***Experience The Education***
Welcome to your free, MONTHLY, online connection to Ballet Class!
KAT'S Class Updates for the month of August:
The Ailey Extension - Real Classes for Real People. 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.
*Pointe Variations AUGUST '09: Swanilda Variation Act III Coppelia
Sessions:
1.Mon 8/3/2009 - 8/24/2009 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
2. Wed 8/5/2009 - 8/26/2009 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM and
3. Sat 8/8/2009 - 8/29/2009 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM .
SIGN UP HERE NOW
We will have Pointe technique classes in September. Watch for the link up soon.
The Pointe/Variations Course with Kat Wildish serves students at all levels of pointe technique, from beginners in their first time up in the shoes to seasoned professionals maintaining fundamentals. Starting with an intense barre warm-up series to strengthen deep muscles in the legs and feet, the class progresses slowly to center work and variation practice. A different piece of classical repertoire will be taught and coached over the 4-week period. Alignment and correct foot placement in the shoes are emphasized for a solid, healthy approach to pointe work. Kat's signature hands-on teaching style ensures all students receive personal attention to reach their pointe goals
Yes you can participate in soft shoes and learn the variation along with foot exercises to develop a better point. Please remember you must have your pointe shoes prepared properly with ribbons attached, before class. Any classes you have remaining on your Pointe class card can be transferred at the value remaining to this course. Also note: Any pointe classes you may miss during the course can be made up during that same month/course.
**END OF SUMMER 2009 HIGHLIGHTS**
*August 10: It's still not too late to make YOUR dancing dreams come true this year! Our New York Adult Summer Performance Workshop will begin Monday, August 10th. Rehearsals will be the entire month, 3 days per week (M & W 9:15 -10:30PM; Sat 2-4pm) culminating in three performances August 29th @ 7PM, August 30th @ 4 & 7 PM in our state of the art Ailey Citigroup Theater.
*SIGN UP HERE! Rehearsal workshop only $80.
Ladies will be attempting the "Kingdom of the Shades" scene from the classical ballet "La Bayadere," and also a male variation will be set as a group for our Princes. There will be an additional costume fee (keeping it minimal) for the arm drapery, tutus, and gentlemen attire. Other Highlights on our program will be Vic DiMonde dancers, the always popular Bev Brown dancers, M. Stuart Dance Theatre, choreographer Tony Morales & dancers, Ashley Carter & dancers, and so much more. The program is always eclectic and interesting. Come join us!
*Performing in New York FULL Intensive
A 3-week ballet intensive culminating in a professionally produced showcase at the Ailey Citigroup Theater in NYC. Held in midtown Manhattan, the workshop will include 30+ classes with acclaimed ballet teacher Kat Wildish at the Alvin Ailey Extension Program. With just 15 hours of rehearsal time outside of technique class, participants will prepare for a performance of classical repertoire in a real New York theater. Learn, refine, practice, and perform in the month of August! The flexible schedule includes morning and/or night classes, so visitors can enjoy New York in the summer or continue their daily duties. RECESSION SPECIAL: it's the most affordable intensive in the city this year!
*Kat Wildish Summer Performing Workshop - Includes classes, rehearsals and performance participation. Register here.
Purchasing Performance Tickets
**For 4:30 Sunday, August 30 performance ($12.50 by 8/15/09…$15 after 8/15/09): click HERE.
**For 7:00 Sunday, August 30 performance: click HERE.
Note: The Student/Senior price ($11.25 by 8/15/09…$13.50 after 8/15/09), will be sold only in house since they need to see ID before purchasing. Or call Gina Lee, Assistant to the Director of The Ailey Extension, for tickets at 212-405-9018.
*August 12-14: Kat guest teaches & coaches "La Bayadere" three days upstate in Oneonta, NY. Your subs will include your favorite Jeanette Hoffman for morning classes, and the evening classes will be taught by Laura Di Orio.
