As the summer season unfolds, dancers from the Atlanta Ballet embrace their time off, often venturing to far-off places, indulging in personal interests, and cherishing moments with loved ones. In light of this, ArtsATL has initiated a series titled Summer Stories to delve deeper into how these talented performers spend their summers.
This summer, dancers Jessica He and Severin Brotschul from the Atlanta Ballet traveled to the picturesque setting of Northern Michigan, sharing their love for dance with the community. He, who has been with the Atlanta Ballet since 2017, and Brotschul, who is entering his fourth season after two years in the second company, not only collaborate on stage but also share a romantic relationship off stage.
The couple participated in the Traverse City Dance Project, where they were part of a select group of eight dancers. This program allowed them to perform without charge in various outdoor venues across Northern Michigan, showcasing their talent to the community.
Brotschul expressed their motivation going into this project, saying, “We went into the process very interested in broadening our repertoire, expanding our contemporary abilities, and expecting to work with a diverse group of dancers. Our first day of working on the project delivered on all of our hopes.”
One of the summer highlights included performing the full Don Quixote pas de deux against the stunning backdrop of Lake Michigan. “This was a refreshing challenge to tackle in the studio and a dream to perform on stage,” Brotschul reflected.
He first learned about the Traverse City Dance Program through posters displayed in his parents’ hometown, Glen Arbor, Michigan. “The arts thrive in Northern Michigan, and it was a dream to participate,” he said, highlighting the region’s vibrant arts scene.
Brotschul praised the program’s artistic director, Brent Whitney, describing him as “a very encouraging and positive person to work with” and credited him for making the project the peak of their summer experience. Notably, the program’s commitment to providing free performances meant that Brotschul’s family, along with their pets, could attend. “Traverse City Dance Project’s mission is to bring world-class dance performance to all communities in Northern Michigan,” he noted.
Aside from performing, the couple spent their summer working at the River Club, a venue managed by Brotschul’s father. During their downtime, they enjoyed biking, hiking, and watching the captivating sunsets along the beaches of Lake Michigan.
Both He and Brotschul were introduced to dance at a young age through beloved films. For He, the San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker performance on DVD stood out as a significant influence, especially when she saw Yuan Yuan Tan portray the Snow Queen. “It was so cool for me to see a Chinese ballerina on the screen,” she reminisced.
In contrast, Brotschul found inspiration from the romantic Step Up movie series. His journey into the world of dance began when he was invited to perform in his local ballet school’s Nutcracker at a young age, where he met Craig Hall, a former New York City Ballet dancer, who motivated him to try out ballet. “His performance and his encouragement to give ballet class a try were what pushed me to begin dancing,” Brotschul shared.
Even though neither dancer came from a lineage of dancers, they both found immense support from their families during their artistic pursuits. He recalled, “Luckily my parents were always supportive of my dreams and desire to dance. They definitely understand and appreciate how hard it is.” Brotschul also shared that his diverse background, which included attending an all-boys boarding school in Western Pennsylvania, offered him exposure to sports, theater, and the performing arts, all of which fueled his interest in ballet.
As a couple, He and Brotschul take joy in performing together and treasure shared interests like antiquing and design. “We spend much of our time hunting for furniture, art, and decor,” Brotschul explained.
Due to the interconnected nature of the dance community, the couple had intersected paths with mutual friends prior to their personal connection in Atlanta. He reflects, “It was just a matter of time” before they became romantically involved. Their summer in Northern Michigan not only allowed them to enhance their dancing skills but also brought them closer as partners in both their personal and professional lives.
image source from：artsatl
