#OnceUponaPointe

[@nikkisweezea2388]

At the tender age of 10 I was the "swing" for Polichinelle. The plan was for me and my partner to perform each spot once, and for the 4 first cast couples to perform all together once. Well, about halfway through the weekend, someone got injured. And then, I was performing not only all the spots, but with a different partner some of the time because none of the other girls could figure out how to do any of the spots that weren't theirs. It was an eye opening experience. From then on, I made sure I could perform any role, any spot, in any dance, cold, just from watching either rehearsals or the tape. And yes, can confirm, learning to learn pieces from the tape and internalize which foot you are *actually* on at any given point, is a skill that all dancers should master. You do become very valuable, which is both a blessing and a curse!

[@PlantBasedBride]

I was a swing on the Disney Wonder (cruise ship) a few years back and it was such a challenge to keep 30 tracks in my head and to be ready to hop in with 5 minutes' notice! Understudies and swings are the glue that holds live performance together, truly! It's a special brand of terror going on stage for a paying audience when you're not exactly sure what you're doing 😂

[@chanelabela3543]

Hi Katie, In one of your ballet mishap videos you mentioned having stories around what it’s like being on tour (it sounds like you toured internationally, very cool). Also would be great to hear about “ballets you might not have heard of” that you loved since NYCB rep was so large. Did you perform in any other roles in Sleeping Beauty besides Aurora that you enjoyed? XO

[@MisLalilu]

Oh yes, hearing about being on tour would be awesome

[@phoebechiki5529]

Plz bring back #OnceUponApointe with stories about tours!!! 🙏🎉

[@petrahutzen9412]

Love the talking stories. You are always funny, natural and authentic. What would be interesting also: how did you came from dancing to teaching? When did you start to love it?

[@kathryn_morgan]

Great idea!

[@thesofianotes]

_The panic in Kathryn's eyes in the thumbnail says everything😂_

[@kathryn_morgan]

Haha YES

[@catherinecarterartstudio]

Thanks, Katie - I love hearing about your experiences! For future Once Upon A Pointes: Could you talk about the difference between dancing a Balanchine, Robbins, Wheeldon, and Martins ballet? About the different costumes that you wore in various roles and what it was like to wear them? What your life was like outside of NYCB - what you did on your days off? More specifics about your experiences working alongside various famous stars like Jennifer Ringer and Darci Kistler? How you adjusted to life in New York City after growing up in Mobile? What it was like dancing with the partners you had - how were they different? Mentors? How you first learned to do hair and makeup (this is one of the funniest parts of Allegra Kent's autobiography) ...

[@diegotejera1741]

If would be really cool if Sean could share his experiences too. Or maybe invite other dancers 🧡 love u Katie

[@mjgbabydragonlet]

I think sometimes you forget that You, Kathryn Morgan, did this! You had awesome dancers to work with. You worked your butt off.

[@kathryn_morgan]

Thank you!

[@Ct27111]

This applies in life too! Take those opportunities and chances! People will take note of your initiative and it will take you places.

[@peachiethecat]

Yay! I love these Once Upon A Pointe videos. Maybe you could consider doing one about your tours? Or possibly even your guesting performances at Mobile Ballet (you have the commentary up for the black swan pas de deux, and I think you dance beautifully in it!)?

[@judithricca6915]

Wow Katie. I have been a NYCB fan for ages, and I heard about dancers being thrown on, but this video of your personal experiences puts this all into reality. Talk about having to have nerves of steel. You have my total admiration not only for this, but how you have lived your life.

[@leoniehochhold9631]

Yey I'm so excited for it!😍 I love these Videos where you tell stories cause you're naturally so so funny.💕 Are you doing a ballet perfomances with commentary video any time soon? I just love them so much because you telling us what the characters probably think while they're dancing and your commentaries in general aren't only really interesting but they're also hilarious😂😂

[@kathryn_morgan]

I will work on it!

[@kellyhandler8316]

"Up and down and lean and arabesque" Katie you're my favorite 😄 This is such a fun video!

[@EMMERZ.CRAIG08]

So I was an understudy for this dance that the older girls were doing. And after a while I became first cast, (the girl who I was a under study for wasn't able to go to the show) and so I became first cast for 2 of her dances. (im still doing 2 of of my own keep in mind) and because of covid that girl ended up quitting the show and I am now both casts. And this isn't the first time I have been an understudy, but its the first time I've ever been put into a role last minute. But I'm actually really existed and happy for the new opportunity to perform.

[@kathryn_morgan]

Amazing! So excited for you! Congrats!

