Classroom Confidential: TMI and Honorable Mentions
Atsu is here till the 7th then to L.A for a week before heading out to Japan for 1 1/2 yrs. Welcome home!...Denise N. working as the Associate Director of Development for the Honolulu Academy of Arts and is in charge of all their events. Wooo hoo Congrats!!! Sho H is in Spain hurry back...Sophia is shooting a short film called "Alphabet City." She wrote it with a writing partner, they have a really great cast and crew. They are more then half way finished. It's a suspense drama, locations in New York City/keep us posted!...Congratz again Vic de Monde, the new Associate Artistic Director of the John W. Engeman Theater, Long Island's newest year-round Equity theater!...Hey Alec, how did your shows @ Dance Group Studios ..go recently??

Tony @ Circular Power: Tony trains Kat 4 times per week in preparation for this, yet another 'Nutcracker" season. Perfect holiday gift idea for KAT.

Andros on NUTCRACKER and Kat: Mr A a dear friend, teacher and mentor to Kat for over 20++ years now. He has the answers to all those ballet questions you need tutu know.

In love with Nutcracker Check out Kat's interviews:
* Kat Wildish Retires from Fairy-hood but Still Spreads Magic, by Taylor Gordon: November 29, 2007
* CBS news: here
* Dance Magazine, Dec 2002: here.
* Ballerina and Dance Educator, 4-13-07: here.

Weekly Tips: Pointe, Health and Shopping
Health:
1. Is Laughter The Best Medicine? Why, For Some, Laughter Is The Best Medicine...University of Maryland School of Medicine study shows laughter helps blood vessels function better.

Research has shown that laughing can help in: Lowering blood pressure; reducing stress hormones; increasing muscle flexion boosting immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gammainterferon and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies; triggering the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers; producing a general sense of well-being.

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. -- e.e. cummings

2. Tips for Ballet Dancers on the Art of Staying Well

3. Stretch-o-da-Month
Seated side stretch: Stretches the insides and backs of the legs, stimulates the abdominal organs, strengthens the spin, calms the brain, releases groins...AND Half Lord of the fishes pose. This twist energizes the spine and stretches the shoulders, hips, and neck.

Shopping Deals:
Holiday ballet note cards and Nutcracker cookie cutters are now available on ebay if you look for fancydancermcs...Hot and Sparkling for the holidays $5.00 and more....Sephora.com, 20% off (NEVER HAPPENS)
Use code: FF2007...Gucci, 10% off online (NEVER HAPPENS)...Include the latest BROADWAY GIFTS this season.

Performance Corner: Catch Your Fellow Students and More
Taylor Gordon, Performing Nutcracker with Albano Ballet Company December 8th and 9th, 3PM, Welte Theater, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT. Ticket Purchase Information for Welte Theater performances: Please call (860)-232-8898. AND December 15th, 2007 at 7PM and December 16th, 2007 at 2PM, Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, CT. Ticket Purchase Information for Mohegan Sun Arena performances: Visit the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office or call TicketMaster

Frankie DLP, Jimmy Bear Bob, Laura, Erico and Royce are all performing in the Staten Island Ballet Nutcrackers @ College of Staten Island Center for the Arts December 14,15,16 ... box office 718 980-0500

Pam G is performing the Arabian in Connecticut in two weeks, break o' leg!!

Ronnie Nahass (hope you feel better soon): Performing in Peter Pan till Jan 6th in Philly, Pa.

Ali Salas performing four yes!!! four shows a day along with our very own Rockettes at Radio City. Go see them for a once-in-a-lifetime, extraordinary experience that will redefine Spectacular from the moment you enter the doors! Snow will fall, the glow of fireworks will light up the stage, and the Rockettes oh boy...you seen many in class, now see them on the big stage. Kat & Arthur are attending Dec 6th.

Emma S. in Nutcracker R Rated, a full length modern ballet, starts November 29th and tickets sell out quick!! Theater for the New City 155 First Avenue (between 9th and 10th Streets), New York, NY 10003. Telephone: (212) 254-1109

Kat is appearing in her 2nd annual retirement performances. December 21 & 22 with Slawomir Wozniak.

"Dance from the Heart" the yearly one night only dance experience benefiting Dancers Responding to AIDS, Monday, December 10, 7:30pm curtain. Dance visionary Bill T. Jones will host the evening that will feature performances by American Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, MOMIX, Wendy Seyb, Jason Samuels Smith, and members of the cast of Disney's The Lion King on Bway. Buy tickets online or call 212.840.0770 x268.

Alvin Ailey @ City Center thru December 31. Also save your Ailey ticket stub for one free class see details here.

A benefit performance for Dancers Responding to AIDS, December 23, 7:30. Please support DRA.

You are probably aware that due to the strike following the breakdown of negotiations between The League of American Theatres and Producers and the IATSE, Local One stagehands, more than 20 Broadway shows were unable to continue fundraising during the six-week appeal period leading up to The 19th Annual Gypsy of the Year Competition. Last year's Gypsy Competition generated over $3 million for BC/EFA www.broadwaycares.org - more than 20% of our annual budget...you can make a general donation to Broadway Cares for Gypsy of the Year - OR - make a donation on behalf of your favorite show. What Your Support Means Without emergency support from caring people like you, BC/EFA will have to reduce - and in some cases suspend indefinitely - our annual grants to six programs at The Actors Fund including The AIDS INITIATIVE; The Phyllis Newman WOMEN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE; The Al Hirschfeld FREE HEALTH CLINIC and over 400 AIDS and family service providers across the country, often leaving people in our theatrical community, and your local communities, without the food, shelter, healthcare and emergency financial assistance they need to keep going.

So please, take a few minutes to support us online, and share this request for support with the people in your life who love Broadway and BC/EFA.

If you have performance info you wanna share with your fellow classmates, please send it to kat_wildish@yahoo.com.

Kat's Weekly Mailbag
KAT I LOVE AND MISS YOU VERY MUCH...SPRAINGED MY ANKLE BUT I'LL FINALLY AT LEAST DO BARRE.....ALL MY LOVE TO ARTHUR. I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU HAVE MADE YOUR CLASS BOTH FAMILY AND THE BEST CUTTING EDGE BALLET CLASS IN NYC....KUDOS TO YOU GIRL!!!!!! Jamie G.

Hi Kat, this is J. from ballet class. You know I never told you this but awhile ago when I was taking class after not being there for a very long time you noticed me right in the beginning of class and you stopped the class and asked me where I had been and you mentioned that you worry when you don't see you students after some time goes by. And, I just thought you should know that in that moment I was going through hell in my personal life, hell from every possible angle, like when it rains it pours and I couldn't make it to class b/c of so many reasons varying from financial to work to family to just being too depressed to leave the house. You can't know how much it meant to me that not only did you notice that I wasn't there but also that you cared enough to mention it. I needed so badly to hear something good and genuine in that moment. It made such a huge difference to me. I don't know if a lot of people thank you for your dedication and energy. I know I never have before, but I thought that you should know how much of a positive impact you can have on a persons life. I was thinking about you this morning and I just wanted to thank you..... for your attention, your corrections and your influence. All brownie points aside, you are my favorite ballet teacher in NYC. -- J.