Archive for teacher
August 14, 2008 at 4:49 pm · Filed under ballet, dance, studio, schools, savannah, students, VERONICA, the STUDIO, teacher, dance companies, american ballet theatre, summer intensive, dance classes
Many of my students go off to summer programs. This year I had kids at Chautauqua, the Rock School, ABT and Virginia School of the Arts.
I wanted to share some of their experiences with you all.
Alston, 10, went to Chautuaqua and the Rock School.
Here she is at Chautauqua with Patricia Mcbride:
Here’s some from her own post on TIM
“Amy Price was another one of our teachers. She choreographed our classical piece and our contemporary piece for the show at the end of the intensive. She was fun to have class with, but she still expected alot out of us.
This is a picture of Ms. Amy correcting me in pointe class.”
And here is Linzy and friend, also at Chautauqua. They both felt that is was a very special place to be.
Alston with Bo and Stephanie Spassoff at the Rock’s coaching intensive
Angela spent her second summer at Virginia School of the Arts.
I’m really proud of them they are all such special dancers and people. I have a few more to share with you in my next post.
Recent Posts by veronica moretti niebuhr
September 15, 2007 at 7:57 pm · Filed under dance, theatre, matt murphy, teacher, broadway, MATTHEW, matthew murphy, broadway dance center
A fire has been lit inside Judy Rice, and I can warn you that it’s only getting started. When I sat down for lunch with Ms. Rice the other day, I saw a woman who was transformed. You see, Rice was one of my very first ballet teachers, so I’ve known her for quite some time. She used to come to Montana every summer when I was just a young boy who could barely plie and thought that a battement was a creature that lived in the mountains by my house. It goes without saying that Judy played a key role in my passion and development with ballet from the start.
In a strange turn of events, my best friend ended up at the University of Michigan where Judy has held a post on the dance faculty for the past 17 years. Suddenly I had more reason than ever to journey to Ann Arbor and even though my nights were spent with friends, my days were spent under the watchful eye of this incredible teacher. Now in an even more exciting turn of events, Judy Rice has arrived in New York City to take a job on the faculty at Broadway Dance Center.
Words cannot even begin to express what an exciting event this is for the dance and theater community. Rice has a passion that is unrivaled in her teaching and an eye like a hawk. She claims she’s been likened to Jaws, that famous shark who creeps around in the water to attack one minute and go under the next. Yet nothing about Rice’s teaching habits ever seem ferocious. From the moment you meet her, you can tell she cares personally for every student in class. Some teachers struggle giving individual attention without neglecting the rest of class but Rice excels in giving each and every dancer personal attention that seems like private coaching. Her years of teaching experience across the US, highly successful video and CD series “Behind Barres,” and training in National Ballet of Canada followed by a career with Joffrey are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to her immense talent.
Part of what sets Rice’s class apart, from my viewpoint, is the incredible mix of students that it encompasses. Not only will you find Broadway professionals (she’s responsible for training Tony Nominee Gavin Creel, among MANY other hotshots) but you will find professional dancers and others who haven’t danced in years. One thing that her class never lacks is a sense of invigorating energy and fun. Armed with a witty sense of humor and her ever watchful eyes, she has everyone laughing yet never doing anything but their hardest work. This is such an incredible attribute and part of what has always drawn me to Judy. Some teachers intimidate dancers to the point of submission but Judy only provokes a work ethic that you may not even know exists before you set foot into her room.