[@EMMERZ.CRAIG08]

Thanks! Love you Katie 💖

[@claireschweizer4765]

THE DREADED MIRROR IMAGE THE STRUGGLE IS SOOOO REAL OMFG😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@lifewithliya5583]

I enjoyed this video so much coz I relate to it a lot! Proving your reliability really has us on our toes- I’ve been thrown in for entire concerts that I had never rehearsed, stuck in the middle, had 2 hours to memorize an entire repertoire, shoved in the middle to conduct an orchestra rehearsal for a concerto when the actual conductor got stuck in a traffic accident… These stories are just so laugh worthy when you think back to them! haha!

To anyone who is learning a piece from video... One thing that helped me a lot is to not think left or right... But think stage manager's side, not stage managers side... Helped me a lot...

[@claireeebee]

I love these stories!!! As someone not in ballet, the "talky" videos are just the best! Your performance videos are wonderful as well. I love hearing your perspective on things and your stories. I don't have a great video idea but I'll watch whatever you come up with!

[@callabeth258]

Even though i only started ballet as an adult so I’ve never performed I’ve been a dancer my whole life (mainly Highland and tap) so I know what goes into putting a dance together and learning steps. These stories are insane! 45mins of choreography with one rehersal?! Madness!

[@biologynerd3]

Could you tell memorable stories from your pre NYCB training? Like your first dance memories, memorable performances that you had, skills that you loved/hated/found easy/found hard, getting your first pointe shoes, relationships at the studio etc etc. Just throwing out some ideas that come to mind!

[@catherinecarney2507]

I remember being the "swing" in the corps of Swan Lake at Ellis-DuBouley studio as an 8th grader. Every time someone was absent from variations class in Spring of 1979, I was put in their spot. It didn't matter which side. I was probably 5'4" and in the middle. We were only performing for the end of the year recital but I didn't know until the last few rehearsals what my spot was. I also, after not learning the choreography fast enough for The Chicago Tribune Charities Nutcracker choreographer by Ruth Page, decided to never not learn on the first demonstration. I used that to my advantage in a company class at Lou Conte's taught by Greg Bagley. He demonstrated a complicated petite allegro. Asked if it needed to be demonstrated again, the whole room said yes, except me. I, then, demonstrated for the class forgetting the last Changement. Like how else will it start going left without one? 🙄 Oddly enough, I have kept these same "be flexible but learn quickly" abilities throughout my teaching career. So even if a career in ballet does not become your future, like me, these same abilities can enhance a different career.

[@KateMaureen14]

Hey Katy, id love another video for teaching ballet! Especially to you get kids. I can teach 11 and up traditional ballet, but I have no idea how to teach little ones! I'm lucky to get one on one training, but I'd love to hear how you teach as well. ♥️ (Also, I got the necklace and it's the most comfortable necklace I've ever owned! I'd love a set of matching earrings someday ;D)

[@graceunruh140]

I love story time with Katie! It's so nice to hear your take on understudying. It's definitely stressful!

[@ericagoehring1089]

"She'll be fine!" is the theme of this video! 😄

[@RubberDucky-ri1nb]

I would love to learn about how you were cast As Odille/Odette and the rehearsal process you went through while battling your illness! 💛

[@lyndabethcave3835]

Please tell costume stories! Ones that you loved, ones that you didn't, malfunctions, working with wardrobe staff, etc..

[@raymonddimla6648]

Ideas: 1) Transitioning out of OR leaving NYCB, 2) International tours with NYCB, 3) Most and least favorite dances with NYCB, and 4) More details about Kathryn Morgan & Friends 🙏🏽❤️

[@hanqing10]

OMG I can't imagine learning so many steps in such a short time and that shows how amazing for those understudy dancers!! Thank you Katie for this interesting chat! I love it!😍

[@kkauffman01]

You had mentioned in one of them about doing one on your first overseas tour. I would love to hear that!

[@Amy-gq7ft]

I do so love these story times. Thank you for sharing.

[@stopmotionbrickstudios4855]

I would love so much for you to make a Lord of the Rings center floor or barre video! Narnia has some amazing music as well, I think both of them would make for really cool ballet classes!💜

[@pamm9439]

Love once upon a pointe!! I would like to hear about your experience learning/dancing Swan Lake as well as maybe some tour stories.

