Club Spotlight: Fordham Jetés

Do you know what 5th position is?  Have you ever performed in or attended a production of The Nutcracker?  Can you call yourself a bonafide bunhead?  If you answered yes to all three of these questions, then The Jetés is the club for you at Fordham!

We are Fordham’s student-run classical ballet company.  The Jetés were established as a club at the Rose Hill campus almost exactly a year ago.  Since then, we have performed selections of Swan Lake at various campus events, danced variations from The Sleeping Beauty at Maroon Mainstage during family weekend, and even presented our own version of The Nutcracker in December!

We have exciting things coming up for this semester as well.  We have outreach performances scheduled for local Bronx public school students as well as for the retired Jesuit community at Murray-Weigel Hall just off campus.  Our executive board members are in the midst of casting and choreographing for our full-length production of The Sleeping Beauty ballet, which will take to the stage in Collins Auditorium on April 21st and 22nd.
If you danced throughout high school, there’s no reason to give it up in college!  We hold auditions twice a year, once at the beginning of fall semester and again at the beginning of spring semester.  Pointe experience is not necessary, but certainly a plus as most of our featured roles are danced en pointe.

We’d love to hear from you!  Search us on Youtube to see previous performances and follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@fordhamjetes) to get a behind-the-scenes look at our rehearsals and shows!

Locating the Perfect Internship

“New York is my campus. Fordham is my school.”  Many of my fellow rams would attest that our university slogan is true.  I agree whole-heartedly; I spent this past fall semester commuting to downtown Manhattan four times a week.  I interned in the Education department at American Ballet Theatre, one of the most influential arts institutions in the world.

My experience provided me with insight into the legwork (pun intended) it takes to operate one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world.  But I especially loved peeking into studios as the dancers rehearsed—their talent is astounding.

Sneaking a peak into company rehearsal!

I was also attended several exciting events through ABT, such as a premiere of dancer Misty Copeland’s new documentary A Ballerina’s Tale, the Broadway show Old Times, and ABT performances at Lincoln Center’s Koch Theater.

I would not have attained this internship—and valuable work experience—in my sophomore year of college if it weren’t for Fordham’s ideal location in the greatest city in the world, New York.

After organizing new inventory, I pose next to the showcase with ABT merchandise.

Many of my friends at Fordham could tell similar stories: our resumes collectively include internships at ABC, Disney, Irish Arts Center, NASDAQ, New York Historical Society, Religions for Peace International, Tesla Motors, and American Ballet Theatre, just to name a few.

Your Guide to Shows on a College Student Budget

If you live in New York City and have never seen a Broadway show, ballet, opera, or sports game, you are doing something wrong. I admit that seeing tickets for $50 plus is a little daunting. I have a nasty little habit of seeing as many shows as I can but because of this I have mastered the art of student discounts, rush, lottery, and everything in between. I have compiled the best and cheapest ways to see any New York classic you want.

CAB Cultural Affair Monthly Raffles
Every first Monday of the month, CAB puts on a raffle for a variety of different shows, games, and museums tickets in McGinley Ballroom at 1pm. Each month there are at least two Broadway shows and one sports game, with usually around 20 to each event. Typically tickets cost $20 but last year I remember they gave away tickets for Aziz Ansari's comedy show for free! All you need is a Fordham ID to get one raffle ticket. My advice is to ask for friend's IDs to get extra raffle tickets (Note: you must have a physical ID, not a photo). As a Broadway buff, I have seen Les Miserables, Beautiful King and I, Sleep No More, and An American in Paris all just from CAB. Very often they have tickets to Rangers, Knicks, and Yankees games. During the holidays they give out tickets for shows like The Nutcracker or  Radio City Christmas Spectacular! This is the perfect way to get cheap tickets because you don't have to leave campus. Plus most tickets will not be any cheaper than these. Just keep your eye out for the Facebook event or posters around campus towards the end of the month!

35 and Under
Some shows have student discounts but more often theater's target people 35 and under. Websites like HIPTIX , Manhattan Theatre Club or LincTix offers Broadway show tickets for $25-$30. Last year I spent $25 to see Emma Stone in Cabaret. My advice is to sign up online so they can email you for upcoming shows and when tickets go on sale, as they tend to sell out relatively fast. Even better, these deals will last you well after graduation. If you are looking to save a little cash on facility charges, I recommend going to the theater and presenting your code at the box office where they won't charge those extraneous fees.

Rush and Lottery
Almost every theater has a rush policy where they put aside a set number of tickets to sell for cheap.  Typically these seats are obstructed view. "Rushing" a show usually entails getting to the box office when they open on the day you would like to see the show. Depending upon the popularity of the show, you might have to get there early and wait in line. I have found the best time to rush a show is in the winter when no one is willing to wait outside, just as long as you are willing to get a little cold. Some shows that are extremely popular use a lottery system to give away tickets, either 2 or 3 hours before the show. My go to sites for gauging rush lines are BroadwayForBrokePeople which explains the rush or lottery policies for each show and BroadwaySpotted's Rush Report lets you know the average amount of people in line and what time they got there. Most of the productions at Lincoln Center such as New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York Philharmonic, or the Metropolitan Opera have rush options which can be found on their websites. Every Friday the NY Philharmonic gives away free tickets!
*Be sure to double check the rush and lottery policies on the theater's official website.