Mariinsky Ballet performs "Giselle" at the Kennedy Center

"Boasting an artistic legacy that spans more than 200 years, St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Ballet returns with the classic evening-length ballet Giselle, choreographed by Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, and Marius Petipa."

Performances are at the Kennedy Center Opera House through February 13th, check it out!

Happy Dancing,

Sophie

Highlight: Spence Ramirez

If you work hard enough, you might be able to dance your way into a company too! Spencer Ramirez, a former student of our own Miss Katie, is now a part of the Mark Morris Dance Group, along with three others from the DC metro area. He was studying at Julliard when he heard of a men's audition in NYC.

The Mark Morris Dance Group makes its annual visit to George Mason University Feb. 4-5. The programs, beginning both nights at 8, consist of the following pieces:

"Petrichor," a new Morris work with an all-female cast, accompanied by Heitor Villa-Lobos's rarely heard String Quartet No. 2;

"Excursions," with music by Samuel Barber;

"Going Away Party," the only piece on the bill performed to recorded music: the sounds of heartbreak by Western swing legend Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys;

"Silhouettes," set to Richard Cumming's piano composition of the same name.

Cinderella!

Hello Dancers!





I have a special treat for you today! I have some special coloring pages from one of my favorite stories: Cinderella! As you've probably heard, both performance companies are doing Cinderella this spring - the Cinderella ballet and Disney's Cinderella Kids! The final performances won't be until May, but I just can't wait!



Just click on the picture to the right, and you'll be taken to a site with wonderful Cinderella coloring pages!

Happy Dancing!

Story Corner: Bijou, Bon Bon and Beau

Hello Dancers! Today, we are going to look at a wonderful story we use in our Classical Child I lesson - Bijou, BonBon and Beau! It is a book by Joan Sweeney which uses Degas-esque paintings for a backdrop. The story follows a mother cat and her three lovely kittens as they find a home in a dance company in Paris. On opening night, the kittens run out onstage and dance with the ballerinas! This picture above is a painting we have in our hallway. Take a good look - those dresses the girls are wearing are exactly like the ones we get to wear in our storydance! And we also get to have cute little kittens as props! It is definitely one of my favorite stories!

*Thanks for the idea for this post, Miss Lee-Ann!

Dance for a Cause

Did you know that you can put your dancing skills to work helping others out? Currently, the University of Iowa's children's hospital is holding a dance marathon to raise money. Over 2400 dancers came out! http://tinyurl.com/5vn7ney

Want to start your own dance marathon? Check out this article: http://www.studentleader.com/trend7.htm. It tells you all about how to set one up and run it! Nothing like a little dancing to get the blood flowing - what a fun way to help those in need!

Happy Dancing!

- Molly

We Are What We Wear

Listen up Dancers! Recital information for the Spring will be coming out soon. I've been looking at all the different performances - Thumbelina, Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty - and I am so excited to see what the costumes will be! We have an amazing production team that makes all of our performance outfits! And that got me thinking... how do costumes affect the way we perform?

This article by journalist and ballerina Julie Diana, talks about performing in contemporary costumes as opposed to classical tutus. Have you ever performed without tights, and how did that feel? What is the difference you feel dancing in a big tutu as opposed to a small one? Though these may be subtle differences, they effect the visual aesthetics of a performance as well as the character the ballerina portrays.

For instance, this costume we sell:

... gives off a very different feeling than a black tutu would. Next time you're in class, think about how the tutus or costumes we put on affect our character and our story!

Happy Dancing!

- Molly

Dance is Everywhere!

Dance is everywhere! Last night, while I was watching TV, I saw this commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXksZAKzJpc

Do you recognize who they are? It is Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor tap dancing! Just ask Miss Katie or Miss Lori all about them! And keep your eyes peeled for dance outside of the studio - you never know what you might find!