpful for some of the unfamiliar
movements.
PDE: What typically inspires your own
choreography?
NS: My choreography is usually
inspired by the music itself. As strange as it sounds, there are times when I
connect with a lyric and can just see the dance movements in my head. Then, the
more I listen to a song the more I relate it to a situation in my life or in my
past, which will also influence my choreography. As for the actual process, I
NEED a mirror. Most of the time, I dance in front of a mirror to the same line
in a song for a while until I see something I did that I like.
PDE: What is your favorite dance that
you’ve choreographed?
NS: My favorite dance that I’ve
choreographed is “Falling In Love,” which is a new duet that was choreographed for
Prelude’s spring show “Compass.” I hope the audience will love it as much as I
do! I will say that “I Won’t Give Up” is a very close second though.
PDE: What’re your top 3 favorite
dances that you’ve performed with Prelude?
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| Performing "Be Your Love" with Will Prigge |
PDE: What’re your top 3 favorite
Prelude dances (that you haven’t necessarily been in)?
PDE: What’s your favorite dance
performance that you’ve been to while at UGA?
NS: “Cinderella” was probably my
favorite dance performance I’ve been to while at UGA because most of Prelude
went together immediately after auditions.
PDE: What’s your proudest
accomplishment in Prelude?
NS: I wouldn’t say that I have just
one accomplishment that I’m proud of in Prelude, but the best feeling of
accomplishment is when we perform our shows. I know all the hard work that I
put into my own choreography, learning other choreography, and organizing the
show as an officer, so when it’s finally show time I am just so proud of our
entire ensemble and myself.
PDE: So what’s your favorite show
you’ve been?
NS: My favorite show was probably
“What Do I Stand For?” It was the first show that I ever did as an officer, and
it was also the first show we ever did at EAEDC [East Athens Educational Dance
Center]. That first semester as an officer was tough, so when “What Do I Stand
For?” finally came together I was beyond happy.
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| Photoshoot for the Spring 2014 show, "Compass" |
PDE: What have been the greatest
difficulties or challenges of being an officer? The greatest rewards?
NS: I don’t know if it was a great
challenge, but the costume box definitely posed some challenges for me. First
of all, the box is big and quite heavy for a girl that’s only 5 feet tall.
Second, getting people to bring back costumes when I needed them back wasn’t
always as easy as it was supposed to be. Lastly, we’ve started to outgrow the
box… it’s hard to stuff now! In relation to all of that, the greatest reward is
seeing all of Prelude’s beautiful dancers in their lovely costumes on show day.
PDE:
What advice do
you have for future officers?
NS: Stay on top of scheduling! If
there’s one thing I’ve learned from being an officer, it has been to plan
ahead. We’re always thinking about when to schedule bake sales, reserve
rehearsal space, buy costumes so they arrive on time, etc. Plan ahead and
things will be easier.
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| Cuddle Puddle after the Fall 2012 show, "What Do I Stand For?" |
PDE: What are some of your favorite Prelude memories?
NS: This is a hard one. I guess one
of my favorite Prelude memories is going to Steak n’ Shake after the past
couple of shows. After spending hours with each other backstage and onstage, we
still spent even more time together eating and drinking milkshakes. WAIT, NO.
The Prelude cuddle puddle during show day is the best thing ever.
PDE: How do you feel about this being
your last Prelude show?
NS: So unbelievably sad. Prelude has
become such a big part of my college life that I can’t see myself not being a
part of it. Obviously I’ll miss dancing, but I’m pretty sure I’ll miss the
friends I’ve made even more.
PDE: What will you miss most about
Prelude?
NS: THE PEOPLE. End of story.
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| Photoshoot for the Spring 2013 show, "Lost and Found" |
In May,
Noemi will graduate with a B.S.Ed in Exercise and Sport Science. In the fall,
she will go on to Georgia State University as a student in their physical
therapy program. She’ll continue to stay involved in dance as her ultimate goal
is to work as a physical therapist for dancers. She’d like to keep dancing too,
“even if it’s in my
living room or the occasional grocery store aisle!”
Noemi,
we love you and will miss you next semester…though if we have any injuries, we’ll
know who to come to!
Be sure
to see Noemi and the rest of our seniors in their last show, “Compass,” April
13 at the East Athens Educational Dance Center.
It was
fellow Prelude dancer John Esteban Rodriguez who convinced Stephanie Romero to audition
for Prelude Dance Ensemble with him this semester. He knew she had prior dance
experience and begged her to come with him so she, (being such a great friend),
decided to tag along for auditions. She enjoyed the friendly and welcoming
environment of the Prelude members. Luckily, she made the team and has been
enjoying her experience ever since. 
