POSTCARDS: Lucy Stewart of Complexions Contemporary Ballet on The Company's Joyce Season
Hi hi! My name is Lucy Stewart, and I am a current company member with Complexions Contemporary Ballet.
I’ve been with the company for about a year and a half, and this is my second Joyce season! I started dancing when I was three years old, and I’ve been obsessed ever since. I grew up dancing outside of Denver, CO, in a small town called Evergreen, and I later danced at Colorado Ballet to complete my training. I was introduced to Complexions when I was nine years old, and it has been a dream of mine to join ever since. I would attend any of their summer intensives and the pre-professional program. Dwight, Desmond, and Meg were incredibly influential in my early training and continue to influence my dancing daily!
I am beyond excited for our two-week run at The Joyce. My favorite part of the job is performing long runs, like these next two weeks. I think something really special happens when everyone is pushing to their limits and beyond. The company grows and changes together, and each individual finds new facets to themselves that further develop their own artistry, passion, and dance.
Lucy Stewart and Partner in rehearsal; photo courtesy of Complexions Contemporary Ballet
There’s a certain historic energy to The Joyce Theater that is exciting and energizing. Equally as exciting is that we perform at home in NYC and further grow the home roots of Complexions. This year, we have such a wide berth of amazing pieces and genres ranging from Ricardo Amarante’s “Love, Fear, Loss” and Justin Peck’s “Dreamers” to Jenn Freeman’s “Regardless” as well as new and revitalized Dwight Rhoden masterpieces.
Each of these pieces has such deep stories that are all so different from each other. It’s a super fun challenge to make sure we’re portraying each message to our fullest capabilities and bringing the audience into the world we’re creating. I personally love every piece I’m getting to perform, but I am extra excited to perform “Love” because it’s a nice contrast to what we usually do. Additionally, I am and always have been in love with Dwight’s work, so I’m very excited to continue to dive deeper into his pieces this Joyce season!
I am so excited and grateful to be part of the company’s 29th season and perform these magical ballets with such inspiring and incredible artists.