Meet Your Teacher- Miss Erin

How well do we know our favorite teachers? Let's find out!

Miss Erin, can we ask you something, please?

When did you first start dancing?
I started dancing at age 5 at a community center; then, the next year I moved to the dance studio I took class from all the way up through high school!

Where are you from?
Eldersburg, Maryland
 

Photo cred: Jen Guy Metcalf

Do you have any pets?
My family has a little cockapoo at home named Sophie!

What's your favorite dance style?
Contemporary Ballet

Have you ever performed?
Yes! I still love performing :)

What's your favorite movie?
Finding Nemo

Photo credit: Jen Guy Metcalf

What's your dream dance role?
Juliet in Romeo and Juliet

Where's your favorite place?
My grandparents' beach house in Ocean Pines, Maryland.  

Photo credit: Jen Guy Metcalf

Meet Your Teacher- Miss Amanda

How well do we know one of our favorite teachers? Let's find out!

Miss Amanda, we have some questions for you!

How long have you been dancing?
Thirteen or fourteen years. I started in middle school and danced all through high school and college, and I still haven't stopped.

Where are you from?
I was born in Richmond, Virginia, but I grew up  mostly in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Buffalo, New York.

How big is your family?
My dad has 3 brothers, and my mom has  2 brothers, so I have a lot of cousins, aunts, and uncles! But my immediate family is small: just my mom, dad, and one sister.

Have you ever performed?
I've performed lots of times. Growing up, I did dance competitions and recitals, and I performed in plays and musicals at school. As a musical theatre and dance student in college, I performed in department and student-run productions. Since graduating, I've also performed in a few shows in the DC area.

What's your favorite place?
It's not where you go, it's the people you're with. I think I can have a great time anywhere in the world!


What's your hidden talent?
 I play piano, guitar, and ukulele; and I sing. I also love to bake in my free time (please feel free to share your favorite recipes with me!).

What is something you'd like to learn?
 I like learning to play new instruments-- I think my next attempt will be the harmonica.

What's your favorite hair accessory?
Absolutely scrunchies.

Miss Jennifer and Miss Kristen: A Teacher's Performance

Think your teachers don't perform? Think again! Most of our favorite teachers are still grand performers!

Last weekend, Miss Jennifer and Miss Kristen performed with The Classical Repertory Dance Theatre, a resident company of Joy of Motion Dance Center in Washington, DC. Even with teaching and work and all of life's scheduling troubles, Miss Jennifer and Miss Kristen worked hard to make it to their rehearsals all year. Think you're tired in class? Just think of the energy it takes to become a performer! And that will be you one day!

Ballet Petite's director attended the performance, and she kindly offered these words:

"One of the loveliest things about Ballet Petite is the community it creates, which shares the joys of performing across all generations of that community. I just went to the concert of all concerts (after our very own recital, of course!) and saw our beautiful teachers Miss Kristen and Miss Jennifer perform at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. They performed pieces with a distinct classical ballet pedigree, with excerpts from Swan Lake and Paquita. There was also a spectacular folk dance and contemporary dance. I thought Miss Kristen and Miss Jennifer were the best of all! You can just imagine their energy level, great technique, and unbelievable stage presence. I was so proud of them; they are so wonderful!"

Have you seen any of your teachers' performances lately? Have you attended a truly inspiring performance in the area and would like to tell us about it? Share your experiences with us! Comment, Tweet, email; we'd love to hear from you!

Stay tuned for more teachers' performances!!