[@minazackrison6385]

your so good at these videos. Also if your learning from a video what you do is you put the device up to a mirror and it will flip it to be your direction

[@jenny3sheets278]

NYCB does still come up to Saratoga in the summer. I saw Jewels for the first time several years ago 🤩

[@GGritsun]

Katy…LOVE your videos. Love your classes…..I’m back to doing the basic barre. I was doing intermediate, but the basic is making me work harder, focus on my muscles. Brilliant. Thank you 💕💕

[@aliciamatus-silverfarb5873]

Please tell us about the first time doing Dewdrop please :)

[@eliskavascakova1284]

I love these videos. Hope they will keep coming.

[@isaaaaaburotto]

Yeeeesssss once upon a pointe is one of my favorite videos you make!!!!

[@xMia311]

When you got the promotion from apprentice to corp, and then corp to soloist. Cast and debuting Aurora, any ok they featured or principle role. Any traveling with NYCB. Career highlight at NYCB. Maybe one of anyones negative assosicatjon / negative projection of a ballet dancer both now and as a young up an coming dancer. Explaining any other injuries and how you worked your way back from them. The Keneddy Center Performance, the Red Shoes production that you did a few years ago. How being hired to guest somewhere works.

[@rezashayesteh9718]

I would love a once upon a pointe about your experience dancing dew drop or originating a role in the ballet Mirage

[@acutee2]

I work in news an this stuff is very similar work environments. Be ready to go to live on tv or FB even if you work at a paper or magazine, go to a major event because so and so is sick, a huge accident happens and you live nearby you have 10 minutes to report with whatever info. you have---be ready. It's all about work ethic.

[@emilyadams9986]

Great video, Kathryn. I'm sure there are some situations where you (general you) can, and maybe should, say no to last-minute performances, but that's probably only in rare instances, like injuries, or if the company is doing it on purpose, disproprotionately to you to set you up to fail (I don't dance, but I've been in that situation elsewhere), and that's probably a topic for a video in itself.

[@zoeklein6459]

I really love you #OnceUponAPoint videos as they help me with my mental health. In one of them you mentioned your first tour was in Chicago, and that you had other international tours. Those would be interesting to hear about! Also, going off the performance videos you’ve posted, we haven’t heard about Giselle, Swan Lake, or the Nutcracker from your time at Mobile Ballet (Clara, Snow Queen, and Arabian).

[@strawberries1186]

OUAP first pointe shoes!

[@crayonx866]

Just those stories make me stressed on your behalf. You’re amazing Katie! What are some tips for learning ballet quickly (Especially last minute)? Do you write notes? Watch then practice? Try until you don’t know?

[@rosacotton]

Love this series! Would you consider making a video about your experiences with props?

[@MorganleFayable]

Could you do a video on picking up choreo from a tape? It’s so hard 😅

[@Nan01040]

i love these stories thank you Kathryn

[@gabriellamoser]

I miss once upon a point so much So happy to ser one more

[@whatdoyousuppose]

The year I quit ballet, I was cast as an understudy (more of a swing actually) for reed flutes (Marzipan/Mirlitons) in Nutcracker when I was like 12 and it was the most stressful experience of my life. It was my first pointe role in the show and I had to learn everyone’s spots. Never went on 🙃🙃🙃 lol due to a number of circumstances but certainly including that experience, I made the choice for that to end up being my last Nutcracker year. And now I’m a musical theatre performer! I love understudying & swinging and have done it a few times or have been pulled to sing a role I’ve never prepared just a few hours before curtain - I feel like it’s easier for me to learn and memorize music than dance!

[@wastrouss]

I loved this, as always! I'm hooked on OnceUponAPointe! I have a couple of questions, if it's alright? Did you get assigned (cast?) to understudy for one role at a time, or were you expected to learn all the different roles so you could jump in at any time (or just all the corps roles vs. every female part)? If you got thrown in because someone got hurt, did you cover for her for the rest of the season, or just is it for one performance? I really appreciate it! Thanks!

[@martinbackley2095]

Loved this, Katie, it was like having a coffee and a catch up with your best friend.

[@bonniehawkins2979]

Thank you much.

[@isabellajranson7610]

Do a story time when you first taught your very first class💕

[@mfranziska1656]

Please do a story on how you were cast to do swan lake😍😍 i love your videos btw❤️

[@crustyrash]

Have you ever gotten lost in the middle of a piece? I've had this happen with music where I'll be playing along somewhat mindlessly and all of a sudden get hit with, "OMG, what next"?

[@kathryn_morgan]

YEP. I should tell that story 😂

[@lilibetp]

Back when I was singing, I did three performances as Musetta in one weekend because of illnesses. I wasn't even the official cover for the Saturday performance, but was there to turn pages for the accompanist. I thought that was hard, but at least we'd had a full rehearsal period.

