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12.20.2013: Investing In The ArtsAttention CCDC Class of 2014! Are you an aspiring dancer, musician, actor or artist? Are you thinking of attending an in-state school to major in the arts? The state Arts Council is awarding $1500 scholarships for just that purpose. Check it out at IA Arts Council website. Merde! And, please pass the word!o)12.19.2013: Refractions of LightGot friends and family coming for the holidays? New opportunity for exposure to the arts as a giant-size light-cascading, kaleidoscoping sculpture gets installed in the Capital City area:(Capital City News Service) – A new sculpture, Panoramic awareness pavilion, 2013, by Danish-born artist Olafur Eliasson, was created for and recently installed in the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. It is at once a large-scale light sculpture, which demands distance for proper appreciation, and a pavilion, which invites its audience to enter, explore, and engage with the work from within the structure. 12.18.2013: Performance PostingGive the gift of live theater this holiday season:WELLMARK BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD FAMILY SERIES Gears Up for Fifth Season Single tickets to this family-friendly series on sale 12.17.2013: Tall Drink of WaterTall principal danseur with specific exercise suggestion on how to strengthen your core for the rigors of ballet:12.16.2013: Echoes of Snow FallWell-deserved kudos from one audience member to the 2013 IDT Snow Corps de Ballet ...and CCDC's Melissa Uyehara for her guidance:"...Thank you for the wonderful Nutcracker! The snow scene was beautiful!! ..." 12.13.2013: Performance Posting!Come hear the "voices of angels" this weekend...Singers Soothe the Holiday-Weary Soul 12.12.2013: RB NutcrackerIf you're still not Nutcracker-ed out, Jordan Creek Towncenter Theaters will show the Royal Ballet's version tonight: (If you're not already taking class at CCDC yourself, of course!o) Here's a video sneak peek:12.12.2013: Performance Posting"Dancember" amps up at the institution lovingly referred to as "Party Hearty U"!o)Dance department presents graduate/undergraduate concerts 12.11.2013: Dance As TherapyEffort underway at a midwest institution to use dance as therapy for kidz-at-risk:"Dance is a way to re-claim agency over the body. By virtue of moving and creating, these girls can recover something they felt has been lost."...Read the full article here. Hopefully, the program can continue somewhere even though the D.H.S. has announced plans this week to close the Toledo facility soon.
12.10.2013: CCDC Apparent FeedbackThis is why we do what we do at Capital City Dance Center! Just got this input from proud new CCDC momma:"...after watching her on stage tonite. I can tell a huge difference when she has had a full class beforehand. Thank you, Missy, for teaching her that lesson! Thank you for caring about my daughter and teaching her good practices. She has craved for so long to be in an environment in which she feels her instructors actually believe in her, will continually challenge and push her to higher levels and who actually care!!! 12.09.2013: Fight RightRare opportunity for theater cross-training, if you're not already taking class at CCDC, that is!o) Looks good on the broadway resume!:"...Stunt Fighting for Film 12.04.2013: Student Speaks#CapitalCityDanceCenter students head into the theater tonight for the #IDT #Nutcracker performances this weekend. Here's an interview with the #CCDC student nicknamed "Carey" (real name edited out to protect her from more cyber-stalking weirdoz.)Copyright Capital City Dance Center ...Speaking as someone who interviews hundreds of people each year, "Carey" did very well for her age. But, it's a skill you should develop if you plan on continuing in the performing arts. Just remember to answer the questions and don't forget to plug the show, website, facebook page, hashtag or twitter handle. Be your warm personable self, treat the microphone like a cell-phone...and SPEAK UP with confidence and charisma!o)
12.05.2013: Performance PostingDance performance at the institution we lovingly call "Party Hearty U"!o)Find your own way at artists' collaborative performance 12.03.2013: Post-Thanksgiving ThoughtsBefore we finally leave last week's 2013 Thanksgiving in the rear-view mirror, here's a thoughtful T-Day message from a CCDC student:"Happy Turkey day!! I am so thankful for what both of you do for me and everyone else at the studio. You guys make such a great impact on my life. I thank you guys for all my accomplishments and achievements! You are the best and I know I wouldn't be where I am today without you two. Have an amazing day and Missy take a nap(:..."...What about me??? Don't I deserve a nap? Or...did she know I'm taking one no matter what? We're thankful for YOU, BalanchineBaby! (...Zzzz...)
12.02.2013: DWTSynopsisWell, I've come to expect that the best "star"-dancer doesn't always win these reality TV competitions. And, that's what happened in the finale of Dancing With The Stars last week. Actor/Producer Corbin Bleu edged by chanteuse Amber Riley for the "coveted mirror-ball trophy". But, in a way the best "dancer/choreographer" DID win...and that's pro Derek Hough. Derek's ability to maximize his partner's abilities and his creative, appropriate choreography make for a tough-to-beat combination. And, as many ballroom teachers will tell you, all other things being equal, it's harder to to teach a man to lead than it is for a woman to follow. That wasn't Corbin's weakness this year, but, it was another substantial arrow in Derek's quiver most seasons. (How many wins is that for the "ruff, tuff Derek Hough"?) My only complaint with this season is that so many stronger dancers were eliminated early. Much as I appreciate the effort by Leah and Bill Engvall every week, only their popularity with the vast, unwashed, uneducated public kept them on the show past Snooki, Christina and, especially, Elisabeth. I would've loved to see a freestyle from any of that trio rather than "Mr. Cuban Pete". (And, tell Bill to keep his shirt on from now on! No one needs to see those flabby "moobs" more than once!) Now, speculation turns to the casting of next season. Who would you like to see on the show? Will we see Paris Hilton actually follow up her appearances on the sidelines? Is J-Lo too much of an A-list celebrity and too much a trained dancer to participate after her friend Leah paved the way? And, I hope the producers keep Corbin and Elisabeth in mind for the next All-Star Edition of DWTS!11.27.2013: It's a Mmmadd, Mmmadd, Mmmadd World!!She lives! Ming-Ming will soon be back in town!o) Here's the latest 2013 CCDC Alumni Survey submission!o)1.Who are you and where are you now?This is ("Mmmadd Skyllz") reporting from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And, I am training at the school of Pennsylvania Ballet and taking class with PB2.2. How much dance training are you doing now? How many classes a week? What types or styles of dance are you taking? How is it different, how is it the same as what you got at CCDC?I am dancing for about 35 to 40 hours a week. Even though almost all our classes are centered around ballet we do have modern and Pilates once a week. It is different from CCDC because here they look at you for their future dancers of the company, so even though at CCDC Missy and Emery expect a great amount of their dancers, it is still a whole other mind set. But they are very similar with the amount of artistry and technique they want from their students. Letting those "diamonds" around your neck or the extra hint of "perfume" towards your dancing. Also, depending on the class we receive fewer personal corrections than I did at CCDC.3. How has CCDC dance training help prepare you for what you're doing now? How could we have helped better prepare you?Like ("Maize") stated in her interview, CCDC has prepared me a lot in the prospects of my work ethic and technique. Also, how to bring love and kindness in a world filled with brutal competition. As a dancer, I have learned that your teachers can't always be with you forever and point the way every single time, but the teachers at CCDC have always given me guidance when I needed it most and reminded me of the importance of technique, intelligence, and passion for ballet whenever they could. And I could not have asked for anything more than that :)4. If you're still dancing, what kind of corrections are you getting in class? What was the last correction you remember getting? What was the one that helped you the most?In class, the corrections I get most would have to pertain to my arm placement and the need for speed. They have really tried to work out the habits of my weird pointy elbows and overall lengthening of my short arms! :) And push me at bar to find the ability and center to move fast.5. Are you performing much? What styles, what choreography, what music? Any touring? What else are you looking forward to performing?Pennsylvania Ballet is a VERY Balanchine-styled company. It was founded by Barbra Weisburger, who was one of the first students of Mr. B. George Balanchine personally approved this company to be constructed, so the rep is filled with his ballets. So far, I have seen the company perform the full version of Jewels. It was very, very beautiful and made me fall in love with this company and city even more. Recently, we have been rehearsing for George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, in which I will be playing the part of Spanish/ Hot Chocolate corps. I have also been dressing up as the Sugar Plum Fairy for promotional events. I even got to stand next to Roy Kaiser and shake the Mayor's hand!6. Are you auditioning much? What for? Anything you can tell us?I do plan on auditioning this year for companies, but most of them have not posted anything about audition tours yet or openings in the company, so I will have to see. But I plan on auditioning for as many places as I am able! ;)7. Do you have roommates or apartment mates? Where are they from? Are they dancers as well?Nope! Living the single life! :)8. What's the best thing about where you're living now? What's the thing you miss the most about CCDC and the Capital City area in general?I really love it here because the climate is very similar to Iowa (which you know I love sweater and parka weather),and dancing here brings a new spark to my heart. But, I deeply miss my family and my CCDC family as well. I am a home body, so being away can be hard sometimes:/9. When will you be back in the Capital City area?I will be back (by Wednesday); in time for some turkey!10. What are your plans for the future? Short-term? Long-term?I plan on auditioning for companies this year and seeing what my prospects are! But my ultimate goal would be to get a PB 2 contract for next season with Pennsylvania Ballet.11. What message do you have for the CCDC dancers you left behind? Miss CCDC much? (sob!)My two-cents would be to just take each day the way it is. Be in love with ballet or find another path because with ballet there is no fooling around. You may think you have so much time but in all actuality this career is short and so is life! Believe in yourself and have the passion to propel yourself into it! I miss every single one of you at CCDC and look forward to seeing you soon!xoxoxoxo ("Mmmadd Skyllz") 11.26.2013: T.G.I.D.W.T.S.Tuesday!The final results of DWTS XVII are tonight on ABC. But, here's some of the dialogue generated from the last posting:"...I too am ready to see Bill go. But I give Emma so much credit because she has made every dance fun to watch despite his lack of skill. That is saying something....to which I replied: "...Bill has already boldly gone where no comedian has gone before! He should be proud, but, he should be first to go tonight. He's danced well enough to out-last any other stand-up comic's tenure on the show. Remember how dreadful D-L Hughley (?) was last season and how we were BEGGING to be put out of his misery? The fact that it's hard to remember any other comedian over 17 seasons just speaks volumes about how lackluster they've been collectively on the show..."...And, got this in from another fellow dance-aficionado: "...Sorry, but I cannot watch Bill dance. It hurts my eyes..."...that's what I said!
11.25.2013: T.G.I.D.W.T.S.M!It's the beginning of the end of the popular reality dance competition:Dancing With The Stars! 11.22.2013: 2014 Prix de LausanneAnother competition in the "Olympics of Ballet" for young dancers shaping up:Candidates Selected for the 2014 Prix de Lausanne 11.21.2013: Pay 4 Your Dance EducationTime for timely reminder, CCDC Grads and Grads2B:DsM Women’s Club 11.20.2013: Asian PersuasionWondering why there's a poster of a Sri Lankan event in the CCDC lobby bulletin board? Explanation folos (Photo of poster on the FaceBook page):"...Hi Missy/Emery...Merde Nikiya1! Make us prouder!o)
11.19.2013: Down The Rabbit Hole"Go ask Alice...when she's ten feet tall!" Another chance to catch world-class ballet in HD on the silver screen at Jordan Creek Town Center (double-check that location before you go!o) tonight...IF you're not already dancing at CCDC, of course!o)Date: Tuesday, November 19 11.18.2013: SYTYCD---The Quarter-FinalsThe end is in sight.DWTS 11.18.2013: Comedy SeriesTickets go on sale today:Three More Shows Featured in the TEMPLE COMEDY SERIES 11.15.2013: Bolshoi On Silver ScreenzLooking for something dance-related to do this weekend? Check this out:Bolshoi Ballet's "Le Corsaire" this weekend!...Unfortunately, an earlier listing for Jordan Creek has disappeared. It looks like you may have to drive to Cedar Falls to watch this one. 11.15.2013: Audition ActionPerformance opportunities at the institution we affectionately call "Party Hearty U":UI Theatre to hold auditions Nov. 16-21 11.14.2013: Pregnancy RxHey all you expectant moms or prospective expectant mothers! Give your new child the best headstart on life: (CCDC Pilates or dance classes anyone?)Exercise During Pregnancy Gives Newborn Brain Development a Head Start 11.13.2013: "Darling Nikki"Another submission in the 2013 Annual CCDC Alumni Survey! This one's from a CCDC student who has perhaps flown the furthest since leaving the nest. (Even further than a former student currently modeling in Tokyo.)1. Who are you and where are you now?...And, you can keep up to date with "Nikiya1" at her dance blog.I'm ("Nikiya1") and I am currently a Fulbright scholar in Sri Lanka. At the moment I'm living in the capital, Colombo, studying at the famous Chitrasena dancing school. Soon I'll be moving to Kandy to study with my guru, Master Peter Surasena.2. How much dance training are you doing now? How many classes a week? What types or styles of dance are you taking? How is it different, how is it the same as what you got at CCDC?My Fulbright research is on Kandyan dance, the most prominent traditional dance form in Sri Lanka. Right now I am taking 6-7 classes a week, 2-3 of them being private lessons. As you may have guessed, Kandyan dance is very different from what I got at CCDC. The basic stance from which all movement stems is a 2nd position grand plié. Everything is extremely grounded and there's a lot of foot stamping. However, etiquette is much the same as at a ballet school - good behavior and respect for teachers is demanded.3. How has CCDC dance training help prepare you for what you're doing now? How could we have helped better prepare you?Though the Kandyan dance style is very different from ballet, CCDC has certainly helped prepare me for this experience. First of all, my training at CCDC was instrumental in receiving the Fulbright grant. Also, the discipline I learned at CCDC is crucial here; I'm expected to memorize the syllabus and to work to the best of my ability at each lesson. I hold the philosophy that having a grasp of ballet will help with learning any style, and that's certainly true with Kandyan dance.4. If you're still dancing, what kind of corrections are you getting in class? What was the last correction you remember getting? What was the one that helped you the most?My number one correction is to stay down in that grand plié. It's an issue of building quad strength. Otherwise, I'm getting a lot of corrections on proper coordination of the legs, torso, and arms, which is different than in ballet. Funny how I've taken for granted how naturally ballet coordination comes to me because I've been doing it since I was four, now that I have to learn an entirely new style.5. Are you performing much? What styles, what choreography, what music? Any touring? What else are you looking forward to performing?I haven't performed yet, though we're thinking of putting on a very small show for my friends and family when they come to visit. I may perform 2 or 3 of the vannam, which are 5-7 minute traditional dances including the elephant, cobra, and gem dances. The only music used for Kandyan dancing is the Kandyan drum. Dancers must know how to drum, and the teachers play the drum for all my classes. I will hopefully learn how to drum as well.6. Are you auditioning much? What for? Anything you can tell us?Definitely not auditioning for anything at the moment. However, I might like to audition for some part-time modern/contemporary dance work when I get back to the States, wherever I happen to land.7. Do you have roommates or apartment mates? Where are they from? Are they dancers as well?Right now I live in an annex all by myself, which is rather lonely. When I get to Kandy in December, I'll be living with my teacher and his family. They have a dance studio right in their house.8. What's the best thing about where you're living now? What's the thing you miss the most about CCDC and the Capital City area in general?I miss cheese and not sweating all the time. However, the mangos here are delicious, and I can't complain too much about living in a tropical paradise for a year.9. When will you be back in the Capital City area?My grant lasts through June, during which time I'm not really allowed to leave Sri Lanka. So I'll be home at the beginning of July 2014.10. What are your plans for the future? Short-term? Long-term?When I get back to the US, I'm planning on finding a job somewhere for a year or two while I teach Kandyan dance workshops and apply for graduate school. I'm thinking of studying medical anthropology with a focus on mental health issues. But plans can always change, and I'm open to any opportunities which may come my way.11. What message do you have for the CCDC dancers you left behind? Miss CCDC much? (sob!)Work hard, but make sure that you're always enjoying yourself. You never know where your dance training will take you! Take classes in any and every dance style you can, and be open to the diversity of options you'll receive from having such excellent dance training. Even if you don't continue with dance, appreciate and put to use the skills you have learned at CCDC. And say hi to my mom. 11.12.13: Lindy HopSecond installment of the Annual CCDC Alumni Survey! (Remember to pass the word...esp. to alumni we haven't heard from in a long time!o)Hi Missy and Emery!!! 11.11.2013:Dance Series Tix On Sale TODAY!Spectacular line-up coming for the 2014 Dance Series:Fourth Season of THE DANCE SERIES Debuts in January 11.11.2013: T.G.I.D.W.T.S.MondayLittle bit o' dancing to start your week off on a bright note! Here's a recap of last week's DWTS action:Dancing With The Stars! 11.08.2013: She LIVEZ!oDFirst of, hopefully, many replies to the Semi-Annual CCDC Alumni Survey!o)1.Who are you and where are you now?...Great answers, Maize! Remember to pass the word to all CCDC alumni! Enquiring minds wanna know!o)
11.07.2013: Smoke Signalz...Don't smoke tobacco either!Face It: Twins Who Smoke Look Older 11.06.2013: Enquiring Mindz Wanna Know!o)It's that time of the year! Time for the annual CCDC Alumni Survey! It's open to all CCDC alumni and we especially encourage those of you we may have lost touch with to participate! Send the completed survey to Info@GoCCDC.Com. And, if you're in touch with any CCDC alum, be sure to let them know! Ready? 5, 6...5, 6, 7, 8...GO!o)...Remember to help spread the word to any CCDC alumni about the annual survey! The more, the merrier!o)
11.04.2013: Ballet in KC#CCDC Adult #Ballet #dancer takes a #dance oriented field trip:"...Birthday weekend in KC. at new KC Ballet building. Gorgeous. Industrial. open. Nice studios. Little loft over big company studio to watch. small dressing room. No place to warm up except on cement floor outside studio. I was the only one warming up. took open intermed/adv class. Mixed bag. No corrections. Not even general corrections. Couple probable former pros left after barre. I had to go front/ center n 1st across floor. Other students stepped back n teacher asked. Aargh. Pressure to remember combos. Despite level of students teacher did not change level of combos. Meh. But watched company class end of barre/ start of center. New artistic director teaching. Very little head/neck. Stare straight ahead = zombie dancers. A few smiles. N stretched/ breathed / held. My eyes stayed on them. Same as CCDC corrections -- straight knee in all arabesques. Point toes not just feet. Keep foot attached to leg up n down passé. Turn out supporting leg. Nice to know pros still work at stuff I do. Gonna try more to DANCE at barre n smile n pretend I'm in front even when I'm not..." 11.04.2013: T.G.I.D.W.T.S.Monday!o)Best thing about Monday for you non-NFL fans: Dancing With The Starz! Here's a recap of the latest action:Dancing With The Stars! 11.01.2013: Performance PostingChance to check out some dance at the institution we affectionately call "Party Hearty U":UI dancers set works by international writers in motion 10.31.2013: Cups#CCDC's Rothbart sends along this webvideo tap send-up:...And, if you like what you saw, don't forget to sign up for #CCDC Tap Dance Classes!o)
10.30.2013: "BARRE" BarsProper nutrition is fuel for a dancer's body. It's important to keep properly fueled and hydrated to be able to dance and perform well. But, as we all know, not all food or drink is created equal. So, I've been reading a lot of advance publicity about the new "barre" food bar. It's billed as "a real food bar developed by two professional dancers. (made with whole foods for real athletes)". I like to support my fellow dancers when I can, so, I thought I'd buy a bar or two of "barre" to take out for a test taste when I saw it on sale at the local health food store. This is part of what's printed on the wrapper:"For dancers, striking a nutritional balance that provides energy and stamina is a challenging necessity. After trying nearly every bar available we decided it was high time to create our own using real whole foods. Enter stage left: Barre! Barre helps us stay in top performance shape without weighing us down. Try Barre before a ballet class, yoga, pilates or whenever you need to perform your best. We hope it becomes part of your repertoire as it has ours! --- Julia and Aaron"...Find out more at www.realfoodbarre.com. The flavor I bought is called "ballerina spirulina". And, I snarfed it down before teaching class at CCDC one Friday and I enjoyed it. I think it tastes better with some hot tea to wash it down. But, the best thing was: I wasn't starving after teaching a full ballet class before dinner. The only hesitation for me would be the relatively high cost of health food snacks: $3.09 a barre at the store, $2.50 a barre on-line or a dozen for $27.48. For some reason, buying real wholesome, healthy food in America comes at a premium. So, I'd suggest waiting for a sale and stocking up then. You can find "barre" bars at New City Market on University just east of the golf course across from the Waveland Cafe. That's also a good place to get your nutrition and health food questions answered. Ask for certified nutritionist and former dancer Jim Raife.
10.29.2013: Something WICKED This Way Comes...Again!Calling all starving artists and poor supporters of the arts (redundant, I know!) Chance for reduced price and FREE tickets to WICKED!WICKED Announces Lottery for $25 Tickets 10.28.2013: T.G.I.D.W.T.S.Monday!o)The second half of the popular reality dance competition returns to ABC tonight. Here's a recap of last week's action...(spoiler alert!) or non-action:Dancing With The Stars! 10.25.2013: Performance PostingShow up and support CCDC Summer Intensive Guest Modern Instructor Kathleen Hurley and her fellow dancers this weekend:"...Join Hurley & Dancers (Kathleen, Lana and Jen!) as they perform with live organ to Bach's "Taccata and Fugue" in Westminster Church's Halloween "Hoot N Howl" event this Saturday at 7 p.m., 4114 Allison Ave. in DsM. Free! 10.24.2013: Trashing TrampsBack away from tramp, Scamp!Why Kids Should Not be Allowed on Trampolines 10.23.2013: Dance DialogueFeedback to "Monday Night Footfall!" posting earlier this week:"...It's (early) and I'm avoiding digging into my real work so I shall comment. 10.22.2013: Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance!Recognizing local students participating in the real life GLEE!:DsM Performing Arts Announces the Second Year of High School Musical Theater Awards 10.21.2013: TGIDWTSM!!!Who needs Monday Night Football when there's Monday Night FOOTFALL? Here's a recap of last week's surprise elimination:Dancing With The Stars! 10.18.2013: Directive From DavidMessage from ABT/Bolshoi Ballet Principal Danseur about this weekend's performance coming to a silver screen near you:David Hallberg Reports from Moscow: On Spartacus ...Here's more info: Synopsis: 10.17.2013: Spartacus LIVES...and Dances!o)Your chance to watch world-class ballet comes to a silver screen near you in the Capital City:The Bolshoi Ballet's "Spartacus" is this weekend! 10.16.2013: Pink Ribbon CampaignThis is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And, here's a sobering study, party people! (Somebody notify @Vodka_Samm!o)School-Age Drinking Increases Breast Cancer Risk 10.15.2013: CCDC Family FeedbackA supportive CCDC mom just texted us this:"...I support you 100%, you guys do so much for all of your dance students and I want you to know that you are appreciated!! <3 <3...You and Emery were very patient for a long time and I know you did it for the kids"...And, here's a note from a CCDC alum "...As I'm going in to this stressful Gala tech week I'm missing you and Emery right about now. Just wish we had someone here to clean this dance like you guys do! Lol miss you!!..." 10.14.2013: Judging The Starz!TGIMondays! TGIDWTSM!: Here's last week's play-by-play:Dancing With The Stars! 10.11.2013: Performance PostingUpdate from CCDC Alum "GitUrFaShawn":"...It's that time again! If anyone's somehow not busy this fall, Dance Gala is coming up mid-October... And I'll be making an appearance along with (@Sasher7)! The performances are on October 17-19th and 23-26th at 8:00 PM and October 20th at 2:00 PM. I will be dancing in a restaging of faculty member Jennifer Kayle's 2004 piece "A Million Fools on Fire" and also performing in visiting artist Esther Baker-Tarpaga's new work "How does th!$ app work? lol feels like I’m mi$behaving." (@Sasher7) will be a yet-to-be-titled piece choreographed by faculty member Eloy Barragan. 10.10.2013: Globe TrotterKeep up to date with a world-traveling CCDC alum and Fulbright scholar in Asia:"...Dear family and friends, 10.09.2013: Apparent Ways InTestimonial from CCDC parent:"...I am a "dance mom" to 2 dancing daughters. We have known Missy and Emery for almost 20 years, and have followed them throughout their teaching careers around central Iowa. My girls have studied with every serious central Iowa ballet school and teacher over the years, and we kept coming back to Emery and Missy. When they opened CCDC, we were excited to be able to train under their undivided attention. 10.08.2013: The Student Reviews, Part Trois et QuartreAs part of the bargain for winning tickets to last weekend's performances of Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty, the winning CCDC students were required to write a short reaction piece. Here are the final two of four reviews:"...Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty is extraordinarily different from the classical Sleeping Beauty. Maybe that is because it is a Gothic Romance, and not a fairy tale. But either way it is still a masterpiece. Right from the beginning it captures the audiences attention in a somewhat alarming way. It has humor, romance, evilness, and many more aspects. One of my favorite parts is at the beginning when the fairies come to baby Aurora. They have quirky yet beautiful movements in each variation that are different from the one before. The costumes are absolutely stunning and fit the story and time period perfectly. Another part that I enjoyed was the technology that they incorporated into the show. They used different colored lights and had many scene changes, there were mirrors used in the set and was even a conveyor belt. As the dancers moved they would sometimes stand on the conveyor belt and dance giving of a very interesting illusion of moving one way, but really going the other way. As for the choreography, there can be many different opinions. One could say that is was very good and fun to watch, or one could say that it was to weird and to different. But as it says, this is a Gothic Romance, not a classical ballet. So for this type of piece, the choreography was spot on. The movements would change as the scenes changed. There would be fast and sharp moves and then there would be soft, languid movements, so there was a variety of both, and even a little ballet in there here and there....And, here's the last one: "...Overall, I thought that it was a great show! It was not what I expected, but it was very good to experience something different. I thought the stage was very different, yet perfect. The use of the conveyer belt was perfect when the fairies were coming into Aurora's room to give her their gifts. Speaking of the fairies, I really enjoyed watching their variations. I thought each was very different and unique. For example, while one fairy kept falling in his variation, another was very quick and included many fast turns. The fairies' costumes were impeccable! They had a lot of detail and were all unique. In fact, all the costumes were excellent! My favorites were Aurora's birthday dress and the light purple fairy's costume....If you have a review of a performance, submit it here.
10.07.2013: Reality RecapWeek Four of the reality dance competition continues tonight on ABC:Dancing With The Stars! 10.04.2013: The Student Reviews, Part Un et DeuxAs part of the bargain for winning tickets to this weekend's performances of Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty, the winning CCDC students were required to write a short reaction piece. Here's the first two of what should be four reviews:...Here's another: "...Sleeping Beauty Review...Any other reviews or reaction pieces to any performances can always be submitted here. 10.03.2013: Message from Margaruite!A former Capital City Dance Center student sends in this unsolicited testimonial:"...Hello! I’m writing as a previous dancer with Capital City Dance Center. I studied under Melissa (Missy) and Emery Uyehara for eight years as a ballet dancer. I would love for this note to be viewed as a testament to Missy, Emery, and the CCDC faculty’s dedication, generosity, and knowledgeable guidance as teachers of dance and role models within and outside the studio doors. I am not dancing under a contract as a professional dancer, nor am I practicing ballet and dance on a daily basis; however my love for the art form and its many intricacies flourished under the guidance of Missy, Emery, and all faculty of CCDC. 10.02.2013: Student FeedbackJust got this texted to us from a CCDC PreProfessional Ballet Program student recently: (Made my week!o)"...Today in English class we watched a video about happiness and letting people know we appreciate them. In the video they had to call the person that influences them the most. After watching the video we wrote about who influences us. I thought I should let you know I choose you guys! You do so much for everyone at the studio and I know that my abilities and achievements wouldn't be what they are today without you. Thank you so much for everything you do!(:..." 10.01.2013: Bourne's Beauty: The Review From @SirDanGuyIn one of the most memorable moments of Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty at the DsM Civic Center this weekend, a ghostly, floating Princess Aurora can be seen dimly drifting in the air behind a scrim (the fabulous Hannah Vassallo carried aloft by other unseen dancers clad in black). She's just been put in a trance, a dream-state, she's floating in her century long slumber, but, even in sleep, she's calling to her love, the gamekeeper Leo (the equally impressive Dominic North) not to forget her or forsake her. He's locked outside of the gates of the palace and seeks extraordinary measures to stay alive for a hundred years of waiting for his true love to reawaken.And, a similar ghost was haunting, wafting in the background, of at least some members of the audience this weekend. It was the spectre of the classic ballet: The Sleeping Beauty. Whenever the familiar strains of the Tchaikovsky music would begin, the ghost would whisper "Don't forget me! Don't forsake me!" For those of us who've seen, performed, coached or choreographed the ballet, it could have become a schizophrenic experience. And, it was apparently too much for at least one of my old running mates from the local professional company. She and her spouse sat directly behind us, but, were nowhere to be found after the interval. It must have been too much for some wedded to the classical ballet version to divorce themselves long enough to enjoy the Bourne version. This was not your grandfather's ballet! ...unless your grandfather is named Matthew Bourne! Those who kept an open mind were not disappointed at the performances this weekend. And, there was enough classical dance technique among the New Adventures Dance Company to satisfy even the most demanding balletomanes. Count Lilac filled the bill most nicely, Christopher Marney's turns and balances and classic line and fine ballet training were clearly evident throughout the performance. And, he improved the longer the show went on. Tom Jackson Greaves as Carabosse and Caradoc was a brooding, dark, dramatic presence as either character. And, North was an engaging, very likable and accessible presence as Aurora's back-door suitor. But, it was a dramatic tour de force for Ms Vassallo as the sleeping beauty. Starting off as a young girl in the first act and dancing as a radiant young woman after the interval, she was always a consummate professional and charismatic presence. It was hard to take your eyes off her! Kudos also to Lez Brotherton's costuming and sets and Paule Constable'sdramatic lighting. (Loved the slidewalks upstage! What an excellent choreographic device!) The recorded music sounded a little tinny to my tin ears. Perhaps a boost in the bass would help the audio presence of the show. But, the true star of the show was the mind of the master. Matthew Bourne's reverential reimagining of the classic ballet is an engaging tour de force for the award-winning choreographer. I tweeted afterwards "Thank you @MattBourne1, from an old Florimund, for allowing me to hear the music again for the first time in a long time!" He managed to seize Tchaikovsky's war-horse by the scruff, shake it around and clean it up. He took off the tutus and the pointe shoes and made the creaky, old legend even more relevant to a larger audience. I still remain true to the ghost of the original ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, but, in this case, respecting and enjoying Petipa does not mean I can't enjoy the inventive, imaginative, incredible Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty as well! But, perhaps, the biggest disappointment was in the audience for the show. Or, rather the lack, thereof. The upper rows of seats were curtained off, but, even then, only half of the 2700 seats appeared to be filled for the primetime Saturday evening performance. And, this was after an aggressive marketing campaign (How else could I get those interviews with the dancers and director before the show?), a markdown of ticket prices and a liberal give-away program to fill seats. (That's how CCDC managed to get four extra students in to see the show Saturday night. Watch for their reviews here soon!o) If Des Moines expects to be able to keep offering unique cultural opportunities like the North American premiere of a Bourne production, Des Moiniacs need to stop showing up disguised as empty seats!
09.30.2013: Dancing With The Starz!The third episode, the second elimination the Salute to Hollywood of DWTS is tonight on ABC! Who's going to join Keyshawn on the sidelines? Here's a recap of last week and a prediction:Dancing With The Stars! 09.27.2013: Bourne UltimatumThe U-S premiere of Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty is tonight in the Capital City! CCDC's @SirDanGuy sat down recently with Mr. Bourne for an exclusive one-on-one interview with the internationally renowned choreographer. Questions range from his thoughts on crowd-sourced choreography, his plans for the future, his advice for dancers and for choreographers and more. The 27-minute interview has been broken up into three nine-minute chunks. Here's the final installment:Copyright Capital City Dance Center ...And, click here to hear an interview with Hannah Vassa Llo of New Adventures Dance Company as she prepares to perform as Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty's U.S. premiere tonight in the Capital City! ...CCDC Preprofessional Program Students! Be sure to attend your Saturday classes for a unique opportunity relating to Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty! Shh! I've said too much already...<:oP 09.26.2013: Bourne SupremacyThe North American premiere of Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty is tomorrow in the Capital City. CCDC's @SirDanGuy sat down with Mr. Bourne for an exclusive one-on-one interview with the internationally renowned choreographer. Questions ranged from the difference in audiences and dancers in Europe and America, what he looks for when he auditions dancers, the future of ballet and his plans beyond SB. The 27-minute interview has been broken up into three nine-minute chunks. Here's the second part:Copyright Capital City Dance Center ...And, click here to hear an interview with Domini C North of New Adventures Dance Company as he prepares to perform as Leo and Autumnus in Sleeping Beauty's U.S. premiere tomorrow night in the Capital City. 09.25.2013: Bourne IdentityThe North American premiere of Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty is this weekend in the Capital City. CCDC's @SirDanGuy sat down with Mr. Bourne for an exclusive one-on-one interview with the internationally renowned choreographer. Questions ranged from the difference in audiences and dancers in Europe and America, what he looks for when he auditions dancers, the future of ballet and his plans beyond SB. The 27-minute interview has been broken up into three nine-minute chunks and will be posted today, tomorrow and Friday. Here's the first part:Copyright Capital City Dance Center ...And, click here to hear an interview with @ChrisMarney of New Adventures Dance Company as he prepares to perform as Count Lilac in Sleeping Beauty's U.S. premiere this weekend in the Capital City. 09.24.2013: A Beauty Is BourneReminder of a unique opportunity tonight to hear more from choreographer award-winning choreographer Matthew Bourne. (Reminder that we'll be posting audio of a personal one-on-one interview with the internationally renowned Artistic Director later this week!):With Matthew Bourne Hosted by Jeff Chelesvig Tuesday, Sept. 24 - 6pm DsM Performing Arts - Temple Theater As the Capital City prepares to welcome the North American Premiere of Matthew Bourne's "Sleeping Beauty", DsM Performing Arts' Jeff Chelesvig will host a one-hour conversation with Mr. Bourne. You will have the opportunity to hear directly from Bourne about his work, career and creative process. Bourne has been honored with more than 50 international awards for his choreography, including the Tony for the Broadway production of "Mary Poppins". The New York Times proclaims that "Sleeping Beauty" is "Bourne at his best".
Free ...Want to see "Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty", but, you're a poor, starving artist? (redundant, I know!o) Here's a limited time offer to get tickets HALF OFF!
