Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all!
This is the first year in a long time that I have not produced a show this time of year! A very strange feeling for me! I have been keeping busy teaching at North Carolina Dance Theatre and have had the pleasure of working with some students at Spirit Square. Isabel Macgill has visited often, taking class with me and at NCDT. She has been a busy girl working with Hilton Head Dance Theatre in South Carolina as well as keeping up with her school work in Savannah.
This past weekend, Alston Macgill, fellow Winger and longtime student, who is currently studying at SAB paid me a visit with Isabel and her Mom. We had a great class and followed that with a performance of NCDT’s Nutcracker. My daughter Sofia could not wait to get out of class and on to the show!
Lots of fun! Here are a few pix.
Shout out
I wanted to give a shout out to my kids in Savannah who started me back on my right path and who were there from the beginning with me in Savannah.
I have been in Charlotte, NC for about a month now after giving my studio in Savannah up to do a little growing and finding some “more” myself. It has been a little crazy since my living situation is still up in the air, I haven’t unpacked really and haven’t sent my students the letters I intended to as of yet. Anyhow I am here and it has been…interesting. I have been offered to take a “combo” class for advanced adults,you know-a little ballet, a little jazz, a little..haha, many teaching jobs but maybe not the kind of job I am exactly suited for, given my strong ideals. It has also been mentioned to me that I may not teach wherever I want-I should sign a “non-compete clause”. Well I say to those who have presented themselves, that I will not. I mean, I will do what I want and not be controlled as always. I will drive the car, the car will not drive me.
I have spent a nice amount of time at North Carolina Dance Theatre where my daughter is taking class and I got to visit with my student Emmaline Turner. Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Ayisha Macmillan have been so welcoming to me. What a great place, supportive and nurturing of those dancers who need it.
Most of all, it has been a good thing spending time with my own children transitioning in a new place where the ocean isn’t so close by.
It wasn’t an easy decision to move for me, but the decision was made and so it goes. I have never been afraid of change and I think it is going to be a good adventure for me. With that said-adventure I will.
I have a lingering need to thank some very special kids who made me remember who I am and who I will always be. I teach, I don’t teach with any agenda, I just teach those who want it, the ones who were so like me who needed someone else to know that one person got it. I did. I got it you guys. And also, so importantly to Kristin, thank you too:)
Those kids are Bonnie Henneman, Caitlin Dutton, Angela Novelli, Skye Cornwell, and Isabel and Alston Macgill. Without you guys I may have forgotten what I was supposed to do. I have not forgotten and THANK YOU. So this is my shout out to you. I look forward to seeing you change the world as we know it and I will help try to do that too.
Philadelphia YAGP
Why did I go all the way to Philly? This time I only brought one young student, Isabel MacGill. Her family thought it would be nice to attend the Philly YAGP since her sister and fellow Winger, Alston Macgill would be dancing as well. It was nice for me to be able to see Alston and also Linzy Flinn, who have been attending the Rock School since September.
The facilities at Swarthmore College were excellent. Not only did they have dressing rooms, but a rehearsal studio for all of the performers to warm up in. What a treat!
I always tell you that I bring my students to things like this to help them grow and gain experience. Savannah is lacking in opportunities for my students this way. There is no company here and I often feel I need to get them out to “see the world” and other dancers their age who possess the same desire, drive and talent that they do as well as to inspire them to greater heights.
The talent in Philly was enormous. Well beyond anything we have seen in any regional. It was fantastic to watch these young dancers perform.
Little Izzy danced very well but had to come terms with not placing. A very hard thing to do. I can’t explain what the judges may have thought, but I will say that I never place an importance on a score. Sometimes things you perceive as negative can be a very important tool in how you work in the future. She also got a lot of positive feedback and support. I can only say that good things lie ahead for her:)
Linzy also danced well and it was so good to see her! I really miss my girls but I am so happy they are continuing to go after their dreams.
Alston just happened to receive the Grand Prix award in the Junior division! (I am sure she will give you her perspective on things in a post of her own) Alston and I have had many years together so it was very emotional for me. I couldn’t even put into words the feelings that I had watching her perform and seeing her receive recognition for her talent.
As always, I am beyond proud of all my students. What’s next?
MORE.
Alston, Linzy and Isabel
Isabel checking her arabesque
Isabel's contemporary
Alston doing Grand Pas Classique, so pretty!
Statue in the Philly train station
Always working!
I realize I haven’t posted in quite a while and I apologize that my last post inspired a firestorm of comments!
It seems like I have been working non-stop for the past few months and have had little time for much else.
We just got back from YAGP, but it’s back in to the studio today.
This year I didn’t ask any of my students to go, they all asked me. I feel it is a good experience for them and important for them to step outside of their comfort zone. It is one thing to be a big fish in a small pond and another to have the courage to put yourself out there and ask to be judged by some of the most distinguished professionals in the field.
The dancers that went all had their own inner demons to contend with, they rose to the occasion and gave some of the best performances of their lives so far. This in itself is amazing. I admire each one of them for the work they put in and for the personal results that they got.
When asked by Shelley King (regional director of YAGP) if my students were happy, I was honest and told that there was both joy and disappointment. She told me that it was me-or my job back in the studio to continue to guide them to greater heights.
I will definately do my best.
Amazing!
Alston Macgill, 12, 1st Place winner Junior Division at the Columbia, SC Youth America Grand Prix Regional…See you in NY in March:))
The Magic of Clara
Columbia City Ballet has been performing the Nutcracker in Savannah for about the past 18 years. Every year they audition local dance students and give them the opportunity to perform with the company. This year Alston was chosen to play Clara! What an incredible experience for her-the first of many I am sure! She gave a magical performance-just the way Clara should be played. She did some demanding choreography for a 10 year old-pulling off multiple turns and hops on pointe, like a pro. I am not used to not being backstage with her when she performs-so I snuck back there and helped her do her make-up and got her warmed up. She had been there since 10:30am she had come down with laryngitis and her feet hurt!
Getting some notes from William Starrett.
We went onstage for some last minute practice.
Isabel and Florrie were adorable mice and Karilena was a bon bon.
Evan, Linzy and Alston as Angels
Looking very Clara-like
I hated having to go out to watch in the audience! But she was ready as always! It was nice to get to see them all perform from a different view! I was so proud of all of them!
An inspiration to teach
If any of you ever wondered if you wanted to teach………….here is a reason why.
This is Alston Macgill, she is 9 years old. I met her when she was almost 5. I immediately knew she was not like the other children in the class. It’s like she was born to dance. Everything is automatic for her - pure lines, perfect turn-out, you name it she’s got it. When she moves everything is so put together - transitions are seamless. Every time she comes to class I remember why I do this. And believe me she gets me into a lot of trouble too.
Owning a studio is a tricky business, one student like this can send 20 packing. A lot of people cannot understand what makes her so special. Some of them think I torture her and make her dance every day - I in fact frequently force her to take days off, but it is difficult to keep her out of the studio. She takes class with the older girls and is also an extremely intelligent and sweet young girl. She recently won a city-wide essay contest. They had to write an essay on how they would change the world. Alston’s essay was of course about how she will change the world through dance………..I know she will.