[@seaofglass77]

That is impressive!

[@XxNessaxX88]

Do you have any pointe shoe disaster stories? Or costume malfunctions?

[@kathryn_morgan]

Oh I'm sure!

[@Dances_in_the_kitchen]

15:11 I’m not a professional dancer but I know this problem 😅 and what makes it a lot easier is if I have the video on my phone and I flip it around 180 vertical, then it’s like playing“Just Dance”. I think many people don’t know this..

[@Ms.Opinionated]

Hi KM: Paycheck 1. Do Ballet companies pay apprentices? If no, how do apprentices earn money? 2. If you are in the Corp and perform a Principal part, do you get principal performance pay? IMO - you would be a principal at NYCB without that darn illness. 🙂naw, life is about how you respond to circumstances.... you paved a new road. One Love

[@stephaniecuster8025]

Have Chris do a Once a pointe would love to hear his stories. His coaching session with Liam was amazing

[@kathryn_morgan]

Ooh I’ll ask him!

[@xafir2816]

Maybe there was a time where you really wanted to quit because of XY and we’re almost going to do something else? This would be a good story to talk about (what happened, how you got your motivation back, etc.). ^^

[@gretchenklavon2685]

Having gone to Dickinson College, I would love to hear about your summer intensive at CPYB.

[@aarti6330]

I love these earrings of yours. A lot of times i keep looking at them while you talk lol

[@sophieg5977]

I LOVE once upon a Pointe😍😍😍😍

[@natalied8179]

i love this series!!

[@jillianhawthorne4246]

Hi Kathryn! I have a live audition for a summer intensive tomorrow. I’ve never done a live audition before do you have any tips? Also, I’m auditioning for Cincinnati Ballet’s summer intensive as well! So excited!!

[@misskyliesue]

When I was an apprentice in my pre-professional company growing up, we were all supposed to understudy Marzipan for Nutcracker. Sure enough, one of the girls got hurt and I was the only one who actually learned it, so I got thrown in. Hard part was I was also dancing Chinese, so I had Candy Canes (eighty seconds give or take) to quick change backstage. 😂 It was fun though!

[@authorhaleynwright]

Hi Katie, I always enjoy these Once Upon a pointe! I just a thought, would you be interesting in talking about doing Claire when you were a teenager? Like how did it feel to be in the role? I know that is probably a very big role for young dancers. Again, just a thought. :D

[@claireschweizer4765]

Listening to this video is stressing me out😭😭😭😭

[@lucylu9494]

Adoption story would be great

[@india1422]

I saw a ballet where the leading male was doing a spin and he whacked a corps member off the face by accident ( I hope). Her head rocked but she snapped back and just continued on. What a star

[@caseyshepard8908]

Would love to here about your experience getting cast in Stars and Stripes and Ballet Imperial!

[@violet8476]

Love it sooo much thankyou 💗❤💞🩰

[@crunchybubblewrap]

for don quixote, i wasn’t placed for the corps so i thought i was gonna be a backup dancer but turns out i got a demi-soloist role 😎

[@daffo595]

Any tour stories for us?

[@brbwlk]

Did you ever discuss getting Corp contract?

[@victoriac.attorneyatlaw]

What is a ballet that you never got a solo or duet in that you really wanted?

[@NadiaCBorba]

Not a "once upon a poite" but, I'd like to ask for workout videos (strenght, stretch, pilates, for feet, etc). I mean, updated videos IF you're doing different workouts than a few years ago. If you're using the same routine and exercises, that's fine =D Thanks!

[@rivulet4518]

You’re going to be doing the summer intensive at Cincinnati ballet right?

[@kathryn_morgan]

Yes!

[@juliecassidy7353]

It felt like that’s all I ever was.

[@MrQbenDanny]

Great fun listening to the real madness that goes on in a world class company and the importance of being a solid backbone of it in a casting crisis. Did you ever learn a role you were not asked to, just because you liked it?

[@cocolinabt]

What I dont get is - why arent there actual understudys ready to Go on? Is there a reason non professionals dont get?

[@cheonsaaa18]

whats the name of the ballet where she said it had the roman dresses?

[@kathryn_morgan]

Stabat Mater

[@Legittoquit1]

Is it true that Tyler peck is a trump supporter? And had Candace Cameron on her pi’s cast?

[@taneikfai4718]

Tan eik fai l am 22 years malaysia loph🏩🔣💃👄🤞💍hi 2022💎💍🤰