*September 23, Wednesday will begin our last production of this year and run through November 29. 10 weeks of rehearsal, one night per week 9:15-10:30PM. We will have three performances: 11/28 @ 7pm & 11/29 @ 4 & 7pm (yes, Thanksgiving weekend!) in our state of the art Ailey Citigroup Theater. Please mark your calendars for this wonderful weekend of dance! Check here to sign up!
*We will be CLOSED for classes LABOR DAY Monday September 7, 2009 only! No Classes. Building CLOSED!
A Word (or more) from Kat
Hello All. Most of you know it been a busy summer for all. I'm just back from Chester Art of Dance & had the greatest time with those lovely children at their ballet camp, and invited them to perform with us in November. Newsletter is late (sorry) and a lil sparse. Please forgive me if I missed adding our info - you know I didn't mean tutu.
Now it's time for our performance intensive. Remember to come and support your classmates and dancers from around the city in our performances Aug 29th & 30th. We have special guest Artists on our program…see above for details!
Arthur (my husband) and I will head out for a well needed vacation (no teaching at all) September 3-22 in Turkey. Please understand I do need a vacation to rejuvenate and inspire my teaching. I will try and secure your favorite subs as soon as I can (and share them in next month's newsletter). Please stay hydrated and enjoy! Big hugs, Kat
Classroom Confidential: TMI and Honorable Mentions
August 2009 is Birthday month for the following dancers/classmates: Claudia Bernett -Aug 2, Irini Res (our Power Yoga teacher @ Ailey) -Aug 2, Chris DiBiase (Jimmy bear ) -Aug 3,Jessica Burke -Aug 4, Jermaine Browne -Aug 4, Leda Meredith, Mark Aubel, Elizabeth Dellas (miss you) -Aug 8, Sarah Singer, Curtis Etheridge (teacher's pet), Andrea-Laura Wantz, Marty Cooper -Aug 9, Ben Byrd –Aug 10, Lynze Schiller -Aug 13, Matthew Zimmerman -Aug 13, Joseph Pehrson -Aug 14, Bruce Couillard -Aug 16, Rhapsody James -Aug 16, Sherry Duncan Grinde (Bite Me GF -lol!!) -Aug 18, David Lemberg -Aug 22, Todd Hunter –Aug 25, Jennie Amaral, Jeanine Panzica –Aug 27, Lea McGowan –Aug 29. Happy Birthday tutu each of you and big ballerina hugs! If I missed wishing you a happy birthday this month please let me know!...
...Gus & Erik performing with their students last week, look here…Chrisi C had a pretty good dance summer. She went to Austria and performed with Tanszommer, did Spring Waters with her partner among other rep, but that was her favorite! After fourteen days away, she came home to tech week for CATS...Alicia P is currently dancing for Elisa Monte's Company…Josh Johnson--Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's newest member. Congratz Josh!...Gael S offers this for your viewing pleasure from Stuart Hodes (former dancer & partner of Martha Graham)…Carlos will be teaching a musical theatre intensive workshop at the Kimmel Center in Philly August 3-9th with the Broadway Dreams foundation...Dawn Hillen has planted www.ballerina.com and is determined to make it a resource and community for dance! Go visit!...David L is writing a nutrition book on gluten intolerance and celiac disease - almost 1/2 finished. Wow!...Irini Res has invited you all to her intensive Body and Mind Yoga Retreat @ Ailey. Check it out on the Ailey website...Michelle Dorrance, starring in Off-Broadway's STOMP. You go gurl!
