Senior Spotlight: Noemi Sambas

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.

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?

NS: My top 3 are “Be Your Love,” “Den of Thieves,” and “Harder to Breathe.” 

Performing "Be Your Love" with Will Prigge

PDE: What’re your top 3 favorite Prelude dances (that you haven’t necessarily been in)?

NS: My top 3 favorite Prelude dances are probably “Poison and Wine,” “These Arms of Mine,” and “Gave You All.” 

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.

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.

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.

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.