I, for one, couldn’t be happier that she is here. One thing that can be especially difficult with dancing professionally is the difference in personal attention from that which you receive during school. Just because you have a contract under your belt doesn’t mean that suddenly the work stops. In fact, personal attention should only multiply but due to the insane schedules of company life, it is nearly impossible to replicate that schooling you were once accustomed to. Every dancer has a certain teacher who they gravitate to and finding someone you feel comfortable with is a deeply personal and sometimes difficult task full of hits and misses. However, I feel 100% confident recommending that everyone go and try Judy Rice’s class at Broadway Dance Center. As soon as I’m healthy I will be there in a heartbeat. Rice’s class has a way of changing you, as my friends will attest to. After I returned home from my first Michigan trip in 2005, they all noticed that I had a newfound excitement for dancing. Perhaps I was mistaken when I said a fire had been lit within her, because Judy is simply on fire and she’s busy lighting the fire within everyone else. The city obviously agrees with her and I can’t wait to see what the next year holds in store.
Judy Teaches M/W/F @ 10:30am and T/Thu @ 9am.
Check out Broadway Dance Center for more info.
Recent Posts by matthew
August 21, 2007 at 4:31 am · Filed under ballet, dance, teaching, history, abt, teacher, ballerina, style, steps, baryshinkov, TAYLOR
Posted by Taylor Gordon
(I’m a little late with this post seeing as Gelsey’s guest teaching finished last week, but forgive me…things have been crazy.)
One of the best (and sometimes worst) things about the ballet world is that it is so small. Especially in American ballet history, it’s easy to trace a lineage of teachers and see where we fall in the “family tree” of ballet education. With so few professional dancers and even fewer notable teachers, ballet is one of the few art forms where we can truly learn from the legends in a personal classroom setting.
I’m writing about this because recently Gelsey Kirkland spent 3 weeks teaching open classes at Steps on Broadway. Regarded as one of ABT’s finest dancers while under the direction of Mikhail Baryshnikov, she has been out of the limelight until recently. This past spring she helped to restage The Sleeping Beauty for ABT and also performed the role of Carabosse in the production.
And from July 30-August 17 she taught Professional Advanced level open ballet as a substitute for her mentor, David Howard.
First of all, it is ironic that she was teaching in the place of her former teacher, a legend in his own right. But besides that I think it’s wonderful that she, and many other brilliant dancers and coaches, dedicate their post-performing careers to passing on the traditions of ballet. It’s nice that there are well-trained dance educators in regional areas to provide solid training to aspiring dancers, but there is something truly special about learning from ballet “stars,” if you will.
What struck me most in Gelsey’s class was her unbelievable, purely classical porte de bras. Every combination she demonstrated was mesmerizing because of her upper body. She spoke a lot about the focal points a dancer should use, referring to the level of the eyes going up to the balcony, straight ahead, or into the orchestra pit, and emphasized their use even during barre exercises.
Though she taught in a more strictly classical style than I am used to, she wasn’t overly pushing for the class to maintain her specifications. Her hard-to-work-with reputation preceded her, but she was nice and a very effective teacher! I found myself deliberately trying to recreate the shapes she made with her upper body, no matter how unnatural they felt to me. I guess it’s something you learn by osmosis after a while: there are some things in ballet that just can’t be taught, but hopefully after observing that “special something” for a while it will rub off and in sink in to your own technique.
I was only able to take her open class twice, but I’ve found this to be true with other “legends” with whom I’ve worked. Cynthia Gregory, another ABT prima ballerina, was beautiful in her porte de bras as well when she set the 2nd Act of her Swan Lake on us at Ballet Academy East. Nikolaj Hubbe set a section of Bournonville’s Napoli on us as well, and from him I took away a strong sense of character in the Danish style. Both of them worked with us over a year ago, but it is their unique outstanding characteristics that keep the lessons I learned from each clear in my mind. Another, more recent experience was with Christopher D’Amboise, who gave me a new understanding of how to interpret movement and “make it your own.”
What is significant about Gelsey as compared to these others is that she taught open class, meaning that basically anybody could take it (though it was advanced level). That means that even those who are no longer in a pre-professional school with guest and master teachers could still have such an important experience. I think it’s so great that so many people could benefit from her wisdom in her class over the 3 weeks, and I hope she and other respected “stars” continue to offer the wider ballet community that opportunity!