...And, ICYMI, here's Matthew Bourne on a local radio program: Courtesy WHO Radio 09.23.2013: TGIMonday! TGIDWTSM!Okay! Mea culpa. Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa! I was wrong! This is NOT the weakest field ever for DWTS. This could be the strongest opening episode since the All-Star season! Eye-opening start to the latest season of the elimination dance competition. And, as one other fan predicted, I'm a little less partial to tossing Snooki off the island after she started dancing! Shut me up! Put me in my place! "The hot mess" can dance! Here's the rest of the recap:Dancing With The Stars! 09.20.2013: Bourne IdentityNext week, your humble ballet blogger, the CCDancedoC (@SirDanGuy), has confirmed a one-on-one interview with...wait for it...MATTHEW BOURNE! The internationally renowned choreographer will be in the Capital City to oversee the North American premiere of his reimagining of Sleeping Beauty. If you had a chance to talk with Mr. Bourne, what would you ask him? Send me any questions or suggestions of topics you'd like to explore. Audio of the interview will be posted here to help you prepare for the show.And, in case you've been living in a ballet cave, here's some information his handlers sent me about Mr. Bourne and Sleeping Beauty: Matthew Bourne,Sleeping Beauty director and choreographer 09.19.2013: Media BacklashFeedback on earlier snarky sight-unseen DWTS comments:"...Let's start with SYTYCD. I missed much of the season and only caught a couple of episodes here and there so I never developed a fan favorite. But let's just say of the four in the finale, the two I liked best did not win. I thought the African American female (who's name is escaping me) was just stunning. 09.18.2013: Dance+Music $cholar$hip$Hey, CCDC graduating seniors of the Class of 2014 and current college students! Local group wants to help you train to reach your performing arts dream:DsM Women’s Club 09.17.2013: Media MentionzThis is how unexcited we are about Season 10 of SYTYCD: Still haven't finished watching the season finale. The results got tweeted to me soon after it went final last week, so no suspense there. Congrats...ho-hum...to Amy and Fik-Shun. Hats off to the smaller dancers! Did manage to watch a few routines of SYTYCD between football games this weekend, just made me realize how much I missed Malece, Makenzie, Tucker. Okay, I did like the tap routine between the three hoofers in the top twenty. But, the best thing was the announcement by @DizzyFeet that SYTYCD will be back for Season Eleven. Just wondering if more really good, really charismatic dancers will show up? Here's hoping Breaking Pointe makes a season three as well! That Allison is starting to grow on me. But, I think that Rex is way too good for her! But, the heart wants what the heart wants apparently....Also, we'll be posting recaps of DWTS soon. But, not too hopeful given the announced cast. Did hear that Corbin Bleu has some training, so, he's my pick sight unseen. Also, sight unseen, I hope Snooki gets voted off the dance island first! And, as a former DWTS fan was commiserating with me, that "all-star season" spoiled us both! ...Watched an episode of Derek Hough's Family Dance-Off. Like the "ruff, tuff Derek Hough" as a choreographer and performer. But, hopefully, he'll stick to teaching, choreographing and dancing and not hosting television shows. Leave it to the pros like the smooth, affable, unflappable Tom Bergeron! There's no one quicker with a quip than The Berg-meister!. Now, I like that families are encouraged to dance in the Family Dance Off, but, I don't necessarily want or need to watch mediocre, if enthusiastic, dancing. ...OMG! Can somebody ban bad ballet dancing on Miss America, please! Where did Miss California get that bad recital costume tutu this weekend? And, those shiny brand new pointe shoes? She performed Fokine's Dying Swan, and ...(Snark Alert)...I kept hoping she'd give up the ghost early and put us ALL out of her misery!o) Oh Emm Gee! Stop it! ...Also, finally got a chance to watch our copy of the movie Silver Linings Playbook. There's some dancing in there, but, it hardly qualifies as a dance film. Authentic, enthusiastic un-trained dancing is how I'd describe it. Watch it for the heart-warming, life affirming story with well-known actors, but, beg, borrow or steal Strictly Ballroom, First Position or Turning Pointe if you want to watch good dancing as well as an engaging story. 09.16.2013: Campus DancingDance pioneer visiting the institution lovingly nicknamed "Party Hearty U". Hopefully, Vodka_Samm will stay home:Contemporary dance pioneer is Ida Cordelia Beam Visiting Professor Sept. 16-18 09.16.2013: Sneak Peek of "Beauty"Unique opportunities this week and coming weeks to preview Matthew Bourne's "Sleeping Beauty":Matthew Bourne's SLEEPING BEAUTY BBC Documentary Screening Tuesday, Sept. 17 - 6pm DsM Arts Center - Levitt Auditorium Join us for an exclusive screening of the recently released BBC documentary "A Beauty is Born: Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty". The 52-minute film follows Matthew Bourne - Great Britain's most commercially successful choreographer - through the rehearsal process and up to opening night of "Sleeping Beauty" in London. "Sleeping Beauty" completes the trilogy of Tchaikovsky ballets
Free and open to the public
As the Capital City prepares to welcome the North American Premiere of Matthew Bourne's "Sleeping Beauty", DsM Performing Arts' Jeff Chelesvig will host a one-hour conversation with Mr. Bourne. You will have the opportunity to hear directly from Bourne about his work, career and creative process. Bourne has been honored with more than 50 international awards for hsi choreography, including the Tony for the Broadway production of "Mary Poppins". The New York Times proclaims that "Sleeping Beauty" is "Bourne at his best".
Free
Recap: the hop, The fall. "silly mistake!" "It hurts so bad!"
Watching opening of Cinderella. Sumptuous costumes, excellent ancing. "My back is killing me!" Allison says she doesn't feel as if the relationshp is worth it. Chris and Christiana troubles continue. "Last chance to wow donors, foundation, people who want to see the arts succeed!" Ticket sales only cover about forty-percent of costs.
One day until closing night. "Daily class is part of the art form!" Rex puts it all on the line for possible promotion. Beckanne stresses about her relationship with Chase. Sayaka slips. Injries affect the entire cast. "Closing night has to be perfect!" Such standards dancers set for themselves. Katie! back in town to talk with BeckAnne for closing. "Sucks, This could be the last ballet Chase andI do together!" Therabands and ice baths! WElcome to the dancers' world. Josh's mom is comng to see him perform in the last show. "I miss my baby!" "We fasted because we didn't have food in the house."
Rex puts pressure o himself to have a perfect ending. The partnership extends off stage as well. "If I don't get promoted I dodn't want to stay!"
Josh's mom visits. "the second I discovered ballet I knew!" "My mom sacrificed a lot for me to get to where I'm at today."
Two hours until showtime. "Closing night" Notes from Adam. "Turn out!" Last minute sewing. Last minute make up. Shots of audienc milling around. Five minute call. Dancers scramble for places. Orchestra tunes up. Wow! Christiana is cold to Chris. Leave me alone. I just want to be left alone to prepare. "Adam wants tobe "a world class company". The overture sounds, the curtain rises. I've never wanted anything more than dancing in the company. "How many people in this world are 20 years old and living their dream?" Jester does some good turns! Nice clean entrechat six! in the Corps. "All I see is my mother in the audience!" Allison's variation begins. BUT, the scrim gets stuck. Tech problems! I'm thinking duck under or go around!
After break: "Oh, no!" "Start dancing and hope for the best!"Rex saves the day. Allison's the Ice Queen! "I want to do well for Rex." Seems like she's answered her own question about who really cares for her!. Rex saves the day! "What a princely thing to do!" Rex shows some nice turns! But, I just wish he would hold those shoulders down!. Nice tours, nice turns. He deserves a promotion. Demi soloist dancing principal roles! No brainer, Adam. Christiana, I want to be spectacular. Love watching Christiana dance. Proves Ballet West is th equal of a major professional company. Hard to do pressage without watching the girl!. Standing ovation for the company!
Rex signs autographs! Ugh! Zach wears Uggs! Touching moment between mom and son!. "It's all because of you, Mom! Forcing me to take class!" Closing night party: Wow! These dancers clean up really well. $100,000 check! "Took my breath away!" Really happy people! "Work the room. Go home!"
Next day: BeckAnne and Chase. Chase says he'll stay for another season with BeckAnne and Ballet WEst. Wow! BeckAnne is just glowing! Chris is walking alone to a bar. He's "Dying of a broken heart".
Adam and Rex start their conversation. "You have been an absolute pain in the a**!" He gets promoted to First Soloist. "You have always produced for me and I have a great belief in you." Adam again proves he has such a close relationship with his dancers. Honest, supportive and aboveboard! I wish I had that with my Artistic Directors!
Christiana moves out of her home with Chris. "I have to do this. Scariest thing I've done. but this is what needs to happen right now!"
Post Cinderella company class: The company rose to the challenge of Cinderella and the Ashton style. We're going to LA for a fundraiser. Ballet West takes small group to city of Los Angeles. Plus they get an extra day in LA.
Season finale: in LA. Allison professes her love for Rex? What's up with that? You need to be alone for awhile there, girl!
Wild Kingdom: Prints of Britain presents British works on paper spanning 300 years from the
Art Center’s Permanent Collections. The exhibition compares and contrasts British artists’
rapturous visions of the natural world with dark and pessimistic visions of human nature. The
natural world is beautiful and benign, but human society seems a veritable jungle, full of
urgency and terror.
Artists include Henry Adlard, Thomas Allom, Robert Austin, J. Bakewell, William Blake,
Carington Bowles, Leonora Carrington, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Richard Corbould, Alan
Davie, Richard Deacon, Lucian Freud, James Gillray, John Gould, Richard Hamilton, David
Hockney, William Hogarth, Gary Hume, Allen Jones, Anish Kapoor, Edith Lawrence, Chris Ofili,
William Strang, and Joseph Mallord William Turner. Wild Kingdom: Prints of Britain is organized
by Amy N. Worthen, curator of prints and drawings.
British artist Richard T. Walker makes videos, photographs, text works, and performances that
reveal a frustrated, obsessive relationship with landscape and at the same time explores the
complexity of human relations. Videos and photographs show the artist alone in the center of
dramatic landscapes, occupying a position reminiscent of a classic romantic figure
contemplating the infinite, awe-inspiring mysteries of an impersonal natural world.
Wild Kingdom runs through January 5, 2014; let this be us will be shown through November 17,
2013.
Full disclosure: I've only seen one other production of "Fiddler On The Roof" (an ISU version at Stephens Auditorium to watch a former student perform the "bottle dance"), but, I've seen a number of Playhouse productions (as a member of the media we get offered comps quite often). And, I took them up on this offer of free tickets to watch a current CCDC student perform as "Shprintze" in this production, but, all that aside: this is one of the best productions I've ever seen at the theater on 42nd street. (Comparable to even to the Buddy Holly story/musical that blew everyone out of the water a few years ago.)
Sure it's community theater, but, I dare say this production could, for the most part, play the DsM Civic Center and withstand much higher expectations and ticket prices. The sets, curtain and backdrops are colorful and wonderful and the transitions from scene to scene, for the most part, seamless and unnoticeable. The lighting design is subtle and evocative. The music is live and never hit a wrong note, kudos to Conductor Mary Craven.
Kudos also to a strong cast. Some of the accents were more midwestern at times than Eastern European Yiddish, but, the leads were quite believable, all strong in voice and equally adept at comic and dramatic timing. A big tip of the yarmulke to Tim Wisgerhof (Tevye) and Preshia Paulding (Golda). Special accolades to Valley High School Junior Jada Smith who brought tears to my jaded eyes in Chava's confrontation with Wisgerhof. But, another daughter, while clear as a bell, needs to work on projecting to fill a theater with her singing voice more.
"Fiddler On The Roof" is an iconic musical with songs that have gone on to become standards beyond the stage. ("If I Were A Rich Man", "Sunrise, Sunset"...) The themes of tradition versus change and family versus faith resonate especially strongly even today. The Playhouse production is a stellar incarnation (And, not just because CCDC's Jillian Michelle G. is a charismatic star-in-waiting who is luminescent on stage!o) If you believe in shopping local and supporting local talent, catch the production at the theater on 42nd Street. It's scheduled to run until the end of the month. (And, if you go, silence your cell phone and LEAVE IT SILENCED AFTER INTERMISSION! Then, everyone won't turn and glare at you like they did to one inconsiderate callee Saturday night!o)
Hate to write it, but, this show has lost my interest. Not fond of any of the two remaining boys. Think Tucker or Paul should've won. Amy should win on the women's side. Something very likable about her always. Cat says, "Fever-Pitch in the studio tonight!" Ho-Hum "...hundred-thousand dollars up for grabs!" ...Yawn.. "Cover of Dance Spirit Magazine!" ...Zzzzz. Not invested in these dancers. Good dancers most of them, but...not exciting. Where's Makenzie and Malece when you need them? Guest judges: Paula Abdul and former Iowan Gabby Douglas. No wonder she moved to California! (Most of her comments turn out to be as insightful as you'd expect from a 17-year old non-dancer.)
Amy/Aaron: Ray Leeper Jazz. Non-stop Aerobic effort. Amy in Stenciled cut-out unitard. Fast movement. Amy dominating this. Aaron serving as foil and lifter. Don't really like this choreography. Ends with glares at the audience! How competition of them!o)
Jazmin/Fik-shun: Travis Wall Contemporary Routine. Fikshun has tall order in Jazmin due to the size difference. ("She's a tall drink of water...and I'm a THIRSTY man!") Good news is: It's Travis Wall! The choreographer's using her legs and placing them in positions that disguise their height differences. Still can't hide his lack of formal dance training however. His lack of upper body stretch only disappears when he does a bit of Street isolations. Nice choreography. Would've loved to see it with a better male partner!
Aaron/Melinda: Tap by Anthony. This must be fun. Wow! Some fast tapping as dialogue. Fast and clean. Like an old fashioned typewriter. Very musical. Very emotional. Double pirouette into fouette turns in tap shoes! Best tap I've seen in a long time on this show.
Jasmin/Comfort: Hiphop? Out of her genre! Extra pointes for ambition! Nappy Tabz! Hitting it hard and smooth. Sexy girls dancing hard! to Beyonce! Grrl Power! Jasmin revealing another side of her training, she was exposed to Dragon house after all! She's no neophyte. Keeping up with Comfort, no small task!
Amy/Fik-Shun: Argentine Tango. Miriam and Leonard number. Tango Doble! Great pictures and great poses. She's still a beast and he's keeping up. He has traveled far. Strong heel leads in Tango. only occasional fumbles and missteps and quickly covered. Wow! She's making him lift her correctly. Nice piece!
Jasmine Solo: There's nothing this dancer can't do...and do quite well, thank you. Extension, turns, control, flexibility, presence and personality!
Jasmine/Aaron: Samba! The party dance! Choreography with Dmitriy Chaplin! Spice, fire and magic! Starts with weak turns. sharp hips, though once she descends from raised stage. Trouble taking off outer skirt. That small, raised stage looks slick, slippery and dangerous for dancers. She's got a very commercial look! Long legs, great proportions. Oh, is that Aaron dancing as well?
Fik-Shun Solo: Street dancer. What a personality! "It's my world to control!" The guy is just chock full of charisma! Gangnam style. Sunglasses as prop. Cute choreography!
Amy Solo: Starts off with fabulous control and extension. Emotional content is off the chain and the technique is right there as well. Maybe not the best choreography. But, as performer, she's off the chart!
Fik-Shun/Twtich: hiphop. Swerve 500. Watch these hiphoppers work is like flawless! One is just a smaller or taller version of the other. Jackets come off. Hit it hard and clean! SOO musical and soo controlled. Great comic touches! Those guys were very good together!
Aaron Solo: Fast, clean musical tap. What's not to like? Timing and tempo. Big straddle leap!
Amy/Robert: Stacy Tookey Contemporary piece. Such big endless movements! Easy entry into endless lifts that intertwine into the next move and pose. She slips off the stage but he catches her. their lines are ridiculous! She's a short dancer that dances endlessly! Great emotional content! Great choreography!. She may have just won the competition right there!
Aaron/Fik-Shun: Tyce Diorio broadway piece. In the mean streets of the big city. Slidewalk baggage claim. I could see this on stage. All this broadway jazz. They can really sell their personalities in this number! Either one of the boys could win it here. But, I think Fik Shun might've had the edge there.
Amy/Jasmin: Jazz. Mark Kunimura routine? "Siamese twins from the fierce jungles of Saturn". The Diva Dance. Futuristic metal tutus and black pageboy wigs. Quirky just like Kunimura was. I think these two should win. They leave the boys in the dust!. Crotch shot ending. He's just krazy! In a very weird but good way!
Let the girls win and split the prizes! They both way out class the boys. But, otherwise, I think it's Amy and Fik-shun's to lose!
Venturing into uncharted territory with this seventh episode. Only a half-dozen last year. Starts off with recap of Jonathan and Allison, and Chris and Christiana.
Haven't seen much of Ronnie this year because of his injury. We open again with company class. "It's not really work. It's my love and my passion!" Ian plans his exit post-Cinderella. Big montage of a manege in center. Rex pulls into pirouettes, but, his shoulders need work. Christiana says she'll try to dance on her injured ankle. Christiana and Chris aren't talking at the studio. (There's got to be more going on than the producers are showing!) "I can't let anything stop me right now." She's going to rehearse with Rex. Two dancers, two injuries. Stubborn, much?
On stage rehearsals: "Always a little crazy!" Wigs fly. "Everyone's stressed out." The company is like a little family, a little school. Everyone knows everyone's business. They want to dance well for Adam. Allison declares if Jonathan doesn't come, it'll be a sign for her. "I really need to focus! I can't afford that!"
Dress Rehearsal: "Perfect way to find the weak spots in production!" Yeah, Ian! Trying to prove Adam made the wrong decision! Christiana ready to perform the lead with Rex. Full orchestra rehearsal. Christiana pushes through injury! Pushes through personal life. Ian breaks his thumb? He walks off stage unable to partner. "This ballet is cursed!". But, the show must go on!". Oh, disastrous slip on stage! Who was that? Cut to commercial!
Rex remembers his injury. He looks good in pigtails and white tights!. He's performing with a grim expression. They miss a routine shoulder sit! Bad dress, good performance! "Dress rehearsal was a disaster!"
Notes on stage before company class: "The lifts are the moments that stop the audience's hearts!" Ooh, good notes from Adam. "I can feel my foot swelling!" "Then, don't wear it!" Ian's girlfriend is in the audience. "I need to figure out how to not use one hand!" The year of the injuries for Ballet West. "All I wanted was for Allison to see me on stage! And...it's not going to happen!"
Beckanne's apartment: She's cracking every joint on waking. Josh has opening night jitters. Rex pours himself some coffee. His foot is cramping. Ronnie wakes up...but, he's not doing anything because of his injury. He straps on his boot. The company files into the theater. Make up montage. Ballet lines under their eyes...just like we teach! What? No "merdes"? Allie calls her mom in the dressing room. No family, no fiancé' in the audience. Look at her make-up "ballet lines" under her eyes! Thank you for educating the audience, CW!
Dang! That Rex has some nice soft effortless tours en l'air. Rex says he'll never be nervous for anything else again! Whatever happened to Rex's brother from last season? Allie leaves comp ticket for Jonathan! But, the seat is empty! "It's a big deal!" If he doesn't come, he doesn't deserve her!
Opening night: Would've loved to see this production. Shots of backstage as Beckanne hits strong balances. OMG! Allie's arches! Nice balances!
Ian watches as an injured dancer in the audience. Zach's wig falls off. Cover it up, man! Mistakes will happen! It's how you handle the aftermath that determines your professionalism. Christiana says her personal life is affecting her professional life. She falls off pointe during a fouette balance. That's going to bother her forever! They practice the shoulder sit with questionable consistency. C'mon guys! It's stupid shoulder sit! Cut to commercial!
The lift goes fine. (But, I'd grab her knee to make it safer and more consistent.) His variation is smooth and seamless. Christiana sets a standard of excellence for herself that is almost unattainable. Just like most dancers! Allie talks with Jonathan after the show. Disappointment dripping in her voice. "Sometimes there's too much hurt to keep pushing on!" Christiana has heart to heart with Allie. "Please learn from my mistakes. It's already over!" "It hurts SO BAD!"
Previews show tech problems and Christiana driving away, presumably, from her marriage. This show makes dancers very real. (Too real?) Join the push for season three of BP on CW!
There will be a lot going on at the festival - it's a great opportunity to enjoy all the community has to offer.
Hope to see you there!
(Capital City News Service) – DsM Water Works, in collaboration with Sasaki Associates and RDG Planning & Design, invites the public to see the exciting changes in the works for one of the largest urban parks in the nation. A public open house for the Water Works Park Master Plan will be held on September 10, 5:00-8:00 p.m., at Water Works Park’s event lawn (west end of the park off of George Flagg Parkway). Signs and volunteers will guide visitors to the site. Enjoy food, music and family-fun activities that will assist visitors to envision what’s on tap for Water Works Park.
The evening’s activities include paddleboarding and canoeing demonstrations, a water dance performance, a guided ecology bike tour, live music, fishing tips and tricks, and community eco-art projects for the whole family. See below for a complete list of activities and schedule. Enjoy free tacos from Tacopocalypse and free re-usable water bottles for the first 200 people. Your feedback on the park plan is the only request.
In the event of inclement weather, activities will be held at DsM Water Works’ general office building, located at 2201 George Flagg Parkway.
Water Works Park Master Plan Open House, September 10, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Water Dance – Paddleboarding dance performance by modern dance company, Hurley and Dancers.
6:15 p.m.
Guided Ecology Bike Tour – Learn about the watersheds, flood plain forest ecosystems and the restoration of disturbed areas, including the infamous “Lost Planet.” A limited number of B-cycle Bikes from the Bike Collective will be available for use. Note: The trail is not strenuous, but participants will ride on asphalt, gravel and mowed grass.
Tibetan Buddhist Monks from the Gaden Shartse Monastery in India will be on Drake University’s campus September 9–13, 2013, creating a sand mandala and participating in a series of special cultural events that are free and open to the public.
The creation of the sand mandala is an artistic tradition for Tibetan Buddhists. The mandala is a symbolic picture of the universe and its purpose is to help transform ordinary minds into enlightened ones.
The mandala is created with millions of grains of colored sand, which is applied using small tube-like straws, funnels, and scrapers. Once completed, the mandala is destroyed, symbolizing the Buddhist doctrinal belief in the transitory nature of material life.
Visitors may view the ongoing construction of the sand mandala Monday through Friday in the Collier Heritage Room in Cowles Library between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Additional special events are listed below:
Monday, Sept. 9, 7 p.m. – Path of the Bodhisattva, lecture
Cowles Library Reading Room
Tuesday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m. – An Evening of Sacred Music and Dance
Sheslow Auditorium
Wednesday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m. – World Peace and the Unity of all Religions, lecture
Cowles Library Reading Room
Thursday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m. – Buddhist Community Dialogue
Cowles Library Reading Room
Friday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m. – Sand Mandala Closing Ceremony
Collier Heritage Room, Cowles Library
Capital City News Service– Be a part of the hottest ticket in town when DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE
PARTY returns to the Temple Theater, Wednesday, Dec. 4 through Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013.
DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE PARTY opens the Temple Comedy Series, a presentation of the Prairie
Meadows Temple Theater Series presented by DsM Performing Arts.
DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE PARTY stars Dixie Longate, as the fast-talking Tupperware lady, who
has packed up her catalogues, and left her children in an Alabama trailer park to journey across
America. Critics and audiences howl with laughter as Dixie throws a good ol' fashioned
Tupperware party filled with outrageously funny tales, heartfelt accounts, FREE giveaways,
audience participation and the most fabulous assortment of Tupperware ever sold on a theater
stage!
Loaded with the most up-to-date products available for purchase, Ms. Longate will share how
she became the number one Tupperware seller in the world, as she educates her guests on the
many alternative uses she has discovered for her plastic products. NBC’s “Today Show” says
DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE PARTY is “not your grandmother’s Tupperware party!”
Produced by Down South LLC and directed by Patrick Richwood, DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE
PARTY will feature costumes designed by Miss Longate and lighting designed by Richard
Winkler.
For more information on DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE PARTY, visit www.dixiestupperwareparty.com.
No opening number? Still think Amy's going to win this. Paul does a decent double tour en l'air, but, where's Cheyon when you need him? Not a big fan of any of the remaining boys. Hundred-thousand dollar prize. No judge's saves. "No more Twitter battles!" Guest judge: Jesse Tyler Ferguson. "I'm on a new jury."
Okay, here's the Shawn Cheeseman opening number. Partner work. A Revelations type number. Swooping dresses dance along with the girls. Joyful music! Happy dancing! Very Jubilationish movements. Afro-Carribean celebration. Roll opening Credits again!
Paul/Katherine: Tyce Diorio Jazz routine. "Oldest story in the world!" Samba styled jazz. Huge dress start on stage. Starts off with his tumbling Wow, once again hard not to watch the all-star. But, Paul has already done enough to show me he can win this thing. Shake those shoulders! Move those hips! Sensual, passionate, tropical movements. The battle of the sexes plays out on stage!
Amy's Solo: Falls out of turn. But, she is fully committed to every movement. there are some good turns. She dances full out! No half-measures!
Hayley/Joshua: NappyTabz Hiphop fisticuffs pugilistic production. Starts off in the corner of a ring. Hayley has to hit it hard next to an all-star champ. "Girl fight" She suffers in comparison to the champion. Fast and hard number. Work hard, play hard. She embodies the ethic!
Fik-Shun Solo: This guy is so good at what he does. Animation? Humorous and technical. Master of movement illusion. And, that smile is a killer!
Aaron/Melanie: Spencer Liff Broadway number. Playful fight. CHallenging to be at the top of your game. Starts with lifts to George Michael. Her power is forcing him to step up his technique and expression. Character driven dance. His single tour is a little disappointment. But, nothing like a big man dancing big! MIssed a catch of the hand! They're still arguing at the end! He says injuries are no excuse for not dancing full out.
Jazmin Solo: She of the endless legs. Amazing goup. Strong hinge on fully pointed feet. I could see this girl dancing with Aileys. She'd fit right in with all those strong women of color!
Paul Solo: What a hot mom! great energy. Another Double tour. Very charismatic, energetic. Interesting double barrel turn!
Fik-Shun/Whitney: Foxtrot. Tough task keeping up with the ballroom diva. Great music, fun choreography! Watching his shoulders after the last judge's comments Lead is weak!. She's making him look weak. Whitney shows off her front walk-over!
Hayley Solo: Nice foot! Pulls out the competition dancer bag of tricks. Grand pirouettes into turns. Nothing too spectacular in the routine, but, clean and adequate. Will Adequate be enough?
Jazmin/Neal: Tyce Diorio contemporary. Global issues addressed. The suffering. Cinematic piece. Trash scuds across stage to start. Wind machine a physical representation of the abstract. Clouds speed across the back stage. Unorthodox life goes flawlessly. Anguished movements contrast to soft piano score. The contrast is sbulime. Extensions are breathtaking. Final rags scud across the stage in the ending tableaux. Very dramatic. Very powerful. Rousing standing ovation.
Aaron Solo: Okay. My dog can tap! Fast and clean! Sudden and still. Hops on his points with control. Very clean.
Amy/Alex: Bollywood. Story of forbidden love. Sexy, sensual, mature! . Wow! She looks good in sari! Alex! My boy been working out. Very energetic number as always. Effortless jump to the shoulder. No fear. Powerful. Sharp. Joyful. knee spins. Ouch! Those knee spins! Standing ovations! Amy is this season's beast!
Hayley/Paul: Dee Kaspary contemporary routine. Start in deep blue lit stage. Sliding, chasing movements of many different levels. Seamless movements that effortlessly change levels and meld movements into movement. lifts into air into ground back onto the feet. Very emotional. A boy pledges his troth, undying support. I think Hayles the underdog in the remaining troika.
Amy/Fik-Shun: Dave Scott hiphop number. Two krumpers in love. His natural genre. Her fabulous smile. Lone chair on stage. Love how she changes character to get into this dance. Hard not to just watch AMy in this number. He's disappearing! And, this is his genre. Smooth and hard hitting at the same time. Fast and then almost agonizingly slow! Outstanding routine. Still think it's Amy's to lose!
Jazmin/Aaron: Shawn Cheeseman Jazz routine. Non-stop. MIrror metaphor. Jazzmin in glittery unitard. Good thing she has no body issues. Roll up to straddle lift. She rips off his shirt. Her flexibility is OFF the charts. Something missing from this number. Very creative but, felt like it was missing something.
The elimination: Last cut is the deepest! First, the girls: Hayle, Jazmin, Amy. First in is Amy. Jasmin is next in. Say good by to Hayley, the all-american cutie. The boyz advance. First in is: Aaron. Fik-Shun is next in. My boy, Paul, is left on the outside looking in. Dang. I knew as soon as I made a pick he'd get eliminated!
"We should not talk at work."
In rehearsal: love to see Allie and Rex getting along so well. The unconditional connection remains...even if they're not together.
More rehearsal: Christiana worries about the fx of Rex's injury. "My foot is killing me." "I don't need injury, I NEED a new foot!" He's icing his foot.
"I'm in the autumn of my ballet career." Christiana quizzes her partner about his injury. "I don't need the extra pressure!" "I wanna get through my day today!" Part of the reality of the dancing life is learning to deal with injury."
Love the shots of company class! Stretching and all. Ruud rehearses the step-sisters role. Chris is torn between his many demands. Tough to dance well when you're heart is breaking.
In the waiting room: Beckanne and Allison are bonding. She announces plan of heading back to her old school: The Rock School. Needs to rediscover her passion. Allison shares that she is rediscovering her passion just as she contemplates retiring. Career versus personal life.
Josh's apartment: shooting a little pool. He hints about Allison. "We're always going to be friends!" But, "I could see how this could get messy!"
Philadelphia: Rock school for dance education. Get a glimpse of the returning dancers. "I always love going back to the Rock School." Wow! low barres. "No smiling in my class, please" See the dress code. Holy moley! Look at those turns! BeckAnne's living the dream she had when she was younger. Corrections from BeckAnne. Reconnects with...WOW! Some more turns! Pix with Katie Martin. Reinspired! "All this young talent is passing me by.!"
Back to Utah, back to the snow: Studio Elevn and publicity shots. Zach says he wants the audience to know him. Lotta flexibility. Some nice pix.
Zest: Allie goes out with Gloria. She trusts her opinion. "Why couldn't he come to you?" "He doesn't want me anywhere near Rex." "It's nice to have someone physically in front of you instead of on a screen." "Don't give up your dream for someone else's dream!" "I'm going with the flow," She's a good friend who has Allie's best interest at heart!
Allie and Rex: "I guess timing is really everything." He's just hanging around, willing to wait. "I really need Rex to be honest with me about how he feels." Christiana says he needs her to focus on rehearsal. She saves a balance all by herself. "A lot of my life is on display." Personal turmoil is increasingly painful for me. There's a reason she's a principal. "Sometimes it's way too much!" She calls her brother. "I'm just having a super bad day!" "Something's gotta give!" "It's just really scary!"
Rehearsal footage: Fatigue shows in Christiana's eyes. She sits outside alone. Until Allie comes to comfort her. Allie's being a good friend. "My job is to represent the company!" "You look amazing!" As a friend she's suffering along with her friend. Crying on camera. "For so long ballet has defined me. I want people to see me for myself."
Chris speaks with the Adam. AD is worried about his principal danseur. The responsibilities are weighing heavily on him. Dramatic shots from outside the building watching him working on his own.
Weather looks frightful in the Utah winter. "Ballet is a saving grace for me. The studio is a sanctuary!" But, Christiana suffers an injury. Rolled her ankle. "My personal life is falling apart, now my professional life is as well. I'm dancing on borrowed time. All I have left is my dancing!" "I'm beyond frightened!"
"Don't bring your personal problems into the studio!" "Frankly, I'm not sure how we're going to pull this one off!"
Previews: Jonathan problem. Christiana injury. Rex on stage. Zach's wig falls off. Someone slips. "This ballet is cursed."
(Capital City News Service) – Dunking in a tub of ice water after exercise – a surprisingly popular post-workout regimen used by athletes to reduce inflammation and speed recovery – is time consuming and bone-achingly painful. New research from the University of New Hampshire finds that it may not be effective, either.
In a study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, researchers report that research subjects who engaged in post-exercise cryotheraphy, or ice baths, showed no mitigation of post-exercise strength loss or decreased soreness compared to a control group.
“It doesn’t help you feel better and it doesn’t help you perform better,” says lead researcher Naomi Crystal ’11G. “Ice baths are very popular as a treatment, but the research is really mixed as to whether they’re beneficial. They’re miserable. If it doesn’t work, you don’t want to waste your time.”
For the study, the researchers recruited 20 recreationally active college-age men to run for 40 minutes downhill at a grade of -10 percent. Half the subjects then submitted to a 20-minute ice bath, standing in a tall recycling bin filled with thigh-high ice water cooled to a chilly five degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit). “That’s really cold,” Crystal admits. “I had some guys close to tears.”
Crystal was interested in the ice bath’s effect on soreness, strength, swelling and inflammation. The researchers conducted three post-exercise measures taken at intervals from one hour to three days: they measured the subjects’ perceived soreness while walking down stairs; tested quadriceps strength on a resistance machine; measured thigh circumference; and looked at the concentration of plasma chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), a marker for inflammation, in blood samples.
The researchers found no difference in strength or perceived soreness between the subjects who took ice baths and the control group. Thigh circumference did not change significantly for any of the subjects after the run.
Difference between the two groups’ CCL2 concentrations, while not statistically significant, showed a trend toward lower concentrations in the cryotherapy subjects, although this measure varied greatly between the subjects. “The study suggested that there might have been a mild reduction in inflammation, but it wasn’t conclusive,” says LaRoche, who was Crystal’s advisor.
The lack of difference between the control and the cryotherapy group surprised the researchers. “I expected to see an improvement in soreness, an improvement in strength with the ice bath,” says Crystal. She notes that research on ice baths has produced a range of results, in part because there’s no standard protocol for the treatment.
While the researchers state that their study does not support the use of cryotherapy for recovery from exercise, Crystal’s personal view is more moderated. “I’m not convinced that it doesn’t help at all,” she says. “Use them sparingly. Use them in tournament situations, use them with an athlete who has done something extraordinary. But for day-to-day athletes, I wouldn’t recommend them. They’re painful, and they’re time consuming.”
The article, “Effect of cryotherapy on muscle recovery and inflammation following a bout of damaging exercise,” is available online in the European Journal of Applied Physiology..."
Opening number: Back lit circus performers. Circus macabre! Feathers and leathers. Hmm...are we missing somebody? Some devilish macabre movement! Where's Aaron? Choreographed by Mamma Mia!
Second week of All stars! But, they also get a chance to choreograph the routines for the first time. Guest judge is Jenna Elfman. (@JennaElfman). Real dancer. Former PNB student.
Four dancers in danger. Half the remaining field. Excellent pieces last week. But, who's in danger? Fik-Shun, Jenna,Tucker, Hayley. All four will dance for their lives.
Fik-Shun/Allison: Looking forward to her choreography! One of my favorite SYTYCD dancers all-time! Explores the issue of biracial relationships. Diogenes lanterns to begin. Looking for the light metaphor. He jumps with a sickled foot. Dramatic roll off back. I will take care of you. Fast movements. Then, slow and long endless rond de jambe into promenade. Why do they separate at the end?
Tucker/Courtney Galliano: Jazz. Romeo and Juliet. Forbidden love. Risky lifts, risky loves. Symbolic risky crotch first jump into lift. Not sure all these moves fit together and reinforce the theme? We learn Courtney suffers from Multiple Sclerosis? A tribute to her that she's just dancing at all.
Paul/Comfort: Hiphop. Graffiti art theme. He needs to work on the aggressive attitude. Got the moves down. But, the feisty feeling is lacking. He's keeping up. Back handspring! Clever choreography. Very cute routine. But does cute go with urban street dance?
Hayley/Dmitry: Rhumba. Dmitry has had to choreograph on DWTS as well. that should help. Her extensions are effortless. very passionate movement. Dance of love and distrust! Sharp, big movements. The emotion and passion are off the charts. Great breath in to movement. Symbolically throws the engagement ring off and throws it away.
Jenna/Mark: Jazz. Enormous pair of lips grace the stage. Eyes as backdrop. Mark Kunimura. Style. New and Weird. Want it Bloody and raw. Very Gagaish. Very quirky and alien moves. Great attitude and LOVE THIS PIECE! Out gagaz Lady Gaga. Kunimura has a future as a choreographer. Tongue becomes red carpet. OMG! Sly and humorous! LOVED IT! And, she did it well. She went there with him as he challenged her. Great moments in that piece!
Jasmine/Twitch: Super hero of the streets. Super Twitch versus Flexy-GRRL! Very creative concept. She got the moves. She got the look. She got the lines. Creative concept well executed well danced, well performed. Sort of a weak ending, tho'!
Amy/Travis Wall: Great expectations for this contemporary routine. He's expert at making move continue into move. Unexpected lifts and shapes...and she's expert at delivering them. Who else uses a full nelson in choreography? Very musical as well. Dive off the back. Expert timing on their turns. Shrieks and screams from the audience at the quality of movements. Intense! and incredible! I'm not going out on a limb when I say I think she's going to win this thing!
Judges are late getting back. Tucker and Jenna are called out. They're eliminated. Where's the Tim Gunn save when we need it?!?
