Themes
What does Yondering mean?
“The word “Yondering” comes out of the American frontier. This was a time during which the frontier was a discernible line, on one side of which there were towns, farms, schools, etc. and on the other side there was wilderness. From Daniel Boone to Davey Crockett to Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok, people set out to find whatever was “over yonder”. They had no particular destination because there was nothing out there, only the “out there”. Eventually, this kind of travel became known simply as “yondering”; going from one place to any place.” [Original program note by Jim Peck]
Yondering was an ideal theme for the students of Canada’s National Ballet School since it reflected the situation and spirit of those students for whom the ballet was created; students who were about to cross over the boundary of school life and move into the desired (and exciting) but, as yet, unknown territory of professional dance. They themselves were about to yonder.
Yondering has no story. Rather it is a series of vignettes, built around songs of Stephen Foster, that offer a glimpse of youth: what they do, how they behave, their budding relationships and their dreams. But at the same time as the ballet explores youthful innocence, it also hints at its loss.