***Experience The Education***
Welcome to your free, MONTHLY, online connection to Ballet Class!
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!
KAT'S Class Updates for the month of January:
Kat's regular teaching schedule is here. Bookmark it so you don't forget. Go here to download a printable Ailey Extension Schedule! In the words of Artistic Director, Judith Jamison, "If you can get yourself in the door, you can take a class!"
The Ailey Studios Location:
at the Joan Weil Center for Dance
405 W. 55th Street (at 9th Avenue)
New York, NY 10019
212-405-9500
ONGOING CLASS UPDATES
Our regular class schedule: check here.
What's New in 2009
*This month we start our New Adult Student Workshop beginning on Wednesday the 7th, three months of rehearsals each Wednesday night for an hour culminating in two Showcase Performances March 29th, 2009 in our state of the art Ailey Citigroup Theater. Don't miss any of these rehearsals so we can set and run the big group pieces, pas & solos. Sign up for workshop and pay in advance. I've asked Yuka Kawazu to be assistant rehearsal director and work with us this round, as Royce is really busy this quarter with his college studies.
*MARCH 29th is our first Student Showcase performances in the theatre, secure your tickets now! Tickets are $12.50 if purchased by 3/15/09, or $15 if purchased after 3/15/09.
4:30pm Performance tickets here. 7:00pm Performance tickets here
Extension Students/Seniors 10% off regular ticket price = $11.25. 4:30pm Performance discounted tickets here. 7:00pm Performance discounted tickets here
*Starting January and every other month, Wednesday & Saturday pointe classes will begin the new format: A 20-30 min pointe technical warm-up and 30-45 mins of variations, learning 2 and 3 ballet variations every other month. Everyone is invited, even if you are not yet en pointe! This month: Les Sylphides (Chopiniana) Variations
*January 19th Monday The Ailey Extension will be closed all day, in reverence to Martin Luther King Jr.
A Word (or more) from Kat
Happy New year dancers! Welcoming you all back from your holiday jobs and travels!
Let's get to work and back in shape.
Classroom Confidential: TMI and Honorable Mentions
January is Birthday month for the following dancers/classmates: 2- Amber P, 4- Regine M, 4- Tyler M, 9- Ashley C, 10 Matthew W, 10- Megan D ; 12- Whit O, 13- Andrew M, 16- Sharon NS (Kat's much older GF!), 21- Sean VdW, 21- Kim C, 23- Cinlou, 25- Barry W, and 28-
Jeanie K. Happy Birthday tutu each of you and have a very special celebration!...Curtis E had a nice review for his role in the "MIRACLE ON MULBERRY STREET" still running downtown thru Jan 10...Gregory O is in the scary film Perkins 14, see the trailer here and check out performance corner for details… Casey LR is doing Wicked in Germany till March then hopefully will go straight into the Broadway production...Evgenia I wishes all the dancers a very happy new year and happy dancing…Bretigne S been completely swamped for the past nine months on a documentary project -- you can see it here, and has another baby in the oven. Congrats!...Marty S is in Vanity Fair, his first print ad is finally out. He's an usher in an empty movie theatre for Samsung…Ashley C birthday girl choreographed for the film Tom and Valkyrie
*Quote of the month: "The river is constantly turning and bending and you never know where it's going to go and where you'll wind up. Following the bend in the river and staying on your own path means that you are on the right track. Don't let anyone deter you from that." -Eartha Kitt
*Andros on Ballet History
Taylor's Tales
A column by our webmaster, Taylor.
Farewell 2008
Another year in dance has whisked away, marked by the wrath of audition season, the joy of summer study, the excitement of premieres, the stress of rehearsals, and the bows of the final Nutcrackers (or Christmas Spectaculars!). 2008 was a great one in the New York dance world. Here are my choices for the top 8 performances of '08. Did you have other favorites?
8. NYCB's Jerome Robbins Tribute (particularly "West Side Story Suite," and "Fancy Free")
7. Rebecca Kelly Ballet's Iraq war-influenced, "Long Time Passing" (and my opportunity to apprentice with them)
6. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's season at The Joyce
5. ABT's classic, "Giselle"
4. Kirov Ballet in Balanchine's "Rubies"
3. Yasuko Yokoshi's "Reframing the Framework DDD" at The Kitchen
2. Cedar Lake's "Glassy Essence" Installation
1. Liza Minnelli in "Liza's at the Palace"
2008 was a big year in my own dance life, as well. My personal top 8 moments of '08:
8. Being involved in growing Kat's student showcases at Ailey (Feb. '08 we had 20 people in the studio audience. This March '09 we'll have 2 packed shows in the theater!)
7. Attending the Dance Critics Association meeting in Washington and participating in a Writing on Dance course with a NY Times critic
6. Teaching and choreographing completely on my own for the first time for NYC public high school students
5. Dancing at a summer intensive at ABT
4. Interning at The New Yorker
3. Finding an affordable, rodent free apartment in Manhattan
2. Being fortunate enough to have landed a paid ballet company contract AND a paid publishing internship, and being even more lucky to pass up both opportunities for still better things.