Recent Posts by taylor gordon
June 15, 2007 at 3:49 am · Filed under dance, video, teaching, savannah, miami, students, VERONICA, the STUDIO, teacher, youtube, american ballet competition, keiran, caitlin, firebird
Posted by Veronica Moretti Niebuhr
Things have been crazy crazy at the studio. We just finished our spring performance where I dared to tackle the Firebird. They certainly exceeded my expectations and the audience was quite impressed with them. The girls have improved so much, but it is always a challenge to do something which requires a sort of mature expression of the movements. Getting the translation or feeling to kids from 6-17 years old is a major feat.
Here’s a short youtube of the girls in Firebird rehearsal.
ps.
the Firebird made me an insomniac-the music just haunted me. It was good. I was very happy with it. Even though it completely tortured me!
The opening of our show features the classical variations section. Except we faked out the audience and when the curtain opened that song from pulp fiction plays and the girls just hot dog it. Fouette turns, zig zag
they got the audience pumped for all that ballet!!! It was so fun.
Angela/Kashei/Kitri
This is Ansley. My newest (well I’ve taught since she was 5) rising star.
Caitlin came home and I threw her in the show, she choreographed her own piece to a Radiohead song, which was beautiful and so unique. Following the show, I took Angela and Caitlin to the American Ballet Competition, which is a valuable learning experience. There was some very deep talent there. They decided not to rehearse so much………..It was still a good experience and I think both girls needed to find themselves again like we always need to. I am so proud of them.
Why do we dance?????? I read today in the times the Diana Vishneva article and it touched me so much. There is no perfect body. there is a will, a desire to share, something more…..
View from the hotel in Miami, Florida for the American Ballet Competition.
Kieran came along to support Angela and Caitlin in Miami. So, Caitlin sat on her.
Caitlin and Angela before they compete..
We warm up to Life is Beautiful (on repeat so the sound guy doesn’t lose his mind) at the theatre
A tough moment for Caitlin before she competed at the American Ballet competition.
While in Miami, we did venture out and there was this balloon guy………….My son Enzo likes Spongebob and I kind of wanted a balloon!
Angela poses by this crazy tree in Miami and it reminds us of ABT’s Swan Lake….
Well as you know, it can be pretty expensive to do those summer programs. Caitlin and Angela went to the American Ballet competion at the prompting of their so supportive Mom’s, who by the way, are two of the most beautiful people I know, with the hopes of receiving a summer program scholarship. But the girls were not up to this.
Caitlin, who is struggling with growing up and keeping her inspiration did not need this at all. And Angela, who has improved about 2 years worth in 6 months didn’t really need her confidence shaken. I tried to explain to them that it was that they needed to believe in themselves. That there is no reason to do this if you don’t think you are good yourself.
How do you explain that they are facing more rejection than acceptance in their future? But that it is worth it to keep pursuing it? I never thought twice about my own abilities, but I don’t know why I didn’t. Teaching sometimes takes you here. They don’t believe it, but I do!
They didn’t make the finals in Miami-but they could have. And I believe it. I wish they could .
Ms. v
Recent Posts by veronica moretti niebuhr
April 3, 2007 at 11:40 pm · Filed under SLOAN, studio, new york, students, teacher, for sale, dance studio
Posted by Sloan
Yesterday I received an email from a dancer/choreographer/dance teacher/studio owner (Tina) in New York State who will be selling her space to move on to a third career (wow!). There are multiple studios housed in a former synagogue in Endicott, NY. It looks like a beautiful space and a wonderful place to learn, with plenty of students, both past and present.
I’d imagine it would be a very difficult place to give up, but also a fantastic opportunity for the right person, which is why I felt it was important to get the word out on the winger…
getting it out to people who will understand her love and connection with the space!
Below is a note from Tina, and if you follow the link afterward, you can see more photos of the space and more detailed information about it…
“My happiest memories as a child were spent in a studio trying to look graceful and gain the attention and praise of my teachers.
