Brittany SummerBrittany Summer already has her career on point, showing plenty of prima ballerina promise at the ripe old age of 20. As a member of Boston Ballet II, the two-year apprenticeship program at the Boston Ballet, Summer got to realize that quintessential ballerina dream of dancing in the corps of Swan Lake, and she’s just coming off of a performance of Jewels, one of the Ballet’s latest gems.Dancing, learning, and growing with BBII doesn’t guarantee a spot in the Boston Ballet, but for the most talented of its dancers — Summer included — it results in an invitation to join the illustrious company, a steppingstone to major opportunities. Entering ballet’s big leagues, she signed a contract to join the corps de ballet for the 2009– 2010 season (you’ll also catch her dancing in the Ballet’s performance of Sleeping Beauty this month). “A lot of people say now that you’re in the company, the hard work really begins,” says Summer. The North Carolina native, who spent four years at a performing arts high school studying all types of dance, was drawn to Boston’s eclectic repertoire, she says. “Boston really has pretty much everything a dancer could want, especially in the repertoire we do; it’s one of the most eclectic in the country.”What’s next for the young ballerina? She’ll continue to be inspired by the beautiful artistry and dancers around her, she says, and hopes to show Bostonians of all ages that the ballet isn’t just about traditional tutus and men in tights. “Our audiences seem really receptive to what we’re doing, and I wish more people knew about what was going on with the ballet … because the company does some really incredible work,” Summer says. “It’s the city’s ballet.”