Okay, I'm definitely not watching now! Not fond of any of the remaining boys.
And, Amy should have this one in the bag! Leader (and BEAST!o) in the clubhouse!
Beckanne has an infectious laugh. Contract talks begin. Last season, we saw the news of Katie Martin's dismissal. Josh dances. Zach has a nice jump. Ian looks a little awkward. No wonder Spoiler alert...he doesn't get a contract offer. The head-to-head competition between Ian and Zack. Adam discusses the pluses and minuses of both danseurs. Problems with both.
Fairies rehearsal: Allison discusses her decision. But, she says she still loves to dance.
Beckanne's Apartment! It's KATIE MARTIN!o) Beckanne shares she's "the understudy of the understudy". They dish about Chase. "Long distance just sucks!" Loses best friend, could lose her boy friend! "No need to borrow trouble!"
Party at Josh's house: The girls like tall men!. Katie talks with Ian. He gets some advice from someone who understands exactly what she's going through! Always funny to see dancers dancing at a party! But, the contract talks weigh heavy on Ian's mind.
Morning warm-up: sewing shoes. The bane of the ballet dancer. "I never wanted anything more in my life." Zach and Ian both stressing about the possibility of their careers post BWII. Reality of the dancer life.
Star rehearsal: Beckanne has lost her motivation to do corps roles after a season of principal work. She needs to realize there are no small roles.
Principal rehearsals: Christiana and Rex rehearse the leads. Question of his stamina after recovering from injury. Tours into pirouettes into tours into pirouettes! Classic "Center Stage" moment.
Christiana talk with Adam . He praises her. During Ronnie's talk he says he will be back. Beckanne shares her frustration for what she sees as a stagnant stage in her career. Adam has a good relationship with his dancers. He says it isn't stagnation, but, calmer. She gets offered a promotion to full soloist. "I have a plan for Beckanne! She's my superstar in waiting!"
Christiana and Allison dish. She shares that she's been promoted to full soloist. She shares all the gory details of talk with Adam and Jonathan. "I feel torn-up! I want you to be in the audience for me!" "He should be here if he's asking you to walk away!" "This is the place that tested our relationship. All he sees is Rex here." Christiana, such a good friend giving such good advice! All I can do is to be there for her and listen. Just do your job! I want both in my perfect world. (I predict Jonathan will come to Salt Lake watch her dance and say he'll try to make it work.)
Zach stressing about his body. "I'm never going to be six inches taller. I'm never going to be ripped!" There's only one spot, it's either going to be Ian or me. Josh and Adam talk. The apprentice is hoping for a full company contract. He promises he has plans for principal roles for Josh, but, says he needs to stay as an apprentice for another year. Rex talks with Adam. He's hoping for a promotion. He says Rex needs to learn how to deal with injuries better. Adam says principals in his company are leaders...and he's waiting to see how Cinderella goes. Rex is thinking about going somewhere else.
Rex speaks with Allison. He says he probably won't be here next season. He's happy to hear about her promotion. He says don't cry or I'll start laughing. You'll know. "I'll always be here for you." What a good relationship they have! A good supportive relationship now they're not trying to be an item!
Park City: zip line in the snow. (That zip line looks like fun! Put on bucket list.) They make a cute couple! Stress relief from contract talks. Chase talks about the future elsewhere outside of BW II. "Distance tears people apart all the time. I don't wanna lose you!" "We'll make it work!" Famous last words!
Zach heads to his contract talk. "I want this day to be over so I can move on with my life! I just wanna know if this is going to be the best or worst day of my life. Make it or break it today!" He's wearing Uggs into the theater. Zach enters and Chris and Adam wait to talk with him. "I recognized your talent from day one!" Adam says he needs to focus. Just tell me! "You've grown tremendously!" You're ready for a professional career! It's time for you to join Ballet West!"
Ian talks with Chris and Adam. He says he wants to move ahead in his career as a professional danseur. Adam says he's proud of his advancement. But, no contract offer. He promises to fight to get back to Ballet West. As we know he's now dancing in Florida. "Ian has talent, but not ready for Ballet West yet!" One danseur's dreams are realized, another's are crushed! What a profession we deal with!
He's communicating the bad news to his girlfriend. "It sucks! But, if BW doesn't want me someone else will!"
Adam says he has a plan for all his dancers. Now that contract talks are over, he needs them to dance their very best in Cinderella. "I won't stop until BW is one of America's Premiere companies."
Preview hints at rapprochement between Allison and Rex. Tragedy strikes! Shot of Christiana's injury before Cinderella! Adam says, "I cannot afford to lose Christiana!"
We’re hoping to be able to fly her home for Thanksgiving and then we’ll go see her in the Nutcracker in December and bring her home for her break. I can’t wait. I miss her a lot!..."
The advent of the All-Starz! Opening number: Rocking chairs. Backlit. The elderly remembering their youth? Nice to see all the dancers and no one missing. Rocking chairs and movement as metaphor! Socks on floor make for tricky footing. Lotta lifts. Handstand to catch off the rocking chairs. Gloved hands give a genteel effect that contrasts with anguished, impassioned emotional dancing. End with single rocking chair rocking, backlit. Impressive choreography by Christopher Scott.
All stars mean the contestants need to raise their game or disappear in comparison. Guest judge today: Debbie Allen. I'm pulling for Tucker and Makenzie and Amy.
Whose in danger? Tucker, Makenzie, Niko, Jenna. No judge's saves? No solos? Their fate has been decided? Think it's Niko and jenna's time...
Amy/Brandon: Disco with Doriana Sanchez. As an old disco dancer myself, my standards are high. To Whitney Houston classic "I will always love you" set to disco beat. Great facials! Little frantic for my taste. assisted attitude turns! arabesque promenade goes into a lift. The dislocation is an overhead straight press. Suicide drop at the end for a dramatic finish! Amy is a beast. She can do anything. She's a chameleon as well! Able to adapt to any style, any choreographer! Judges concur.
Aaron/Katherine: Stacey Tookey contemporary routine: Smooth series of intertwining lifts to start off. Great emotion, great motion. Aaron raises his game with great partner, great choreographer. She trusts him implicitly and it shows in the dancing. When you fall, I will catch you. When you fall, I will pick you up! Great resonance. Standing ovation. He's already a winner to evolve his dancing to another level with this All-Star!
Fik-Shun/Melanie: Mandy Moore Jazz Routine. Go big or go home Fik-shun! You're dancing with the original Beast of SYTYCD. hard not to just watch her! This is truly Fik-Shun dancing with the star. Wow! Extravagant assisted straddle leap! Fik shun! raising his game!
Paul/Whitney: She's back from DWTS. Jean Marc Genereaux Cha-cha! Chemistry class. This should be good! This is their home genre. Sharp cha cha. Great hips . Once again hard to not just watch her blonde vivaciousness. Rough landing on that lift dismount. He's sharp as well. He's not afraid to use his hips! Sharp, smooth...Still with menace when he needs to be! Paul! Keeping up with the All Starz! Debbie praises the double tour en l'air. Chemistry volatile! says Nigel. Says he's going to challenge for the win!
Hayley/Twitch: Christopher Scott hiphop routine. The loan officer and the client. Okay, she's keeping up with the Twitch tutting and breaking. Sharp accents on the music. The glasses come off the hair comes out. The great look she was born with comes out and the dancing amps up! The flirtation quotient is off da chain!
Jenna/Neil: Mandy Moore contemporary piece. The break up on stage. Dramatic dance. Dramatic jump into flying lift. Over the shoulder lift to dismount behind the back. Great lines. Gift of choreography. I believe they're lovers at the end of a relationship. Fabulous lift sequence that descends to the floor! That piece might've just saved her from elimination. Let's see what Makenzie brings to the table!
Jazmin/Marko: Jazz routine. The synchronicity is important. But, all I can see are the misses. Fun routine! Nice movements! Fun music. Very MJ!. Parts, anyway. What a phun routine! Gender bending costuming for Jazmin! Looks great in shirt and tie! Reminiscent of Jack Cole and Bob Fosse!
Makenzie/Jakob: Spencer Liff Broadway routine. Jakob Karr is hard to keep up with it! Let's see . Look at her foot!!! She looks deadly in red! Look at those legs!. Extension in fondu that just stays! Great accents! Great pictures! Great extensions. Great lift series. He falls off his turns she stays on. Way to show up that all star! She just earned her way back onto the show IMHO! Great dancer, great routine!!
Niko/Comfort: Nappy Tabz routine. Reptilian hip hop. "Release the beast!" He's got his work cut out for him keeping up with the always dangerous Comfort. But, he's doing his job. He suffers by comparison. Lotta energy, just needs the stillness after the hit. She goes running off stage on all fours backwards!
Tucker/Robert: Travis Wall routine. Struggle of brothers. "Second chances are the bigest gift!" I expect nothing but challenging, emotional choreography from Mr. Wall. The two accident survivors draw on their real life experiences to bring an extra emotional resonance to the routine. The musicality and the technique and the movement are flawless. Tucker is more than keeping up with Robert. He ain't heavy he's my brother! Tucker's crying at the end! Standing ovation. Tucker just saved himself. Mary's crying at the end. Coming back from paralysis to dance in triumph. There's a backstory there that Debbie Allen just hints at between Travis and his brother. Niko's fate is sealed. Movement that transcends the steps.
Elimination: Makenzie and Niko are sent home! Okay, not watching anymore, Nigel! Two of my favorite girls get sent home back to back weeks! No Malece! No Makenzie! I'm done! ...Until next week anyway!
Who's in danger in my opinion? NOT Amy, Not Hayley. Not Jenna. That means Jazmin. Dang Aaron and Fikshun brought it this week. So did Paul. So did Tucker! Of the four, Aaron and Fikshun need to watch out. Choreography by the All-stars next week?
Post casting: The question of Rex. The future of Allie.
Post casting decisions. Watching company class. leg swings, parallel stretches. Zach revels in being cast as Napoleon. Prefers being out front rather than being cast in the corps. "Is Zach just the most obnoxious person?"
Allie tries to Skype with her fiancé at least once a day. Welcome to the 21st Century! Adam struggles with the injury to Rex. Rex tries to convince Adam that he'll be ready to go. He's preparing to run his variation. "I will sacrifice my body to make things work." Typical dancer attitude that needs to change.
Allie goes to get hair done. "I've tried for three years to make Jonathan and ballet work. And, it doesn't." Shares the good advice from Rex. "Give a hundred percent." Three day weekend coming. She's going to Michigan. "It's not about being fair. " "But, you shouldn't have to choose between your loves." Her friend is giving her good advice. She's not criticizing her decision, but telling her the other side.
Prince and Cinderella rehearsal. "I'm trying to mimic everything Wendy is showing us." "I want to be perfect every time." Rare chance to watch a principal ballerina rehearse her variation. "Everything is crumbling down around me."
Ronnie, meanwhile, is recovering from his foot injury. Getting his pump on at the gym. Girlz checking him out. Strengthening everything else, but, the injury. That's a dancer's approach to injury.
Chance to look inside Second company class. "Right now is go time." Ian gets an injury at the worst time possible for his career. (Ice that bad boy.) "I don't care how much pain I'm in!" One contract, two danseurs. "That's why we push ourselves to the brink!"
Back to the gym: but, Allie says "just say no!" when they ask if you go to the gym. Allie says she's not expecting to be promoted, so, she wants to get married and have kids. Would Adam understand? (I think Adam will be fine with it...if she's fine with it.)
Company class. Questions about the relationship between Chris and Christiana. "24 hours a day with spouse." Chris Ruud is hurting big time. Bringing personal life into their professional lives.
Adam struggles again with whether or not Rex should dance. Casting list goes up: Rex is nervous either way. His name is on the casting list. He wonders whether he can do it at less than a hundred percent. Three shows in one week.
Not only is Cinderella three weeks away, now contract talks begin. Adam meets with Allison. (He seems to have a good relationship with his dancers.) She says she's getting somewhere. Learned more in the last year than the last five. "What do you want with your future with Ballet West?" She fights tears. "do you still want to dance?" he must've heard something from someone. Very little stays a secret at a ballet company, no matter how large. "say the truth. It's okay!" "I love it here. I still want to dance." She says it. But, her life isn't entirely under her own control. Adam says he "adores" her. He offers her a promotion. And, she breaks down. This makes leaving that much harder. She wasn't going to tell him, but, "it doesn't go the way it was supposed to."
Costume fittings. Zach says "I'm the short guy who nobody wants to dance with." The battle of the bulge!
Allie leaves for Detroit to see Jonathan. Ah, she's torn between two loves. "He's not going to be happy that I've been promoted." If he truly loves her...he will be happy. She sits in the lobby waiting for him. "I want you here every lunch." She says she's going to tell him that she's still going to dance.
Now, they show exotic dancers? Boys night out. Dang, what the producers won't do to get guys to watch? Turns out one of the exotic dancers used to dance with BW. (Reminds me of a girl I used to dance with who became a stripper.)
Allie and Jonathan. He brings her flowers. "Trying to find the line between sacrifice and selfishness." He says "that's awesome" when told about her promotion. But, he wants to know what's going to happen to their future. He presses her for an end. Long distance relationship troubles. She declares, "I love dance!" She has to dance when she's young. She says I just want to see him in the audience. But, is he scared of Rex? The long-distance thing is getting old! "If you only saw me dance, you'd want me to keep dancing." "I promise you, you would be so proud of me." (This is why eventually I only had relationships with dancers. Everyone else just couldn't compete!) "I'm glad I came, but..." She's more confused than before she visited. AH, the path o love ne'er runs true..." She wants more support from Jonathan.
To be (vicariously) continued...
I'd also be interested in sharing an abstract of your research on the blog with links and
proper attribution, of course.
Would you mind telling us some information about your background, interests and research? Aren't "luxury" and "dance" terms you don't usually find in the same sentence?...
Thank you so much!..."
My name is Alexis H_____. I am a graduate student at North Carolina State University pursuing a Masters in Global Luxury Management. I am conducting research for my dissertation. I want to see how you define "luxury" in relation to the dance industry. There are no right or wrong answers! If you are a dance studio owner or employee at a dance studio, I would greatly appreciate if you could complete this short survey.
Also, please contact me if you would like to do a phone interview. I would greatly appreciate it.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me...or email me .
I am also conducting a short survey for dancers.
Thank you!
Bollywood beginning. Bright costumes Still missing a guy? Six girls and five guys? Wassup? Bollywood always aerobic, always a good time. Niko tumbles again after Jasmine does a solo run. Choreography by Nikol.
Another injury decimates the boys (literally). Tucker picks up an infection in his knee. No rehearsal, no performance. Guest judge is choreographer Kenny Ortega. Who's in danger? Jenna, Alan, Malece, Niko, Amy, Tucker Judges save Niko, Jenna. Why not save Amy? Seals Malece's fate.
Solos:
Malece/Alan: Jazz routine by Mandy Moore. Old Hollywood. Retro. They sure look the part. BUT!...Not enough looking at each other! The power of looking into your partner's eyes...missing. Great shapes, excellent movement. No connection. Or too brief. Nice feeling, but... Kenny says Malece sparkles. She tears up at great praise. He says he felt the lack of chemistry. Nigel says it needs more plie and contractions. Style and chemistry lacking. Mary "fun and entertaining". But, uncomfortable. She's "on the fence" about the routine.
Jenna/Alex Wong!: Paso Doble by Jean Marc Genereaux. Pirate Paso Doble. Luck of the draw to get an All star as a partner. But, why not a ballroom boy to do ballroom? Effortless lifts in a row. Nice straddle leap, Alex. Strong partnering. Double tour to the knee! Great presence, but, she's keeping up. These all stars force the contestants to raise their game! Little bit of a problem with the final toss and catch. Mary says she "LOVED IT!" Says it was "blazing with passion". Jenna = "passion" and "precision". Kenny says "te quiero mucho mas". "Confidence and passion" "You're at the top for me". Great praise from a working choreographer. "Really tremendous!"
Makenzie/Paul: Mandy Moore contemporary routine. Story of the unlikely lovers. NOW THIS IS CONNECTION. THis is CHEMISTRY! There's the look of love! There's the breath! Great pictures. They're telling story with every movement. Look at the stretch of legs. Great suspension. Great stretch into endless lines. The feeling is momentous. Complicated, creative, lift sequence at the end. Another standing ovation from audience, judges, choreographers. Nigel says tremendous routine. The expanse was "Beautiful". Praises the breath! Mary says "Amazing routine!" Loved the transitions. Made it look effortless! She was "in it all the way"! Kenny praises choreography, calls them two of his favorite dancers in the competition. "Soulful connection" was powerful. Says Paul has a "Fire burning in your soul".
Amy/Fik-Shun: Vienna Waltz by Jean Marc Genereaux. Playing themselves. hard to play yourself. Ending the partnership on a high note. Elegance is a prerequisite. rise and fall lacking. They need to use the breath. Footwork needs work. looking forward to see both of them with all-stars next week. Ends on a strong emotional note. they needed that throughout the entire piece. Mary criticized the technical faux pas, but, forgives it all because of the strength of the relationship. Says Fik-Shun is really raising his game. Says Amy has been exquisite since day one. Kenny says everytime they dance is a love story. Amy is the "dancer in a music box". Nigel says Viennese Waltz is always difficult in this program. Not flashy, but, demands romantic feeling. Says they took him to Austria with him.
Jasmine/Aaron: Not my favorite couple. Hiphop with NappyTabz. hard for Tall dancers to move fast and sharp "gunz a blazin'" Love this music! Okay. They hitting it hard! can they keep it up? Gold Digger! Liked the piece! Another standing O! Great energy! Great swag! Kenny praises choreography! "Unbelievable. again and again and again!" Nigel says "She killed it tonight"!. "You nailed it!" Mary says Jasmine deserves all the money in the world. "Best Nappy Tabz routine ever. Hips and torso isolations were just crazy! We could feel it from up here!"
The Boyz: Nappy Tabz routine: The metaphor of a rope. This is a man's world. Fik shun should be separating himself in this hiphop based routine, but he's not. The other guys are just that good? Power and emotion in the song matched on stage. Nigel says Nappy Tabz never do a boring routine. Praises the chainne' turns in the beginning. Mary praises Alan and Paul solos. Kenny calls it male bonding in action. Praises Alan and Paul.
The Girlz: Stacy Tookey contemporary routine. Metaphor of the pursuit of youth and beauty. Girl power! Dramatic dark lighting. Great pictures and poses made by the women.Community of women lifting by committee. moving in unison and making pictures that only strong women can make together. "Will you still love me when I'm not still young and beautiful?" Mary says extraordinary lessons, extraordinary dancers, extraordinary choreography, "no weak links". Kenny calls them all "divas in the making". Nigel praises the Canadian choreographers. Canada's loss is America's gain. "All of you looked like professional contemporary dancers tonight!"
Final elimination: Nigel says all four danced their hearts out. Malece and Alan get eliminated. Tears start to flow! Group hug time. You can see every thought and emotion going through Malece's heart and mind reflected on her face. I have no doubt that Kenny Ortega will be telling her not to worry, he'll be keeping her in mind for future casting. I also am confident that producers of the tour will be happy to bring them both on board.
Next week: Fikshun, Alan, Jasmine could be in trouble.
Problem of Race and perceptions in ballet. "Be better than Zach!"
To be continued picks up with the flare-up between Zach and Beckanne. What a baby! "You're the B!" What a drama queen! Me, me, me! Give it a rest! Seems like they've got it worked out! But, he lives for drama!
Casting has to be finalized. "Competition for roles is just part of the job!" An incredibly difficult decision. A glimpse, tantalizing as it is, into the rehearsal process for Cinderella. Chris Ruud needs to stop lifting his shoulders when he pulls into multiple pirouettes. Interesting to see all the factors that go into the casting decisions: height, injuries, ability...
Allie still struggling with retiring. Giving it all up for love. Her fiancé wants her to give up her career for him. But, is that real love? Wanting some one so much that they have to give up something? Isn't the definition of love wanting that other to be happy?
Ronnie struggling with injury and doing office work! "Hey, can you fax this and then get me a cup of coffee?" "It's killing him not to be dancing with the rest of us."
Demisoloist Beckanne is the lowest ranked dancer in the room in rehearsals for Cinderella. Ooh, Zach doesn't know who the Emperor Napoleon is? This is a Jessica Simpson moment! "Wait is this chicken or tuna?"
Role of Napoleon and Wellington rehearsal. The second company members are just hoping to get a shot at time on stage. Three complete casts. "It's all a jigsaw puzzle! And, sometimes there are surprises!"
The casting goes up: the writing is on the wall for some people. Josh. Role of the Prince is blank. Looking to see how Ron's injury heals. Interesting to see Ian's discussion of his future when it's been revealed in current media. "You could be me 15 years ago."
Josh questions his place in the company when Zach gets picked over him. That's what I mean...the writing's on the wall. There's a bar scene to discuss the casting. Ian may be over-thinking the casting. Analyzing everything in terms of competition. Ruud counsels Ian the best he can. Ballet is a true meritocracy.
Rex says injuries can change the situation in a heartbeat. Happens when you least expect it.
Ian skypes his girlfriend. Shares he feels he failed. Contract talks are coming up. She pulls him back up. But, the dancing scenes with him show deficient technique. Tall, but, not stretched.
Fairy rehearsal. Beckanne says she's feeling unmotivated. Allie says, "Be a professional!"
Josh sets up a discussion with Adam. Shares his disappointment with casting. Adam says dancers need to learn to deal with the disappointments. "I'm gonna have to be really real with you right now..." Says he doesn't want the only african-american male to be the butt of all the jokes. Josh says he wants the audience to see his heart...not his skin color. Says it's sad. Adam wants a diverse company. Judge me on my talent and judge my dancing, he pleads. Adam says he made his decision with respect...it obviously wasn't easy for him. Very emotional.
"A dancer can work as hard as possible and still not get the role they want!" Episode ends with the black guy walking off into the white snowstorm...visual metaphor up the wazoo!
Preview shows Allie still struggling with walking away from dance. Everyone's dance career ends too early. Don't do it, Allie! If he truly loves you, he'll wait for you and be happy that you're happy...Don't do something you'll regret...and end up blaming him for later...
Capital City News Service — Every hourly increase in daily television watching at 29 months of age is associated with diminished vocabulary and math skills, classroom engagement (which is largely determined by attention skills), victimization by classmates, and physical prowess at kindergarten, according to Professor Linda Pagani of the University of Montreal and the CHU Sainte-Justine children’s hospital. “This is the first time ever that a stringently controlled associational birth cohort study has looked at and found a relationship between too much toddler screen time and kindergarten risks for poor motor skills and psychosocial difficulties, like victimization by classmates,” Pagani said. “These findings suggest the need for better parental awareness and compliance with existing viewing recommendations put forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The AAP discourages watching television during infancy and recommends not more than two hours per day beyond age 2. It seems that every extra hour beyond that has a remarkably negative influence.”
Pagani: Much of the research on school readiness has focused on how kindergarten characteristics predict later success. Kindergarten entry characteristics predict long-term psycho-social adjustment and economic characteristics like income and academic attainment. Being innovative, my focus has been to examine what predicts kindergarten entry characteristics. Adding further originality, I also wanted to focus on neglected yet crucial aspects of school readiness such as motor skills, which predict later physical activity and reading skills, likelihood of being “picked-on”, which predict social difficulties, and skills at linked to doing what you are supposed to be doing when having been given instructions, which are in turn linked to attention systems that are regulated by the brain’s frontal lobe development.
Question: Who participated in this study?
Pagani: 991 girls and 1006 boys in Quebec whose parents reported their television viewing behaviour as part of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development.
Question: How did you come up with the figure of an extra hour of TV?
Pagani: The standard deviation is a commonly used statistic tool that tells us what is within a normal range compared to the average. One standard deviation from the average daily amount of television viewed by thetoddlers in this sample (105 minutes) is 72 minutes. Some of the children who participated in the study were two or even three standard deviations away from the average, and their kindergarten indicators were correspondingly worse than those who were one standard deviation away.
Question: Where did you examine television viewing?
Pagani: This study only looks at the most common form of screen time, which is in the home. However, it may be an underestimate because many child care settings use television as an activity during care giving.
Question: Why would these results be important for everyday life?
Pagani: Because of kindergarten’s power to predict future productivity, the identification of modifiable factors that foretell not being ready for the transition to formal schooling represents an important goal for a productive society. By statistical standards, the results show highly controlled modest associations, yet these are net effects which suggest a developmental course which could ultimately compromise achievement, social relations, physical prowess, and preferences and habits toward a healthy lifestyle.
Opening number: The girls on a diagonal. Malece in aerial work. Boys crawl on. Post apocalyptic costuming. Mad Max meets DWTS! Ballroom partner work. Dramatic music. Tumbling run by niko. Struggle between genders? Sharp, percussive movements. And, they all fall down! Choreography by Sonja and Dmitriy.
Bad news? Curtis damaged his shoulders in rehearsals? Two group numbers? Guest judge is Anna Kendrick?
Who's in danger? Jasmine, Alan, ALexis, Curtis, Makenzie (again?), Niko.
Alexis solo: I think they're miking stage better. She's clean and fast in her tap work...and slow when she needs to be.
Jenna/Tyler: hiphop routine Adequate hiphop. Adequate attitude. Not hard enough not, Strong enough. "work it" is the name of the song. Need to "Work it" on stage. I dunno. Don't think they inhabited the roles enough. Nigel "unconvincing". "too upright" "unmemorable". Mary more charitable. says the style was challenging. Anna says it was a "little cute", loved the "personality." Tucker is still my dark horse. usually he can change his personality to fit the roles. He didn't change enough this time
Alexis/Niko: Contemporary by Sonja. Routine about relationships disintegrating. Too literal choreography. Running on running? Stabbing Emotionally invested in movements. Stabbing. Throwing away. Thought choreography was lacking. Mary says she bought into the stationary run. Says it was fearless. Liked the power in the piece. "Spectacular". Anna "lovely", "complex" piece. She saw the contempt and sorrow. Wonder if we're losing something watching through the TV? Nigel says it was the emotion of the piece that was "special".
Hayley/Not Curtis: Tango. Leonardo and Miriam. She gets the choreographer himself! Wow! what an advantage! His intensity is off the charts. Forcing her to dance well. Wow. He's MAKING her step up her game. Getting goose bumps. What a privilege to dance with him. To be fair. She is raising her game! She needs to! His experience shows! Lifts effortless. SHE absolutely lucked out! ANNA calls her compelling and emotional. Sexy and Cool. Nigel says she's raised her game! Stunning! Mary gave a standing ovation. Says "lucky" to dance with Leonardo.
Mackenzie/Paul: Sonja jazz. Sultry and sexy, strength and aggression. He starts off bare chested. She in a cut out outfit. Wriggling, undulating piece. Sharp accents that wind and rise and fall from one pose into another picture. Nigel calls it "brilliant". Can't understand why Mackenzie is threatened every week. Paul won the Armenian SYTYCD. Mary says she adores Makenzie. "Enjoyed every second". Anna calls paul an MVP. "Beautiful ability".
Jasmine/Aaron: Justin Giles contemporary routine. The story of the Giving Tree. Metaphor of giving and taking in a relationship. Tough working with an apple. Apple is distracting. Mary says "Interesting number". Says did well with the prop. Mary says Alan was endearing. Anna says the loss was "real". Nigel tells the back story of the Giving Tree. The story of unconditional love, the story of their dancing relationship. Touching.
Amy/FikShun: Chris Scott choreography. Crush, makes his move! Hiphop to Marving Gaye. They're so cute together! Ooh! She falls! Water on stage problematic! Great personality when they dance! Cute piece! Anna calls them "so cute". "My favorite human being on the planet". Piece was "made for you". Good cover! Show must go on! Nigel praises the cover of slip up as well. Nigel says their cumulative score is huge. But, they need to branch out in their characterization. Huge praise from Nigel comparing them to the strong partnerships from earlier years. Mary praises their professionalism. Puts them on the hot tamale train with "a first class ticket".
Malece/Alan: Salsa. Tricks are ridiculous. Strong partnering. This is his wheelhous and he's showing it. Tricky full backward flip with extension. She's got a stunning look. He's not ac. She could use a bit more weight in those hips. Lift sequence a little laborious. Nigel says the energy level required for this piece is "ridiculous". "Tremendous routine" well-danced". "Brilliant". "Well done the pair of you". Mary says the piece was "insane" "one of the fastest salsa routines ever on the show". "Flurry of lifts". Calls Malece "a huge surprise". "Yummy" rhthym. Calls Alan "best partner ever". Anna says that piece "made me want to take lessons or have an affair on a tropical island...or maybe just the second one".
Mini Group Routine: Spencer Liff routine. In a pool hall. Three boys four girls. No Curtis. Pool sticks used in choreography. Double tour en l'air for the boys! Strong, sensual piece.
Mini Group Routine II: Bonnie Story. Bullying story. Needs to stop. Metaphor of movement. Very pwoerful. Stark story that contrasts to the first piece.Amy stands out in a group piece. The dark colors against the light colors, Very emotional piece But, was it a little too literal?
The elimination: Unanimous decision. Alexis and Curtis get sent home. The two tappers get sent home! Judges give them a standing ovation.
Next week: Watch out Jasmine again. Tucker? Alan?
They do manage to make Salt Lake City in Winter look inviting. Waiting for casting. The problem of Zach.
Company class. corrections from Adam Sklute are instructive. Pirouette instructions from Chris Ruud also informative.
Touching scene between Ian, tall second company guy and his girlfriend.
"If you are not convinced Ballet is not what you want to do, the uncertainty will tear you up." Their futures depend on the opinions of a few directors. (His future revealed in a spoiler FB posting.)
Dancers dealing with injuries. Both Rex and Ronnie recovering from foot injuries. Planning a party to release the stress of casting, waiting for casting. Wendy Ellis Somes. Sewing pointe shoes. Zach is a jealous little...ballet boy.
Summer Fairy Tryouts. Winter fairy. "supposed to look effortless". The amount of pain we put up with? "Every role you do in ballet is painful!" Ugly looking toes. Par for the course.
Cavalier tryouts. Four Cavaliers. Perfect unison. Josh the former hiphop dancer explains the difference and the appeal of the difficulty of the classical artform.
Competition is rife. Be better than your competition. Corrections with Chris Ruud at the second company class again instructive. Peek inside the professional dance process.
Insight into the casting process. Sklute wants BW to be a world class company.
Hot tub scene at the party. "You end up being competition with all these people you consider friends."
Wow! no hugs at the confrontation between former compadres. Awkward conversations. Zach rumors. "Cold-hearted devil"! To be continued..."
(Capital City News Service) DsM Parks and Recreation and Hurley & Dancers, a professional modern dance company, invite you to attend “Water Balance Dance.” This land and water-based show will be performed on the peninsula shore and on stand-up paddle boards in Gray’s Lake Park. Two free showings will be held Sunday, Aug. 4, at 1 and 2 p.m. featuring live music from the Odyssey Trio complete with harp, cello and flute. (Rain date - Aug. 11). Attendees are advised to park at the beach parking lot and bring blankets and/or lawn chairs for seating.
Featured dancers are Kathleen Hurley, Lana Lyddon Hatten, Lisa Lewis and Elizabeth Ferrierra on stand-up paddle boards with David Decker, Katie Crouch, Jennifer Lapp and...
(Capital City News Service) –DsM Performing Arts is pleased to host Matthew Bourne’s SLEEPING BEAUTY in its United States debut at the Civic Center, Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013. SLEEPING BEAUTY kicks off the 2013-2014 season of the Willis Broadway Series.
Tickets to SLEEPING BEAUTY go on sale Monday, Aug. 5 at the Civic Center ticket office, all Ticketmaster locations, charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000 and online at DesMoinesPerformingArts.org. Groups of 15 or more should call (515) 246-2340.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Charles Perrault’s timeless fairy tale about a young girl cursed to sleep for one hundred years was turned into a legendary ballet by Tchaikovsky and choreographer Marius Petipa in 1890. Bourne takes this date as his starting point, setting the christening of Aurora, the story’s heroine, at the height of the fin-de-siecle period, when fairies, vampires and decadent opulence fed the gothic imagination. As Aurora grows into a young woman, we move forward in time to the more rigid, uptight Edwardian era - a mythical golden age of long summer afternoons, croquet on the lawn and new dance crazes. Years later, awakening from her century-long slumber, Aurora finds herself in the modern day, a world more mysterious and wonderful than any fairy tale.
Bourne’s new scenario introduces several characters not seen in the fairy tale or in Petipa’s famous ballet. The Royal Family is presided over by King Benedict and Queen Eleanor. Princess Aurora’s romantic interest is not a Prince, but the royal gamekeeper, Leo. Representing the central forces of good and evil are Count Lilac (“the King of the Fairies”) and the Dark Fairy Carabosse. Bourne has created the character of Caradoc, the sinister but charming son of Carabosse. Princess Aurora’s Fairy Godparents are named Ardor, Hiberna, Autumnus, Feral and Tantrum.
Matthew Bourne’s SLEEPING BEAUTY is a gothic romance for all ages: the traditional tale of good vs. evil and rebirth is turned upside-down, creating a supernatural love story that even the passage of time cannot hinder.
For more information about Matthew Bourne’s SLEEPING BEAUTY, visit http://www.new-adventures.net/productions/sleeping_beauty.
xoxoxo (Mmmadd Skyllz)..."
Opening number: to music by The Irrepressibles. All in red with one diva (Jasmine) in center: queen and subjects? Great use of the music, for example, a lift in ascending music. Nice accents of music and movement. Dancers gradually strip to reveal taupish numbers under their first costumes. That Amy stands out even in an ensemble! All with Mike Tynsonish face make-up! Nice number! Stacy Tookey and Peter Chu choreography according to Cat Deeley
Guest judge: Double Grammy award nominee Carly Rae "Call Me, Maybe" Jepsen. Seven Emmy nominations for the show. But, really, who are they up against besides DWT***?
Eliminations announced at the beginning: six dancers in trouble. Moriah, Alan, Makenzie, Bluprint, Jenna, Curtis. Judges' save: Jenna only. All boys will dance for their lives
Alan: brings out a cape. Okay! Bringing some strength and passion to the stage. Great music! Return of the King. Choreographed to the music! Very powerful!
Curtis: tap to the pointe of his shoe. Wish they would mike the stage. Revolatade. sickle stomps.
Moriah: Crumper starts off strong and strong turns. Angry. Street. Ends a little early.
Bluprint: Animator to gramatik, Illusion of Choice. This guy is so good at what he does. Nice tutting and sit turn. Again very musical. Dances THRU the ending.
Just on the basis of the solos alone: I would vote to send Moriah home. Tie between Bluprint and Curtis for ejection.
The partner dancing begins:
Alexis/Nico: Jive routine set by Tony and Melanie. Stunt doubles in rehearsal. Strong kicks and flicks. Good hips. Good look. Little timing problem. Need to finish the line. Tentative approach to lift. Shouldn't worry when lifts happen, but... Little hand misplacement. Rehearsal issue? Overhead straddle spin. I think they're counting and trying to remember the choreography. Little too much waiting. I could see the potential of the choreography. Lacking in execution. Little history of the dance from Nigel. Says Half-way thru the couple lost energy. Mary says she enjoyed the routine. Liked the flicks and kicks. Advice on traveling triple steps. Need to work on the transitions in and out of the lifts. Carly was impressed. Likes the dress. Like the expressions. Injured foot revealed by Alexis and Cat. Never an excuse. Blatant attempt to influence voting?
Jenna/Tucker: Tucker's a "dark horse" to me, meaning he could come out of the pack to win the race at the end. Subtly impressive. Travis Wall contemporary piece. Tucker draws on his near-death experience. starts off with Jenna literally Hanging by a thread, the name of the song. Ooh, little misstep, but quickly covered up by the dancers. The struggle only amplified by the velcro straps. Interesting Aerial work. Excellent cover of the difficulty with the props. Strong, emotional piece. Mary takes Travis Wall's name in vain. calls it "spectacular". Calls it "a moment". Praises his strength and her vulnerability. Hot tamale train! Carly praises the emotion and choreography. Her opinions represent the vast viewing, voting audience. Nigel praises the nuances of the choreography. Predicts another nomination for Wall. "Just brilliant". Says Tucker wasn't overshadowed. Praises the metaphor of movement!. It's revealed they're under rehearsed with the velcro straps.
