Making Progress

Ballet 5:8 Second Company Artist, Ford Tackett shares about becoming his character in Pilgrim’s Progress.

Who are you dancing as in Pilgrim’s Progress this year?
I am dancing the role of Christian.

What has been the most interesting or challenging part about portraying your character?

A challenging aspect of portraying this character is due to the numerous and various people and creatures he meets along the journey. The challenge is to understand Christian's relationship to each of them, and how he would honestly interact with each one.

Which scene is your favorite and why?

My favorite scene is the one in which Faithful is martyred because it brings to light the seriousness of the quest, and highlights the stark contrast between those who are guided along the Way and those who are blinded to its truth.

Describe the movement style of your character.

The movement style of my character is often heavy and pensive. Driven by the character's emotional state and informed by his internal and external struggles, the movements provide a gestural display of these conflicts and extrapolation of his relationships with the other characters.

Why should audiences come to see Pilgrim’s Progress?

Audiences should see Pilgrim's Progress to experience the most meaningful journey a person can make, and enjoy a classic piece of literature displayed through a classic form of dance.