*Quote of the month: "...only he who is willing to give his body for the sake of the world is fit to be entrusted with the world. Only he who can do it with love is worthy of being the steward of the world." -Tao Te Ching
*Andros on Ballet: The Best of the Androisms Love Mr. Andros. He has been a great inspiration, especially to my teaching career, and I will always be grateful for his precious time, guidance, and patience explaining and lovingly directing me to seek always higher levels in myself! Big ballerina hugs for Mr A, Kat
Kat's Monthly Mailbag
*Hi Kat, I am a new student in you 7:30pm Advanced Beginner class and I just wanted to thank you so much for welcoming me back to class. I had previously been in your class a year ago, but I had an outside injury and had to stop dancing for a while. Now that I have recovered, it feels so nice to return to your class. You are the best dance instructor I have ever had. I love how hands on you are with all the students and how attentive you are to each of us. Your classes really motivate and inspire me. Thank you so much! CM. **Awll CM, Thanks for taking time to write such a lovely email. I really appreciate it, Kat.
Monthly Tips: Stretching, Pointe, Health, & More
*Stretch-o-da-Month: August 2009: Seated twist: This twist energizes the spine!
*Pointe Tips of the Month: The secret to strengthening your big toes to avoid injury: click here. One of the biggest things to master is being able to keep the middle joint of the big toe straight when you pointe your toes, and to do this in class. Thanks to Physiotherapist Lisa Howell, Australia
*Health Tips of the Month:
**Boost Your Brain.
Next time you are feeling uninspired, puzzled or stumped, don't bang your head against the wall, get moving. Even a short 20-minute bout of exercise might be enough to unlock your mental block, says Philip Tomporowski, Ph.D. an exercise scientist at the University of Georgia.
It's no surprise that exercise can put pep in your step and a smile on your face. The connection between cardiovascular activity and mood is more than a feeling, it's scientific fact. There is growing evidence that exercise makes you smarter, enhances your ability to solve problems, brainstorm ideas and think fast. "If I had to pick between fitness training and brain training, I'd go with fitness," said Sam Wang, an associate professor of neuroscience and molecular biology at Princeton University. So far, he said, physical exercise has been shown to have an effect several times larger than computer-brain exercises.
The best thing you can do for your brain is to move your body. Thanks to Dennis @ Gold's for collecting this info!
**RECOGNIZING A STROKE: remember the '3' steps, STR. S *Ask the individual to SMILE. T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today). R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. New Sign of a Stroke: Stick out Your Tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.
And Finally...
Re've'rence:
*Society of Russian style ballet teacher Anna Lendrum has passed away recently, age 92. R.I.P (sadly no other info currently available at presstime).
*Merce Cunningham: Centralia-born dancer who became one of the prime movers of the 20th-century art world.
A trailblazing choreographer, he approached life with a fascinating combination of courage and endurance. It made his death last Sunday, at age 90, almost feel premature. R.I.P.
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Casting Call: Hot Auditions and Gigs Here
*the REAL DEAL! AND ONLY SERIOUS MALE DANCERS NEED TO COME OUT. looking for serious, driven, talented and committed MALE dancers with a Hip Hop and Street Jazz background to be a part of the RISING STAR " TALIA COLES" and her DEBUT PROJECT "CLOTHES MINDED" OPEN AUDITIONS ON.
SUNDAY August 2nd FROM 5-7pm Room 507
MONDAY August 3rd FROM 6-8pm Room 606
@ CHELSEA STUDIOS
151 W. 26th ST
New York, NY 10001
(Between 6th &7th Ave.)
*Parsons Dance Company is looking for a female dancer with strong ballet and modern technique. Audition to be held at Alvin Ailey Studios in NYC Wednesday, August 19, 2009, phone 2128699275 or email info@parsonsdance.org, appointment required.
*See the world and dance! Celebrity Cruises is auditioning male and female dancers on 10 a.m. on Sept. 18 at Chelsea Studios. Strong ballet, jazz, and improv required. Job will require aerial work to 25' feet.
*NUTCRACKER 2009 BALLET AUDITIONS. The ONLY full length Nutcracker with a LIVE SYMPHONY on Long Island! Leggz Ltd. Dance, Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 6:00pm- 9pm, 222 Sunrise Highway, Rockville Centre, NY, leggzltd@msn.com
*The Hartfel Ballet in Orange, CA, will audition apprentices and trainees for the 2009-2010 season. More than 15 spots available. For details, email audition@hartfel.org.