Moriah/Bluprint: Brian Freedman jazz piece. Fast and Hard. Start in silhouette. Futuristic and retro and mythological costuming and hair treatments. Flatfooted approach to steps. Lot of bells and whistles not Enough execution by insufficiently trained dancers. Lack of stretch by Moriah. Less than overwhelming. These two are going home! Carly calls it "fun". Nigel urges contestants to learn the history of the jazz genre. "Little clunky". Mary says spectacular outfits. Says he's "surprising", she's "good", little lacking in the end. His animation is spectacular to me, but, neither of them is showing the adaptability to get me to vote for them.
Malece/Alan: Hiphop by Steve Scott. Alien, robotic. It's hard not to just watch her. All right, He's hitting. Just need better synchronization. Bigger would be better. Don't see the alien-nation. But, liked the execution. Nigel calls her a "mean, little alien". But, Alan needs to "wear" the piece more. "Put on a mantle", "Put on the swag". "Little stiff". Mary "not crazy" about those pants. Agrees he didn't embrace "the groove". He suffered by comparison to Malece. Says her star is "shining bright". Carly says he's "adorable", but, Malece is "hard to take my eyes off of".
Haley/Curtis: Dee Kaspary routine. Fifteen foot high ladder. Smooth movements. Airs above the ground while holding on for dear life. Metaphor of "climbing the career ladder" and the f-x on relationships when you're in different places. Nice lift sequences. Timings just a little off at the beginning of lifts. Swooping camera work. Very creative choreography! Props are hard! They did well!. Hard for someone who professes a fear of height. Mary says she "loves" the number, very creative. Criticizes his shoulders. common complaint from instructors across different dance genres. Says Hayley was "spectacular". Made it look easy! "Wiggly" ladder. Carly praises the chemistry. Nigel praises the concept and the choreography. Echoes the shoulder criticism. Says it "ruined" the piece. Urges more dancing from "the core". Dance from the inside out. Criticizes Curtis' solo as well. Disappointed, but, Haley was magnificent.
Amy/Fikshun: Hobo jazz by Tyce Diorio. Start off in a trash pile. percussive start to song and movements. then it gets a little lyrical. Broadway jazz. Can see this on a broadway stage. There are the jazz hands. Shows off her flexibility. She's a beast...and he's keeping up. Trip and fall at the end. Funny characters! Carly says "absolutely adorable". Made it look easy. "My favorite routine so far". Nigel calls them "the couple to beat". They "light up the stage". Mary calls it "Sweet as a Twinkie", "adorable"! "tight and perfect"! Calls Amy "spectacular"! Puts them on board the "Hot tamale train".
Makenzie/Paul: Hip Hop with Dave Scott. 1930's. Front handspring to start off the Photo shoot. He takes of her shawl. Smooth, hip hop. Ooh, These guys are good. They have the length and strength and they hit it hard! NICE PIECE! Standing ovation from the judges. "Sexiest routine of the evening". New style of hip hop. Mary says "amazing partnership". praises Paul's "soul in the bowl". Calls her "sexy" and "classy". Carly calls it "incredible" and "sexy" and "it's getting hot and it's all YOUR FAULT"!
Jasmin/Aaron: The dreaded Quickstep. Tom-boy? One ofthe hardest quicksteps the choreographers have ever put together. They start off and immediately need stronger frame. Tricky footwork. Nice easy lift. Great legs a gift from her gene pool. but, she knows how to use them as well. Good energy in parts where they mug for the camera, but, a little lacking during the dance steps. Tricky lift sequence at the end. Mary "loved it"! Praises their fearless approach. Mostly good. Praises his expressions. She's beautiful as can be! They survived the "kiss of death". Carly describes Jasmin as "very sexy". Nigel praises "the vivaciousness". "magnificent couple"!
Eliminations: Nigel says it was more difficult with the guys. Praises Alan's solo, but, found him lacking in his partnership. Criticizes Curtis for not taking the notes. Blueprint praised for his animation. But, he gets the axe. Moriah is sobbing as she steps forward. Moriah gets sent home. Makenzie not going anywhere. More tears from the eliminated and the saved.
Watch out Alan! Curtis should be safe this week. Watch out Alexis and Nico!
The start of the reality series that stars real ballet dancers is underway, "Breaking Pointe,
Season Deux", Monday nights on the CW. Fortunately, after watching the first episode, there
seems to be some real dancing going on this season...as well as all the superfluous, requisite
off-stage drama. First impression just brings back recollections of my time in my various
professional companies. First of all, you have to remember just how young everyone is: I
remember one dancer and I used to whisper to each other "As The Fouette Turns" whenever
the soap opera of our off-stage lives began to spill over into rehearsals or classes. As AD Adam
Sklute points out, it is like high school. Only everyone is young and fit, still hormone-driven with
only half-a-brain. I think that's why the producers of BP show so many scenes of body shots,
saunas and pool parties. I'm willing to put up with all the non-dance complications just for some
of the dance scenes. I like the corrections that Principal Danseur Chris Rudd is giving to his charges in BW II. I like listening in on the rehearsal tips during the Cinderella rehearsals. Unfortunately, I can't just avoid someone if I thought they were being a drama queen like when I was in the company. The show literally shoves them in your face. Interesting to read some of the tweets of the dancers involved during the broadcast of the show: @BeckanneSisk, for example. I'm pulling for her to get her shot at a principal role. I'm also hoping that Ronnie gets back on his feet. I know what it's like to be injured and push yourself to get back so much that you actually hamper recovery. Dancers are that way. Just one of the lessons observant dance students can absorb by reading between the scenes of "Breaking Pointe".
The title of the first episode was "It's Just Ballet...It's Not Brain Surgery". That reminds me of
one of the statements a jaded old-time dancer used to tell me, "It's just ballet!" I used to to think
to myself "It's not JUST BALLET! It's my life!" But, probably good to strike some sort of
balance between the two extremes. Nothing is more real or more important than when you're on
stage and 2-thousand plus people are watching, paying attention to just you. Yes, it's just ballet.
No one will die, it's not brain surgery. But, YES, it is VERY IMPORTANT to real dancers.
Good news is ten episodes of "Breaking Pointe" this summer...as opposed to the half-dozen
shown last year. But, the bad news is the paltry ratings the premiere got. Interesting to notice
that #breakingpointe was actually a trending topic on Twitter premiere night, but, that failed to
translate into ratings points for the show. Hopefully, that'll change over the next few weeks.
Let's show there's an audience for real dance on network television...not that "Bunheads" teen
drama that was fortunately cancelled on ABC Family...or "Dance Moms"! Text, tweet, FB,
hashtag your friends!..."
(Capital City News Service) – A new study from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is one of the first to study the relationship between exercise and stroke in a large biracial cohort of men and women in the United States. The findings are published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
Using 27,000 stroke-free blacks and whites ages 45 and older in the United States from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study cohort, researchers examined the association of self-reported physical activity with incident of stroke.
Participants were classified at baseline as being in active (i.e., no workouts in a typical week), moderately active (workouts one to three times per week) or vigorously active (workouts more than four times per week), and they were followed for an average of 5.7 years.
The results showed that physical inactivity was reported by 33 percent of participants and was associated with a 20 percent increased risk of stroke. Those who reported they exercised at least four times a week were less likely to experience a stroke or mini-stroke. Among men, only those who exercised four or more times a week had a lower stroke risk. Among women, the relationship between stroke and frequency of activity was less clear.
“The protective effect of intense physical activity may be through its impact on traditional risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes,” explained Professor Virginia Howard.
“These findings confirm past results of studies done in only men or only women in limited geographical areas,” Howard said. “By using the REGARDS cohort, our study was able to use a larger and more diverse population to show that participating in regular physical activity is associated with lower stroke risk.”
Howard added that stroke is preventable, and physical activity is a major modifiable risk factor for stroke. “This should be emphasized more in routine physician check-ups, along with general education on the proven health benefits of regular physical activity on other stroke-risk factors including high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity."
Study limitations highlighted include that the results are based on self-reported levels of physical activity, and self-reported data may not be a reflection of the truth. Also, investigators did not have data on the type or duration of the exercise in which people engaged, nor the number of sessions. Howard suggested future studies should consider different ways to measure physical activity through: use of more questions; devices such as accelerometers and heart monitors that can provide more objective data; and capturing information on other dimensions of physical activity such as frequency, intensity and duration.
This study was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Right now I am in Montgomery, Alabama in the midst of the 2013 season with the Montgomery Ballet! We are currently in a whirlwind of rehearsals for our next production of Don Quixote, which we will be performing next weekend. This ballet is so amazingly fun as I'm sure many of you remember from when we did it at CCDC. I'm cast as a townsperson and a gypsy. Being a gypsy is really challenging because I have to act in a different way. We are supposed to be really weird and creepy, the choreography definitely reflects that, so I am working hard at trying to put my character on top of it!
The summer here in Montgomery is actually pretty unique compared to most places. Right now, the company is also hosting our International Workshop. This is an opportunity for current professional dancers as well as aspiring professionals to spend the summer here dancing with Montgomery Ballet and performing in our summer production. With the company and International Workshop participants combined, the cast for Don Q. adds up to over 100 people! It is so cool dancing alongside so many talented people, and making new friends from all over the world! The International Workshop participants will be performing nymph corps in the dream scene and bridesmaids in act III, so rehearsal-wise I'm not quite as busy as I would normally be since there are so many more cast members this time around.
Other than Don Q., a couple of weeks ago I got the opportunity to perform Big Swans from Swan Lake with another company member for our Company Gala! It was so much fun, and I was definitely channeling (Carey, Graham Kracker and Super Model) the entire time :).
Other than ballet 24/7, I got a job at the dance store that is attached to the ballet company. It is so great, and not just because I get 50 percent off..hehe :).
So, that is a brief little update from me! I will be home in just a few short weeks and can't wait to be back smiling and dancing with you all, Sending so much love!
(2K2M)..."
WHO: The cast of JERSEY BOYS, RAGBRAI Street Party attendees and DsM Performing Arts.
WHAT: Cast members from JERSEY BOYS, the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award Winning BEST MUSICAL, will perform numbers from the hit Broadway production at the Downtown DsM RAGBRAI Street Party.
In addition, the cast will participate in a special insiders Q&A to share backstage stories about the musical, based on the true stories of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
JERSEY BOYS is in DsM for a return two-week engagement at the Civic Center, July 24-Aug. 4.
WHEN: Tuesday, July 23, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Principal Pavilion Stage (Corner of Water Street & East Walnut Street)
Opening sequence: tableaux of couples in white. Bluprint some nice sequential isolations. big set piece the dancers climb and run and jump off from. Slide. some pretty dramatic jumps off the back onto some sort of crash pad. Much to the audience's delight. Whoops and screams and hollers. Drums get more insistent. A revolution seems to be brewing. Ends in backlit tableaux. Interesting...but...
Turns out to be a Tayeh/Scott routine. Cat announces withdrawal of Jade due to meniscus operation.
Format change...cuts happen at the end of the show instead of the beginning. Judges include Nigel, Mary, Paula Abdul and Erin Andrews of Fox Sports and also formerly of DWT***. Does Malece get an All-Star? Or choreographer's assistant? Reveals who's in bottom three: Jazmin Mason, Blue print, Jenna, Curtis, Alexis and Jade. Two boys are saved because of Jade's injury. All three of the girls will dance for their lives.
Solos right away:
The competition begins:
Amy-Fikshutn: Jean Marc Generaux Paso Doble. "This is war!" Paso War! Strong lift to start. She's an animal. Strong music strong dancing. SLOOW motion drop. He needs to amp up the intensity. She's MEMORABLE!. Need to use the accents more in the music. Too much waiting and not enough hitting hard to the music. Needed more weight and more bend in the knees. But, ballroom expert likes it. Litany of complaints, but, she liked it. Erin calls them the ones to beat. Paula called it a dance of HATE. High praise for Amy. Paula points out that Fikshun is an alumni of her own show. Nigel says the pair demands attention, the mark of a good performer. But, echoes criticism of the shoulders!
Jasmine H/Alan: Spencer Liff broadway. The detective and the corpse. Song from Smash. Old school acting/musical theater! Love to see tall dancers dancing BIG! Such a built in advantage! Erin loves the choreography. Amazing legs! Has some, knows them when she sees them. Nothing but praise for the couple. Paula calls Alan a throwback to the old MGM dance stars. Says Jasmine reminds her of Cyd Charisse! Nigel says he was just back from Broadway...and that this couple would not have been out of place on the Great White Way. Mary says the couple displayed "style and class".
Makenzie/Paul: Lindsey Melco contemporary piece. Being challenged to transcend technique. Modified finger turns. Great flowing movements. Smooth lift sequence. Great costume design. Strong partnering. subtle understated, effective. Great breath. Goose bumps. Paula kudos to the choreographer. Says her work with terminally ill kids gave her resonance. Praises the characterizations. Nigel praises her technical work, but, says the steps did NOT get in the way in this piece! Mary says she loves the piece! Calls it "gentle, sweet, beautiful to watch". Calls Paul "a huge surprise"! She starts the waterworks! Erin says the look and the emotion got to her.
Jasmine/Alan: Shawn Cheeseman contemporary piece. The everyday lives of royals. Wow, she changes her look for this piece. Unorthodox lift to the shoulder! Nice creative lift sequences. Interesting choreography. Nigel says he loved the quirkiness, could've used more tho' and more fun. Mary loved the precision and lifts. Erin echoes the earlier points. Paula calls it a fun routine. Calls for more fun with the routine as well.
Jenna/Tucker: Keoni and Mari Madrid. Urban street dance. Love this song. LOVE this number. Could be hit a little harder. FRESH sassy choreography! Michael Jackson remix. Mary says Jenna can do everything. And Tucker was just as good. Erin compares Tucker to MJ. Paula says she loves the tribute "fluid and staccato". Calls Jenna "a movie star". Tucker is a chameleon. "Powerful couple". Nigel compares her to Audrey Hepburn. One of his favorite routines.
Malece/Marco: One of my favorites competitors this season. Sonya Tayeh contemporary routine. Could have no better partner than this all-star. Great pictures. Great partnering. His experience is challenging her to raise her game. The choreography is showing her off. Great pictures. Nice holds. Great poses. Great ending! One of the best routines of the night! Erin calls Malece a little fairy, a little Tinkerbelle. "Magickal". Paula with proper kudos to Jade. Says she "adores" Malece. The ebb and flow was "wonderful", "astonishing", Nigel with kudos to Jade as well. Nigel says Marco challenged and raised Malece to dance like "a woman"! Mary calls Marco "brilliant". Calls Malece "captivating", "Just Perfect"!
Haley/Curtis: Jean Marc Genereau's samba. Difficult routine. Could use more hips, bend of knees, weight in legs. Not enough attack or use of the hips like we used to seeing from ballroom dancers. Is she too embarassed to sell this piece? Not enough fun with this dance!. Good expression, but, I don't feel the passion. Paula says Haley was sexiness and sauciness. Wants more ferociousness. Says Curtis needs to be the MAN in the relationship. Mary criticizes the weight placement in the foot and the samba walks, passes and runs. Almost got the style! Says Haley showed tremendous growth. "The Fringe was FLYING!" Erin says "hello hips!"
Alexis/Niko: Spencer Liff Jazz routine. Mesmerizing routine. Nice aeriel walk-over, nice pirouettes. He's got good flexibility. Nigel then Paula wonders why Alexis is in the bottom three. Likes Niko's turns as well. Mary says she was hypnotized! Niko "brilliant". Alexis rose above her genre. Erin wonders why Alexis is in the bottom three.
Moriah/Bluprint: hiphop? Their own style? Crumper and animator! Talk about luck of the draw! Aerobic. Needs facials! Wow! non-stop aerobic number. Test of cardio fitness. Slows down a second to speed back up again. Hard and sassy! This couple knows how to hit it hard! No faking the street beat! Mary says Bluprint needs more performance facially. Says Moriah shines in her own style. Erin loved the routine. Says Moriah Shook it! Says she loved the abs! But, needs more of it! Paula says Bluprint is so good at the genre, but, is still holding back! Says Moriah's personality exploded on stage. Nigel says personality wins the day! Sabra over Danny. Benji over Travis! Just show off the personality on the stage!
Now, the elimination: Alexis, Jasmine, Jenna. I'd send home Jasmine. Judges save Jenna. Jasmine criticized for her self-doubt. Alexis says the corrections aren't sticking around long enough. (I'd boot her just for that!) But, Jasmine gets the hook.
Watch out after the all-star break: Bluprint, Curtis!
While the incidence of concussion in dance is not yet known, it does occur in dance.
Concussions are complex pathophysiological injuries caused by traumatic forces to the head,
face, neck, or elsewhere. The symptoms largely reflect functional rather than structural deficits
and may be hard to detect. Therefore, it is critical that these injuries be recognized by all
persons in the dance environment and that they are treated properly and immediately.
Concussions do not necessarily present with loss of consciousness; in fact, loss of
consciousness occurs in only 9-10% of cases. Each concussion is unique with symptoms
varying between individuals and concussion events. Signs and symptoms may include
headache, dizziness, confusion, memory loss, mood disturbance, fatigue, balance
disturbances, sensitivity to light and noise, and nausea. Any dancer sustaining a concussion
should immediately be removed from their activity. Current guidelines suggest no return to
dance on the day of injury, even if symptoms resolve. The dancer should be evaluated by a
licensed health care provider trained in concussion management, and begin physical and
cognitive rest. Clearance for physical and cognitive activity should only be given by a licensed
healthcare provider experienced in concussion management, and the return-to-dance
progression should be individualized, rather than based on a rigid timeline.
Dear Friends of the Prix de Lausanne,
Organised during the competition week, the Networking Forum gives the candidates who are not selected for the Finals an opportunity to be seen by schools and company directors from all around the world.
Following an audition class, meetings are organised for Prix de Lausanne partner school and company directors who are interested in making an offer to one or more candidates. Meetings with finalists who do not receive a prize are also arranged.
In 2013, 20 Prix de Lausanne partner institutions watched the audition class and had a meeting with 48 candidates who received one or more offers during those meetings, most of which were scholarships.
To date, 23 young dancers have informed us of their decision to study abroad in a new institution, thanks to the Networking Forum.
See the complete list of candidates who benefited from the networking forum available on our web site.
We wish them all the best for this exciting new stage of their career.
The Prix de Lausanne would like to take this opportunity to thank all its partner schools, partner companies and summer schools for their support.
Register now at
www.registration.prixdelausanne.org.
Deadline for registration: 30 septembre 2013...."
Opening Number: Updated Coppelia. Dolls come to life. Childhood fantasy plays out on stage.
Vaguely Wade Robsonian piece. Actually Choreographed by Tyce Diorio.
Elimination at the beginning of the episode. Guest judge is Christina Applegate. The
dancers come out prepared to dance for their lives!
Bottom six: Makenzie, Alan, Moriah, Jade, Britanny, Carlos
Judges'choice: save Alan and Makenzie
Dance For Their Lives:
I'd keep Jade and Brittany. Nigel says he was disappointed in the solos. He says the decision
is based on their body of work along with choreographers' input. Say Goodbye to: Carlos and
Brittany. Moriah almost breaks down at the announcement. Must be a mixed blend of emotions
at being saved and losing a friend.
Hailey/Curtis: Ray Leeper routine. Bad in all black. Femme fatale and her willing victim.
She's got the attitude and the look. He's having trouble releasing his inner bad boy. some
suggestive choreography. Lacks the passion, though. Supposed to be hot and steamy, but, left
me a little cold. Nigel says She was sexy and a bad girl! Hard to take his eyes off Haley. Sexy
start! Mary "loved it"! Calls Curtis a little "giggle bucket". Calls Haley an early Fourth of July
fireworks. Christina says Curtis rose above his tap roots. Wanted more "oozing" into the
words of the songs, not just the music!
Jasmine H./Aaron: Lyrical hiphop number? Nappy Tabz routine. Friends with benefits
number. The music man returneth. SHe's hitting it hard. He's doing well for a tap dancer!. Old
tale of irresistable compulsion meets resistance. Wow! hard lifts with such tall dancers. Mary
says it was a chemistry lesson, Smokin'! Fans herself. Calls Jasmine a Star! Christina says it
was sexy, nothing negative to say. Calls them the couple to beat! rose above their genres. Nigel
says it was an honest routine. Calls Alan a "Major Asset to the show this year".
National Dance Day, July 27th. DizzyFeetFoundation.Org.
Malece/Jade: Bollywood by Nakul. Points for the rich costumes. Starts slow. Then
speeds up. Bollywood is a feel good genre. Did I mention great costuming? Athletic cardio
routine. Then, all of a sudden it's over. I'm sure they're missing some of the subtleties of the art
form. Christina says it was fun and energetic. She exhorts him to leave it all on the dance floor.
Nigel praises Malece's look. Curse and a blessing. Nigel challenges him to dance for his life
better! Mary praises costuming and look as well. "Great job!"
Alexis/Nico: Stacey Tookey routine follows up on an earlier piece. Returning from war.
Good turner, but lacks the depth and resonance to source his movements. Sorry! Not doing it
for me! Lacks the emotion the choreographer said she wanted in the piece. Not enough breath.
Dancing from the outside in...but, not deep enough! Nigel praises the choreography. says the
tapper did very well. Mary says loves watching the piece. I disagree with her assessment,
praising the "realness and honesty". Christina says the choreography changed from dress,
from attitude turns to pirouettes...and calls ita good choice.
Brittany/Bluprint: First performance by an eliminated dancer. Spencer Liff Broadway
routine. Animator has to step up his technique. She's got the look of an old-time beauty. He's
got a very contemporary street look. library setting Slow, then fast, then slow then fast.
Standing ovation for performance. Mary says she adored the piece. First cut is the deepest.
Challenges Bluprint to step up his technique and performance. Christina praises Brittany for
stepping it up. The Broadway veteran gives the animator some valuable coaching. Nigel says
Broadway is all about "sell, sell, sell"! "Fake sincerity" "Sell the story".
Jasmine M/Alan: Tango. Miriam and Leonardo piece. Nice to see a ballroom dancer
tackle his own genre. one arm lift right off the bat. She lacks the hit and stretch. needs to find
the stillness in the movement. And the stretch. Ambitious lifts. Standing o from the judges.
Christina says it was "beautiful" and "had a moment' Said he was shocked to have Alan in the
bottom three. Likes Jasmine. Mary says the passion was outstanding. "Smoldering!"
Makenzie/Paul Sean Cheeseman routine. Fembot? mad scientist and his female robot.
Nice extensions. THIS pair can do the stillness and movement. Best piece of the night, so far.
She blinded me with science! Nigel "Naughty routine". Calls Makenze "a Star"! Mary says she
loves it. Christina compares him to Patrick Dempsey! "Good stuff, guys"
Moriah/Carlos: Tookey routine. Great story behind the choreography. Excellent
flowing, breathing choreography and lifts integral to the movement. seamless movement. If you
fall I will catch you. Great emotion in this piece. Much more successful piece than the other
Tookey routine. Calls Carlos' ouster "America's loss". Christina says Carlos deserves to stay.
Interconnectedness was spectacular. Chemistry was unbelievable. Goosebumps all over.
Nigel "brilliant emoting". "Exponential growth"!
Amy/FikShun: Nappy Tabs routine. Two Bellmen. Not Amy's genre but, she brings it
hard popping and locking without effort. Getting Ratchet! I think she had fun! Christina: Loved
it so much! Nigel: I knew I was going to love this routine! "You both light up the entire studio"!
Mary: "It was a party on stage!" "Can't help but like these two!"
Jenna/Tucker: Dmitry Chaplin's cha-cha routine. She's a ballroom dancer. He's a
chameleon. Well-done cha-cha. Should score high. Mary: She's a chameleon. Tucker needed
more rhythmic action. "This girl's crazy!" Christina: I was thoroughly entertained. "Amazing!"
"Raw and dirty!" Nigel: not enough cha-cha for me! Sending a message to the
choreographers...show me the genre!..."
-(Mr Steel)..."
For Summer 2013, Emerging Pictures and Ballet in Cinema have curated a very
special three-ballet series, The Best of the Bolshoi.
From India to Scotland to Egypt...these three exotic and brilliantly colorful ballets transport
audiences to the farthest corners of the world and the heights of dance ecstasy.
Don't miss your chance to see classical ballet like you've never seen it before - find a venue near you!..."
A challenging, exciting and uplifting experience where everyone is a winner.
It seeks to identify potential rather than reward achievement.
Register now at
www.registration.prixdelausanne.org
Deadline for registration: 30 septembre 2013..."
It's not every day that you see Diana Vishneva in a cat tutu. The renowned ballerina guest stars in AllyCat the Ballet Cat, co-created by dancer Allyson Tang (a.k.a. AllyCat) and director Ash Baron Cohen. Set for release on August 13, the educational video is the first of what will ultimately be a series of films designed to get young children active and engaged in ballet. Pointe's e-news talked to Vishneva about the project.
I heard that Allyson and Ash were fundraising to help a gifted young dancer, Kaylani Parks, attend Dance Theatre of Harlem's school. I have a foundation that supports ballet students in need, so I approached them, and ended up donating to their cause. I was touched when I heard that they also wanted to create a DVD that gave disadvantaged children who could not afford ballet classes access to the art form.
What was the inspiration behind the "ballet cats" idea?
AllyCat and my character, the Russian Royal Cat, engage children in an imaginative, non-intimidating way. We hope the cat characters can eventually be performed by dancers from around the world to unite children on a global level.
What are the film's goals?
To help children learn the beautiful art of ballet and believe in themselves. We also hope to help combat childhood obesity, which affects so many kids. And we want to make ballet a more fun, inclusive art form. Every child deserves this opportunity.
What is your advice for young dancers?
Love and respect your body. It is your instrument to create art. Listen to your parents, teachers and coaches, who are trying to help you be your best. Educate yourself; try to learn something new every day. And remember there is no one else like you.
Moreover, the people who operate it will be doing business in new ways thanks to the partnerships they’ve formed with other arts organizations following the Flood of 2008, which rendered the original Hancher building useless and forced Hancher’s staff to find other venues for its artists and performances.
“A new building is going to give us the opportunity to do the large-scale productions again, which we missed,” says Chuck Swanson, Hancher executive director. “But this time away from the old building has given us the opportunity to forge new partnerships and to think creatively about our programming. Being able to merge the new space and all of our new endeavors—I think it’s golden. It’s just terrific.”
Swanson is pleased that the team helping design the new building, from the architects to the contractors, have been excellent listeners and made the most of comments from Hancher staffers and others.
“One thing that’s allowed us to do a great job of planning is that we have 40 years of history,” he notes. “We’ve had the opportunity to think back and put more thought into the design so that it can be user-friendly.”
For example:
“We didn’t even have a café when the original Hancher was built, but this time it’s very much a part of our thinking,” he adds. “I would love to see it available even outside of our performances. I see it as one of the hottest spots in town.”
“Take for instance our ‘Invisible Man’ project,” Swanson says. That project included UI faculty, students, a nationally known playwright, and more than a dozen UI offices and organizations. “We needed space for all of us to work together. This will make that possible.”
The film directed by Pierce Jackson, will open all Emerging Pictures'
"Ballet in Cinema" and "Opera in Cinema" screenings through the remainder of 2013. In summer, 2011, Hallberg became the first American invited to join the famed Bolshoi Ballet as a Premier dancer. Since then, he has become a permanent fixture on both the international ballet stage and movie screens. His Bolshoi Ballet debut was broadcast worldwide in "The Sleeping Beauty", partnering prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova. He has also been a favorite subject in such media outlets as Carine Roitfeld's _CR Fashion Book_, _Vogue Magazine_, _Nowness_, and _The New York Times Style Magazine_. When we at Emerging Pictures first met with Hallberg to discuss the film, he was in New York City rehearsing for his 2012 Spring Season with American Ballet Theatre. We discussed what interests him both in and out of the world of dance, what he finds inspiring. His boundless curiosity about other arts forms assumes an important role in shaping his artistry. "What attract me most to dance, " says Hallberg, "is the perpetual search for perfection. You create this moment that share, not only with your partner but with the audience too...that one moment when you know everything has come together, that you've expressed everything you possibly can."
A week later, we were in the studio with Hallberg, preparing to film the rehearsal for his Third Act _La Bayadere_entrance. Watching an artist in the midst of his creative process was exhilarating: his focus was unwavering, his every muscle engaged. His portrayal of Solor was searing with each gesture reconciled in beautiful movment. And director Pierce Jackson brilliantly captured one particularly unique "moment" in the film which we are confident audiences will find exultant. Ballet in Cinema is thrilled to be working with David Hallberg and to share this film with you.
For more information about us, visit our website at www.balletincinema.com . Our Summer Season has begun! Click here to see what's on this summer. Theatre schedules vary. *Check with your local theatre* for schedule and purchase tickets directly from your theatre, as you would for any other film...."
Le Corsaire Pas de deux
Black Swan Pas de deux
Mechanism
Tickets are available for $25 at Oklahoma City Ballet offices, 7421 N. Classen Boulevard,
Oklahoma City, OK 73116 until Friday, June 14, 2013 at 5:00 p.m or by phone by
calling 405-843-9898. Tickets will also be available at the door starting 1 hour
before the performance. All proceeds will be donated to the Central Oklahoma Chapter
of the American Red Cross...”
AAM is a non-profit association that has brought museums together since its
founding in 1906, helping develop best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge,
and advocating on issues of concern to the museum community. AAM is the only
organization representing the entire scope of museums and professionals in the
nation. According to Art Center Director Jeff Fleming, “The Art Center is pleased to
have applied to and then been awarded museum accreditation by the American
Alliance of Museums. This accreditation is a stamp of excellence from the museum
world and confirms that our standards are amongst the highest in the field.”
Sincerely,
I really can't express to you how blessed we have felt having the girls attend CCDC. I
always feel so safe and comfortable dropping them at your door and leaving them with their
teacher and they enjoy going so much.
(One daughter) was near tears Friday night running up to get her letter and finding out she got
"promoted" into Ballet 2. She's already talking about going to get jazz shoes.
I'll get the girls registered for fall soon. (One dancer) in B2 and (the other) in Jazz B again (I don't
think I could tear her away from Alissa even if I wanted to)...."
Kudos to the choreographers who found a way to make the complicated movements of this
Tchaikovsky classic conquerable by each class of dancer. Though it was to the
absolute pleasure of the audience, it is a miracle to have successfully shuffled the youngest
“baby swans” on and off stage at all, let alone point their toes in unison. Brava!
Apart from the obvious jewels of the stage, Adrian Oldenburger and Cassidy
Shedenhelm, each member of the company carried the show, bearing in mind that at any
moment the gaze of the audience could fall upon their form. From the flirtatious townswomen to
the serious swans, it was a rare moment when character broke.
Oldenburger is all leg. It seemed that every time Oldenburger leapt and had
reached his peak, he caught a sudden extra gust. His talent and endurance stole the show, even
from his perfect, porcelain co-star.
Shedenhelm, though, is indeed an example of exactness. Her control and poise was
unmatched by any dancer.
The choreography of their duet evoked that classic tenderness of forbidden love between this
fabled couple: Shendenhelm with her coy and fluttering steps and
Oldenburger’s cautious coaxing.
Each of the dancers could improve on their dramatization of the piece, but the acting is
secondary to the fact that these dance students are working hard to perfect an incredibly
demanding physical art form.
I must draw attention to the costuming, for each handmaiden and courtier really looked their
part. But most heavenly were each division of swan, swishing their feathered down like swaths
of pastel paint across a canvas.
What’s more, and quite unexpected, these students of dance are as convincing twirling on their
toes as they are busting a move to Katy Perry during the modern portion of the
show.
I noted some of those elegant swans I had just seen flitting about on their toes were really in
their element throwing their hips to throbbing bass. It’s refreshing to see these students are
expected to use both sides of their dance brain, balancing the demands of traditional ballet and
freeform modern dance.
Much applause to all the dancers and their dedicated instructors! I can’t wait to see what’s
next!
I auditioned for Metropolitan Ballet in Minneapolis recently and was offered a contract
for this coming year and a job teaching at their school starting this summer.
Sarah attended Saturday night cheering on her biggest fans: Nina, CCDC Ballet
3 student, and Amara, CCDC Ballet 2 student..."
Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds presented the 2013 Iowa Scholarship for the Arts awards to five Iowa high school seniors during a ceremony at the State Capitol.
The Scholarship for the Arts is awarded annually to select high school students with a proven artistic ability in dance, literature, music, theater, traditional arts or visual arts who plan to attend an Iowa college or university during the next academic year and pursue a major in the arts. The students recognized will receive $1,500 toward his or her 2013-2014 college tuition and related expenses as a full-time undergraduate at a fully accredited Iowa college or university with a major in one or more of the disciplines considered for the award.
The Scholarship for the Arts award is administrated by the State Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. This year's recipients are:
One comment about Ally and Mark. She was not the best dancer but I don't believe anyone else
on the show could have pulled off the African dance they did the week before (which you said
was a one-note dance). Same thing with the poll dance in the freestyle. I was underwhelmed by
the dancing but her strength and stamina were impressive!..."
Four in the finals this year. I guess they're just tweaking with the formula to keep it fresh. Val! Suffers a sharp elbow to the head. But, as i tell the CCDC partner class. If you ain't been hit, you ain't been partnering long!
Team Jacoby+Karina: Now it's the sprint to the finish! The last man standing. Personally coached by Len. "Kick a peanut"! Jacoby Jones! Call him the Swag-Man! He's got such a personality it's going to motivate callers into the show.
Unfortunately, for dance fans severe weather interrupts show coverage. Little moot now watching it nearly a week later!o( Now, we're checking to see if we can download the show via our satellite provider!
Okay, now, we're downloading the replay. No HD, no fast forward, but...at least we get to watch the show!o)
Rewatching the opening. Dang! Everything looks worse after HD! "Dancing With The Stars" Cruise? Wow! Make money with that brand!
Team Jacoby+Karina: Judge's pick, The Jive. Pointe those feet Jacoby. Good action, Okay, now he's imroving those flippers. He's So cool, so musical. So big.. SO GOOD Fast and fancy footwork. C'mon bring it on home, Mister Jone! Jump onto the judges table for the finish! There's Emmet Smith in the audience! I give him a nine or ten! "The peanut won!" Real judges: 9, 9,9 Two more dances for the Swag-Man!
Team Aly+Mark: Judge's choice is a Samba! Coached by Bruno. Tapping into her inner Shakira. Shake it, girl! good attack, good energy. She's bringing the party to the performance! Great smile! There are the samba rolls! Oh, no turns in the roll. But, Not holding back in the passion department! No embarassment in the the shakes and crawling on the floor! I give her nine or ten from me. She's going to be a better gymnast because of her dance training. Real judges: 9, 9, 10
Team Kelly+Derek: Judges' choice: Quick Step. The grumpy judge is Len, "The Principal". Attach those "knobbly bits". She's going to duct tape themselves together "The more you sweat, the better you get". Jump was a little off count. Hold is better. Now she's back in the groove. Their knobbly bits aren't attached! As usual excellent Derek choreography! They accelerate as the music picks up. go smooth as the the music starts to swing! What a performance! She gets a ten from me! "A tour de force"! "Fantastic"Real Judges: 10, 10, 10 First perfect score in these finals! The momentum begins to build...
