FRCBA BLOG
The Hectic Holiday Season
Would you believe there were reindeer in class a few weeks ago?! Of course, I suppose it actually makes a lot of sense – what could be better than ballet training to prepare for a graceful and nimble ascent into the skies later this month! As we find ourselves in the final weeks of 2017, FRCBA has many joyful offerings to help you make the most of the end of your year!
Would you believe there were reindeer in class a few weeks ago?! Of course, I suppose it actually makes a lot of sense – what could be better than ballet training to prepare for a graceful and nimble ascent into the skies later this month! As we find ourselves in the final weeks of 2017, FRCBA has many joyful offerings to help you make the most of the end of your year!
Pas de Deux
Partnering has always been one of my favorite parts of dancing. Growing up in Casper, Wyoming, there were very few opportunities for this, except at summer programs out of state, until my University of Utah days… Learning to work with a partner while dancing is a very different skill from what we learn in regular technique classes, and provides an opportunity to stretch ourselves in new ways, while sharing the challenge and joy of movement with our partner. By way of introducing my students to this experience, I am offering Pas de Deux class (ballet partnering – literally “Step of Two”) on the evening of Friday, December 15 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Students should be age 11 through adult and of an intermediate to advanced level. Those who are strong and experienced on pointe are encouraged to wear their pointe shoes for at least part of the class, although pointe shoes are not required. Bringing your own partner (men need not have experience) is great, but not required. Please sign up well in advance if you are interested in this class, as I will try to rent the Contemporary Dance Academy for the occasion if there are enough students. Cost is $20 if registered and paid by Dec. 8; $25 after Dec. 8.
The Nutcracker
To include the Nutcracker as part of your December tradition, come attend the Loveland Dance Academy’s presentation the weekend of Dec. 9 & 10 at Thompson Valley High School. FRCBA dancers will be performing a lively and original rendition of the Spanish variation. Tickets are available at www.showtix4u.com. For me, Nutcracker is the reminder of my days performing the Sugar Plum Pas de Deux. It was one of my very favorite roles which I had the opportunity to perform many times, eventually allowing me to feel totally at home in the role. Of course, with each different partner, it was a new experience, and gave me the chance to explore the role in a novel way.
Performance and Potluck
If Nutcracker isn’t really your thing (and believe me, I understand if you’ve seen your fill of them!), perhaps you’d prefer to attend our performance on Sunday, December 17, at 3:30 pm at the Greyrock Cohousing Common House, 2265 Shooting Star Lane. Part of this performance will be accompanied by live musicians! You will still have the opportunity to see the Spanish variation, although you won’t have to sit through the rest of the Nutcracker. In addition, you will see the premier of Goddess Counsel, and a reprise of The Space Between, a ballet choreographed over 18 years ago by myself and a dear friend of mine. This performance is free and open to the public, and you are invited to stay for our holiday potluck afterwards. (Please bring a dish to share if you plan to stay.) You are also welcome to come to just the holiday potluck, which will probably start around 5 pm!
Scholarship Fund
Holidays, holidays… Whatever holiday you and your family celebrate, if you are searching for a unique and beautiful gift for that ballet lover you know, be sure to check out these gorgeous creations by FRCBA student (and multi-talented Crafting Queen!) Jayme Tilley. She has turned our old well-worn pointe shoes into incredible works of art and is donating all the proceeds to the FRCBA scholarship fund. (If you have old pointe shoes to which you’d like to give new life, please bring them in - donate to the cause and see how they can be restored to glory!) You can see Jayme’s creations at Me Oh My Coffee and Pie in Laporte, and online at: Very Home Made.
Holiday Break
Phew! Once all that is over, I’m pretty sure we’ll all be needing a break. Good thing the studio is closed for most of the holiday! Classes will be as normal through Saturday, Dec. 23. Break will be Sunday, Dec. 24, through Friday, Jan. 5. Regular classes will resume on Saturday, Jan. 6. If there is enough interest, I will hold the following classes on Saturday, Dec. 30: 9-9:45 am Conditioning and Stretching (appropriate for anyone age 10+); 9:45 – 11:30 am Back-to-Basics Technique (appropriate for all dancers of advanced beginning through advanced level technique); 11:30-12:30 Pointe and Variations (on this day anyone at any level of pointe technique is welcome to join us and we will learn the classic Sugar Plum Variation; students new on pointe may take their shoes off after a few exercises and continue the class in their ballet slippers). These classes can be taken as make-up classes by anyone on monthly tuition, hour cards may be used, or students may pay drop-in rates. PLEASE sign up by Dec. 16 if you’d like to attend these classes as I will NOT hold them if there are not enough students interested. I will post a sign-up sheet on the dressing room door.
