Classroom Confidential: TMI and Honorable Mentions
April is birthday month for the following dancers/classmates: Anna S, Kiyo T, Jose D, Joseph C, Scott, Ric B, Mandy E-B, Laura K, Andy T, George V, Gina N-C, Chris K, Eriko K (Coco #1), Sara V-B, Ursula V, Barbara W, Carina S, Akiko N-H-F, Loren C-W, T-man C, Gregory O'C, Lorie K, Cid R, Taylor M, Christine M, Dean Calakos our chiropractor, Dana M-I, Tiffani R, and Mary's baby Aria will be one year this month…

Check out Joshua B in his instructional video...Allie P is in Budapest and is working on a variation from "Who Cares' with a 15 year old Hungarian Boy from the school there. Here is a picture in front of the Opera house…Hadley S says "it's every performers story": footage in a new movie! "Every Little Step" is a documentary about A Chorus Line. Also Hadley S has also gotten a job in "Annie" at the MUNY, singin and dancin in the ensemble!...Jason C's short he co wrote and starred in with Allene Quincy…Mark A Resident Photographer, National Museum of Dance, "highly controversial" latest exhibit "DE-CLASSIFIED the human condition"…Laura B got into the Masters of Dance Education Program at NYU. Congratz!... Carina S & Matt are getting married next month in Florida, woo hoo!...Collin F is in the ensemble of "Brunch: The Musical" thru April 25th, go see it!...Erik N was quoted in the NY Times, and with Anna B (a.k.a Gus) made finals in the Professional Hustle division, their best dance ever. See their pix here…Isabel C is PREGNANT! 5 months now & she is going to be a ballerina! And she will start ballet early so she can lift her leg much higher than mom, and master the fouettes early in life! Haha due date is in August. Congratz Isabel, we wondered what you had been up to!...Bretigne S shares a link to videos "ballerina on a boat" here & here. An old cartoon directed by Russian animation master Lev Atamanov. Also Griffon's having a little sister! Yes Bretigne S is having another baby!...Noah A is the scarecrow in The wizard of Oz at MSG…See Khiara B dance April 11 with 'dance Iquail (see performance corner below)...As soon as Melvin B finishes Ragtime at Kennedy Center he'll be back in class…Thanks Melinda P for providing a copy of NY times pix with classmate Issac C (2nd from left)…Bruno L is currently being featured in the April 2009 edition of American Art Collector Magazine. Also check out his sculpture of Kat here…Ac and Serena S messing about…8 years into it and Todd H finally has his first commercial as a principal! This is the latest Guitar Hero commercial, featuring the band Metallica. The 4 guys tied up to the tree are supposed to be A-Rod, Kobe Bryant, Tony Hawk and Michael Phelps, and he plays Michael Phelps, on the end, closest to the explosion. The first Guitar Hero commercial is here (you'll need to see this first, to make any sense of the Metallica spot). He was Michael's stunt double for that, as well, which amounted to the split-second silhouette at the very end of the commercial (with the other 3 silhouettes/stunt doubles). Movin on up!...Ricardo L does Hip hop. Go see his show!


*Quote of the month: Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain.

*Andros: What's in a word?

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

The Gift of the Stage: Sunday's Student Showcase

There is no greater gift to receive than the experience of being onstage.

When I was little I rarely asked my parents for toys or presents. On every bright star, birthday candle, or penny thrown into a fountain I wished for one thing: another performance opportunity. There's something about giving all of yourself in moments of live theater. Any internal monologue goes mute and thoughts are misty. Music drives the movement. The warmth of the lights, the smile from within, the connection to the audience – bliss!

It's scary to imagine that, especially with today's economy and struggling arts world, such a chance is often reserved for the chosen few professional talents or young children in ballet school. But Kat has found a way around that with her student workshop performance series, which returned last weekend. And boy did she give us a lot!

This was our first student workshop in an actual theater (downstairs at the Ailey Citigroup Theater). In February 2008, our first showcase at Ailey had about 25 audience members in a studio and lasted maybe half an hour. It grew to include other dance groups from around the city in back to back performances. By November we had sold out two packed studio showcases almost weeks ahead of time. "It's time we have a theater!" I complained to Kat at dinner afterwards. Doubtful, she told me maybe it would grow to that in 2-4 years. The next morning I got an email: "You dreams have come true. We got the theater!" Not only that, we sold out two full houses in advance.

As a dancer it was an honor to be a part this one, dancing in excerpts from Fokine's "Les Sylphides" and Bournonville's "Napoli" (my favorite) resulting from 3 months of weekly rehearsals with Kat and her fabulous "good cop" rehearsal assistant, Yuka. Besides us, the program included Les Ballets Grandivas and various small modern and theater dance companies. What is special about these performances, though, is that it's NOT just for professionals! There is an optimistic, healthy, friendly, REAL atmosphere in working with artists who have a life outside the studio – bankers, food scientists, accountants, school teachers, and more. What a rich diversity of dancers to perform with! I've mentioned this before, but it's an inspiration to dance alongside people with a genuine passion for dancing, in class as always, and in performance.