Team Zendaya/Val: Judge's pick: the Samba. How much will the injury make her hold back? Carrie Anne is judge's coach. Samba feel!Practicing in those foreign heels! "You gotta be ten times stronger in heels!" Team Z starts sultry and smooth! This girl is a star...unlike some of the other contestants. As always, sharp and smooth. Fiery in all red! Legs that go on forever! That smolderingsmile! Now that's the party girl. All eyes on Zendaya!! Val who? She's SO GOOD! Winner, winner chicken dinner...in my book at least! She gets my eleven! "Incredibly fierce!" This girl is just 16?It's Z's world and we just live in it! Real Judges: 10, 10, 10! Gauntlet thrown down, picked up and slapped you upside the head!o)
Second round: The Cha-Cha Relay: starts off with Kelly! Sharp as usual. Swivel those hips, girl! This girl is a star aas well. show off tha flexibility. Jacoby jumps over the pair to start his forty seconds. The boy brings the swag and the passion. He slides under Aly and Mark to bring them on the floor. Oh, she's hopiing too much. needs to be more grounded with more stretched knees. Zendaya brings her personality and precision to the stage. She's slim and strong and Tall. Just her strut is riveting! Ends with a dramatic drop! I rank them zendaya, kelly, jacoby then Ally. This is a tough decision for the judges. These are the four that deserves to be in the final four. Reverse order: Jacoby, Ally, Kelly, Zendaya!
Supersized Freestyle round is all that remains: No rules RULES!
Team Jonesoff: Honoring New Orleans a flash mob. The big Easy. Jacoby choreographing his own moves. Jacoby! Bringing the PRODUCTION! Squad of stompers start off. He peels off his shirt. one-handed drop. Usually, I can watch the professional, but, Jacob y is difficult not to watch. Here are the kid tappers! It's that Sofia. I give him a ten just for the production and effort! Carrie says he was "lost in the shuffle", I disagree! Maybe it's different in person, but, to me the focus was always the big NFL wide receiver. "Personality and energy!" Real judges: 9 ,9, 9
Team Allas: vertical challenge. So Intense. His fear of heights comes into play. The futuristic fantas of Mark. Starts off with laser light show. Great Tour jete entrelace. Shows off her strength and flexibility. Run up on to the stage with poles. Will the apparatus over shadow the dancing? Those poles are wobbling an awful lot. Kind of a weak ending! I give them a nine or eight. Real judges: 10, 10, 10 I was underwhelmed...not the real judges apparently!
Team Picklough: Derek makes an artistic choice to pare it down to the essentials! big risk, big reward. No other dancers just them. contemporary piece in barefeet. Unbelievable lift and partnering. He's choreographed a story. Unbelievable supported lean. The dramatic intensity is off the charts! . He's overcome with emotion at the end. Amazing! Derek has out done himself! She gets an eleven from me! "Good dancing engages the brain. Great dancing engages the heart!" "Spell-binding beauty!" Standing ovations from Len! Real judges: 10, 10, 10. "Should be an eleven" "I agree!"
Team zendayovksy: she's amazing in white. There's the hiphop. Slows down she jumps into a fish carry. But, Kelly is a tough act to follow. Here come the kids! But, the focus as always is Z herself. Too short! I give her a ten, but, Kelly's a tough act to follow. Inspiring the kids! "Inspiring luminosity!" "Simply irresistible!" "You're cocky, you're sassy...you're divine!" Real judges: 10, 10, 10
The finale of DWT***: Starts off with a reprise of the first number (Lacey Schwimmer choreographed) they started off with. Pitbull! Bad news is we have to sit through the eliminated dancers again. Encore dance is, of course, Kelly and Derek. It's even better the second time
Aly is the first to go. She says it was the best experience she's ever had! Better experience...than the Olympics? Again out of her comfort zone "Best student I've ever had" says Mark. Take that, Shawn! Ouch!
We get to watch Dorothy Hamill dance again. She was forced to withdraw from the competition early because of injury. Which is a shame since she would've been in the mix until the very end. Kristi Yamaguchi makes a cameo. How sweet! How touching! They may take it to the ice later, but, this was memorable!
They're doing their best to make these reappearances more watchable. Adding Len to one dance. Adding a ton of dancer's to Andy Dick's Poker Face.
Instant dances:
Team Jacoby: Salsa. AUdience climbs to its feet. This boy can salsa. Smooth and sensual! Could open his shoulders up just abit. Big man dancing big...and well. Leap and catch. the camera was in the way! He does it again! I give him a ten or nine. He is like the Big Easy! Mother's demanding a TEN! "Not where you start, it's where you finish!" Heart of a champion! Real judges: 10, 10, 10 Strong finish! Demonstrates his touchdown dance! Stand aside Ravenation! Here comes the Jacobinator!o)
Team Kelly: Jive. Where has all this dancing ability been hiding? makes me wonder how many other godd dancers! Derek starts off with roundoff back layout! The boy is fully trained. Great energy, great atack. She's a doll! Enthusiasm up the wazoo. Look at those legs and extension! Last one gets a ten from me! "You remind me of Julianne Hough!" Real judges: 10, 10, 10 Put a cherry at the top of the sundae!
Team Zendaya: She's so sassy, so cool. Pink shoes and all!. She gets an eleven just with her first moves from me! Zendaya can do no wrong. She's inspirational to this old dancer! Great attack. great enthusiasm! Great expression! "You have such a magical quality!" Real judges: 10, 10, 10 Leader in the clubhouse, I think!
This is the way you follow up on the All-Star Season. With a bunch of finalists who could've won many other season of DWT***! Congrats to the winners... very deserving! Congrats to the runners-up. Zendaya would've won many other seasons! Wonder what Derek would've been able to do with her? The mind boggles! Congrats to the show for what finally turned out to be a worthy successor to the All-Star season!
Robyn (Stewart) Rojas grew up taking ballet lessons at The Dance Center of Oklahoma City Ballet
and eventually danced professionally as a member of the Oklahoma
City Ballet for many years.
Recently married and expecting her first child with her husband Ivan, their home
was completely destroyed by the Moore tornado. This gofund site was setup to raise
funds to help this young couple rebuild their lives in anticipation of their baby.
We know there are many people in need but we hope you would consider giving something
to help this member of our Oklahoma City Ballet family.
Oklahoma City Ballet
As friends and family gather at the Kirkpatrick Auditorium for the Dance Center
of Oklahoma City Ballet Spring Performance, we encourage you to bring along a little
something extra for those affected by recent storms.
We will have a truck ready to take in donations at our studios Thursday until 5:00
and then at the Kirkpatrick Auditorium from 6:00 p - 8:00 p. Financial contributions
will also be accepted. Please help us load the truck as we regroup from this homefelt
tragedy..."
The new dance styles, two routines from each contestant. And, so, it begins...
Team Picklough: Argentine tango. "do everything you can do to win the day!" Starting with a red
backdrop. In silhouette! Sharp and smooth. Very flexible girl. Excellent choreography we've come to expect from ruff, tuff, Derek Hough. Nice body contact and flicks and kicks! Less story and more steps. Derek is making up for last week. That's a ten from me! No flaws! "Welcome to the world of the sublime!" Real judges: 10, 10, 10! Their first perfect scores!
Team Ingym: Samba. Won't go down without a fight! Peaking at the right time? Hmm, don't know
about that! But, he is getting better. She needs to straighten her knees in her rond de jambe kicks! Good hips. well-rehearsed. Good choreography. One of his best efforts, but, too little, too late IMHO. I give him an eight! Real judges: 8, 8, 8
Team Allas: AfroJazz for the first time. But, rhumba first. Her walk is a little pedestrian. She's better, but, the passion quotient is tentative. Higher heels would be better for her. Good choreography, but, a little basic for my taste. She gets an eight or nine. Real judge: 10, 10, 10 Her first perfect scores!
Team Jacobinoff: Injury during camera blocking just the day before. The show must go on. Tango.
His strength and length are real assets in this dance. Karina's choreography shows off both. . Dramatic drop to the floor at the finish! I give him a nine or ten. Boy cleans up good, don't he! Real judges: 10, 10, 10 His first perfect scores. "Go kiss him, Momma!"
Team Zendayovsky: Quick step. fun story! Speed racer hits the ballroom. She has endless energy
and she's not afraid to use it in this competition! But, the frame grows weaker the longer the dance goes! Not easy steps either. Her legs are endless! Her attitude reigns supreme! She gets a nine or ten from me! What an aerobic, artistic effort! Real judges: 8, 8, 9
Second round:
Team Kelly: Flamenco. An Americanized, ballroom version of authentic Spanish Flamenco. Good
effort, hitting all the required stereotypes of the dance. Hand claps and rhythms, percussive foot stomps. A ballroom drop for a flourish to the finish! Very passionate and intense I give her a ten. Real judge: 9, 10, 9
Team Kimgo: He was a competitive skier at a young age. Charleston. He's pretty in pink! Plays a
flapper Great energy!. Fun comic touches Did he over promise? Fun only goes so far! Not enough content.
one-note routine. Not great, Gatsby! gets an eight from me! Real judges: 9, 9, 9 His highest scores!
Team Aly: Afro-Jazz! Powerful start. Stick wielding start. Mark sets a high standard of attack, but, Aly's staying right with him. Simplistic tribal choreography, but, done well. This again is a one-note routine. I'll give her a nine. Real judges: 10, 9, 10
Team Jacoby: Lindy Hop. Start off in the horn section. Routine begins with attack and power. This
boy has some swag! Great energy!. He's a comic. Fast footwork! But so cool!. His expression kills me
everytime! Dang! He's so cool! I give him a ten! Real judges: 10, 9, 10
Team Zendaya: Can Val keep ups with Zendaya is the question! Hip Hop Routine next! Shy at birth?
Star struck youngster! Street girl meets straight guy routine! Wow! She's SO sharp and SO cool! Val's doing his best to keep up, but, she's like MJ so cool and so smooth.This is her element. She's home and she likes it! Impossible to take your eyes off her. Val might as well not be there! She could do a solo! She gets a ten from me! Real judges: 10, 10, 10!
Results show: Ingo is the underdog and ends up in the bottom two couples. Surprise is Zendaya is beside
him. But, as expected, Ingo goes back to O'ahu, a real winner anyway. Now...For the first time in the finals, four couples! ...And, just as DWT** ends, SYTYCD begins!
"Despite the substantial evidence supporting the use of exercise in the treatment of MDD, previous studies have not provided a clear indication of the proper dose of exercise needed to elicit an antidepressant effect," write Chad Rethorst, PhD, and Madhukar Trivedi, MD, of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. To fill this gap, the authors reviewed available data from randomized controlled trials, with the goal of developing specific and detailed recommendations for clinicians on how to prescribe exercise for their patients with MDD.
Randomized trials have shown that exercise is effective in reducing depressive symptoms in patients with MDD, on its own and in conjunction with other treatments, such as antidepressant medication and/or psychotherapy. Exercise may help to meet the need for cost-effective and accessible alternative therapies for depressive disorders—particularly for the substantial number of patients who don’t recover with currently available treatments.
Based on the available data, aerobic exercise is the preferred form of exercise for patients with MDD—although there is also support for resistance training, Drs Rethorst and Trivedi note. In terms of session frequency and duration, they recommend that patients participate in three to five exercise sessions per week, for 45 to 60 minutes per session.
In terms of intensity, for aerobic exercise, they recommend achieving a heart rate that is 50 to 85 percent of the individual’s maximum heart rate (HRmax). For resistance training, they recommend a variety of upper and lower body exercises?three sets of eight repetitions at 80 percent of 1-repetition maximum (RM—that is, 80 percent of the maximum weight that the person can lift one time).
Data suggest that patients may experience improvement in depressive symptoms as little as four weeks after starting exercise. However, Drs Rethorst and Trivedi emphasize that the exercise program should be continued for at least ten to twelve weeks to achieve the greatest antidepressant effect.
Some people have questioned whether patients with MDD will be willing to participate in an exercise program. But Drs Rethorst and Trivedi note that, in the studies they reviewed, only about fifteen percent of patients dropped out of exercise programs—comparable to dropout rates in studies of medications and psychotherapy.
The authors discuss strategies that may help improve adherence to exercise programs, such as consulting patients about their preferred types of exercise and providing individualized educational materials and feedback. They also provide some practical tips for clinicians on how to estimate exercise intensity using readily available information.
Even if the depressed patient can't reach the target intensity and frequency levels, exercise can still be helpful. "Taken as a whole, these findings suggest that exercise doses below the current recommendations may still be beneficial for patients with MDD," Drs Rethorst and Trivedi add. "Therefore, clinicians should encourage patients to engage in at least some exercise, even if they do not exercise enough to meet current public health recommendations.”
International Folk dance Festival "SAAC FOLK" 2013, Gandhinagar, INDIA during 24th to 28th October 2013.
Shyama Academy of Arts and Culture is nonprofit Organisation (NGO) situated in Ahmedabad city, Gujarat State, India, Which aim is connection people through festivals of folk dance, Arts and Culture. Establishing culture cooperation, presentation, tradition between different cultures and nations from all over the world.
Mission of the festivals is to celebrate special events to bring together different cultures from all over the world through Music, dance, Arts, Culture and traditional national costumes of the nations.
The purpose of the festival is to put communication and cooperation between folk dance group and presentation of their own national culture, exchange experience and information’s getting new friendships, get to know new places.
With pleasure we Invite you to participate on International Folk dance Festival "SAAC FOLK" 2013, Gandhinagar, INDIA during 24th to 28th October 2013.
The intention of our Invitation is to invite you to celebrate together the festival and to present the culture tradition of different countries and to provide an opportunity for the members of groups to get together, to establish friendships and culture presentation through dance and music.
International folk dance festival Participante Information : http://shyamaacademy.org/festivalindia.html
International folk dance workshop and Navratri Festival during 4th October to 18th October, 2013
Participant information : http://shyamaacademy.org/international.html
Free Invitation Pass to visit the Festival for International Artist.
Membership Information:
For Artist and Group Information:
For festival Information:
For Workshop Information:
For Invitation Letter and visa Information:
Dance Magazine College Guide brings a dancer's perspective to college planning.
Part guidance counselor, part search engine, the annual College Guide delivers it
all in one convenient source. Put it to work for you today!
Suddenly, the royal trumpets sound the fanfare for the uncommon man. Siegfried is arriving earlier than expected! Bedlam breaks loose as last-minute preparations and prettifying hurriedly take place!
The Prince bursts on the scene and greets the townsfolk. A few tweak protocol and break ranks to introduce themselves to Siegfried. And, the big dance of the pleasant peasants pleases the Prince. But, before another step can be taken, another fanfare signals the arrival of the Queen and her young courtiers.
The Queen congratulates her son on coming of age. She commands a royal present to be revealed. It is a state of the art crossbow! But, as soon as it is uncovered, she waves it away. Enough time for hunting and weapons of war later. Instead, it's time for the big mother-to-son, Queen-to-Crown Prince heart-to-heart. She tells him now that he is old enough, it is time to pick a bride and produce a Royal Heir to the throne. The Queen dismisses his protests that he has not met anyone that he truly loves. She says true love is not always for heads of state. And, if he doesn't choose a proper bride, she will arrange a marriage for him. Then, she waves to the crowd and disappears inside the castle.
But, before the Prince can fully express his disappointment, the young courtiers begin to dance. And, then, two bold peasant girls convince him it is time to dance with them. And, because dancing is a joy to him, he can't dwell on maternal commands or demands while he is so engaged. But, one can't dance forever and reality intrudes when the trio is finished.
And, even in the middle of a crowded courtyard and frolicking festivities, the Prince feels isolated and alone. He cannot refuse the direct order of the Queen Mother, but, he only wishes to find his soul-mate, someone he can love with all his heart who will love him back as much. Why must life be so difficult? Siegfried is feeling the pressure of his situation, when two of the young courtiers return with his mother's gift: the crossbow!
But, even the state-of-the-art weaponry can distract him from his frustration only so long. He sets it aside and imagines meeting and dancing with a special someone. When he's done, the melancholy Prince retrieves his crossbow. That's when something high in the sky catches his eye. A flock of majestic swans, silhouetted above the sunset, is circling the courtyard. He watches the beautiful birds begin to land in a distant part of the forest that people seldom visit. There was a lake there rumored to be of a mother's tears. Siegfried would go there and hunt game to take his mind off his troubles.
Thus ends Act One. Act Two, is the meeting and courtship of Odette, the Queen of the Swans and Crown Prince Siegfried.
The Prince arrives in a deep and hidden part of the eternal forest. In the distance is a lake where the swans have landed. He is aiming at one of them when, suddenly, it morphs into a human being, a lovely young woman adorned with white feathers. What strange magick be this! He watches in wonder as all the swans transform into young women. Finally, the most beautiful of all the swans arrives. Surely it must be the Queen! Yes, it is Princess Odette and she turns into the most lovely of all the young lasses. Siegfried's heart melts. His prayers are answered, he is lost in love. He resolves to meet her.
But, that first meeting doesn't go well, Odette is frightened and tries to flee the handsome stranger. But, even as she tries to elude the Prince's grasp, she realizes, too, that her heart is also lost. Come with me, says the Prince. I cannot, says Odette. I am under a spell. That lake you see is made up of my mother's tears. The vile necromancer Rothbarta has condemned me to fly as a swan by day...and dance as a young girl all night. The only way the spell can be broken is by a true love that never strays. But, the Prince is nothing but persistent. And, finally, Odette realizes her heart overrules her head and she timidly approaches as he goes to bent knee.
But, just then, the dread sorceress Rothbarta bursts on the scene disguised as a gigantic owl. (Editor's note: Usually played by a man in most professional productions. Title IX strikes again!o) She is enraged! She had been planning to marry her own daughter, Odile, to the Crown Prince and Odette was ruining the best laid plans of sorceresses and necro-monsters. Rothbarta chases the Prince off in flurry of fury! She laughs mightily to herself once he's gone. Absolute power has driven her absolutely insane. Rothbarta summons the flock of swans to dance for her pleasure, finally revealed as young maidens all, transformed and enslaved by dread magick, most fowl.
The swans dance and dance and dance some more. But, unbeknownst to the Sorceress, the Prince returns to woo his troth to Odette. The act ends in a heartbreaking, yet, love affirming pas de deux. The final scene is a tableaux of tenderness and a tribute to love as the curtain falls.
Thus ends Act Two. The final one or two acts not performed tonight, tell the tale of the Sorceresses' Revenge. Rothbarta transforms her daughter into the Black Swan Queen, Odile. A duplicate in every detail of the White Swan Queen, Odette. (Editor's note: Most often, in modern professional productions, one ballerina portrays the duality. It is considered a pivotal, make-or-break role in the development of an aspiring young dancer. Just as Swan Lake is considered le blanc du blanc, la creme de la creme, the purest test of all the white ballets.) The famous 32 fouette' turns are performed in the ballroom scene as Odile bedazzles the Prince into swearing his love to her. That seals Odette's fate and the spell of the Swan Queen can never be broken. In most versions, she throws herself into the Lake of her mother's tears. And, the Prince, heartbroken at being tricked into betraying his one true love, soon follows. But, many modern versions dispense with the tradition of tragedy and show the lovers triumph instead. Whichever future full-length version you will hopefully watch and/or perform, know that Le Lac du Cygnes has a legacy that reaches back centuries, spans the continents and has survived the test of time, one dancer and audience member at a time.
Team Zendovsky: Val's asking for more details and more competitiveness in this foxtrot. Her smile is magickal. Makes me happy!. She's lovely in a shimmering floral print! Floats like a dream! Great frame and head line! She needs to forget this acting thing and concentrate on professional dancing! What great spirit! She deserves a ten! "You took my breath away!" Real judges: 9, 10, 9! "A TEN from LEN!"
Team Shawnatroyd: Tango. The Bachelor says he enjoys dancing and feels himself getting better everyday. That's the key right there. She's challenging him to bring more aggression...and PASSION! He knows he's dancing on borrowed time! Theme of a jilted lover to a Katy Perry song. He's improved. Stronger, Sharper, but is it too little too late? Frame is better but, his core is still loose. I'll give him an eight. "Took a step backwards." "Little bit ugly!" Sean does clean up well in that classic blonde Bond tuxedo! (Love these little dancing interludes they bump back into action with! The more dancing the better as far as I'm concerned!) Real judges: 7, 7, 7
Team Jakobina: Waltz. Karina coaching more finesse and technique to complement his natural charisma. Dang! He's got natural line. His sway needs some work. He's a natural dramatic dancer. Frame is better on the outside, but, not strong enough in the middle. He rips his shirt open to Carrie Ann's delight! Whoo! He picks Karina off the floor with no help! I'll give him a eight or nine! "Nice surprise!" "Waltz looks easy, but, is VERY, VERY hard!" "If momma likes it, LEN likes it!" Real judges: 9, 9, 9 Oooh, Momma not satisfied! And, she lets America know about it!
Team Kimgo: Survived the bottom two! Need to step it up in the foxtrot! The physical demands are proving to be a hurdle for the soap star. But, the bright lights bring out the performer in him! He starts with great elan and flair. The lights, the music, the costume, the crowd pushing him to a very good performance. Good heel leads. great expression. I give him an eight! "By far, your best posture!" "Looked like Gene Kelly!" Real judges: 8, 8, 8
Team Pickough: Viennese Waltz. Revealing her emotions. Dancing for her gramma! Honest emotion in her dancing. Nice arabesque line. smooth back and forth. Dancing in clouds of smoke. Some little, little moments of indecision. Are her emotions getting the best of her? Great metaphorical end as Kelly collapses to the floor! Technique gets a nine from me. Emotions get an eleven! "You went beyond the steps today!" Real Judges: 9, 9, 10
Team Alyss: Argentine Tango! Becoming the seductress. Play the harlot! Difficult for the young gymnast. But, she starts off dancing older than her eighteen years. Her flixibility and strength are a strong asset in the performance. Okay...a little lacking in the passion department! I give her an eight. "Mood and atmosphere!" "I had no idea you could be so good at being so...bad!" "Sensational!" Real judges: 9, 10, 10! Highest scores of the night!
Trios:
Zendaya plus Gleb: Salsa with Princess Zendaya. Gleb says he feels like the third wheel in rehearsal. The actress starts off . She's in flat sneakers to keep her from towering over the shorter boys. Great energy! Great hips and shoulder shimmies! Her hiphop attack helps in her presentation. Her dancing makes me happy to watch! I'll give her a nine or ten! "You are the Queen of the Salsa!" Real judges: 10, 10, 10! First perfect thirty of the season goes to the Disney star!
Sean plus Sharna: Jazz trio:Uh oh...the white boy approach to funk attack reappears! He's endearing in a goofy, flatfooted way. His isolations and body awareness needs work. I give him a seven in this one. "Attack came in...and style went out!" (Whitney featured in the bump back) Real judges: 7, 7, 7 Probably time to say goodbye to the Bachelor.
Jaoby plus Cheryl: Paso Doble! Strong natural arrogance! Feels like a tennis ball bouncing between the two girls in rehearsal. His competitiveness will take him far in this competition. Good strong walks. He COMMANDs the stage. Big and tall enough to dance with the far girl in a double girl hold. AND, he throws the girls around in the lifts. Tosses the cape at the feet of Cheryl who deftly manages to kick it aside. Runs for a jump and turns it into a slide! I give him a nine..or ten! Real judges: "You've become a contender tonight!" "It was like a Tarantino film!" 8, 9, 8 Crowd not happy!
Ingo adds Lindsey: Ingo plays the geek to the two hot blondes! He plays the role well with engaging charm. But, not the best jive technique. Very charming! I'll give him an eight! "Energy was great! Needs to be sharper!" Channeling his inner Andy Dick! Real judges: 8, 8, 8
Kelly adds Tristan: Paso Doble. "Dragging a lion out of a kitten!" Contines where the last dance left off! What a concept! Welcome to my world says Tristan, the UNDERWORLD! Audience leaps to its feet. SOO SHARP. Boyz are perfect and Kelly is not backing down! Strong attack. Watch those shoulders! The music is powerful and so are the dancing and the steps! She and the two gets Tenz! "That was Masterpiece Theater!" "OH MY GOD! That took my breath away!". Real judges: 10, 7, 10! Odd scoring! Uproar in the ballroom! Derek takes risks...gets some rewards!
Ally adds Henry: Jive. Counting impaired! Good! Sharp She's counting the music without showing us she's counting! She just needs to stop singing! She also needs to focus outward more and not down! Good performer for a gymnast! I give her a nine! "Consistent!" Real judges: 9, 9, 9
Results Show:
Not necessarily the bottom two. Sean and Jacoby taking the walk of shame. The script is being played out for all the drama they can squeeze out of it. But, it's a far gone conclusion: Cya Sean! Valiant attempt. A likable guy...but, the dancing didn't serve him in the end. Out of his comfort zone! Good for him stepping up to the challenge! "Humble and wonderful guy!" Now, Ingo looks to be living on borrowed time as we head into the end game! (And, don't forget the premiere of SYTYCD this week!o)
Capital City – Join the Architectural Foundation and the DsM Bicycle Collective for an afternoon of architecture and art on the third annual “Bike to Art” tour of downtown. The bicycle tour will take place on Sunday, May 12, 2013.
The two-hour guided ride provides an opportunity for local residents and visitors to appreciate the rich architectural heritage and public art of Iowa's capitol city. This year’s tour route will include many of downtown’s major attractions: Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Court Avenue Entertainment District, Principal Riverwalk, and the State Capitol Building and Grounds. Participants will learn about architectural detail, style, and elements, along with intriguing factoids and the historical significance of the buildings and works of art that shape the downtown skyline.
The tour will begin at the Lucas State Office Building (312 E. 12th Street) just east of the steps of the WWII Monument at 2:00 PM. The route is approximately 6.5 miles of easy peddling. A donation of $10.00 per person or $20.00 per family is recommended. The rain date is Sunday, June 2, 2013.
The “Bike to Art” tour is part of a series of events being held in May to honor Bike Month. “This is one of our favorite events to offer, because it allows participants to see the downtown area in a completely different way,” explained Tim Heilkema, event organizer. “The architecture and artwork come alive when you are riding a bike and really taking it all in.”
The Architectural Foundation is a charitable organization established in 1989 to promote awareness and appreciation of architecture and design. The Foundation pursues its mission through youth education programs, community design charrettes, architectural walking tours, and an annual lecture series.
The DsM Bicycle Collective is a nonprofit organization that promotes bicycling as a means of active transportation, wellness, and recreation. The Bike to Art event is part of the Passport game.
The University of Iowa Department of Dance will present an undergraduate dance concert at 8 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, May 9-11 in Space Place Theater of North Hall.
The performance will feature:
thought you might enjoy seeing it--
Here whee go! Ole', Ole', Ole'!...Dance for immunity? What's that? Two rounds of competition? Juanes, I've vaguely heard of thanks to iTunes, but...
Team Jacobina: Salsa. One couple gets immunity. Those lifts look dangerous! Brutal rehearsals.
Misses a day for massages and ice bath.Says his dance training regimen is harder than it is for professional
football. Okay! Looks like he's a natural for salsa! Good tricky handwork and good hips. Very musical! Great feeling! Very watchable! Great entertainment. Good lifts! I give him a eight, maybe a nine. "You could fart salsa"? Really was that necessary? Real judges scores: 9, 9, 9
Team Radamonson: Rhumba. White man hips problem. Good work ethic! Good lines. He's better
than we expected. Plays the leading man well. better line and sense of line. It's better! He's better! I give him an eight as well! Judges say he lost the connection. Real judges: 7, 8, 7
Team Picklough: Struggling with her performance schedule. Samba. Derek enters via minitramp a la
faux Jacoby and has no shirt on a la faux Jacoby. Think he's emulating Jacoby? She's a performer! Sharp
and smooth. great extensions, great swivel hips. Dance slows down dramatically and then speeds back up.
Great expression! Great strong creative finishing series of lifts! I give her a ten! Real judges: 9, 10, 10
Team Sharnick: Rhumba. Basic movements, focusing on the technique. Needs to access his inner
latin passion. Wow! She has NICE feet! He's playing the bumbling gringo to her Latin lover!. Still flat footed and she just makes him look silly. She's so good, he suffers by comparison! I give him a six, maybe a five. "A little spazzy!" He's listening intently to the comments, he wants to get better desperately! Real judges: 5, 6, 6
Team Ballman: Salsa! Shake your maracas, Ally! Mark suffers an injury, but, the show must go on!
She starts with good enthusiasm! Nice bounce! Mark dancing despite injuries. Like her attack! Ouch! That
can't be good for his back! non-stop energy on display. Mark limps over to the judges for their reaction. I give her an eight! Real judges: 10, 9, 10 Ally's highest scores! Tied with Kelly for tops this week!
Team Lowegatroyd: Rhumba. She brings in his fiance to feel the love. He's not an actor, but, we'll see if the training technique helps. He whips Peta around during the lift sequence. Boy is strong. A little better. But, still not feeling the love! Maybe he needs his fiance to improve his performance! I give him a six. Real judges: 8, 8, 8
Team Zendayovsky: Paso Doble. Dance of power and intensity. This girl starts off with intense
castanet work. Opposite ends of the dance floor they stalk and pursue each other. Oh, SO GOOD!. Sharp
accents. NICE! Big break in the music...and a false ending! WOW! SO STRONG! I give her a ten! Wow!
Judges are nitpicking! Has she set too high a standard too early?Real judges: 9, 9, 9 She was ROBBED!
Round two: Dance-offs...Kelly and Derek immune
Ally vs Andy: Cha-cha. Ally starts off good in cha-cha! Good feeling, good expression. She's saucy
she's sassy. Andy not so much. tentative. awkward. flat-footed. Again, his partner makes him look bad by
contrast! Real judges: clean sweep for Aly+Mark
Zendaya vs Jacoby: Jive! Val no fear! He picks Jacoby! To be the best you gotta beat the best! Battle of the heavyweights! Love to watch her dance. Maybe not the most suitable for her long-limbed style, but she makes everything look good. She's so cool. But, Jacoby is good too! He's got feeling and flavor. Look at those legs go. This could be too close too call! Big straddle jump over Karina!. I give it to Zendaya because she was so good for so long. Real judges: Zenday and Val...clean sweep!
Ingo vs Sean: Rhumba. sean looks better in his second effort. Like the song...but, don't love the
dancing. Ingo, much better line. much better feel by comparison. Hips are better. Making the most of his
second chance. I give it to Ingo. Real judges: Ingo+Kym two, Sean+Peta one vote
Results show: touching story of the boston marathon amputee. Twitch and Allison Holker dance. Andy gets
voted off the island. he should be proud of lasting as long as he did. Very emotional. Lasted until week
seven! Tribute to his likeability....his dancing? Not so much! The tribe has spoken!
Nous sommes heureux de vous annoncer le spectacle du Studio de Danse Fusion qui aura lieu
à la Grande salle d'Epalinges les 6-7-8 juin prochain !!
Le spectacle sera divisé en 2 parties:
Tout d'abord, l'école avec 80 participants qui danseront "l'Arc-En-Ciel"
et dans la 2ème partie le Jeune Ballet vous présentera "Chaises Musicales" une chorégraphie commune à 5 chorégraphes.
Venez nombreux admirer l'enthousiasme et l'énergie des ces jeunes danseurs.
Les billets sont en vente dès aujourd hui directement au Studio, Rue Centrale 31.
L'accès à Epalinges se fait en métro et bus et il y a un immense parking derrière la salle de spectacle.
Nous nous réjouissons de vous présenter ce spectacle que nous préparons depuis des mois :)
A bientôt!!!!!
Daniella Serey, Clémentine Delay, Michal Mardas, Robert Russell, Luca Gianola et Pascale Gaud..."
Who's Hunter Hayes? And, why does he get to jam with Wonder? Am I out of it? Down to the Elite Eight! All music by Stevie Wonder! And the Team Competition!
Zendaya/Val: Cha-cha! "Funky flair!" Val is raising the barre!. Wow! Look at those legs! Great expression! Nice hips! The costume keeps dancing around her! She can shake and shimmy! She's flirting with the camera. Sharp and clean! Lotta turns! I give her a ten! "Snap, crackle and pop!" Real judges: 10, 9, 10! Sets the bar high!
Andy/Sharna: Samba "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" Flat-footed. Awkward! Lotta energy, but, clumsy. No sense of line. Little off rhythm. Yuck! I give him a five...maybe, a six. Real judges: 6, 6, 6 Puts him in the danger zone!
Sean/Peta: Samba. Problem with shimmying! He always has great enthusiasm. BUT! he's too bouncy, not grounded enough! Once again, it's dance by numbers! Peta takes his shirt off to try and distract from dancing.I give him a six, maybe, a seven! Real judges: 7, 7, 7
Aly/Mark: Fox Trot. She's dancing for her hometown of Boston. "Isn't she lovely!" Great smile. nice frame, good head angle. She looks like she's having fun. I actually like Mark's choreography. I give her an eight! "Heading towards perfection!" Real judges: 9, 9, 9
Ingo/Kym: Tango. Looks like he's putting in the work. better frame, better line. Yes, he's stepping it up this week! nice lines. Oops! just a little hunched. Hard to hold that frame for so long for an untrained dancers. But, he's better! I give him an eight for his birthday dance! "This dance really suited you!" Real judges: 8, 8, 8 His highest scores of the competition! "Bingo, Ingo! What a tango!"
Kelly/Derek: Quick Step. She's needs a little more enthusiasm, I think! Look at her frame! Great enthusiasm in the dance! Does very well with trick footwork. Good frame! Sharp legs, kicks and flicks! I'll give her a ten, maybe a nine! "Best dance of the season!" Real judges: 9, 10, 10 Len's first ten! Her highest scores! Derek has to buy her shoes now!
Victor/Lindsey: Rhumba. Victor not feeling the love. I want him to be better, but. He just not very good. Misstep he bangs into her. Great smile. No feeling in his body. Hesitant moves! May be time to say good bye to Victor. I give him a six. Real judges: 6, 6, 6
Jacoby/Karina: Quickstep! Pigeon-toes make him susceptible to low scores. Not bad first pass. strong frame. Sharp, decent attack. nice heel lead. Very musical. Boy got rhythm! Is that not PC? Great feeling! i enjoy watching him dance! His enthusiasm is contagious! I give him a nine! Real judges 8, 7, 8.
Awkward segment of lifts by Tony and Anna. Just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should! But, what a privilege to dance to live music with Stevie Wonder playing!
Team Paso: All the boys are shirtless. Zendaya is worth a couple of points all by herself. She's more than holding her own alongside the professionals. Victor is the weakest link. Ingo makes up for lack of technique with great enthusiasm!. Jacoby is a powerhouse! Great natural line...and world-class athleticism! Can't take my eyes off when her when Zendaya's on stage. She's a tigress...the camera loves her!. Skirts become capes! Strong routine, strong finish. I give them an eight. Real judges: 7, 8, 7
Team Samba: Disco era Samba. Strong Women. Guys mustache the question Why? Strong women and Aly is no slouch. Andy's strong suit is his enthusiasm and earnest attempt. Kelly doesn't suffer next to the pros as well. I give them and eight as well. Derek has never lost a team dance, I think his string of success is safe! Real judges: 8, 9, 8 Derek's string is safe! Amazing actually, a credit to his choreographic skills!
Results show:
Time to put Victor out of his and our misery! Andy gets saved first. Sean and Victor take "the walk of shame" down the stairs to the bottom two. He's been there before, but...now it's his time to exit the competition. The champ gets kayoed!. "I had a blast! I made great friends!" What a classy competitor! He invites Cast 16 to be ringside at his next championship bout! It was his time! Lindsay did well for her first time as a pro on DWT**. Hope to see her performing in segments the rest of this season...and hope to see her again with a better contestant next fall! What a future lies ahead of her (Think Julianne Hough!) Lindsay's only 19!
Thank you for all you do with the students. We have really appreciated the hard
work and dedication you and Emery put into CCDC. She is learning so much and I can tell she now views dance in different light. I'm looking forward to recital
and Swan Lake. It will exciting to see how far she has progressed this year.
Thanks again
The University of Iowa’s Hancher will present AXIS Dance Company on Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Space Place Theater, located on the first floor of North Hall on the UI campus. It is the company’s first Hancher performance.
