Classroom Confidential: TMI and Honorable Mentions
December 2009 is Birthday month for the following dancers/classmates: Stacie Webster 1st; Amy Lee 1st; Colin Bradbury 1st; Taylor Marie Hicks 2nd; Tina Campbell 3rd; Roy Alexander 3rd; Akemi Nakano 3rd; Mary Zadeits 4th; Robin Dunn 4th; Atsu Shinomiya 4th; Hillary Reiter 5th; Germaine Goodson 6th; Kelly Lynn Cosme 6th; Iquail Shaheed 6th; Michele Weinert Winslow 7th; Frank Hatchett 7th; Cristina Pacheco 10th; Spencer Coopchik 11th; Camille A. Brown 11th; Mike Young 12th; Evelyn Peavy 12th; Julia Leonhardt 13th; Yuka Kawazu 15th; Kirsten Brant Casey 15th; Heidi Sutherland 16th; Glen Miller 16th; Denise Nakano 17th; Vanessa Martinez de Baños 17th; Jeffrey Rieber 18th; Jojo Romanoff 18th; Rebecca Leigh Silverman 18th; Tomi Cousins 19th; Jessica Redish 19th; Ottavio Taddei 19th; Rui A Numa 20th; Chizuru Asakura 22nd; Harvey Siegel (our Halloween judge) 22nd; PEWTER 25th; Arzu Uysal Tuncay (Kat's Tour guide in Turkey) 28th; VLADAMIR MIASNIKOV 29TH; Nate Lombardi 30th; Debbie White 30th; Nina Marmulla 30th. Happy Birthday tutu each of you this month. May your day be filled with special celebrations, special people, and the joy of dancing.

Spain And Ireland Celebrate Dancing On New Stamps. The Spanish Post Office announces the issue of a series of 12 postage stamps on the most representative dances of Spain, as well as the publication of a luxury album with 200 archival photographs on the subject. This is the first such collaboration of this kind between the two countries…Did you know that Vic DiMonda's Theatre Dance class is at 7:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays @ Ailey? So if you miss my class maybe check out his the next day! You know cross training is THE quickest way to improve your dancing!...Back in front of the camera, Tracey Paleo, actress turned producer, just finished up with the short film, "Suburban Superhero"… Download and print the Kermit Love "Sesame Street" history quiz here… Casey Lee Ross started rehearsals this week for a pretty big film called "The Other Guys" starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. (He's going to be Mark's dance double and get to do lots of ballet turns and tricks). Excited and happy to be working. Congratz Casey!...Richard Chang just came back from performing in the Shanghai International Puppet Festival & Competition, providing all 12 voices for our shadow puppet show. Here is a clip of Richard in "New York, I Love You," in theaters now!

*Quote of the month: "Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith." -Margaret Shepherd

*Andros on Ballet: Early Ballet. Mr A is a dear friend, teacher and mentor to Kat for over 25+?+ years now. He has the answers to all those ballet questions you need tutu know. His perspective is unique and cherished deeply. Recently Mr. A was diagnosed with Leukemia, and wants you to know he appreciates all the visits, emails, and good wishes he is receiving from our dance community. Remember each class begins with the Mr. A flex foot combo...and all those fast lil petite allegros that tick you off come from years of Mr. A inspirations! We love you Mr. A!!!

Taylor's Tales
A column by our webmaster, Taylor.

Curtain Call
I'm in the midst of an extremely busy season dancing in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Somehow this year, my 2nd with the show, seems more wonderful and yet more chaotic (even though last year I was finishing grad school at the same time…how on earth did I do that?) We've already done about 35 shows and have maybe 70 more to go – but there's one moment in every performance I relish, no matter how exhausted or jaded I am: our curtain call. This is from a blog entry after my very first 6,000 person audience last year…

"And as the curtain rose all of a sudden it was like we were at a rock concert or a baseball game: cameras started flashing nonstop! What a sight!
At the end, everyone stood up and clapped wildly. It was this incredible moment of satisfaction and excitement and energy and gratitude and joy and teamwork. You give so much while dancing. Those instants of actual performance are sublime. Your mind goes blank and your body takes over and it's pure movement and music radiating from inside. 


But that moment immediately when it's over…Maybe it's the adrenaline or the shakiness of muscle fatigue or the sake of being so very in the moment. But there is no feeling like that. I want to close my eyes and stop time, savoring those seconds of incredible happiness. I haven't felt that in so long. Nothing else but performance can do that, to me anyway.
The clatter of applause drowns out all noise and time freezes with a smile, and then the warmth of joy melts you back to reality. Fulfillment and emptiness coexist. You have everything and yet gave it all. All too soon that moment is gone, forever. Ephemeral. Until tomorrow night!"