1. Finishing my Master's Degree in Publishing
And the big bonus that surpasses the whole list: Dancing 110 shows of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular
May 2009 bring health and happiness to you all. Happy New Year!
Monthly Tips: Stretching, Pointe, Health, & More
*Stretch-o-da-Month: January 2009: Sitting Spinal Twist: Anatomical focus on the upper back. Stretches the spine, shoulders, and hips. Consciously sink both sitting bones toward the floor.
Sore Muscles? Try these healthy remedies:
-Take 1000 mg of vitamin C, and/or 100 to 200 mg of bromelain (an enzyme found in pineapples). These natural anti-inflammatories ease soreness without inhibiting healing.
·Give yourself a quick massage by running a golf or tennis ball over sore muscles. The gentle pressure encourages blood flow and stimulates the white blood cells that fight inflammation.
·Take a bath, adding two cups of Epsom salt to the tub. The warm water relaxes muscles, and the magnesium sulfate in the salt helps reduce tenderness.
-DM E-News 12/08
*Pointe Shoe Tip 'o the Month:
Rolling through pointe: "on the way down from releve, the heels must make contact with the floor before you begin to execute plie, it a common mistake" And Finally...
Re've'rence:
*Eartha Mae Kitt. Dubbed the "most exciting woman in the world" by Orson Welles, Kitt's career spanned six decades, from her start as a dancer with the famed Katherine Dunham troupe to cabarets and acting and singing on stage, in movies and on television. R.I.P. to her-r-r-r-r-rrr everlasting dancing soul!
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Casting Call: Hot Auditions and Gigs Here
*Ceder Lake Contemporary Ballet in NYC is auditioning women (1/14/09) and men (1/15/09) in their home studios.
*Houston Ballet Sunday, February 1 - New York New York City Center - Studio 5 130 West 56th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. Women: Class: 9:30- 11:30 AM
Repeftory: 3:00- 4:30 PM. Men: Class: 11:45 AM - 1:45 PM Repeftory: 3:00- 4:30 PM (Please arrive no later than 1/2 hour prior to class time.)
*Ballet Austin Saturday 01.27.07
School of American Ballet
(70 Lincoln Center Plaza)
Age 17 and older.
Class 6:00 - 7:30 pm
*Richmond Ballet's annual audition tour starts January. For more: email company manager Jo Bachman at jbachman@richmondballet.com.
*Ballet Theatre of Ohio is currently holding private auditions. Send resumé, headshot, and video to Ballet Theatre of Ohio, 265 N. Main St. Suite 13, Munroe Falls, Ohio 44262. For more: call 330-688-6065
*Bavarian State Ballet Munich is looking for dancers with strong classical technique. Ladies must be at least 5' 5" and men at least 5' 11". Auditions will be held on January 25. Please send resumé (including height and date of birth), full-length body photo in leotard and head shot to: Bettina Kräutler, Platzl 7, 80331 Munich, Germany or bettina.kraeutler@st-oper.bayern.de. For more: www.staatsballett.de.
*Stuttgart Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada will be holding a joint audition for corps de ballet dancers and apprentices at the State Theatre Opera House in Stuttgart on January 24 at 10 am. Women should be between 5'3" and 5'5". Men must be at least 5'9". Send applications with a CV, portrait, full-length dance photo and DVD (if available) by January 1 to Stuttgart Ballet, Nicole Loesaus, Oberer Schlossgarten 6, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany. Specify which company you are auditioning for. For more, email: dance-audition@staatstheater-stuttgart.de.
*Playbill On-Line's Casting and Job Listings
*Dance NYC audition listings
*Backstage Casting listingsKat's Klassifieds
This is a section of the newsletter we need to add for your classmates offering/needing services. Please note, these are not reccomendations just announcements:
*Circular Power is offering a Recession Special. Come in and pay $65 EACH for your first 2 gyrotonic sessions.
*Dancers Responding to Aids: When AIDS is stopped we will dance for joy. Until then we will dance for Life! Become a dancer responding with action. Make a difference, a donation of as little as one dollar can make a difference in a dancers life. For more info and to make a secure online donation visit here
*FREE NYC PERFORMANCE 'Beyond 2009' Winter Workshop Series. This free series is possible thanks to the support of In The Heights the Musical, Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids, New Dance Group, R.Evolucion Latina and Luis Salgado General Manager of the Free Workshop Series. Offering classes in DANCE, ACTING, SINGING and MAKE UP Weekends of January 11th & 12th through February 1st & 2nd DEADLINE for Sign-Up: Sunday, January 4, 2009 Visit the website for details and schedule here
*For students, teachers and part-time staff in need of low cost, quality health coverage (medical and hospital), a state-licensed insurer is providing unique opportunities to access comprehensive health insurance at cost-saving group rates. Plans are open access (no referrals required) with a network topping 36,000 medical providers in NYC and Westchester, free 24/7 doctor hotline and money-saving discounts like dental and vision benefits. contact Larry Edwards @ 516.287.6875 or email Ledwards@atlantishp.com. Kat just hooked up and begins Jan 09!!