Based in Oakland, Calif., AXIS Dance Company is one of the few companies that includes dancers with and without physical disabilities. The company grew out of a simple movement class which focused on exploring movement possibilities for people in wheelchairs. AXIS dancers have included people using wheelchairs, both power and manual, crutch users, and people with prosthetic limbs. The company has aimed to develop “physically integrated dance,” a dance form that uses physical limitations as a means to push choreographic boundaries, rather than viewing differences as an obstacle.
Redefining traditional notions of dance, AXIS Dance Company is committed to excellence in the physicality and creative content of their work. AXIS dances are virtuosic, athletic, unexpected, and thoughtful. The company has a repertoire of over 60 works, including collaborations with choreographers like Joe Goode, Margaret Jenkins, Bill T. Jones, and Stephen Petronio. The company’s performances have won numerous awards, and the company has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad. AXIS also offers a wide range of education programs for youth and adults of all abilities, encouraging people to problem solve, think creatively, and experience movement in a new way.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, contact Hancher in advance..."
While in India at the premiere of the box office hit ABCD, Dance Informa caught up with the talented actress and dancer. Lauren filled us in on the difficulties in filming a Bollywood movie, career highlights such as working with Tom Cruise at the MTV Awards, and what the future may hold.
Thank you! I have been waiting for this moment my whole life. I started out my career in TV, but always had my heart set on film. The fact that my first lead role as an actress was also a dance film is just one of those things I call ‘fate’. As it’s India’s first 3D dance film it’s also a part of history, and I couldn’t be more thankful for such a wonderful life experience. The film released with smashing box office numbers and broke the record for being the highest grossing film-opening weekend with a non-star cast in the history of Indian cinema. A very proud moment in my life!
Can you tell us about the character you play?
I play ‘Rhea’, an Indian girl who comes from an upper class family and is a trained contemporary and ballet dancer. After an altercation with her teacher ‘Jehangir’ (Kay Kay Menon) she decides to follow her sir, ‘Vishnu’ (Prabhudeva), to a more underground urban dance crew in the slums. All in all, it’s a story about the underdogs rising to the top, and something I think the whole cast can relate to. Through hard work and dedication we all paved our way from nothing to seeing ourselves on the silver screen.
How was it working on an Indian film? Would you like to shoot again in India?
It was a huge risk taking this project on. I had to move from Hollywood to Bollywood and jump right into a new culture and lifestyle, and film my first movie not in my language. It was all so foreign to me and such a challenge to learn my Hindi dialogues so quickly, that at times I didn’t know if it was possible. I really turned to God to help keep me on track. I had an amazing Hindi coach, Kishor Sadhwani, and together we combined my Hindi script in my left hand and the English version in my right. Now after having months of experience living in India and learning more and more of the language everyday, I could only imagine my next Hindi film being ten times easier than the first. A huge part of my heart is in India and now I have a big platform as an actress and dancer. I’m excited for my next project in Bollywood!
You must feel grateful to So You Think You Can Dance for providing you with amazing opportunities.
I have always been extremely grateful for all the opportunities the show has brought me. It did wonders for me, the other contestants, and dance in general. Instead of dancing behind artists, we were the solo artists and our names were in lights. From there it gave me a platform to pursue other passions I had with acting, choreographing and teaching. The show has also played in 100 plus countries around the world, which is exactly how Bollywood found me!
What was it like choreographing for Tom Cruise at the MTV Awards?
Working with Tom taught me a lot! He showed me you could be extremely talented and successful, and still treat everyone with respect. He’s a very gracious man. What was also unexpected was how open he was with learning from me. I was assisting Tyce Diorio on the project, but when Tyce couldn’t make it, Tom was still all ears and worked harder than most so he could give the best performance possible.
Congratulations on being featured in Glee. Is the show as much fun as it looks?
Glee is terribly fun to work on! The choreographer, Zach Woodlee, is a dream. The rehearsals are a mixture of extreme intensity and downright silliness. We are either sweating it out or laughing our butts off, but usually we are doing both at the same time. I was in the pilot episode and most of the first season dancing with the hit rival crew ‘Vocal Adrenaline’. It was exciting to see a show go from the first episode where no one knew about it, to being a hit that everyone couldn’t stop talking about.
What’s next for you?
I’m at a huge crossroad not only in my career, but also in my personal life. I have accomplished so much as a dancer performing on stage, film, TV and movies. I now have a great platform as an actress, which is a direction I had always hoped my career would take. The life crossroad is Hollywood or Bollywood? I always let my intuition guide me. You’ll have to wait and see what the next step will be!
Experience a night out on the town that takes you back to the era of nightclubs and dance halls when Kansas City was considered the 'Paris of the Plains.'
3 Hot Dances Put the Sizzle in Spring!
Also featuring...
William Shatner's Voice Rocks Margo Sappington's Ballet
Featuring the return of Maximumus ego Chermokovsky! For everyone who was missing his egregious ego. Dancing intro of the contestants to Pitbull choreographed by Lacey Schwimmer. Even in the group: Zendaya stands out in a good way along with Kelly...and Andy and D-L stick out like non-dancing well sore thumbs.
Challenge: "Len's side-by-side challenge". Same choreography along with the professional dancers! Bright side: Always something good to look at for the viewers! Down-side? Bad dancers will look even worse by comparison!
Team Ingym: Tony and Emma are the pro couple. Cha-cha! Ingo's hips are a liability! He's hoping to "skate by"...not a good tactic! Ahh...always nice to see the pros strutting their stuff! Steps are basic, but, done with an experienced professional's flair. Side-by-side reveals the weaknesses of the non-dancer. He's got good expression, but, the moves lack crispness and execution! Footwork is fumbly. His core needs even more work! Doesn't finish movements, but, I give him a seven. "Got the care, need the flair!" "No intimidation!" Real judges: 7, 7, 7. He sets the minimum level and is hoping the public will vote to save him!
Team Jacobina: Jive, is like the Skip! Jacoby is a competitor. And the competitiveness of Max is good for him! Looks like potential! Max and Anna show how it's done. Wow that jive is fast. Max isn't holding back a bit. Okay side by side. Jacoby has the chops to keeping up! Jacoby peels off his jacket and he's getting it done! great expression with occasional goofy looks. He's getting nines tonight> Wow HUGE Straddle jump over Karina!! The boys is an athlete! fast kicks good footwork! Geat expression. Plays to the crowd. Give this football player a pat on the back and a NINE! He crawls over to the judges! Standing ovation! Real judges 9, 8, 9!
Team Vixenzy: Tristan and Emma. Viennese Waltz. He's going through an emotional triangle during rehearsal. The one one one with a male lead really helps. Mannequins come to life as Tristan and Emma demonstrate the professional standard of waltz. Very musical. Nice rise and fall. Side by side. He promises to put the emotion of his break up to the performance. Not really seeing it. Will he be relegated to the bottom two again? He's a little better. Not as clumsy or vicious! She did that spin on the floor all by herself! I give him a seven, maybe a six. "Better than last week". Real judges: 7, 7, 7 Does that mean Carrie-Anne would've given him an eight without the lift?
Team Alark: Samba. Tony and Whitney are the pros. Pro couple helps inspire the star. Looks like the scoreboard leader has a chance to stay on the top. Pros are hitting IT! Side by side shows Aly was a good student! Mimickry is the sincerest form of flattery. Sharp! She clears her hair . What she was afraid of actually happened. Good hip action. Needs to finish straightening the legs! Little stumble on the rondies back. I give her an eight or maybe, a nine! Real judges: 8, 8, 9. Little step back for the Olympic gymnast. She tweets she dedicates her dance to everyone back home in Boston!
Stevie Wonder next week? Wow! What an opportunity for the stars, pros and audience!
Team Sheeta: Tristan and Chelsie. Again good for the guy to have a male show him the steps. He's mimicking the pro, but, revealing his weakness instead!. Quick Step. Side by side isn't too bad. Fortunately it's a small stage. When they go off, he starts off with gallumphing galloping chasses. But, he steps up! After that. Great smile. of course. Starts off with better frame, but, the longer it goes on, the weaker it gets. Better foot work True test of stamina. I give him a eight, maybe a seven. "Best dance so far"! Real judges 8, 8, 8,
Team Kellek: Fox Trot. Henry and Anna the pro couple. Nice to get a girl to give a girl tips! Pros, as expected, very good! Smooth and sophisticated. Head placement the ballroom extreme. Side by side. Kelly does not suffer by comparison at ALL! . She's GOOD! WOW! Little more expression all the way through would be my critique. Good if not spectacular frame. Doesn't need that wig. She's pretty enough on her own. She's an actress! during the performance at the end! Ten for the choreography! give her a nine or a ten! Real judges 9, 9, 9 Highest scores of the night! Back on top the leader board!
Team DeryL: Sasha and Chelsie are the pros. Tango. D-L needs to meet his body. Too much in his head. He needs to connect his core to his movements. He needs to listen to the music. he needs to FEEL the music! He needs to hold his shoulders down and back. I'll be surprised if he's not the one to go this week! Choreography was designed to disguise his lack of technique! "Like a decaff coffee!" I give him a six. "Comedians have poor track record on this show"! Real judges 6, 6, 6...the number of the beast! Could it spell the end?
Team Zendayal: Lotta Chermokovskys on the floor at once! Max and Anna are the pros. Argentine Tango. Both neophytes to the dance. "I want you to feel" "Teach a girl to be a woman" She's never been in love. But, she's an actress. Time to pull out the chops. Max may be an egomaniac ("May"?) But, he can dance! Always nice to see a big man dancing big! one-handed lift shows his strength. As I suspected Anna better watch her back in the side by side. Zendaya's the young turk. AH! There's the intensity. She's light enough for Val to life effortlessly! Hmm. little less anger and a little more passion is my suggestion for the expression! I give her a ten! Max is leading the applause! "Gem of a dance!" Real judges 10, 9, 10. First tens of the season!
Team Andarna: Paso Doble alongside Sasha and Emma. Playing Zorro! Three professionals and...Andy. Sharp professional performance. Sharp, fast and smooth. Andy Dick comes in on a zip line. Weak dancing. Andy does suffer by comparison. His upper body needs a lotta help. Lotta walking around instead of stalking. WEAK footwork. Flatfooted. All the special effects don't cover up the lack of core strength and he bounces in his last foot stomp. I give him a five or six. "More Pasa-dena than Pasa Doble!" Real judges: 6, 6, 6
Time to send one of the clowns home!
Results show: A nice pas de deux on a piano. Some Bollywood with Selena Gomez. And, D-L gets shown the door! He's a class act! Good sport loser. "I will always dance now"! That's what I like to hear! Now, time for Andy or Sean to go home. But, it might be Vicious, I'm afraid!
The Prix de Lausanne is delighted to announce that the 2013 prize winners will continue their training in the following partner schools and companies:
Prize Winner
No Lisa in the descent of the stars? Preview hinted of it being "all too much"? What's up? I'm sure we'll more in a second. No Zendaya in the cavalcade of stars? What gives? She's in the video line-up, but, not in the intros? Explanation, please! Okay, sickness fells the reality star on order of doctors.
Sean/Peta: Shares about his family life and relationship of his parents. Viennese Waltz. Just wish he was a better dancer. Smoke filled dance floor. Jason Mraz song. He still lumbers around, but, the feeling is genuine! Hesitant in the rise and fall. poor hold. But, good feeling. Frame is tentative. His solo is more stumbling, but, goose bumps in the final kiss with his fiance! I give him a seven. Real judges: 6, 7,7 Deductions for lifts.
Victor/Lindsay: Paso Doble. "We Will Rock You" by Queen. Talks about his hard-luck story to win the world crown! Starts off boxing... then box steps. He's singing the words. Good attack! Still a little flat-footed and his upper body lacking details. Fails to extend lines in reach. But, the song is overpowering...too bad his dancing isn't! Upper body needs a lotta work. But, I think I gotta do some push-ups! My boy makes me feel weak! I give him a seven as well...maybe, a six. Judges: 6, 6, 6. Hmm, Brooke explains solos required by stars? Could be problematic for some.
Jacoby/Karina: What a year! Superbowl and a baby son. Talks about his role as a father. To be better than his absent father. Foxtrot. "...is for you, Junior" Good grapevinews. Nice lines. He looks good in gray and pink vest and tie. Nice to see a big guy move big. solo is committed! He's dancing for his little boy and the joy is evident on his face and shining from his eyes. Oh, needs to hold that last pose! But, I'll give him an eight! Grammy is crying real tears! Real judges: 8, 8, 8
Aly/Mark: Contemporary. Recreating her Olympic year. Titanium. Starts with the solo. Her gymmnastics prowess gives her a leg up. Her emotion is evident. rach needs a little work. "I won't fall" during lift sequence. Good on Mark. Wow, there's some moves I'd planned on chroegraphing myself. B-roll shot of gymnasts in the crowd. (Gabby Douglas!o) I give her an eight. "I was mesmerized," says Carrie-Anne. Real judges: 9, 9, 9. "Highest scores of the competition so far," says Brooke!
Andy/Sharna: Dedicates his dance to his daughter Megan. His daughter used to dance for him. Now he gets a chance to dance for his daughter. Viennese Waltz to "Hallelujah!" Dance of Redemption. Hope the emotion doesn't overcome his technique. Line is incomplete. He's not feeling the music. Not breath in his rise and fall. Upper body is a little dead. His solo is tentative and weak. Would've loved to see his daughter a little more involved in more than the ending. He gets a six from me. Carrie-Anne is moved to tears by the dance. Calls it a haiku of a dance. Real judges: 7, 7, 7 His highest scores of the competition. Appealing back story.
Zendaya/Val: Samba. Party dance! "Channel your inner diva." Channeling her innner Beyonce! Starts with Solo. Her firs isolations are SO sharp. Her walks is a strut. Her proportions are incredible. Oh, The diva is back. She's so GOOD! Her expression and eyes are dancing! Her hips are sharp and her legs are endless in those heels! WOW! She could bea ballroom competitor. DAANG! SHE"S GOOD! I give her a ten! "You are baby Beyonce!" Real judges: 9, 8, 9 GIRL WUZ ROBBED!
Ingo/Kym: "A Thousand Years" by Christina Peri. Looks like Viennese Waltz. Tentative solo, genuine emotion and acting. Oh, he's acting better than he's dancing. Good heel lead. Frame starts well, but, loses something in the transitions. Lovely swooping lean back. . Ehiku is his wife's name, good Hawaiian name. I give him a seven. Real judges: 8, 7, 8
D.L./Cheryl: Fox trot. "Nothing says Compton like the Foxtrot!" H e starts off sitting. Cheryl dances for eight counts. He stays still, while Cheryl moves all around him. Good strategy, cuz when he does move its a little like watching the reason they instituted handicapped parking: they need help! Hughley needs help! He has no clue! I give him five or six. 7, 7, 7 His best scores! They tumble to the floor in shock! "That's higher than my SAT scores!"
Kelly/Derek: Rhumba to Kyle Jacobs. Her feet are incredible! Her legs are incredible. She dances the story of her love for her husband. Starts slow. Her stillness speaks volumes! Her shoulders need to open up a bit more. But, the dynamics are incredible. Fast then slow. She makes great pictures. Her extensions are world-class! her solo is a bit clumsy until she just walks towards her husband with a smile of pure JOY!o) I give her a nine. Real judges: 9, 8, 9. Ties with Zendaya for tops tonight! (whoops! second tops)
Lisa/Gleb: Cha-cha. Celebration. Starts by partially disrobing. Starts off pretty strong. Once again dancing by numbers. No feeling. Just do the steps. Okay. Gleb's shirt comes off. Here's the solo. Looks like an aging go-go dancer. This could be a prelude to an elimination. Gives it a game effort. Give her an extra point for continuing. She looks like she's about to do a Marie Osmond. I give her a five or six. Real judges: 6, 6,6 Pretty good for her!
Results show:
AT&T Spotlight dance: Brilynn/Derek: What an amazing, inspiring story. She's a blind ballerina. Nice line, good training. Bad placement. Good extensions. Inspired choreography! What a special pas de deux!
Derek is struggling to speak afterwards, not just the physical, but, emotional exertion. Transcends normal television programming. I'm a sucker for a dancer struggling against the odds story. Gets me everytime!
Another pas de deux of voices also special afterwards as Andrea Bocelli performs a duet with Jennifer Lopez. Val and Anna dance a torrid duet as well. Is he blind? He's not looking at anything. Forgive my ignorance...
Say goodbye to Lisa! And, about time! The audience puts her out of her misery! Side-by-side challenge next week. Next out should be D-L.
Let me just start out by saying how much I miss all of you! I hope all of you are doing really well and that recital this year will be another fabulous one!!!!! I don’t know when the last time I sent out an email but I know it has been far too long!
All is well in the crazy city of Miami, we are also very busy with our upcoming showcase in May/June. I told you before that we are doing the ballet Paquita, and I was recently asked to do a variation in it, so I am UBER excited! We have it as the third variation, but some people know it as the 1st or 2nd, so it is hard to describe! It is the slow variation with the harp and lots of arabesques...so of course you know that is right up my alley! In doing this variation, I have also started to take more advanced classes as well, which is nice. With the variation, I also do the corps roles as well, and the adagio is killer! Besides ballet, we are also working on our jazz showcase. It frustrates me so much and makes me laugh all at the same time! Currently the same 4 girls are dancing all the pieces (and haha I am definitely not one of them)! I guess I didn’t get my little sister’s genes of knowing how to “get down”.
Second, over spring break, though I was sad I could not make it home, I was given the opportunity to be a demonstrator at a teacher syllabus session. It was taught by Darla Hoover, who is the co-artistic director of Ballet Academy East. She gave lots of great corrections and some helpful tips. I think the greatest thing I experienced though was the process of teaching. I really loved it, and by learning how to teach someone how to produce a step, it allowed me to recognize what I do right or wrong.
Third, I have decided I am going to Pennsylvania Ballet for their summer course this year. A new city and new experiences! I was placed in the highest level and hope to see where it leads. And then next year I will be auditioning for companies as well...SCARY!
Lastly, I have been working on top of dancing, so I am getting myself into the career world! I work at Madewell, which is a sister store to JCrew, so that has been interesting to meet people outside of the dance world! I has also worn me out though, so I will see how much I need to cut back when it come closer to showcase! My back has had some spasms, so I have been trying to get it rested up for show, and standing all day in the store doesn’t help too much
Well, I hope I didn’t bore you with my hodgepodge of things going on in my life, but I just wanted to check in on my family and see how you all were doing! Love you and miss you all!!!!!
~(Mmmadd Skyllz)<3 xoxoxoxo..."
"POSTCARDS FROM PARADISE" is an enchanting show that will take you back on a vintage trip to the South Pacific. This vibrant performance of exotic hula dancing and heart pounding drum beats of the islands is truly an unforgettable show.
Sit back, relax and imagine it is the summer of 1959 and Hawaii has just joined the union and
surf sand and hula is rockin the nation.
The Company
In 1993, Akemi Welsh started Polynesian Paradise (PPD), a professional Polynesian
entertainment company specializing in the traditional dances and music of the Polynesian
Islands.
Over the years, the company has had the honor of sharing the culture with audiences all over.
They have visited 31 states, and had 10 international tours including Abu Dhabi, China, Japan,
Guam, and the Marshall Islands.
Past performances include a daily 5-week run of the "Lilo & Stitch Hawaiian Party" at the El
Capitan Theatre (Hollywood, CA) and nightly 8-week run at the Pageant of the Masters (Laguna
Beach, CA). PPD has also performed for the celebrity red carpet premieres of Adam Sandler's 50
First Dates (Westwood, CA), and Disney's animated feature Lilo & Stitch (first in Hollywood, CA
then at Elvis Presley's Graceland in Memphis, TN) in which our company director was hired as a
consultant for the project. Polynesian Paradise Dancers can also be seen dancing in Adam
Sandler's movie Bedtime Stories, and television shows as Glory Days, Backyard Nation,
Tuckerville, My Tacky Room and Wizards of Waverly Place. Other highlights include
performances at the Playboy Mansion, Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Studios, the homes of
celebrities such as Rob Zombie, former mayor of Los Angeles, Jim Hahn, and former governor
of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger..."
(Capital City News) – DsM Performing Arts announces an evening of celebration and entertainment with the inaugural State High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase at the Civic Center Monday, June 3, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. More than 300 students from nine local high schools will be honored for their outstanding achievements as young musical theater artists. The Awards Showcase will feature performances from the musical productions the students presented during the school year.
“We’re excited to celebrate the talent of young Iowans,” said DsM Performing Arts Director of Programming and Education, Eric Olmscheid. “The State High Musical Theater Awards celebrate the arts in our schools, creating an unmatched opportunity to recognize students’ achievements in musical theater.”
Tickets for the State High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase are on sale now for $10 at the Civic Center Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000 and online.
The Awards Showcase is the culmination of the High School Musical Theater Awards, a year-long education initiative that DsM Performing Arts launched last fall. Throughout the school year, performing arts professionals and educators served as adjudicators to review musical productions and offer constructive feedback to each of the participating high schools.
Based on the adjudicators’ feedback, awards will be presented at the Showcase including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lead and Supporting Performers, Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Technical Achievement. Olmscheid said the intent of the State High School Musical Theater Awards is not about competition, but about celebrating student achievement. “The awards are based on merit, and multiple schools and students can be recognized in the same category. We hope this will build a true celebration, rather than one winner being named.”
This year, the State High School Musical Theater Awards invited all high schools within 45 miles of DsM Performing Arts to participate, with the goal of expanding the program statewide in the coming years. Nine schools are participating in the inaugural season with productions occurring October through April. Participating schools:
DsM Performing Arts was recently selected as a partner of the National High School Musical Theater Awards, which will hold its annual program in New York City Wednesday, June 26 - Tuesday, July 2, 2013. Two students from the IA High School Musical Theater Awards will represent the state at the National High School Musical Theater Awards, culminating with a Showcase on a Broadway stage (the Minskoff Theater, home of Disney’s THE LION KING) on Monday, July 1, 2013.
The two students selected to represent the state at the National High School Musical Theater Awards will be revealed at the State High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase on June 3. “DsM Performing Arts is fostering a direct link to Broadway for these students,” said Olmscheid. “They will be the first in a prestigious group of performers from Iowa in the years to come.”
For more information about the State High School Musical Theater Awards, visit
on-line.
Zendaya is probably too young to have had an opportunity to go to prom! Starts off with a big dance all together; group prom dance. Hmmm...spotlight on couples. DL is doing the robot? Sean does the worm? Andy does the garden sprinkler? Derek almost missed the catch. Jacoby always has a bewildered expression on his face. Jacoby does a mean...hmmm...don't know what to call it. Love Brooke's eighty's hair.
Ali/Mark: Wow! She's just eighteen. Starts off slow sitting on a bench. Give choreographer credit for creativity. Waltz. She's fairly smooth. Needs to work on holding frame. I give her a seven or eight. She does clean up well! April fools! Says the judges! "middle of the back" pull up! She's never been in love! But, she's "watched a lotta movies"! Good for her! Real judges: 7, 8, 8
Andy/Sharna: Cha-cha. Wow! Dance is therapy for Andy. Starts off without a lotta dancing. His timing is off. He's plodding around. This dance doesn't allow him to hide anything! i give him a five, maybe a six! Real judges: 6, 6, 6
Ingo/Kym: Paso Doble. Great risk, great reward. Injuries plaguing the forty-two-year old. Wardrobe malfunction with Kym's skirt...fails to come off at the beginning. He's attacking the movement. Just needs better shoulder awareness. Tricky partnering work. I give him a seven. Judges say core needs work. "more to cheer than jeer". Real judges: 7, 7, 7 Give him extra points for flashing the Hawaiian "shaka" sign!
Lisa/Gleb: Viennese Waltz. She's got good attitude. They look like they have a good working relationship. Smooth so far. I think she's better at this dance form. little mishandling with the hold. It's like they're fumbling for the hands! I give her a six. Real judges: 7, 7, 7
Kelly/Derek: Jive. He has to be careful not to make her look bad by comparison. Hard to do cause she's so good. He shows off her flexibility. She's a performer. Ends in a split?I give her an eight. She did seem nervous. Putting too much pressure on herself? Real judges: 8, 9, 8. Leader in the clubhouse!
Victor/Lindsay: Contemporary. He's got the right approach. He cleans up well. Bare feet contemporary. He's strong and makes the lifts look easy. Hmm, I guess I underestimated her choreographic skills. He's better this time! I give him a seven, maybe an eight. "Breathtaking!", says one judge. Real judges: 8, 7, 8 Tied for second.
DL/Cheryl: Salsa. He's got the attitude. But... Good move by Cheryl to put them on a smaller, raised dance floor. Excuse to limit movement. He still seems disconnected to his body! I give him a six or five. For a black guy, he dances like an old, nerdy, white guy! Real judges: 6, 5, 5
Jacoby/Karina: Rhumba. He's a joker, can he find his romantic side for the dance of love? nice line. Okay, light on his feet. Good hip action. He's stepping up. This is a revelation to see him dance this way!. Just picked her up from the floor! Well done! I give him an eight! Real judges: 8, 8 , 8
Wynona/Tony: Unleashing her inner tigress. Pole dancing! To Def Leppard! Tony actually makes pretty good rocker! But, it's still hard for a big girl to make big moves. She is doing better! Timing still an issue! She needs to attack it even MORE! I give her a seven. An eight for effort! Judges are harsh! "Sedated Samba"! She thought she was hitting it, but, let that be a lesson, she WASN'T! Real judges: 5, 5, 5 WOW! Low scores of the night!
Sean/Peta: Cha-cha! YMCA by the VIllage People. His awkwardness is endemic. Marching on to the iconic music. Peta is the Indian Princess! He needs more hip action. She's making him lift her. He's the male equivalant of Wynona. muscles too big to move easily! I give him a six. Ral judges: 7, 7, 7.
Zendaya/Val: Saving the best for last IMHO! Viennese Waltz! Meaningful for her grandmother's prom. Don't practice in socks, Zen-girl! Setting yourself up to slip! Que' Sera, Sera. Her natural line is incredible! She is effervescent in her movements! Love watching her dance! Great head placement. She's all line and great feeling! She could lead this wire to wire! Oops! Little stumble at the end! I give her a nine! "Silky Smooth!" "Incredible lyrical quality!" Precocious enfant terrible! She gives her grammy a hug before ascending to the fishbowl! Real judges: 8, 8, 8 She may be a victim of her own success!
Results show: Well, Zendaya's path to her coronation a trifle derailed. Huey Lewis' heart of rock 'n' roll still beating strong! Well, that Jacoby looks like he'd be fun to go clubbing with. Encore dance is one of the weak dancers: Sean. Enjoy it while you can, Bachelor-Boy! Not going to happen again...ever! Result: out the door is Wynonna. Hard for a big girl to dance big enough to stay on the show! I say Lisa or DL should be next to ride off into the sunset with no regret!o)
It's update time! Biggest chunk of news: Yesterday I was notified that I have been selected for a Fulbright grant to study dance in Sri Lanka. The Fulbright grant serves to promote cross-cultural understanding through sending US students, scholars, and artists abroad and sending their foreign counterparts to the US. The grant completely covers airfare, tuition, cost of living, and all other expenses for one academic year. I plan to arrive in Sri Lanka on October first and return home 9 or 10 months later. While there, I will be studying classical Kandyan dance, which can be thought of as the traditional dance of Sri Lanka. I will be training with Master Peter Surasena for 3 months, who is widely known as the most proficient performer and teacher of Kandyan dance in Sri Lanka, and thereby in the world. Then I will move to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, to study with Chitrasena-Vajira Dance Company, the most renowned and acclaimed Sri Lankan dance company in the country/world. I hope to gain technical knowledge of Kandyan dance as well as insight into how this dance form relates to nationalism and identity in Sri Lanka. I am extremely excited for this amazing opportunity, and I couldn't have done it without my excellent dance training at CCDC!
In other news, I recently danced in a music video for the rather famous indie rock band Local Natives, who are from Los Angeles. I'll let you know when it comes out. I also have about a month left until I graduate from Macalester with a degree in anthropology! Woohoo! Then I'll be back in Iowa for a few days before going to Madison, WI to study Sinhala (Sri Lankan language) on scholarship at UW-Madison for 8 weeks this summer.
Major congrats to Adrian! His accomplishments are truly amazing and he's got a very bright future ahead of him. I hope Swan Lake rehearsals are going well. Perhaps I'll be able to stop by in June, but if not I'll be around in August and September too.
Miss you all,
(Nikiya1)..."
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“This is just a terrific season all the way around,” said Des Moines Performing Arts President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig. “We’re very proud to bring this world-class line-up because we know our audiences truly value and support high quality professional live theater and programs that create memorable experiences.”
For each of the series, season tickets are the only way to guarantee the best seats at locked-in prices. Season ticket packages for the Willis Broadway Series go on sale April 29, 2013 and start at $160 for the five-show package. All other series’ season ticket packages will go on sale in summer 2013.
WILLIS BROADWAY SERIES
The fifth production in the package is the worldwide smash hit homage to iconic rock group Queen, WE WILL ROCK YOU (June 10 - 15, 2014).
In addition to the five-show package, a strong line-up of series add-ons is also programmed.
Back by “popular” demand, Broadway’s blockbuster WICKED (Oct. 30 - Nov. 10, 2013) makes a triumphant two-week return. Premiering in Des Moines on its first North American tour is MATTHEW BOURNE’S SLEEPING BEAUTY (Sept. 27 & 28, 2013), which creates a new spin on a classic fairy tale. AMERICAN IDIOT (Jan. 24 & 25, 2014) is based on Green Day’s groundbreaking rock opera of the same name. BLUE MAN GROUP (Feb. 18 - 23, 2014), best known for its unique form of entertainment through music, comedy and technology, makes its Civic Center premier. Des Moines audience favorite, RAIN – A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES (Feb. 4 & 5, 2014), will return and celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Beatles bringing their stardom to the United States.
“We’re able to attract these world-class Broadway tours because of our extraordinarily strong season ticket sales,” said Chelesvig, adding that this current season set a record of more than 12,000 packages. “Top Broadway producers love bringing their touring productions here because they will play to nicely-filled houses that genuinely embrace their performances.”
The 2013 - 2014 Willis Broadway Series represents 22 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Revival of a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Direction in a Musical, and Best Costume Design.
Des Moines Performing Arts also announced high-caliber line-ups in the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Family Series, The Dance Series and the Prairie Meadows Temple Comedy Series.
“We’re committed to offering a variety of programs and shows that are exciting and accessible to everyone,” said Eric Olmscheid, Des Moines Performing Arts Director of Programming and Education. “Creating shared experiences is important to us.”
WELLMARK BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD FAMILY SERIES
THE DANCE SERIES
PRAIRIE MEADOWS TEMPLE COMEDY SERIES
Des Moines Performing Arts estimates that all four series will attract more than 200,000 patrons for the 2013 - 2014 Season..."
Ingo/Kym: Quick Step. Looks good in vest and and hat. Not too bad. Hold is better. Little hunched. So, hold still needs more work. The longer he goes, the more the flaws start to show. But, Wow! He's improved! Good feeling! I give him a 7. "Bingo, Ingo!" Improvement! Real judges: 6, 7, 7
Dorothy/Tristan: Jive. We've learned Hamill has to withdraw from the competition. But, she shows she's knows what it means to compete in this second week. She seems a little tentative. He pushes her away to maintain spacing. She's in flats to help facilitate her injury. Ouch! Sympathy pains as I watch her dance. The dancing causes her to limp over to judge's comments. I have to give her a six. What a trouper! Criticism from judges based on injury. Real judges: 5, 5, 5. She's fighting back tears! What a shame!
Jacoby/Karina: Jazz. Starts off with gimmicks and tricks! Let's see some dancing. Unfortunately, reminds me of a minstrel show. But, Dang! He's got some charisma! He's hilarious! Audience on its feet! I give him an eight! Real judges: 8, 7, 8 He's the leader in the clubhouse!
Victor/Lindsey: Jive. Both look killer in red. Victor's finding out how hard it is to do good dancing. He needs to tighten up his core and find the line. He's a real performer. Still has that killer smile! It's hard for her to teach him, because she's so young herself. I give him a seven. Real judges: 6, 6, 6 Hope their rough patches are over and they come back strong.
Wynona/Tony: Quickstep. What's their budget for props? Come in on a pair of matching Segways? Start off with very basic, simple beginner steps. I'm not sure it's going to get votes with the audience. Slow pace. I give her a six. Real judges: 6, 6, 6 Carrie Ann is right, Wynona needs to take more risks to get more reward!
Zendaya/Mark: She's hilarious! Jive. Okay she sets a high standard! Look at the speed and attack! Great smile. Wow! She's sassy! Look at her shake and shimmy! She's amazing! Look at her attitude. WOW! She's good! YOUTH WILL BE SERVED! I give her a NINE! Real judges: 9, 8, 9 She's JUST 16!
Andy/Sharna: Jazz. Maybe this genre will be good for him. The Mad Hatter theme. This piece has great music, great props... hiding as much of his dancing as possible. Her choreography is showing his strengths and his quirkiness. He's running from place to place with attitude! I give him a seven. Real judges: 7, 6, 7
Sean/Peta: Jive. Take a shower, dude! Lifeguard theme . He has more muscles than he needs for dancing. Still little flat-footed. I think his fiance may reconsider when she sees the bachelor dance! I give him a six. Real judges: 7, 6, 7
Aly/Mark: Quickstep. Okay! Good hips, Selling the expression! Nice rise and fall. Good head. just hold those shoulders in place. Good flicks. Covering space with Mark's strong lead. Hold that frame stronger! I'll give her a seven, make that an eight. Real judges: 8, 8, 8 Second highest scores of the night. Another reminder: Youth WILL be served this season!
Lisa/Gleb: Jive. She's better. But, still not strong enough! She's trying to keep up with a dancer half her age...or a third! She doesn't have the fitness to do what he's asking. I give her a six...maybe a five. Real judges: 6, 6, 6
D-L/Cheryl: At least he realizes the problem! This dancing stuff isn't easy. She's choreographed another simple basic routine for him. He's doing better, but, he's bringing a slingshot to a gunfight! He's improved, but, he needs to be tighter, hold his center stronger. I give him a five, maybe, a six. Real judges: 5, 5, 6 Better scores, but, he's at risk of elimination.
Kelly/Derek: Saving one of the best for last. Jazz. His choreographic skills are taking advantage of the genre! VERY sharp! Great extensions! Former cheerleader is attacking this piece with great effect. Funky jazz walks. He's using her strengths to great advantage. Wow! What a flexible back! I give her a NINE! Standing O from Carrie Anne! Real judges: 9, 8, 9 Tied for the top score of the night!
Next week is "Prom Night? This could be very bad! Right now it's shaping up to be a three woman competition: It's Zendaya's race to lose. Kelly will give her a run for the money with Aly pushing them both. It's all going to depend on how the pros can coach and choreograph their stars to improve and shine. I like new pro Lindsey, but, the producers did her no favors pairing her with the charismatic, but, flat-footed and rhythmically challenged Vicious Ortiz. I don't think she's a good enough teacher or choreographer to make him go further than he should. Both, Cheryl and Sharna managed to hide their star's dance deficiencies for the moment. Both comedians are finding out they can't just joke their way through this competition. But, despite appealing back stories, their numbers should be up soon. And, If I were King of DWT***, I would send home the unlikeable Lisa.
New York City jazz legends Jerry Dodgion and Rob Scheps will perform at Drake University with an acclaimed rhythm section from Kansas City. At the age of 80, this will be Dodgion’s Des Moines debut. The concert will be held on Tuesday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Drake University Turner Jazz Center, 2505 Carpenter Avenue. The concert is $15 for adults and $7 for students. Tickets may be purchased through the Drake University Fine Arts Box Office at 515-271-3841.