I hope 2017 has been a wonderful year for you all and I hope that FRCBA has helped to make it so. Wishing you all the best for a joyful holiday season!!
Snow, Winter, and The Nutcracker
In the American ballet world, winter is inextricably associated with Nutcracker. As we experience the first light dustings of the season, I am reminded of a time, decades ago now, when I was performing with the Charleston Ballet Theatre of South Carolina. Not much snow to be had in South Carolina, so dancing the snow scene at the end of Act I Nutcracker always seemed a little out of place… until we were on tour, and us “Flakes” got a little dose of the real stuff. It made us all quite happy and we danced that evening with a bit more zest in our steps!
In the American ballet world, winter is inextricably associated with Nutcracker. As we experience the first light dustings of the season, I am reminded of a time, decades ago now, when I was performing with the Charleston Ballet Theatre of South Carolina. Not much snow to be had in South Carolina, so dancing the snow scene at the end of Act I Nutcracker always seemed a little out of place…until we were on tour, and we “Flakes” got a little dose of the real stuff. It made us all quite happy and we danced that evening with a bit more zest in our steps!
Of course here in Colorado we needn’t worry about not having inspiration for Nutcracker's snow scene…And this year, FRCBA dancers will be performing the Spanish variation with the Loveland Dance Academy Nutcracker on December 9 & 10 at Thompson Valley High School. Be sure to mark your calendars and enjoy this lively rendition as part of your own holiday tradition!
But, Nutcracker is only a small part of what we have in store for you in the near future. On November 18, come participate in a great evening of fun - Mos Eisely’s Carnivále! Taking place at The Downtown Artery, this will be a transgalactic circus evening of Star Wars themes, cabaret, aerial, fire, acrobatics and dance performances, interactive carnivále games for children and adults, raffles, a costume contest, live music, Brazilian-inspired cuisine…And not only does it promise to be a uniquely wonderful evening, but, by purchasing tickets, you will also be supporting beloved local arts organizations – including Front Range Classical Ballet Academy, among others. This event is conceived, organized, and hosted by our own eternally creative Leah Casper through her non-profit organization 6Degrees Collaborative. Tickets can be purchased at the FRCBA studio or online at moseisleycarnivale.brownpapertickets.com. Hope to see you all there!
Also note ahead in your calendars some additional upcoming events:
* Our ever-popular twice yearly Pas de Deux class (ballet partnering) will be offered on the evening of Friday, December 15, at 5:30 pm. Students should be age 11 through adult and of an intermediate to advanced level. Bringing your own partner (men need not have experience) is great, but not required. Please sign up well in advance if you are interested in this class as I will try to rent the Contemporary Dance Academy for the occasion if there are enough students.
* Sunday, December 17, at 3:30 pm, FRCBA dancers will be performing at the Greyrock Cohousing Common House. Part of this performance will be accompanied by live musicians! This performance is open to the public and you are invited to stay for our holiday potluck afterwards!
While every day is an opportunity to give thanks for the many wonderful gifts life brings us, this month, of course, we have a special day to guide us towards that gratefulness. Here at FRCBA, I have to say that I am ever thankful for the incredible people who walk in my door each day as students…with so much to offer in endless ways. How very lucky I feel to know you all and to get to work with you every week. It is a joy! Thank you all! And, please remember that in honor of the holiday, there will be no classes from Wednesday, November 22, through Sunday, November 26.
FRCBA Fall Fun
Like leaves dancing in the air in this beautiful autumn, FRCBA dancers are soaring and pirouetting through the studio, adding color and joy to life!
Like leaves dancing in the air in this beautiful autumn, FRCBA dancers are soaring and pirouetting through the studio, adding color and joy to life!
All of our auditioners will soon begin rehearsals for the Nutcracker Spanish Variation and for Performance Troupe. I am thrilled that we will have 7 dancers performing in Nutcracker and 4 or 5 in Performance Troupe. Be sure to mark your calendars to see our dancers in the Loveland Dance Academy Nutcracker on Dec. 9 & 10 at the Thompson Valley High School. We also anticipate a small-venue performance for all of our Nutcracker and Performance Troupe dancers in mid-December, so stay tuned for further information!