Dancer of the Month: Robert Blankshine
Beloved Robert Blankshine (1945-1987)
"In the '80s and '90s, the dance community was decimated by AIDS. We lost some of our most treasured elders: Alvin Ailey, Robert Joffrey, Rudolf Nureyev, Michael (A Chorus Line) Bennett; some of our most promising youths: Edward Stierle of the Joffrey and Peter Fonseca of American Ballet Theatre, and mid-career artists like Arnie Zane (whose memory is preserved in the name of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company), Louis Falco, Robert Blankshine, Christopher Gillis, John Berndt and Ulysses Dove. During that period, it seems, we were attending as many memorial services as dance performances. We learned the meaning of community..." --
Wendy Perron
*Photos here
*Eulogy for Robert (Bobby) Blankshine by Cecily Bressel - Thank you Ms Bressel, what a perfectly wonderful tribute. As this new year begins, I was reminiscing about the many teachers I have had honor of studying and learning from and Bobby of course came to mind. He had a "not to be missed" class at Melissa Hayden's studio (later became Steps and now ballroom studio), above Darvash on Broadway@ 61st. Oh man, the grand allegros everyday were a performance of Bobby's agility and just a joy to dance! We laughed. Oh what fun his class was. He would tell stories of his illustrious adventures with the Joffrey Ballet and Deutsche Oper Berlin Ballet, dancing on the tables. Often his feats were written up in the papers. His voice had a bit of a raspy twang, I'll never forget. He loved to bring me things to wear, scarfs, wraps etc. I was in Zurich performing R&J when the call came - I stood in the shower numb for 2 hours till the knock on the door: "on stage". When he passed, his friend a gentleman brought me a packet of two pairs of cargo pants, I still have and cherish! He loved his kitties...yes and all animals. What a great teacher. He truly inspired us with his always fresh and unique approach to the day. Ahh... gosh what great times leaping round and round the room and finishing in multiple pirouettes! Oh Bobby, we do miss you still! -Kat
*IMDB
Read all about each month's featured dancer here for all archives. Performance Corner: Catch Your Fellow Students and More
*Join Synthesis Dance Project on Friday, Jan 9th at DNA (Dance New Amsterdam) for a FREE "late-night" preview of 2 of their latest works! Exploring both the dramatic and sensual as well as the whimsical, Tracie Stanfield's exciting choreography is sure to delight! Performance begins at 9:50pm as part of an on-going evening of NY's premier choreographers. Please contact Imani Teague at (646) 309-2459 for further information. See them on You tube here
*New York City Ballet's Tribute to SAB's 75th Anniversary
Wednesday, January 14 at 7:30 PM at the New York State Theater
*See Gregory in the scary movie Perkins' 14 as part of AfterDark/ LionsGate Horrorfest III January 9th-15th AMC Loews Village 7 66 3rd Ave. New York, NY 10003 (212) 982-2116 next week check online http://www.movietickets.com/movie_detail.asp?movie_id=66574&showdate=5&tstate=1">here for tickets (it will also list theaters in Brooklyn and New Jersey)
*If you have performance info you wanna share with your fellow classmates, please send it to kat_wildish@yahoo.com.
Fun Stuff: Take a Break and Enjoy
*CLASS PICTURES: FUN PICTURES MANY HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT. Be sure to scroll down.
*Listen and be amazed as Jared Grimes' feet become his instrument in this jam session with Wynton Marsalis
*Chinese New Year: 2009 is the Year Of The Ox beginning on January 26
*A photo exhibition at the New York State Theater thru June 28, 2009
*Jen D says: see Fragments of movie "Nijinsky 1912", Nijinsky as the faun in "Afternoon of a Faun"
*How much do you know about Marius Petipa? Test your knowledge here
THIS MONTH IN DANCE HISTORY
Read all about January ballet history here.
Read all about each month's ballet history here for all archives.
BALLET TERMS
Glissade precipitee(hurried); Glissade piquee(pricked); Glissade pressee (pressed & hurried). These are all terms describing a very quick glissade, about half the size of an ordinary glissade. It is always followed by a pose' and the two steps together take the same amount of time as an ordinary glissade. Glissade precipitee is usually done devant (in front) or dessus (over) but it may also be taken derriere(behind), dessous (under), en avant (forward) and en arriere (backwards). Remember Glissade is one of our seven movements in dancing!
These excerpts are provided here for you from the "Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet" by G. Grant. A reference book you should have in your library!
| | |