As long as I can remember I wanted to dance. That dream is still a burning desire for many young dancers today.
To keep that flame burning, dance needs dedicated dancers to perpetuate the circle.
I have done that and it has been a most rewarding second career. Passing on what I knew and loved created professional dancers, benefactors and full houses of theater-goers who might otherwise be couch potatoes.
As I have come to a crossroads and the beginning of my third career, I would like to pass on what a have created to the next generation.
I realize that when you look on a map and see where the school is located your first reaction might be negative. Take a deep breath.
For professional couples looking to start a family, it’s suburbia complete with safe streets, good schools, lots of antiques, plenty of opportunities…
An opera, a symphony, and just 3 hours from NYC, Philadelphia or the Adirondacks. Ask around, not all of your colleagues grew up in a city.
Remember how proud your teacher was when you made it….that could be you.
Thanks, Kristin
from another romantic thinking dancer,
Tina”
Read the rest of this entry »
Recent Posts by kristin sloan
April 1, 2007 at 3:27 pm · Filed under choreographers, students, abt, VERONICA, teacher, stretching, flamenco, nyc dance alliance, danny tidwell, savannah music festival
Posted by Veronica Moretti Niebuhr
HI!
I know it’s been a while, but things have been a little hectic. We are hard at work at the STUDIO. We were asked by the city to dance at Savannah Mall for the National Day of Dance for Cardiovascular Health. This was certainly not what we are used to!! We danced in the center court of the mall in a 16×16 ceramic tiled space with 14 dancers. the girls were pros and we definitely made an impression. We did a contemporary ballet to a heavy metal version of Beethoven.
In mid March we went to Atlanta for a New York City Dance Alliance convention at the Georgia World Congress Center. It was nice to see that Joe Lanteri hasn’t changed a bit. My girls were not in their element here! There were upwards of 200 dancers in the classes and it was, well “competitive”. Lots of booty shorts and what we call “the vowels” (facial expressions that look like you are saying them.)
The classes were a lot of fun. Very contemporary.
They even got to take hip hop with Travis and Ivan of ‘so you think you can dance‘ fame. (So did I!) They had ballet with Danny Tidwell, Jazz with Joe and a Contemporary class with Lauren Adams. The teachers were very talented, and there were some incredible young dancers as well. I have a video of Lauren Adams who is doing work with Baryshnikov and 17 year old Dusty Buttons, who is with ABT’s Studio company. They are very versatile dancers. The interesting choreography they performed shows how much you can do with all that technique! All in all it was a very fun weekend. My student Kieran Rose was awarded their Ballet Scholarship and another student, Skye Cornwell was awarded a Triple Threat award for their work in class.
We had the pleasure of hosting a flamenco workshop with Noche Flamenca, a Flamenco Company from Madrid, last week. They were part of the Savannah Music Festival. For some reason they had to change the time of their class-but they did not actually tell anyone. There was a group of people from Jacksonville who arrived only to find out they would only have about 30 minutes of class. It was a mess. Of course when they began-there were no students, soooooooo I enlisted the help of the Moms of my 4 year olds who were there. They were awesome! Unfortunately, Noche Flamenca would not allow photographs.
So now we are back to work at the STUDIO…..STRETCHING. My girls almost never stretch on their own so I’ve developed a portion of class time devoted to making them stretch. In addition we do crunches and arm strengthening. We have also begun work on our Spring Show that is at the Lucas Theatre on June 3rd.
I am experiencing a little burn-out, but I know I will get inspired again. I have been teaching so much that I have really aggravated my hip. My students don’t seem to notice that I can hardly walk! I have a hard time teaching when I don’t feel that I can “show” what I want from them. It is incredibly frustrating. And, I am a dancer-I need to feel it to do it. Hopefully all of this will bring something fresh to my choreography, I’ll keep you posted.
Recent Posts by kristin sloan
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