The concert will feature Jerry Dodgion on alto and soprano saxophone, Rob Scheps on tenor and soprano saxophone, Roger Wilder on piano, Bob “Dwight” Bowman on acoustic bass, and Brain Steever on the drums. Dodgion and Scheps have performed internationally with legendary artists. On April 9, all of the performers are available for private lessons in the afternoon before the concert. The cost is $65 for a one-hour lesson. Time slots are filling up quickly. To reserve a time, contact Rob Scheps at coretet@hotmail.com.
About Jerry Dodgion and Rob Scheps:
Jerry Dodgion is one of the most renowned alto saxophonists in jazz history. He gained early experience in the 1950s with bands in the San Francisco Bay Area, and later toured with Frank Sinatra and Benny Goodman among other legends. In 1961, Dodgion settled in New York where he still lives today, performing and recording with jazz greats like Billie Holiday, Astrud Gilberto, Frank Wess, Count Basie, Ron Carter, Mel Lewis and Rosemary Clooney. Dodgion has made jazz history several times: He was a founding member of the Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Band in 1966; he played on Benny Goodman's famous 1962 tour to Russia; and he played alto flute on Herbie Hancock's classic album on Blue Note records, “Speak Like A Child.” Drake University President David Maxwell served as a band boy on the Goodman trip to Russia, on which his father, famed jazz trumpeter Jimmy Maxwell, also preformed. Dodgion recently completed two tours in Japan, one with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and one with Ron Carter’s Big Band.
Rob Scheps received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory in 1986. In Boston, Scheps led his own groups, including the True Colors Big Band. When he moved to New York in 1988, he formed additional groups including the Rob Scheps Core-tet and Bartokking Heads. Scheps has been a clinician at many colleges, universities, and festivals, and has performed with many greats including: George Russell, Gil Evans Band, Hiram Bullock, Ray Charles, Linda Ronstadt, Buddy Rich, Julius Hemphill, Aretha Franklin, Sam Rivers, Louie Bellson, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Dave Holland, Liza Minnelli, Kenwood Dennard, Dave Liebman, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Cecil Taylor, Roswell Rudd, Al Grey, Clark Terry, Arturo Sandoval, Lew Soloff, Randy Brecker, Mel Lewis, Dorothy Donegan, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff "Tain " Watts, Steve Swallow and John Scofield...."
Did you know you can purchase $20 tickets to performances in the Performing Arts Dance Series?
Just visit the Civic Center Ticket Office at 221 Walnut with your student ID, and you can get up to two tickets at that price NOW. Below you’ll find information about the two remaining shows in the season, as well as the great master classes available for you to participate in with these world-renowned companies.
Botanica, like other MOMIX creations, creates a magical and ethereal world. MOMIX dancer-illusionists conjure a world of surrealistic images using light, shadow, props, humor and the human body. Beautiful and enthralling, the show features an eclectic score ranging from birdsongs to Vivaldi. It follows the rhythms of the seasons, the changing shape of life on Earth and the passing of a day. The performance is enhanced by spectacular costumes, projections and giant puppetry designed by Michael Curry, acclaimed production designer for Cirque du Soleil, Disney and the Metropolitan Opera.
Learn more: here
MASTER CLASSES - $25 or $15 with performance ticket
Known affectionately as “The TROCKS”, this is a company of professional male dancers performing the full range of the ballet and modern dance repertoire, including classical and original works. Comedy is achieved by incorporating and exaggerating the foibles, accidents and underlying incongruities of serious dance. The fact that men dance all the parts enhances rather than mocks the spirit of dance as an art form, delighting and amusing the most knowledgeable, as well as novices, in the audiences.
Learn more here.
MASTER CLASSES - $25 or $15 with performance ticket
DANCEtalk
Sight unseen: the gymnast, the Olympic ice dancer and the Disney Star are sight unseen favorites.
Kelly Picklar/Derek Hough: Any partner of Derek has a leg up. Love her southern accent. Looks like they already have a great relationship. The longer she stays the more his teaching can give her an edge. Cha Cha..
She's a performer! This is why it's dancing With the Stars and not Dancing with Any Schmo off the street!
Sharp attack. She's having a lotta fun out there! Flexible . She can shake it and she can be still when she
needs to. Good start and Derek is her secret weapon!. I give her a 7.0 Favorable comments from the judges.
"Sass and Class!" She's vivacious! What a personality!. Judges: 7 ... 7...7
Victor Ortiz/Lindsay Arnold: From the mean steets. Looks bad in the preview.. No sense of line. only
sticking his arms out there. dancing by numbers. plodding through steps. Not sure that Lindsay is a good
enough teacher and coach to garner success. Okay, he can do the grapevine. Most boxers use that as a
training tool. Good connection, but, don't have a good feeling. I give him a 6. But, just that smile is a winner! Judges: 6, 6, 6
Ingo Radamacher/Kym Johnson: Preview isn't very promising here either. Cringing! like her choreography, but, not sure she's going to be getting her to a third mirror ball. No sense of grace and feeling. He's dancing like it's only an athletic event. I like his dramatic intensity, but...his technique leaves a lot to be desired. I give him a five! Judges: 7, 6, 7
Lisa Vander Pump Gleb Schevchenko: Ooh, bad frame!. Nice smile, bad dancing. I'm not sure he's good looking enough to overcome her inferior dancing. Awkward...I give her a 4! Judges are kind...they're tactful, but, ...not good enough. judges: 6, 6, 6 Wow! They're being KIND!
D.L.Hughley/Cheryl Burke: Stick to comedy! Don't sing while you're dancing. Ooh! Uncomfortable watching him, Painful watching him dance so tentatively!. He's going to make everyone else look even better! I give him a 5. He's no contender, he's not even close to a pretender! Judges showing some Tough Love! Real judges: 4, 4, 4!
Zendaya/Val Chermokovsky: She's 16? Nice line! good feeling, Excellent attack. Bad Chainnes but. nice feet!. She's fearless! Gotta watch her shoulders! Okay! she's musical and has great feeling! Val has a
potential winner! Give her an EIGHT! She just threw down the gauntlet! Judges: 8, 8, 8! Highest score of the
night!
Sean Lowe/Peta Murgatroyd: Ooh! The preview looks like white guy sydrome. Muscle bound and flat-footed. Better line. Musclebound short lumbering movements! Some things not too bad, some things very bad! Can she keep him from being eliminated before he catches on and improves? i give hime a 6. Judges: 7, 6, 6
Aly Raisman/Mark Ballas: The gymnastics may be counterproducive! Can she give Shawn Johnson a run for her money. Not bad movement. Great smile. Can shake her bootie. Good musicality. Dancing with her eyes. If anyone can pull it out of her it's one of Shawn's old partners! I give her a 7. Judges: 7, 7, 7. She cleans up pretty nicely!
Dorothy Hamill/Tristan MacManus: WOW! Great attitude. Great natural sense of movement. Nice feeling, great smile. Wow! Barefeet. Contemporary. Good line. Great story She gets an 8 from me! Real judges: 7, 7, 7
Wynona Judd/Tony Dovolani: What a great story. Audience is already pulling for her. Great Presence!. Little stiff. Moves with authority. Okay shes using her musical ability to move. Little stiff and flat footed. Then she shows some groove. I think she had some fun! I give her a seven. Judges: 6, 6, 6
Andy Dick/Sharna Burgess: The new Andy Dick: Breakdown before ballroom already. He dances like Woody Allen. He's putting a serious effort into it. Okay nice ball-change. shoulder bad. I'm pulling for him because of his fight agaist addiction, but, the dancing or lack thereof speaks for itself. I give him a five or six. Real judges: 6, 5,6
Jacoby Jones/Karina Smirnoff: Showinga little a lack of control in the preview. Only one week of rehearsal! Good attack. His height could be an asset or an liability. I like his intensity. Good hip action. The guy has animal magnetism. The guy has oodles of charisma. Not much polish. I give him a 7. Real judges: 7, 6, 7...he's a HOOT! what a personality. He's a comedian!
...And, now that "the sights" have been seen, here's my early "anointed list": Picklar, Ortiz, Zendaya!, Aly, Dorothy ...(Zendaya had me from her first plie'-chasse'! Youth WILL be served this season!o)
...and, here's the "soon2bdisappointed list": Ingo, Lisa, DL, Sean, Wynonna, Andy, Jacoby..."
The children have been practicing the Iowa Songburst concert for weeks. The entire program focuses on the state and includes the State Song, Corn Song, Music Man Medley and the IA Waltz which was composed by Ottumwa native, singer/song writer, Greg Brown. Readings and skits will also be included.
This performance features the Children’s Chorus and the Newton and Pella Outreach Choirs. Conductors include Kristen Stanton, Artistic/Executive Director, Natalie Steenson, Jane Johnson and Joe Tangen.
“It’s really been fun for us to immerse ourselves in songs about Iowa,” said Annika Baker, a Des Moines fifth grader and member of the Children’s Chorus. “I especially like the Iowa Waltz. It’s such a sweet song.”
This is the third Youth Chorus program that has incorporated a regional theme performed in a metro area venue. Other collaborations included Black History Month at the State Historical Museum and Prairie Songs at the Living History Farms.
Prairie Meadows offers every high school in Polk County two $2,500 scholarships to graduating seniors who will be enrolling at an accredited Iowa institution for the fall 2013 semester.
Applications are available online at www.prairiemeadows.com, and they are also available at each of the following participating high schools in Polk County:
Since 2001, Prairie Meadows has awarded 427 scholarships to graduating central Iowa high school seniors to help them further their education in Iowa.
The Vail Valley Foundation invites you to the 2013 Vail International Dance Festival, which will begin July 28 and go through August 10 at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, Colorado and the Vial Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
The 25th Vail International Dance Festival will feature 11 riveting dance performances under the leadership of artistic director and former New York City Ballet principal dancer Damian Woetzel. Included in the program is a tribute performance featuring ballet sensation Sergei Polunin, along with a performance of George Balanchine’s Serenade with a full orchestra put on by the Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Additionally, the program will feature the highly anticipated return of International Evenings of Dance on Friday, August 2 and Saturday, August 3, with performances showcasing modern dance, ballet, and ballroom classics. The festival closes with the popular Dance TV, with artists from “Dancing With the Stars,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” “America’s Best Dance Crew” and more. This is surely an event that you will not want to miss!
We would love for your help promoting the event to your [students, members, readers, patrons]. A full schedule and ticket information can be found at www.vaildance.org. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, March 13 at 11 a.m., so hurry to reserve your spot!..."
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In addition to live group and one-on-one classes, we offer a complete business solution; recording classes, monetizing a video library, processing payments, scheduling sessions, social marketing, and managing client relationships. Whether you're new to teaching online, or have been offering videos or live webcam options for a while, ________ can help you manage and grow your business.
We'd love to invite you to create your online studio today! You can also read teacher testimonials and learn more about our services on the site.
We're looking forward to taking your classes! If you have any questions during the process, let me know and I'll be happy to help!..."
ISU will host the Big 12 Gymnastics Championships Saturday, March 23 at 4 PM in Hilton Coliseum! The Cyclones will welcome West Virginia and Oklahoma.
We would like to present fans with the opportunity to win VIP treatment for the night, including limo service,
tickets to the meet, VIP seating, a chance to meet the team and dinner afterwards! The winner can bring up to
nine (9) friends to enjoy the opportunity! Enter to win this unique prize package by Friday, March 15 at 5 PM.
Additional tickets will be available to purchase for $5 adult/$1 student at the Hilton Coliseum Ticket Office on
the day of the meet or in advance by calling the Iowa State Athletics Ticket Office at 515-294-1816. Doors and
the Hilton Coliseum Ticket Office will open at 3 PM on March 23.
Let me know if you have any questions! Thank you and GO CYCLONES!..."
Capital City News — The WDsM Valley High School and Valley Southwoods orchestras are keeping the Olympic Dreams Live program alive in the district as they travel to England and Wales March 13-22 to visit and perform with students from one of the district’s partner schools from the program.
As part of Olympic Dreams Live, the British Council and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) selected 45 schools from around the world where athletes participating in the Olympics have attended and paired them with schools in the United Kingdom. Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson is a former student of each of the selected Iowa schools.
The orchestra will travel to Ysgol Bryn Alyn, Valley Southwoods’ partner school, to perform a combined concert with students at the school. They will continue a tour of the UK, visiting and performing in Wrexham, Bath, Oxford and London. A highlight of the trip will be when students enjoy a private tour of the Houses of Parliament in London with friends from Ysgol Bryn Alyn with a select group performing for the Houses.
“Trips overseas are invaluable learning opportunities for our students,” said Phil Peters, Valley orchestra director. “Not only will they have the pleasure (and pressure) to perform four concerts within a week but they will also be exposed to a new culture. Our students on this tour will travel in the footsteps of William Shakespeare and The Beatles. They will participate in a home-stay with the kind and generous people of Wrexham, Wales. They will tour the House of Parliament and spend time sightseeing in England. Their gifts of music will be shared with others and allow them to meet and make friends from “across the pond.”
Two of the concerts will be in Christchurch Cathedral in Oxford and at St. Sepulchre Church (the “Musician’s Church) in London. Additionally the group will join forces and play a joint concert with the Bath All-Comer’s Orchestra at St. Luke’s Church in Bath. They will also be visiting The Beatles Story in Liverpool, Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stonehenge, Westminster Abbey and a guided coach tour of London.
The British Council is very impressed at the relationship between the WDMCS and the partner schools, a stand-out in the Olympic Dreams Live program.
“I cannot tell you how much it heartens me that this partnership which began with the World Olympic Dreams project has flourished into something really special for all involved – the teachers, the parents, the communities, and most importantly, the students,” praised Tim Rivera, project and partnerships officer for the British Council. “It’s not often that we get to see deep long-term impact that some of our programs can make,” Rivera said. “Everyone was quite moved and appreciative of the great outcome of this partnership.”
The British Council is the UK’s international organization for educational opportunities and cultural relations. They work in over 100 countries worldwide to build opportunity and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people. The BBC is a public service broadcaster, established by a Royal Charter and funded by the license fee that is paid by UK households.
You can follow the group during the tour and enjoy photos and videos on Facebook>..."
There are several Scholarships available supported by ArtUniverse.
Programme and registration details:
Italy: http://www.iugte.com/projects/physicaltheatre
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/iugte
The Polynesian Dance touring company has been featured on Dancing with the stars, Tuckerville, Wizards of Wavery Place and the movie Bedtime Stories starring Adam Sandler. Our mission is to bring the Hawaiian Experience to those who may not otherwise get the chance. Our show Postcards from Paradise is set during the summer of 1959. it is an enchanting show that will take you back on a vintage trip to the South Pacific. This Vibrant performance of exotic hula dancing and heart pounding drum beats of the islands is truly and unforgettable show.
Postcards from Paradise tour start April 6th in Tucson, AZ
Check out our full tour dates on our web site.
Polynesian Paradise Dancers
As you know, having friends and mentors in the audience means so much to a performer. I hope you can attend a performance in support of your dancers and the more than 70 dancers who have worked hard to bring Kennet Oberly's choreography to life again this year. It would also be wonderful if you could encourage your students who are not in the performance to come enjoy this show as well. I think you'll find it humorous, beautiful and a good inspiration for your dancers to renew their dedication to their dance classes at their home studio. Feel free to call me with any questions: 979-6622
Click here to purchase tickets online.
If you do not have a poster at your studio and would like us to bring you one, please call me at 515-979-6622 and I'll arrange to get that to you ASAP! Or print the attached poster for your students!
You can also use the links above in your website and facebook pages to invite your students to join you at the performances!
Again, thank you for your continued collaboration with Iowa Dance Theatre. IDT's mission is to support your dancers and the work you do with them, so as always, feel free to contact us at any time to let us know how we can better serve you and the dance community in Central Iowa..."
The University of Iowa Department of Dance will present home concerts for its resident touring company, Dancers in Company (DIC), at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, March 7-9, in Space Place Theater in North Hall.
The program will feature pieces by five UI faculty, one UI grad student, and guest artist Nicholas Leichter. Leichter’s piece, Bliss, originally commissioned and premiered by the Harkness Dance Project, was staged and developed on dancers of DIC in 2002. This reconstruction takes the central ideas and material of the piece and has been enhanced and reassembled for the current DIC members. The sound score was designed by Stefan Jacobs and incorporates samples and interpolations from music by Benn Watt, Donny Hathaway, Miles Davis, Tom Browne, Mariah Carey, Angie Stone, and Raphael Saadiq.
Other works on the program:
In addition, Dancers in Company will perform at the final Arts Share/Community Foundation of Johnson County concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10, in Space Place. The free concert will be one hour in length, and DIC will perform excerpts of its repertoire, which includes ballet, modern, and hip-hop.
“The DIC Arts Share concert is an event for children of all ages, exploring how dance and movement communicate ideas,” says Adams. “The company will present delightful and varied excerpts of dance works that excite your curiosity. The audience will enjoy participating in warming up to the ‘Funky Penguin,’ creating movement and giving their own ideas about making dances with the dancers.”
Dancers In Company, composed of undergraduates and graduate students, tours throughout Iowa and the Midwest each spring, performing live concerts and lecture demonstrations for audiences of all ages. The company reflects the mission of the department by training dancers in performance and choreography while providing them a top-notch liberal arts education. The company's repertory changes regularly and is selected from award-winning dances by faculty, guest artists, and emerging student choreographers.
The Dancers in Company cast, with hometowns in parentheses, features Zachary Bird (Dubuque, Iowa), Sophia Sednova (New York City), Stav Comay (Minnetonka, Minn.), Leann Gioia (Marengo, Ill.), Sean Laughead (West Des Moines, Iowa), Lauren Linder (Muncie, Ind.), Tyler Clark (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Katie Skinner (Brookfield, Ill.), Bianca Medina (Chicago), Jingqiu Guan (China), Molly Schuneman (Plainfield, Ill.), Dakota Gonzalez (Arlington Heights, Ill.), and understudy Ethan Rome (Dubuque, Iowa).
Dancers in Company’s 2013 tour will take them to the following locations:
I looked up from my tablet and squinted at the television. The picture had halted on a pretty brunette in mid-sentence. I scratched my head in confusion. Was this a trick question? "Is she that actress from Being Human?" I asked.
"No, silly! It's Kourtney Horner! Remember she used to teach for CCDC?"
My eyebrows shot up. Of course, I remembered Kourtney. She'd moved to Nashville to seek her fame and fortune a few years ago after teaching hip-hop for us. I'd heard she'd been in a few music videos, but, now, she had a speaking role in a major television series like Nashville? That was her opposite Hayden Panatierre! Good for Kourtney! Still teaching, still a role model! See! You CAN make it from here! Just can't wait to see what's in the future for Hanna and current CCDC Lyrical/Hip Hop Instructor Roni McCann! Kourtney's still setting the barre high for CCDC students AND faculty!o) Hmm...Wonder if she can get me an autograph...
Featuring two parties in the courtyard, music by Cashes Rivers, DJ 810, The River Monks, and Jordan Mayland, guided firehouse tours, slide down the fire pole, paint a collaborative mural, and much more!
Get tickets to the Formal Dinner or the BBQ & Brews Party on 3/15 at 3:15 pm at midwestix.com. A very limited amount of tickets are available. Buying in advance is highly recommended to secure a spot at the event.
Formal Dinner
BBQ & Brews Party
More Party Facts
Mark your calendars for 3/15 at 3:15 pm to buy tickets.
Ready to give it a shot? Click here to try the drill that helps you leap like LeBron..."
...(My dancer) has decided on Hamburg for year round & Toronto for the summer. We are waiting to hear back from Hamburg, which I have emailed them twice since we got back...
...What a great experience that competition was & really glad to meet you! We are quite excited & very
impressed with Hamburg. I have requested (my son) be in the dorms the 1st year. He will be in the highest level & have opportunities to dance with the company. I really like that Kevin Haigen will be (my son's) teacher & immediately said he was The Upper Body Specialist & it would be easy to fix his upper half to match the lower. He was very enthusiastic, as was Gigi Hyatt. Thought those were good signs so to speak!
Here's wishing you all the best!!
I have only been a professional for a little over two weeks, so I don't think I am qualified to give good advice yet, but if I were to I would simply say to never forget why you love to dance. Your ability to dance can literally be taken away in an instant by an injury or something else scary, so never waste an opportunity to express yourself. Enjoy every challenge and every high point because they are all valuable to who you are as a dancer. I would also say to LISTEN TO YOUR TEACHERS and value having someone who gives as many corrections as Missy and Emery do, because you will miss them when they aren't screaming at you anymore! (Editor's note: Loneliness or over-consumption of okra and grits is obviously affecting 2K2M's memory because we DON'T scream in class! ...But, we WILL scream like little girls when she gets back!o)
Love you all!
Last weekend Milwaukee Ballet staged three world premieres and invited you to vote for your favorite. The panel of guest judges crowned Gabrielle Lamb's Manifold the winner, but Lauren Edson's I Hit the Ground took home the Audience Favorite Award. Click here for more details on the winning pieces.
Pieces in Milwaukee Ballet's Genesis competition play to dancers' strengths
Encore Performance this Saturday!
(Capital City News) — On February 22, 2013, the Art Center will open Transparencies: Contemporary Art and A History of Glass, which will be on view in the Anna K. Meredith Gallery and run through May 22, 2013.
Transparencies brings together a group of international artists whose work explores glass as both medium and as subject matter. Each creates contemporary art that connects with the history of glasswork, from luxury objects such as chandeliers and mirrors to household items like drinking vessels and light bulbs. Many forms of glass are represented: delicate, hand-worked mirrors and industrial sheets of Plexiglass, as well as works that despite appearances are not made of glass at all. The artists selected for Transparencies come from around the world, and vary widely in their art-making practices. Some have always worked with glass, both actually and conceptually, while others have only explored it occasionally. Combining sculpture, video, and installation with traditional forms of artisan technique such as stained and blown glass, Transparencies explores the role of glass in today’s contemporary art world as well as in our everyday lives. Artists in the show include Jim Dingilian (U.S.), Matt Eskuche (U.S.), Monir Farmanfarmaian (Iran), Laura Fritz (U.S.), Rachel Lee Hovnanian (U.S.), Ran Hwang (Korea/U.S.), Luke Jerram (Great Britain), Karen LaMonte (U.S./Czech Republic), Judith Schaechter (U.S.), and Fred Wilson (U.S.). Transparencies is organized by Laura Burkhalter, associate curator.
Related Programs
Lecture: William Warmus
Saturday, March 16 / 9 am
Opacities: The Unforgivable Beauty of Black Glass
HeartFest, a spring companion show to the June ArtFest Midwest.
· Fun “KidzDuArt” area—From 12-3 p.m. both days at Center Court
Design your very own Valentine puppet to take home! (no charge)
Face Painting & Henna Tatto Art (fee charged)
Ongoing artist demonstrations:
wire wrapping & gem setting (jewelry)
(Capital City News) — “You are what you eat,” the saying goes, but is what you eat playing a role in
how much you sleep? Sleep, like nutrition and physical activity, is a critical determinant of health
and well-being. With the increasing prevalence of obesity and its consequences, sleep researchers have
begun to explore the factors that predispose individuals to weight gain and ultimately obesity. Now, a
new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania shows for the first
time that certain nutrients may play an underlying role in short and long sleep duration and that people
who report eating a large variety of foods – an indicator of an overall healthy diet – had the healthiest
sleep patterns. The new research is published online, ahead-of-print in the journal Appetite.
“Although many of us inherently recognize that there is a relationship between what we eat and how we sleep,
there have been very few scientific studies that have explored this connection, especially in a real-world
situation,” said Michael A. Grandner, PhD, instructor in Psychiatry and member of the Center for Sleep and
Circadian Neurobiology at Penn. “ In general, we know that those who report between 7 - 8 hours of sleep each
night are most likely to experience better overall health and well being, so we simply asked the question
"Are there differences in the diet of those who report shorter sleep, longer sleep, or standard sleep patterns?”
To answer this question, the research team analyzed data from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey (NHANES) sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NHANES includes
demographic, socioeconomic, dietary, and health-related questions. The sample for the survey is selected
to represent the U.S. population of all ages and demographics. For the current study, researchers used the
survey question regarding how much sleep each participant reported getting each night to separate the sample
into groups of different sleep patterns. Sleep patterns were broken out as “Very Short’’ (<5 h per night),
‘‘Short’’ (5–6 h per night), ‘‘Standard’ (7–8h per night), and ‘‘Long’’ (9 h or more per night). NHANES
participants also sat down with specially trained staff who went over, in great detail, a full day's dietary
intake. This included everything from the occasional glass of water to complete, detailed records of every
part of each meal. With this data, the Penn research team analyzed whether each group differed from the 7-8
hour “standard” group on any nutrients and total caloric intake. They also looked at these associations after
controlling for overall diet, demographics, socioeconomics, physical activity, obesity, and other factors
that could have explained this relationship.
The authors found that total caloric intake varied across groups. Short sleepers consumed the most calories,
followed by normal sleepers, followed by very short sleepers, followed by long sleepers. Food variety was
highest in normal sleepers, and lowest in very short sleepers. Differences across groups were found for
many types of nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
In a statistical analysis, the research team found that there were a number of dietary differences, but these
were largely driven by a few key nutrients. They found that very short sleep was associated with less intake
of tap water, lycopene (found in red- and orange-colored foods), and total carbohydrates, short sleep was
associated with less vitamin C, tap water, selenium (found in nuts, meat and shellfish), and more
lutein/zeaxanthin (found in green, leafy vegetables), and long sleep was associated with less intake of
theobromine (found in chocolate and tea), dodecanoic acid (a saturated fat) choline (found in eggs and
fatty meats), total carbohydrates, and more alcohol.
“Overall, people who sleep 7 - 8 hours each night differ in terms of their diet, compared to people who
sleep less or more. We also found that short and long sleep are associated with lower food variety,”
said Dr. Grandner. “What we still don’t know is if people altered their diets, would they be able to
change their overall sleep pattern? This will be an important area to explore going forward as we know
that short sleep duration is associated with weight gain and obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Likewise, we know that people who sleep too long also experience negative health consequences.
If we can pinpoint the ideal mix of nutrients and calories to promote healthy sleep, the healthcare
community has the potential to make a major dent in obesity and other cardiometabolic risk factors.”
Wow, it has been awhile since we have spoke! I heard about this year's ballet being Swan Lake,
and I really hope I will be able to come see it :) Our showcases in Miami are in May and June so I have
to start figuring out dates and times. The showcase in May is part of the jazz program...which is
challenging since my teacher is an ultra diva and trying to figure out what he truly wants is a
battle everyday. Our June showcase is the ballet Paquita and Allegro Brilliante!
I am really sad because only Advanced 1 gets to do Allegro, which is by George
Balanchine..wahhhh! In Paquita, I am a demi-soloist and I really like my part.
The corps work is very hard, but its all for the experiences and feeling of togetherness,
right? Missy didn't you say that your company was chosen as examples of brilliant
corps work for Paquita?
Audition season is also here, as I am sure all of you know! HaHa. This year I am auditioning for
PNB, Boston and Pennsylvania Ballet...so I am nervous and excited at the same time:)
How have all of everyone's auditions been going? How are Swan Lake rehearsals and who is who?
I miss you all and I hope everyone is doing well!
Love you guys,
We were waiting in Studio Two for the school reps to set up, when one of the staff asked for silence because some extra offers were being made to SOME of the contestants. She then read off a list of numbers...but, #TeamAdrian's didn't come up. We were a little disappointed, like being told it was Christmas, but, getting no presents. THEN, she said, "Those were offers for the finalists, here are the extra offers for the rest of the competitors..." After what seemed like an interminable wait...she finally read off "Two-oh-seven1" That's Adrian's number and when he came back he was beaming from ear-to-ear! Another school and a company had made an extra offer!
So, then, we shuttled from table to table meeting with reps of six different organizations. There seemed to be about twenty tables set up for the schools. The ones we spoke with were all very cordial and complimentary of Adrian as you might expect. Lotta information and business cards and pamphlets exchanged hands. Forms in triplicate had to be filled out at each table detailing the offer and expiration date. Some schools offered more than others, some couldn't offer as much as others. They all sounded extraordinary and Adrian and his family will have a lot of numbers to crunch and information to glean and digest.
At one school's table, I asked about a student of ours that had attended and said complimentary things about her time there. The rep actually remembered her, telling us that the student had even collaborated with the school nutritionist to write a cookbook for dancers! I also asked about a CCDC summer intensive guest teacher who had trained at the school as well. The rep said he remembered him as well and said he was "quite a good teacher". Just goes to prove what a small ballet world it is after all!
Well, that's about it from sunny, cold Switzerland! What an AMAZING experience it's been! Thanks to everyone who made it possible, thanks to everyone who read this blog, the FaceBook page or the tweets, We'll be heading back bright and early tomorrow morning. And, fair warning to all my CCDC students, I've seen the best in your age group in the world...and I want us ALL to get there ASAP! Prepare for some challenging, but, inspiring classes when I get back! ...And, more stories and details that I can't put in a public forum!o)
...we now return you to regular programming.
That means he'll meet with the four schools tomorrow and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of attending and get an opportunity to ask any questions he might have. He, then, will have a month to accept or decline any offers. The Prix de Lausanne website will make the official announcement at that time.
Later that day, we attended the finals of the 2013 Prix. Twenty dancers performed their classical and contemporary variations. Houston Ballet II performed an interesting piece while the scores were being tallied.
The piece was for four pairs of dancers and performed to a traditional music song called "Dancing in the Garden of Mirth". The women were in control in this piece, dressed in bare midriff tops and long skirts with a slit that revealed their boy shorts in front. They were seductive and sensual, the men were submissive and docile. It started with all four couples, went to a solo female, a pas de deux and pas de trois. It ended with everyone on stage again. In the background were a series of gobos lighting, evocative without overpowering. I'm not sure I agreed with the message, whether it was empowering or simply emasculating. Like I said, interesting choreography with some tricky partnering that I liked. Performed well, tho', so bravo, HBII!
The winner of the 2013 Prix was a boy from Brazil, Adhonay Silva. This is the guy who would consistently do four or five pirouettes and end on balance. Pirouettes were so good, I got goosebumps! His tours were rock solid, his technique was clear, clean and concise. He also won the Audience Favorite award, a precursor to his over all win. He deserved to win, but, the teacher and coach in me wishes he had shown a little more personality and playfulness in his Harlequinade variation. He's only fifteen, so he has time to develop a stronger stage personality. He has ALL the technical tools.
I can't quibble with Adhonay's win as audience favorite, but, I voted for another girl as my favorite: Kaho Yanagisawa. Her Swanilda was coquettish and playful. Her contemporary was limpid and lucid. She impressed me a lot for only fifteen as well.
I understand the web-stream was problematic, but, if you were there you heard the audience audibly gasp when three favorites stumbled or even fell. I believe most of the winners' video will be posted on the website. I don't think you're going to see these three anytime soon. If you missed it...that was the risk and reward of live theater and live ballet.
Interesting suggestion from the mother of one of the other female contestants who spoke to me at the post-performance party today, She was wondering if Adrian would consider partnering her daughter in a future competition. While he's not ruling anything out, he's hoping to be in a situation soon that rules out future competitions. But, I gave the mom my contact information and told her to stay in touch.
Also, I think Teddy Kumakawa thought I was a paparrazo when I approached him for a picture of him and Nina Ananiashvili today. He brusquely asked me who the picture would be for. I stammered something about my blog. He checked my credentials and was apparently satisfied that I wasn't going to sell the picture to the highest bidder. Just then Adrian walked up and I said I was his teacher. Kumakawa then became much more friendly and motioned Adrian into the picture with them. He even put him between the two of them. Adrian even got some extra personal corrections from the pair before they left the room. You can check out that picture on the CCDC FB page.
BTW, it finally started snowing here in southern Switzerland. The contestants from Florida were ecstatic! We, the weary veterans of winter were wondering what all the fuss was about until we found out they'd never seen snow before! Some of the Aussie dancers were out dancing and carousing in the snowfall. It was melting on the ground so their attempt to make a snowball was a miserable wet failure. Adrian did teach them to catch snowflakes on their tongues!
Two more sleeps and we're heading home! Brace yourself for our return, CCDC!
...But, the numbers that WERE taken were a little skewed. There were four who advanced from the younger girls, four who advanced from the younger boys, only TWO of the older girls moved on...but, TEN of the older boys! Does that mean the older boys were that much better? Or were the jurors trying to encourage more of the older men with potential scholarships? If they had taken five of Adrian's group...would he have gotten in? All questions I would like to ask the jury, but will probably never have the chance to do so.
Adrian now advances to the "Networking Forum". He takes an open class in the morning before representatives of partner schools. If they're interested in making some sort of offer, they'll pass a message on to him. He gets to talk with any of them he wants (assuming there's interest) on Sunday. But, also tomorrow he gets to meet with a member of the jury to get some feedback. (Did I mention Nina Ananiashvili(sp?) is on the jury along with Tetsuya Kumakawa, Li Cunxin, Tamara Rojo and others?)
Also, tomorrow is the finals. It's being live-streamed. You can find the weblink at the Prix de Lausanne website. I remember last year watching the finals live on the web. I never dreamed in my wildest dreams that just a year later I'd be in Switzerland watching the finals live! Strange where your dancing and teaching career will lead you.
But, earlier today were the semi-finals. If you're thinking of entering a ballet competition or auditioning for me or someone like me ever, here are some of the notes I scribbled in the margins of the list of contestants: "Very clean...she's a turner! ...Personality Plus!...OMG FEET! ...His turns are so good they give me goosebumps (This guy's been dancing only two years?)...He's dancing small. Took out those troublesome double tours en l'air...This guy's costume is too big! He's SWIMMING in it, Aquaman!...Nice turns, Tina! Get that back leg up in those jete's! HEY! Don't do the character only when it's convenient! You need to be the character in that difficult menage as well! ...Lift your back leg in those Bournonville jete's! ...Nice cabrioles! Weak tours...Whoops! Lost her releve' foot in those consecutive hops. ...nice feet! Nice Beats!...Wow! extra points for that Brazilian SMILE, girl from Ipanima! GOOD balances! GOOD turns! ...oops, lacks lifts in turns. Wow! the favorite fell out of his first pirouettes, but makes up for them with five or six a few steps later...STRONG dancer! Clear and CLEAN technique...OMG is that variation hard enough? Put in the kitchen sink while you're at it! Don't hop on your turns! ...NICE feeling! But, a little careful! Too small! Don't play it safe! Take a risk!...and so on and so forth!o)
Just as we left the building, a nice comment from one of the staff working the door. He told Adrian, "Don't worry. You can still win! Go to this networking forum! We see it every year: the non-finalists ending up with a better opportunity than some of the finalists!" Nice of him to say!
More ballet in a week than I usually see in a year! More GOOD BALLET and promising dancers in A DAY than I may see in a long, long while. We still have the rest of the weekend and I already truly believe, at Prix de Lausanne, there are no losers!
Spent most of the day doing what I've been doing: watching #TeamAdrian when possible, watching the other classes and coaching sessions when we're chased out of the room. Like I wrote earlier, the public is not allowed into the area when the jury members are judging. Today, I watched the boys warm-up for forty-five minutes. Then I watched the junior boys get coached in their ballet variations. Then, I stuck around to watch the senior boys.
I like the advice the regisseur gave at the beginning: "Boys! This is classical ballet! Don't abandon your classical positions just for effect!" He said the classical positions would help their technique. He gave mostly the same corrections to most of the dancers: plie more in preparations...bring the second side around during pirouette...travel flatter on the diagonals to keep the raked stage from building too much momentum downwards...keep your head up...strong frame, shoulders over hips...stretch arms more. My only criticism would be the corrections tended to be from the outside in...and, as we all know, good ballet technique starts from the inside out.
But, here are some of the consensus tips for dealing with a raked stage. First of all, find vertical and don't let the rake throw you off. Put more weight on the back leg and spot higher during pirouette. Stay further upstage to avoid over-reacting to the rake. During your pirouette think of falling backwards to finish with more weight on the back leg. Many of the dancers are falling forward the longer they turn. The idea is to find ways to get the rake to help, i.e. in big jumps. And, not to let it hurt everything else.