*European Ballet is looking for dancers for their Autumn '09 U.K. and Ireland tour. Please send your resume (indicating height and weight) along with a ballet photo (no big files please) to europeanballet@gmail.com. Visit here for more information.
*Playbill On-Line's Casting and Job Listings
*Dance NYC audition listings
*Backstage Casting listings
*Employment opportunities @ Ailey can be found here
*You can also search for dance auditions here
Kat's Klassifieds
This is a section of the newsletter for your classmates offering/needing services. Please note, these are not recommendations just announcements:
*Circular Power is still offering an intro special for new clients.
$65 each for the first 2 intro gyro sessions. Call or e-mail to make an appointment. 917 849 8569. This is where Kat trains/works out, and teaches all her private lessons. Find out more!
*Elisa Monte's Choreographic Workshop being held at Ailey Studios from August 3rd to August 8th.
*Whitney Osentoski is seeking new roommate for September First $1062.00 per month, Gorgeous Two Bedroom on West 117th Street, Full Luxury, Sweeping Views
* Please show your support to Broadway Cares. It is the nation's leading industry-based fund-raising and grant-making organization that supports people living with and effected by AIDS/HIV. They always appreciate your help and so do I, Kat
Dancer of the Month
Nina Ananiashvili was an ice skating champion at the age of 10. She studied dance at the Choreographic School of Georgia before going to Moscow to study at the Moscow Ballet School, from which she graduated in 1981. She won a Gold Medal at Varna at the age of 17. Upon graduation from the Moscow Ballet School, Ananiashvili joined the Bolshoi Ballet. In 2004, Ananiashvili was appointed the Artistic Director of the State Ballet of Georgia. She is the mother of a daughter, Helene Vashadze.
*Swan Lake pas de deux
*Raymonda Act I
*ABT Farewell Curtain Call June 27, 2009
Read all about each month's featured dancer here for all archives.
Performance Corner: Catch Your Fellow Students and More
*Erin Ginn will be performing with Eryc Taylor Dance Company August 28th and ViewPointe Ballet September 13th for Ballet Builder's Choreographers on Point
*See above for details about our adult student showcase August 29th and 30th here at the Ailey Citigroup Theater!
*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
* Ballerina Project: Presale price of $18 extended! Order by Sunday, August 2nd. I want my signed poster!
*Win TWO beautiful skirts by Mirella! Click here to enter
*Win Bunheads pointe shoe gear! Click here to enter
*FYI: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this month, all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS even if the message is saved on your phone, you will be charged for the minutes to listen to it. To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years.
*Dance Retrospective Photos from Vanity Fair
*Rich artistic directors?
*Funny stuff unemployed people like
*Tweeting Dancers
THIS MONTH IN DANCE HISTORY
*Read all about August's ballet history here.
*Read all about each month's ballet history here for all archives.
BALLET TERMS
Ballerino is NOT the term for male dancers! Generally the term Danseur is used to refer to our male dancers, and if he happens to be the leading male dancer, Premier Danseur. If this leading male dancer excels in the classical style we refer to him as Danseur Nobel. Danseuse is the term used for a female dancer. Ballerina (to often used haphazardly) is reserved for only a principal female dancer who dances the chief classical roles. There, you have the scoop! Okay wait...yes I have seen this book called "Ballerino Nate", lol! It's just a children's book. Alright, yes we can call our Nate "ballerino" if he doesn't mind!
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!
TAYLOR'S TALES
A column by our webmaster, Taylor.
Taylor's blog was recently featured on Vanity Fair Magazine's website, and her writing also appears in the latest issue of Dance Teacher Magazine. For ongoing Taylor's Tales, click here.
AND FINALLY...
DID YOU MISS A NEWLETTER?? Check our archives of past newsletters online here. Please be certain to add kat@katwildish.com to safe senders list so you'll see it in the inbox.
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