Though my time actually onstage is incomparable, what I enjoyed most about Sunday's shows was assisting behind the scenes. From crafting those silly sylph wings, ordering last minute men's shirts, and organizing the program names of 150+ cast members in advance, to running up and down collecting photo release forms ten minutes into tech, it was chaotic to say the least. But I love juggling and putting out fires before they happen.

I grew up with my family running their own dance studio with annual recitals each spring and was raised for about 15 years as the "assistant in training" to the directors. After watching my family (and now Kat) as role models for wearing many hats and doing so myself, it really came natural to me to step in to help as much as I could with this performance. I'm so very happy that I could contribute beyond what I give onstage, and I'm SO grateful for the opportunity to be part of both ends. Being involved in the production was a gift, from the theater, the audience, my fellow dancers, and from Kat. Thank you all!

(More about the show and some backstage pictures here)

Kat's Monthly Mailbag
*I just wanted to say how much I really enjoy your class. All the right muscles are sore. If I where to take your class everyday, I would get back to my prime dancing days, but better! Except I would probably last until something breaks, hehehe. But seriously, your class is awesome. I know you don't teach at Ailey's on Tuesday, so I was wondering if you taught anywhere else on Tuesday that I may come and take your class? Thank you, M.
*Dear M, Thanks for your kind email, Tuesday is my only day off to restore, revitalize, recharge, rebuild, rejuvenate, regain, replenish, renew and get a massage. I do schedule Private lessons Thursdays and Sundays at the lovely & convenient Circular Power studios at 850 7th Ave. (between 54th and 55th) Suite 305 NYC. You can always contact me at Kat_wildish@yahoo.com to arrange a private coaching session. My best, Kat

*Thank you for the wonderful, comprehensive and insightful newsletter. Omi Tutu, Ona Tutu, Ile Tutu, Egun Tutu, Ori Tutu, Tutu Laroye. May the Water be Cool, May our Paths be Cool, May our Homes be Cool, May our Egun be Cool, May our Heads be Cool, May Esu be Calm and Cool. -Professor Lettie Battle (from the original cast of the Wiz on Broadway.)
*Dearest Professor Battle, I am more than honored that you read our newsletters. Please feel free to submit your inspirational passages for all the dancers to read as often as you would like. My very best wishes, Kat

Monthly Tips: Stretching, Pointe, Health, & More
*Stretch-o-da-Month: April 2009: Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose: Stretches the spine, shoulders, and hamstrings. First, you should elongate your spine and create space in it before twisting; otherwise you exert pressure on the disks and leave yourself open to injury. Remember not to come up directly from the twisted position. To come out, first untwist your torso, and without coming to upright, sweep it to the left midway between the legs. Then inhale and lift to an upright position.

*Fruit of the month: Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

*Health: The demands of a full schedule work, classes, auditions and rehearsals can lead to stress that could sabotage even your best efforts to work and improve. In The Dancer's Way, author Linda H. Hamilton, Ph.D., says that using certain "stress management strategies to counterbalance the pressures, whether internal or external...will help you become a better dancer and a happier person." Here are some stress management techniques she suggests:
Sleep: While ten hours may seem impossible to achieve, it improves memory, mood, stress level, and healing time from injuries. Relax: Set aside one day each week as a 'personal day' to do whatever makes you feel happy and relaxed, as long as it does not involve heavy exercise. Record: Keep a diary to record times when you feel stressed, and in each entry consider whether you are properly hydrated, fed and rested. Excerpts By Gwynedd Vetter-Drusch

And Finally...
Re've'rence:

Anzia K. Arsenault was the Artistic Director of The Tampa Ballet from 1964 to 1984 and founded the Dance Program at the University of Tampa. She was Kat's first real ballet teacher and the inspiration to pursue a dance career. We called her Miss Anzia and her combinations (i.e. March Gigue, Talon, jumping grand battments etc... ) and choreography still appear in our classrooms! She taught me the language of dance and the love of the art. She took me to countless performances of the Orchestra, ballet, and theater. She allowed and showed me the insides of running of a dance studio and a professional company, the tricks of the trade including sewing costumes, scenery, and elaborate make-up. She had a hug to comfort and envelope you in warmth and the encouraging words to move you to be your best at everything you attempted. She sheltered me when I had no home and fed me when I was hungry. She nurtured and cared for me as a precious young artist and I know without her help and attentiveness I could not have made it to here.

At age 82 Anzia passed away Sunday March 8, 2009, one day after her 63rd Wedding Anniversary. Miss Anzia leaves behind her loving husband of 63 years Ralph Arsenault (dear Mr. Ralph) and her son Keith Arsenault, whom I promise to introduce when he visits our studios soon. I've asked Taylor (TY) to please make a website honoring my dear teacher, and I hope you will visit it often and get to know this superb lady and her awesome work. We hope to continue to add pictures, etc...If you have any please send them. There is a huge memorial service planned at the Falk Theatre in Tampa, Fl in May and I hope to attend! At that time a special scholarship fund bearing her name will be announced. Please consider contributing to that fund when it is in place. Your work continues Miss Anzia!!! -Kat