Tonight's Dance Dialogue was with Tamara Rojo, Principal Ballerina with the Royal and new head of the English National Ballet. I didn't have any questions for her, but, I would've liked to ask her about her passing criticism of artistic directors who get their jobs just because they're married to an American movie star. That remind you of anyone, Benjamin? She also shared that many of her most embarrassing moments on stage were at the hands of Carlos Acosta who "has the most ingenious ways to undress you on stage"! There's an insight you don't read in most blogs!
Rojo gave career advice to the many contestants in the audience. She says she was told it was better to be "the head of the mouse, rather than the tail of a lion". Meaning, she moved from small company to medium company to large company because she wasn't ready for the big time right away. She says likes working with ballet masters and choreographers, but, that she learned the most from her fellow ballerinas. She says Mats Ek was the best, most giving and gifted choreographer she's had the pleasure to work with. She told the contestants that they were "all winners already"...and that to this day, she relies on a network of friends she met at her first ballet competition in Paris.
The semi-finals are tomorrow. It's the only guaranteed performance for #TeamAdrian. The announcement of the finalists who will go on to perform this weekend will be made by six pm Swiss time. Adrian has to make top five of the fourteen in his group to go on. Merde! Toi toi toi! Keep your fingers croise', CCDC!o)
Just heard a riveting presentation by Li Cunxin, the author and protagonist of Mao's Last Dancer. He has a future ahead of him as a motivational speaker if he ever gets tired of heading up the New Zealand Ballet. He described how, just by pure chance (or providence), he escaped abject communist poverty when he was selected to attend the Beijing National Ballet Academy. If you're familiar with his book or saw the movie, you know pretty much what he talked about...but, to hear his words and to look in his eyes as he spoke them was a rare, invaluable opportunity.
During the question and answer session, I started by thanking him for his speech and, then, asked: "I think most of us here have seen your movie, what do you think is the biggest misconception that you'd like to set straight about the film?" Cunxin had to think for a moment. He gave a long answer, but, ended by saying the film-makers had taken some liberties compressing so many years into just two hours, but, he was happy with the result. The screen writer had lived with him for A YEAR while writing the script. The filmmakers were highly lauded. He said the hardest part was finding a dancer who could act...and had movie star looks. So, there weren't really many misconceptions. But, then, the very next question, he admitted that the teacher in the movie was really a amalgamation of three of his teachers. So, the teacher that gave him the videotapes of Baryshnikov (The Turning Pointe and The Nutcracker with Gelsey Kirkland) who mentored him and was sent to a labor camp was really fiction based on three-part reality. So, I gave him an opportunity to set the record straight...and he waited until the next question to really answer it!
As soon as his presentation was over, I ran over to the table selling the book. I even picked up a hardcover because I intended to have him autograph it. There was quite a line to get his signature and have pictures taken with him. Finally, I got to the front. I thanked him for his presentation as I shook his hand. He autographed the book and I had Adrian take our picture. Look for it on FaceBook!o)
That wasn't the only conversation I had today: also spoke with the lady in charge of the entire Prix de Lausanne, Beth Krasna is her name. She welcomed me to the Prix. I told her I was from a small school in the middle of the U-S. She said that we were exactly the school they had in mind when they started the Prix. Krasna says they were looking for students from the hinterlands who needed an opportunity to get a scholarship to one of the national schools or schools affiliated with professional companies. I said exposure was the reason Adrian wanted to come. She says they're looking for potential. I tried to plant the seed that "potential" is Adrian's middle name. She seemed open to the idea! Croise' fingers!o)
Also, spoke with Miko Fogarty's mother. (She's the dancer featured in the movie First Position) Miko was asking her mom for some feedback on her dance and fluffed off when her mom couldn't offer her any. I overheard her and told Mrs. Fogarty to tell her she had done a good job in her variation from Coppelia. She asked me for some criticism because they had no coach or teacher with them. I really couldn't think of any, so I asked her to let me think about it. She said she'd ask me again later. (We're staying at the same hotel.) I think I'll tell her that there were such a swath of Swanildas that I couldn't really remember any feedback, but, that I'll watch her the next opportunity I get. I gave her my card and asked for contact information in case Miko would be available to guest for Nutcracker. She took the card. Mrs. Fogarty noticed my last name and asked me in Japanese if I was Nihonjin, or from Japan. I told her, Iie. Watashi wa Hawaii-jin desu!. That's the extant of my Japanese pretty much. It means, "No, I'm from Hawaii." Not the first time I wish I'd learned Japanese when I was younger...or studied harder at Spanish in high school. Being bi-or-tri-lingual is the new status symbol as far as I'm concerned here in Switzerland!
While I was watching the coaching session, interpreters would come out when needed for the regisseur. They didn't need him often because he spoke English, French and Italian. But, sometimes they needed as many as three translators with some of the more exotic dialects spoken in the competition! My meager command of English and smattering of Spanish and Japanese seem more and more paltry by the day, by the hour, by the way!o)
(BTW, that wasn't Jorma Elo I mistakenly tweeted about earlier, but, another choreographer Goyo Montez. What a dancer1 What a choreographer! What an illumination watching him perform his own choreography!o)
But, back to the veritable smorgasbord of variations: lotta Basilios, Albrechts, James, and, even, a few Cavaliers in the older boys run-throughs. The rake on the stage was wreaking more than a little havoc with a lot of the turns. Adrian seems to be making the adjustment well. One of the moms even asked me to help her son with some advice because they brought no coach. I'm no expert on making the transition, but, I told them what one of the other teachers told me he told his dancer: Find vertical. Don't adjust! Just find vertical no matter what the floor is doing. Good advice on any stage!
The only person who blew me away was a Chinese girl who did Kitri. WOW! For a tall, skinny girl she can JUMP! No more excuses from the taller girls I train from now on! Unexpected altitude on her jumps, unanticipated "attitude", coy and playful, in her performance. Keep an eye on 304. (Even as I write this another contingent of Chinese is in the lobby going over choreography and getting coached by their teachers. So much for the injunction against instruction! The people from the PRC are apparently "in it to win it"! But, can't complain, I'm sure MOST of the other teachers and coaches are doing it on the sly as well!o)
Spoke with the director of Long Beach Ballet School. He was talking to Adrian after contemporary class and commending him for being one of the few entrants NOT from a nationally known ballet school. I told him we were doing it for the exposure. He suggested YAGP. Made a convincing argument: apparently there is now an affiliation with the company and school Adrian wants to get into the most. An affiliation that the Prix doesn't have. I told him we were considering it. He says it may not be too late even for this year.
Okay, I just pulled out the two cards I was given today: The Rudolf Nureyev Foundation Medical Website is at www.nureyev-medical.org. You can find out more about the Long Beach Ballet at www.LongBeachBallet.Com. And, I got my business cards in the mail today! So, I'll start passing them out to everyone I meet. Networking never hurt a small business or a small ballet studio! And, we're so good at it...NOT!o)
Oh, BTW, Adrian says there are several pictures of him available via the Prix app. I'm sure they'll be on their FaceBook page as well. I was also tweeted that the first #Prix2013 videos have also been posted. Good luck searching!
Right now, one of the contestants is in the lobby facetiming one of last year's contestants. He's giving an update and asking for advice. It's a one-sided conversation because of his earbuds, so, I'm not able to espionage any tips! He does say judge Tamara Rojo is very pretty. Nice bangs, apparently!
The day started off with Adrian taking a juried ballet class. I settled in on the studio mezzanine eager to observe class. But, as I tweeted, we got chased out pretty quick. Apparently, the public is not allowed to watch while the jury is judging. I went to the other studio to watch the older boys' contemporary class. Enjoyed watching that class, especially watching the teacher demonstrate the movement. But, OMG! The warm-up was waaay long, I counted TWELVE eights, then repeat on the other side. Then, he followed with ANOTHER TWELVE counts of eight warm-up combination. And, the class continued that way. My mind was boggled. I'm going to have to get our contemporary teachers to start giving longer combinations to the more advanced students to prepare them for these kind of classes! The teacher did promise to repeat many of the same combinations as the week went on. That's good because contemporary class score is one-quarter of the total.
I didn't get a chance to watch any classical classes today. The jury was watching all those classes. I should be able to observe those classes later in the week. But, I did take my own ballet class at that studio we visited last week. I went to the website and checked the schedule. I e-mailed the director and asked if it would be okay to take class and how much it would be. She wrote back that I'd be welcome anytime and I qualified for the professional rate of chf 15 per class. Otherwise, I think the individual class rate is closer to chf 30....that's about $35.00! But, when I got there this evening she told me I could take the class for free. Score one for professional courtesy!
The instructor was a man this time. Still an excellent class despite it being the equivalent of the CCDC Adult Ballet. It felt good to be able to turn out, stretch, place and balance. After watching one Japanese boy rip off seven pirouettes on a consistent basis today, I was eager to try some turns. But, despite him making it look so simple, those dancing days have long passed for me. Three was the best I could manage. I blame the sticky, red floor!o)
Also, when I talked to Adrian after his class, he was "flying high". He said his turns and pirouettes were on. CLAIMED he stopped on balance on one side. He promised he was working on opening up the upper body and shaping the foot. I told him he needed to extend his line in the contemporary class I watched him in. He said that was the same correction that TETSUYA KUMAKAWA gave him while the judging was going on! #TeamAdrian will be officially judged and rated tomorrow in ballet class. Today was just a "get acquainted" session for the jurors. If Adrian has another good class, it could mean doors will open for him! The good thing is Rocky always responds well to pressure and to competition! Not all dancers do, so, that's a plus in his favor!
Oh, there was also the first installment of the Dance Dialogues today as well: choreographer Gilles Jobin gave a presentation in the lobby of the Theatre Beaulieu. I'd actually heard about this guy. He's been awarded the Cern Choreographic Award. The Cern super-accelerator is exploring the building blocks of matter...and apparently there's enough funding for them to offer a grant for a dance piece. His presentation was probably more interesting to other choreographers than it was to the dancers. #TeamAdrian admitted to being bored out of his mind! I asked one question during the q+a portion: "How do you keep your piece from becoming too representational? Just mimicking particles colliding and spinning?" He sorta "danced" around the question saying he would be using the principles of the forces involved rather than just illustrating the process. May be more interesting for dancers when Mao's Last Dancer and Tamara Rojo (and her bangs) speak!o)
The entrance was a little hard to find. The Theatre Beaulieu and the building where the classes were to be held are right next to each other and gigantic. But, we didn't know that. Our first clue we were headed the wrong way was when all the dancers were walking in the direction we had just come from. Now, were they confused or were we? We stopped and found a security guard who spoke a little English. He pointed us in the direction we were already heading, but, we decided he didn't sound confident enough, so we headed back where we came from. Turned out to be the correct decision.
We found the artists' entrance. Inside, I felt like a rat in a maze. Up these stairs, around this corner, through these curtains, down this hallway...until suddenly, we emerged into Studio One. I recognized it from pictures on the website. The mezzanine also allowed a higher viewpoint. On a raked stage were several barres filled with dancers of all different nationalities warming up. Nearly eighty dancers were at differing stages of barre. Very little room at the Squeeze-Inn for poor Adrian! He ended up hanging onto a dividing wall while I gave him class. I knew he was distracted because I kept giving him combinations and he kept doing something different. It must have been more than a little intimidating to see all those good dancers with good bodies and good training from Korea, China, Japan, Australia, U-S, etcetera. I told him to concentrate on what he was doing and take the time to warm-up. All his adrenaline was telling him the exact opposite. The crowded conditions didn't help. More than once, dancers hit each other. Not seriously, but, there wasn't a lot of room. Twice two dancers hit the floor when they slipped
Adrian said the floor was sticky and uneven in places, as if the floor were new. It was raked. I saw a lot dancers start off their turns and end by falling forward. I told Adrian to mark through his variations to find out how the rake would affect his performance. It was so crowded at first, we decided to wait for the first registration group from Asian countries to clear off. After they left, he had a better chance at working his tricks and making technical adjustments.
I introduced myself to Miko Fogarty. Anyone who's seen the ballet documentary "First Position" is familiar with her story. She was working hard at cleaning her variation. She said she was hoping to get an offer from the Royal Ballet. I wished her 'merde' and asked if we could take a picture later. She said yes. She was nice! Very sweet! No big head from being the most recognizable dancer at the competition! Her mother was also watching her in the room. I recognized her as well.
Also, while I was working with Adrian, another teacher walked over and introduced himself. Said I looked familiar and if we had performed together or taken class...I didn't think we had. He was from San Francisco and was working with a very good guy. No light bulbs went off, so I'm not convinced we'd ever met before. Friendly guy, though!
Adrian got in a good work-out today. I didn't want him to get too exhausted before judging begins tomorrow. During the orientation, we teachers were told no coaching, no teaching, no instructing. There were also signs that said no video-taping and no cameras. That may put a crimp in my plan to post pix, guys!o( Sorry! But, I guess I can always try to take pictures with my mind's eye! And, then paint word pictures for you here! I'll try anyway! Stay tuned for expanded blog postings here and tweets throughout the day. They do provide Wifi, so, I should be able to provide those. Any questions? Tweet, FB or e-mail me!
Woke at about eight a-m...every day we're feeling a lot less jet-lagged than before. #TeamAdrian should be ready to hit the ground running when the Prix de Lausanne officially begins tomorrow. We took advantage of that excellent complimentary breakfast. Adrian ran into a friend of his from SAB, a dancer from Tampa. We also saw two other dancers in the hallways. The excitement is building!
The plan was to start using our free bus passes instead of walking so much like we did the day before. We made it to the metro center. Gary wanted to visit a museum of Roman relics and/or the Chateau d'Ouchy on the shores of Lake Lehman. (Apparently, that is NOT Lake Geneva that Lausanne shares with the city of Geneev!) We hopped on the train to the beach just on a whim. We got there and it was beautiful! Crisp and cold, but, the sun was starting to break through and the water was lake-calm with gulls, ducks and even a few swans swimming and feeding on the surface.
We ambled along the walkway beside the shore. We stumbled across a giant chess set in a park. Adrian let me win so I wouldn't pout...or was it the other way around?
The Chateau was now a hotel. We checked out what we could from the lobby, but, that was about it. The Olympic Musee was undergoing renovation, but, there was a temporary store selling merchandise we visited. Gary wanted to visit the botanical garden overlooking the city and the shore, so we walked up there. The view was impressive. While we were there the church bells rang out the noon hour. The peals lasted forever! An actual five minutes by our watches!
We walked back to the shore to lunch at a creperie that we'd spotted earlier. I had an Indian Curry Crepe that was excellent! The rest of #TeamAdrian had "salty crepes" for entrees and a scoop of homemade gelato for dessert. Pistachio and caramel. Four thumbs up from the sweets gourmand police!
From there, the tour director took us to try to catch a boat ride around the lake. What it turned out to be instead was the ferry from Ouchy to Evian. Yes! Evian, FRANCE! Where that water is bottled? We were going to France!o) I'd never been, so, now, I can partially check it off my bucket list! VERY KEWL!o)
We checked out the town for about an hour. Gary bought a cheap stocking cap that he can now tell everyone was "imported" from France! Adrian was going to buy an "Adrien" name tag, but, we decided he should wait until he could get the spelling right. We didn't do much, but, walk around, but, hey...IT'S FRANCE!o)
When we caught the ferry back to Ouchy, the mist had cleared and we had a magnificent view of the French Alps, resplendent in the late afternoon sunlight! Spectacular is all I can say!
Well, as you can expect, I was tuckered out and ready to call it a day, but, the adventure wasn't over just yet! Remember those Roman ruins, Gary wanted to visit? We headed out there and finally found the place and the museum after walking for what seemed at least a week! I was starting to worry all this walking would be bad for Adrian on the eve of the start of the competition. But, we got on the bus just in time...
...on the bus were some ladies and a girl talking English. They looked suspiciously like the female version of our all-male trio. One young dancer-looking type, one parental unit...and one devastatingly good looking ballet-instructor-type. (Okay, okay...she wasn't that good-looking...but, way better than me!o) They were speaking English in the back seats. Adrian and I looked at each other. We started speaking in loud voices about the Prix de Lausanne. They shut up and, then, started whispering to each other. But, they didn't approach us. I finally had to ask the girl if she was here for the Prix and, of course, she was. Turns out they're from Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. Seems like this wasn't the instructor's first rodeo...or first time at the Prix. She gave us some advice about the warm-up session that kicks off the competition tomorrow. We're going to put some of that helpful experience into practice tomorrow...
...And, so...let the dancing begin!o)
Took a shower and checked out the complimentary breakfast provided by the hotel. Wow! What a spread! I was told there was just going to be some fruit and some pastries...but, there were scrambled eggs with cheese, several breakfast meats, various fruits, various yogurts, breads, croissants, cereals and mueslix, fresh squeezed OJ and pink grapefruit juice, tea, milk and coffee. Stuffed myself in preparation for the day while reading the international edition of the NYT. Article about Benjamin Millepied's ascension to AD of POB. Also a story about the retirement of some modern dance choreographer. Just nice to see such coverage of the arts in a newspaper1
We decided to wander around the city. Gary had a hankering to check out a museum or two. I just wanted to look at architecture and explore. We passed several relics of ancient times. Anything old in the states is probably from two or three centuries ago. Here, we took pictures of a castle tower from the 1300's and visited a cathedral from I wanna say the 1500's?
But, in the middle of all that wandering around, Adrian's dad stumbled across a dance studio! What a coincidence! And, there just happened to be a "classique" dance class that started around noon. What a coincidence? Or providence? Whatever it was: I wanted to take a class. Adrian wanted to take a class. We decided to make it happen.
Walked back to the hotel and got our dance gear. (My legs are tired right now!o) Made it back with time to spare. However, no one told us that the trains may run on time in Switzerland, but, not this dance class! We rung the buzzer to get let in while we tried to warm-up on the sidewalk outside. No answer. People kept walking in and out of the building, so finally Gary just snuck the door open behind one exiting lady. We found the studio, but, another student was waiting outside on the steps.
The instructor finally arrived carrying her scooter after about ten minutes that felt like twenty. Fortunately, she spoke excellent english and let us in the studio. We explained that Adrian was competing in the Prix and she told us we could take class for free. And, one good thing about starting late: we got some extra stretch and crunching time!
Pascale Gaud was the name on the schedule. We assumed it was a man, but, she says "Pascale" is actually both a man's and woman's name in Switzerland. Whatever her name, she gave an excellent class! She tried to warn us beforehand that the class would be slow. But, it was perfect! Interesting combinations, but, not too hard or taxing. Started off with a facing the barre exercise, lots of tendus and degage's. She used a lot of breath to initiate movement. The pirouettes were demanding! I didn't do the petit allegro, but, it was tricky: lotta ballone's changing directions. Someone remind me to do that pas de bourre to seconde to coupe ballone' more often in class! Grand allegro and tours en diagonale for Adrian and we were done after about and hour-forty-five or more. Pascale later told me she did make the class harder than usual because of our presence. There were about ten or twelve ladies of varying ages and abilities in class. I think some were in shock at some of the combinations! I can imagine what would happen if two strange male dancers walked into an adult ballet class at CCDC!
Since she didn't charge us tuition, I thought we should "dance for our dinner". I left it up to Adrian when the teacher asked if the class could watch him perform his classical variation. I thought the audience would actually be good for him. (We both really needed that class after fifteen hours of travel that stretched across two days and seven time zones). He agreed and performed it to some odd grand allegro music Gaud had on her iphone. He did well and the ladies all seemed very appreciative. Hopefully, we'll be able to impress much more astute critics next week!
BTW, I'm having trouble downloading pictures, but, you can check them out on the CCDC FaceBook page. I'll try to keep posting here, there and on Twitter.
Here are some notes jotted down during fifteen hours or so of travel:
Finally figured out how to work video screen on seat back!
Lotta cars lotta traffic flying into Amsterdam!
Flying into Geneva was interesting on one side...and spectacular on the other. The majestic Alps and what I think is Mount Blanc pierced above the cloud cover on the horizon. Dang! My esteem for Hannibal who crossed the mountain chain with elephants just sky-rocketed!
We walked around Lausanne a little. The Theatre itself is just a few blocks away. Couldn't find a ticket office. Passer-by advises us to go on the internet. Hey Swiss Miss, if we could do it on the web, we wouldn't be looking for a bricks and mortar box office.
We had a meal (lunch? dinner? breakfast?) at an Italian fast food place. Adrian got a discount for being a Prix contestant. What I've seen of the city so far is: it's quaint, charming, hilly...and cold!
We're here! We got the schedule! Exciting to think we're walking the same streets, staying in the same hotels that Kumakawa, Acosta, Hallberg experienced when they were beginning their careers! Exciting to think we'll be in the same rooms and stages dozens of excellent dancers have trod before us! Who needs the Superbowl? WE'RE AT THE 2013 PRIX DE LAUSANNE!!!
Contact:
Oldenburger submitted a video application of his dancing to an international panel of judges along with hundreds
of others from around the world. He was selected to advance to the competition round, one of only 41 boys internationally
and one of only 6 males from the United States.
"My teachers say to be the best, you have to dance with the best," said Oldenburger, who trains at
Capital City Dance Center in Urbandale. "Getting a chance to dance
along side the very best dancers my age and older in the world is very exciting." He's already danced in some
of the most prestigious national dance programs during summers at New York City Ballet's School of American Ballet
and the Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy, both on full scholarship. "But, dancing in the
Prix de Lausanne will be another step up."
The real life Billy Elliot first started taking dance classes when he was just 4 years old. Oldenburger
trains more than thirty hours a week dancing ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and partnering classes at CCDC.
"But, ballet is my first love," he says.
Adrian is one of seven home-schooled children. He mows lawns and shovels snow to help pay for his dance classes at
CCDC where he's on a work-scholarship program in the Pre-Professional Program. Mother, LeAnn Oldenburger,
says the family is organizing some local fund-raisers to help pay for Adrian's travel expenses. Click on www.adrian.oldenburger.us for more information.
"I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll be able to raise enough money to take advantage of this opportunity,"
said Oldenburger. "It's a tremendous honor to be one of a handful of Americans chosen to compete (in the
Prix de Lausanne) this year. If I could be the first Iowan to ever do it in over forty years...that would
be incredible."
Oldenburger said he's planning on dancing a variation from Coppelia as well as a contemporary number
in Switzerland if fundraising is successful.
###30###
Adrian is available for interviews. Contact Capital City Dance Center at 515.276.1646,
info@GoCCDC.Com, at WWW.GoCCDC.Com or on FaceBook.
I recently had some big news I'd like to share with you all. This summer, I applied for a
Fulbright grant, which is a federally funded grant to go to the country of your choice
for a year and do research. I applied under the arts division to study traditional Kandyan
dance in Sri Lanka. I just found out that the national Fulbright committee has named me
a finalist for the award, meaning my application will travel to Sri Lanka to be reviewed by their
government. If the Sri Lankan government finds no problems with my proposal, I will be leaving
for Sri Lanka in October 2013. This is an amazing opportunity and a huge honor for me, and I
wouldn't have been able to do it without my excellent training in dance and my college education.
Goes to show that you never know to what amazing places your dance education can take you!
Tip: I used my CCDC performance DVDs to make a compilation of my dancing for the Fulbright
application. So get your performance DVDs, people! You never know when you might need them.
Much love and thanks,
PS: Good luck to Adrian at the Prix de Lausanne!
(Capital City)– THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, is pleased
to announce a lottery ticket policy for the National Tour, which begins Thursday, Jan. 24 at the
Civic Center in Des Moines as part of the Willis Broadway Series presented by Des Moines
Performing Arts and plays a limited two week engagement through Sunday, Feb. 3. In Des Moines,
the production will conduct a pre-show lottery at the ticket office, making a limited number of
tickets available at $25 apiece.
The wildly popular lottery for the Broadway production has attracted as many as 800 entries at some
performances. The producers of THE BOOK OF MORMON are pleased to offer low-priced lottery seats for
every city on the National Tour.
Entries will be accepted at the Civic Center Ticket Office beginning two and a half hours prior to
each performance; each person will print their name and the number of tickets (1 or 2) they wish to
purchase on a card that is provided. Two hours before curtain, names will be drawn at random for a
limited number of tickets priced at $25 each, cash only. Only one entry is allowed per person.
Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets.
Limit one entry per person and two tickets per winner. Tickets are subject to availability.
THE BOOK OF MORMON features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone.
Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the landmark animated series,
“South Park.” Tony Award-winner Lopez is co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, Avenue Q.
The musical is choreographed by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw (Monty Python’s Spamalot,
The Drowsy Chaperone) and is directed by Nicholaw and Parker.
THE BOOK OF MORMON is the winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score (Trey Parker,
Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Book (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Direction
(Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker), Best Featured Actress (Nikki M. James), Best Scenic Design
(Scott Pask), Best Lighting Design (Brian MacDevitt), Best Sound Design (Brian Ronan) and Best
Orchestrations (Larry Hochman, Stephen Oremus); the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best
Musical; five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical
Theater Album; four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical, and the Drama League Award
for Best Musical.
TICKETS ON SALE: MONDAY, JAN. 14 AT 9 A.M.
Capital City News – DsM Performing Arts announces the national tour of the Broadway musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTER,
inspired by the electrifying true story, is coming to the Civic Center March 19-24 as part of the Willis Broadway Series
presented by DsM Performing Arts.
Tickets for MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET go on sale to the public at 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 at the Civic Center Ticket Office,
all Ticketmaster locations, charge-by-phone at (800) 745-8000 and online at DesMoinesPerformingArts.org.
Groups of 15 or more should call (515) 246-2340.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET brings that legendary night to life with an irresistible tale of broken promises,
secrets, betrayal and celebrations featuring an eclectic score of rock, gospel, R&B and country hits including;
“Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Matchbox,”
“Folsom Prison Blues,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Hound Dog” and more.
Portraying these icons are, Derek Keeling as Johnny Cash, Cody Slaughter as Elvis Presley,
Martin Kaye as Jerry Lee Lewis and Lee Ferris as Carl Perkins. Christopher Ryan Grant
will play the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Sam Phillips. The cast also features Kelly Lamont as
Dyanne, and musicians Billy Shaffer (Fluke, drums), and Chuck Zayas
(Jay Perkins, bass). Rounding out the company is: Austin Cook, Scott F. Moreau, John Michael Presney,
David Sonneborn, Alyssa Marie and Billy Woodward.
The show is directed by Eric Schaeffer and features a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux.
The design team includes: Derek McLane (scenic design), Howell Binkley (lighting design),
Jane Greenwood (costume design), Kai Harada(sound design) and Chuck Mead (musical
arrangements and supervision).
When the Broadway production opened in April 2010, critics and audiences leapt to their feet in unanimous praise.
The New York Times called the show, “a buoyant new musical that whips the crowd into a frenzy,” New York Magazine
labeled it, “a dazzling raucous spectacle that sounds like a million bucks,” and NY1 called it, “90 minutes of
platinum grade entertainment.” The musical continues its successful New York engagement at New World Stages.
The Chicago production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET opened in 2008 and is still playing to packed houses
at the Apollo Theatre. The West End production is currently playing at the Noël Coward Theatre in London.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET won a Tony Award® for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical and
received a Tony Award® nomination for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical (Colin Escott & Floyd Mutrux).
The show received an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, a Drama Desk
nomination for Outstanding Musical Revue and three Drama League nominations including Distinguished Production
of a Musical and Distinguished Performance.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is produced by Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, American Pop
Anthology and Broadway Across America.
For more information, please visit the official
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET website.
Capital City – The DsM Art Center and its member affiliate group, Art Noir, are proud to announce the sixth installment of the DsM Art Center Big Hair Ball on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at the Art Center.
The DsM Art Center Big Hair Ball is an unforgettable evening of glamour and entertainment that celebrates hair as a form of contemporary self-expression. In 2013, the event will once again include a salon runway show, featuring modeled hair of all shapes, colors, and styles. More than 700 people attended the event in 2011.
In preparation for the 2013 Big Hair Ball, local salons are invited to submit a proposal for an individual
runway program by January 28, 2013. Each runway program includes 8-10 models displaying extravagant
hair, makeup, and costume looks, and should be choreographed to music. Salons may choose to include
elements of video, dance, and other stage components. Each program will be 2-5 minutes in length. Up to six
salons will be selected to participate.
The working title of the salon runway show is Masquerade…a Forbidden Fairytale. The title may change but the decor and feeling of the event will include dark and mysterious forest elements. Inspiration can be taken from a favorite fairytale, nature, mythical creatures, or the concept of masquerade. Guests will be encouraged to wear masques.
This theme should be used as a starting point when salons design their individual runway show. Entries will
be reviewed by a committee of volunteers organizing the event. The organizers are seeking entirely
unexpected visual representations of this theme.
Entries must be submitted digitally or delivered by post to the DsM Art Center by January 28, 2013 by 5
pm. Entries will not be accepted after the due date.
Salons selected to participate will be notified by February 15, 2013. All salons will be notified by late February
2013.
Capital City News– Jan. 7, 2013 – DsM Performing Arts, in cooperation with the DsM Symphony will present the “Carnival of the Animals” for one performance only, Saturday, Jan. 19.
“Carnival of the Animals” kicks off the 4th season of the Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield Family Series held at the DsM Performing Arts Civic Center. Showtime is at 1 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now at the Civic Center Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000 and online at CivicCenter.org. Tickets start at $10. Check Ticketmaster.com for ticket information and availability.
“Carnival of the Animals,” composed by Camille Saint-Saëns, and orchestrated by the Des Moines Symphony takes audiences on a journey through a marvelous universe known as the Carnival of the Animals. The music guides you through the spectacle where lions, kangaroos, turtles and other animals come to life through the use of small and large marionettes, each more surprising than the other. A true sound odyssey and a celebration of entertainment and joy, the production introduces young audiences to this classic composition. The production is infused with music, circus, theatre and stunning special effects suitable for children ages 4 and up.
DsM Symphony Music Director & Conductor Joseph Giunta says “Carnival of the Animals” is the perfect way to acquaint young audiences with classical music.
"The DsM Symphony is delighted to partner again with the DsM Performing Arts for a family concert featuring one of classical music's most iconic and beloved pieces,” he said. "This blend of music from a live, professional orchestra and theater creates a new and revitalized performance that is a great introduction to classical music for kids."
Further enhance the theater-going experience by attending the Discovery Party held one hour prior to the start of the show in the West Lobby of the Civic Center. Parents are encouraged to bring the entire family for arts and crafts, activities, demonstrations, and other fun programs. The Discovery Party is free to ticket holders.
The Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield Family Series, now in its fourth season, is a wonderful way to introduce young people to the performing arts, with shows directed especially toward young theater-goers. There are four shows in the Family Series package including: “Carnival of the Animals,” “The Ugly Ducking & the Tortoise and the Hare,” “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs Two” and two additional shows available to add–on to your family package: “Grug” and Boats.”
Capital City – Legendary entertainer Carol Burnett returns to the Civic Center for an exclusive one-day
engagement of her Q & A format, “LAUGHTER AND REFLECTION WITH CAROL BURNETT: A
Conversation with Carol where the Audience Asks the Questions” on Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 3 p.m.
Tickets for LAUGHTER AND REFLECTION WITH CAROL BURNETT go on sale to the general public at
9 a.m. on Monday, February 4, 2013.
If there is one thing this renowned entertainer can do better than anyone else, it is talk at length, impromptu,
before a live audience. “LAUGHTER AND REFLECTION WITH CAROL BURNETT: A Conversation with
Carol where the Audience Asks the Questions”, Burnett’s off-the-cuff banter with the audience, is a format
that grew out of the question-and-answer sessions she shared with her studio audience on each episode of
“The Carol Burnett Show”. As a weekly visitor in America’s living rooms, Burnett always
opened her show with a few minutes of hilarious banter with the audience. This is a rare opportunity to talk to
Ms. Burnett in the same enjoyable and intimate audience-interactive format. Come with your
questions and share in the fun with one of the country’s most loved and respected performers.
Following the 11-year run of “The Carol Burnett Show”, six-time Emmy Award winner Carol
Burnett is now widely recognized for her dramatic abilities as well as her comedic and stage talents. In
addition to being a best-selling author and a Grammy nominee, she is a recipient of the Kennedy Center
Honors and The Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Carol’s Burnett’s best-selling book “This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection”, was a New
York Times best-seller as was her autobiography “One More Time”. Her latest book “Carrie and
Me: A Mother/Daughter Love Story” will be published on April 9, 2013. Time/Life has just released
DVD’s of “The Carol Burnett Show” for retail sale, and it has quickly become one of their most
successful DVD releases.
Raised by her grandmother, first in her birthplace of San Antonio, then Hollywood, Ms. Burnett
attended UCLA. Soon after, she started her career in New York, where she caught fire doing hilarious sketches
on “The Garry Moore Show.” At night, she dashed to Broadway where she starred in the riotous fairy
tale “Once Upon a Mattress.” She moved back to Los Angeles and began “The Carol Burnett
Show”, which ran for 276 episodes on CBS from 1967 to 1978. Her show is generally regarded as
the last successful major network variety show.
Carol Burnett has guest-starred on smash hit television shows such as “Glee”, “Law & Order:
Special Victims Unit”, for which she received an Emmy nomination; “Desperate
Housewives”, and “Mad About You”. She stars in the 30th Anniversary DVD of “Annie”
and can be heard in the animated adventure, Disney’s “The Secret World of Arrietty” and
FOX’s animated film, “Horton Hears a Who!”.
TICKETS ON SALE: MONDAY, JAN. 14 AT 9 A.M.
Capital City News– In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small-town girl met a big-city dreamer – and in L.A.’s most
legendary rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80’s. It’s ROCK OF AGES, a hilarious,
feel-good love story told through the hit songs of iconic rockers Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner,
Pat Benatar, Whitesnake and many more and it’s coming to the Civic Center April 26-27 as part of the Willis Broadway Series presented by DsM Performing Arts.
This 5 time Tony nominated musical, with a star studded motion picture in the works, is rockin' its way across the USA.
Don't miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on!
Tickets for ROCK OF AGES go on sale to the public at 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 at the
Civic Center Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, charge-by-phone at (800) 745-8000 and online.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
(The dancers)...perform to live music by Kimberly Fitch. 600 6th Ave., Des Moines. No admission.
$6 lunch to follow in basement hall.
For more information, call (515) 243-7692 or visit
www.stjohnsdsm.org...."
(Capital City) – Friday, January 04, 2013 – Get your tickets Tuesday for the 2013 Father Daughter Valentine Dance
to be held at Blank Park Zoo’s Discovery Center . This annual event is sponsored by DsM Park and Recreation and Boesen The Florist.
Tickets are available for $15 per couple and $2 per additional child (daughter) for the dates below:
This is a great chance for Dads come out and spend an evening with your daughter(s) and enjoy desserts, soft drinks
and much more!
Find out more at www.adrian.oldenburger.us.
Dancing on a raked stage is like dancing outside in the rain. A principal danseur once told me,
"Don't change anything!" when I asked him in the middle of a tropical monsoon how to perform while
buckets of rain fell on the stage. That's the advice I used when I performed in the dirt at a
racetrack at the Carlton County Fair in rural northern Minnesota. That's the advice I gave to
Adrian as we began rehearsing on the stage. No changes, but, we did experiment.
We start by shifting our weight to the heels with limited success. Russian training is based
on performing on raked stages. Lotta weight in the heels in the pure Vaganova training,
especially for men. That might be why the men turn from seconde rather than fourth position preparation.
Start off even rather than with the back heel higher than the front. One thing that did help was
figuring out how the rake could accentuate basic technique rather than hurt. We shaded each jump
more downstage to take advantage of the extra hang-time. But, familiarity helps breed comfort.
The more he rehearsed on stage, the more comfortable he felt. Near the end, it was close to
"don't change anything". The unknown was scarier than the reality. With even more rehearsal
time on raked dance-floors and raked stages, Adrian says he'll be fine. Let that be a
lesson to anyone else preparing for that experience.
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