I can't express how thankful I am to be living this opportunity again this season. Happy Holidays to all from the greatest Christmas show ever!

Kat's Monthly Mailbag
*Dear Kat, Thank you, thank you for once again providing us with the Performance Workshop - this amazing opportunity to experience the world of performance. There is always so much to learn and think about - packing what seems like a life into one's dance bag for the day; figuring our how to look down to find the seam in the floor or the little cross of tape where one has to stand...without actually looking down; keeping physical and mental energy calm and strong when needed, managing nerves, nerves, and more nerves, plus blinding lights, pitch-black wings, invisible scrims, drafts, sudden foot cramps, makeup spills, and - oh yes - remembering the steps - and - oh right - remembering to show the audience (as you say) how much we LOVE this! Well, we do. And it wouldn't have happened without you. Thank you for all you do - the things you know you do, and all the things you don't know you've done - for us. XO, T.S.

*Kat, Just wanted to say that when I take class with you I feel like I am training for something in the arts. When I take classes with other people I feel like this is more a fun solution to the gym. Now obviously I know ABT won't be knocking on my door but regardless it is still a good feeling to actually feel I'm learning. SO THANK YOU. love y. Dear YL, glad you enjoy class, hurry back soon, K

Monthly Tips: Stretching, Pointe, Health, & More
*Stretch-o-da-Month: December 2009: Head-to-Knee Forward Bend - Janu Sirsasana A & B (JAH-new shear-SHAHS-anna) janu = knee, sirsa = head: Stretches the spine, shoulders, hamstrings, and groins. The bent-knee leg is angled out to the side at somewhat less than 90 degrees.

*Health Tips of the Month:
*Skipping breakfast: How many times do you find yourself dashing out the door to start your day, only to discover that you forgot to eat? Listen, your body has just "fasted" overnight, and in order to fuel yourself for the day (and lower stress hormones), you must eat a balanced meal that includes proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Otherwise, your body will turn on itself for fuel, and it isn't fat but muscle that it's going to target...which will cascade into a very nasty sequence of health consequences that will make you fat, old, and tired before your time. -JJ Virgin, PhD, CNS is a celebrity health and nutrition expert, author, public speaker and media personality.

*Pamper Your Tootsies: Your feet work hard for you every day-don't you think it's time you return the favor? Bunheads' My Feet Kit (BH575, $21) has the perfect foot pampering essentials to help you show old lefty and right-y some TLC. The kit includes a nail file and nail clippers, foot mist and foot balm, a foot file, and an instruction card. What's more, it all comes in a compact, lightweight carrying case perfectly sized to fit in your dance bag so you can indulge

*Dance Cooking (lol!): Learn what some of the sweets represented in Act II of Nutcracker are made of, such as marzipan and sugar plums. Try making them! A sample recipe for sugar plums: (from Saveur magazine) Makes 75
Sugar plums tend to absorb the powdered sugar, so redust just before eating, if you like.
*Ingredients: 2 cups whole almonds
¼ cup honey
2 tsp. grated orange zest
1½ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground allspice
½ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup finely chopped dried apricots
1 cup finely chopped pitted dates
1 cup confectioners' sugar
*Preheat oven to 400°. Arrange almonds on a baking sheet in a single layer and toast in oven for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool, then finely chop.
*Meanwhile, combine honey, orange zest, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg in a medium mixing bowl. Add almonds, apricots, and dates and mix well.
*Pinch off rounded teaspoon-size pieces of the mixture and roll into balls. (Rinse your hands often, as mixture is very sticky.) Roll balls in sugar, then refrigerate in single layers between sheets of waxed paper in airtight containers for up to 1 month. Their flavor improves after ripening for several days. If they turn out delicious bring some to your teacher!

*Project Air: If you know anyone who doubts the power of yoga, show them this video from CNN An organization uses yoga to help rape survivors in Rwanda heal & grow stronger! Join Kat, Taylor and many of your classmates in Sunday 5PM Ashtanga Yoga classes at Ailey Extension with Irini Res.

And Finally...
Re've'rence:

*George Zoritch, Star of Ballets Russe an international star in the rival Ballet Russe companies who stood out for his matinee-idol looks and bold stage presence and who later became one of American ballet's respected teachers. Zoritch readily recognized that he was not a bravura technician. He felt that artistry was more important than technique for dancers like him. R.I.P. it was my great honor to study with you breifly, K
*Elisabeth Söderström, a much beloved Swedish opera singer many sopranos are admired. RIP