It's always great to gather as a ballet community to get to know each other and to share time as friends. If enough people are interested, we will have a Ballet Pot-Luck Gathering on Saturday, October 21 from 6-8:30 pm during which we will learn a little ballet trivia, play some ballet games, watch ballet videos, eat delicious food, and have FUN together!!! All students ages 8 through adult are welcome! Please sign up in advance by October 14 if you would like to attend and indicate what you’d like to bring. There will be a sign-up sheet on the dressing room door.
Saturday, October 14 from 1:30-3 pm, FRCBA is offering a special class on character dance steps. Classical ballets (e.g. Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, etc.) commonly have character dances and/or incorporate character dance steps in their choreography. These movements, based upon the folk dances of many different nations and ethnic groups (although mostly European and Asian, given the origins and developmental history of ballet...), add diversity and color to the traditional ballet steps (indeed many of these also are based upon folk dance movements!). This class will introduce several of the more commonly used steps (e.g. polka, polonaise, mazurka, side cabrioles, and many more!) and we will put together a fun short folk dance using the steps we learn in this workshop. The class is appropriate for ages 8 through adult of any level. The cost is $15 in advance or $20 on October 14
As often happens at the beginning of a new season of classes, it has been necessary to shift around the class schedule a little. Please note the following changes:
- Ballet I (7-11 years) is now Saturday mornings at 9:30 am
- Ballet II (8-11 years) has been cancelled
- Friday evening Intermediate Ballet Technique and Pointe have been cancelled
- Tuesday evening Intermediate Ballet Technique is now from 6:30-8:00 pm; if there are at least 3 people interested, a Pointe class will be added from 8:00-8:30 pm (Thus far two students are interested, so we only need one more!!)
- Saturday afternoon Pointe and Variations will take place at the regular FRCBA studio from 1-1:45 pm. The Contemporary Dance Academy needs to reclaim their studio space by 12:15 pm on Saturdays now to run their Nutcracker rehearsals for the next couple of months.
To receive these blogs in your email inbox each month, please subscribe on the website!
Welcome to the new FRCBA Blog!
Autumn is upon us! How quickly flew the summer… But there is much to be excited about as we begin the new dance season!
Autumn is upon us! How quickly flew the summer... But there is much to be excited about as we begin the new dance season!
Classes begin again on Tuesday, Sept. 5 with our new schedule. Our Saturday classes are still taking place at the Contemporary Dance Academy at 2531 S. Shields St. in the new studio right next to Tokyo Joe's.
On Saturday Sept. 16 we’ll have our special annual class on Port de Bras (carriage of the arms), Body Positions, and Terminology. The class will take place at the FRCBA studio (2709 Ringneck Drive). All levels are welcome in this class which is appropriate for ages 9+ and advanced beginners through intermediate level dancers are particularly encouraged to attend. Please register in advance with your fee of $15; last-minute registrations on the day of class will cost $20.
All of you who love to perform won’t want to miss our auditions on Sunday, Sept. 17! We’ll start with a meeting for parents and dancers at 1:30 pm and then have an audition class. Auditions will be for Performance Troupe as well as for the Spanish Variation which will be performed with the Loveland Dance Academy Nutcracker. This year Performance Troupe can expect to perform a piece with live cello music as well as a myth turned into an original ballet. Dancers are welcome to audition for both Performance Troupe and Nutcracker. Rehearsals will mostly take place on Saturday afternoons starting in October. The audition fee is $20 and appropriate attire is black leotard, pink or flesh colored tights and ballet slippers (pointe shoes for those who wish to perform on pointe), and long hair secured tightly against the head in a ballet bun.
Those who have been with us for a while know Lauren Proffit and some of you have been fortunate enough to take Beginning Adult Ballet classes from her. Although excited for Lauren and her husband to begin a new chapter of their lives in North Carolina, FRCBA is going to miss Lauren terribly as she has been such a loyal and hard-working member of our dance community. A supreme example of one of the FRCBA students who started with us as a near-beginning level adult who rose to the level of an advanced student within a few years, Lauren has also volunteered her time to various FRCBA projects and as a well-loved and well-respected substitute teacher in the Adult Beginning Ballet. Lauren, we wish you well and we will MISS you! She is with us through the end of September and those of you taking Adult Beginning Ballet will be fortunate enough to enjoy three more of her classes this month.
Huge thanks to Kristina Wood for the absolutely beautiful photography on this site, to Danelle Malget and Lindsay Beck-Johnson for the adorable photographs on the Petite Ballerinas page, to Mandy Reynolds for designing and creating this amazing website, and to Mary Chen for her indispensable assistance! Thanks to the help from very talented and generous volunteers, FRCBA is moving up in the world! Stay tuned for further exciting developments!
