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contents
The School of Alberta Ballet
THE OFFICIAL TRAINING CENTRE OF ALBERTA BALLET
Dance \ premier issue \ fall 2013
4
6
ACADEMIC & RESIDENCE OPTIONS
RECREATIONAL DANCE CLASSES FOR AGES 3 - ADULT
PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES WITH ALBERTA BALLET
schoolofalbertaballet.com
A L B E R TA B A L L E T ’ S 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4 S E A S O N
AILEY II
SLEEPING BEAUTY
GISELLE
Stage Lighting • Sales • Rentals • Service
There’s no question that dance demands
a great deal of althletic ability, but what
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Celebrating over
ct?
sition attra
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th
Does oppo
al
be he
petition can
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING DIVISION
M A D A M E B U T T E R F LY
Art or athleticism?
THE NUTCRACKER
JONI MITCHELL
8
Career moves
Ballerina, stage performer, choreographer and So
You Think You Can Dance TV star on — former
Edmontonian Stacey Tookey has done it all.
9
13
com
t
A little bit of
d child spor
teachers an
to
g
in
rd
acco
s.
psychologist
So you thin
k you can d
ance
Agent Melis
sa Panton,
a principal
Managemen
of da Costa
t, says a ca
Talent
reer in dan
being able
cing also m
to sing and
eans
act.
Sculptor of the stage
As the artistic director of the Alberta Ballet, Jean
Grand-Maître’s medium is the dancers who provide the
fabric and material for his extraordinary stage work.
30 years
in the lighting and entertainment industry!
Production Lighting has been providing lighting
rentals and sales to the Alberta entertainment
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Dance is a special publication of the Calgary Herald
A L B E R TA B A L L E T. C O M | B O X O F F I C E : 4 0 3 . 2 4 5 . 4 5 4 9
in partnership with Showtime Dance Promotions
Co-ordinator: Jennifer Worley, 403-235-7119
[email protected]
Advertising inquiries: Margo Moore, 403-7382
On the cover
Evolutions School of Dance students Paige Nelson,
10 (hip hop) and Katelyn Kellner, 13 (ballet)
Photo by Adrian Shellard.
4630 11th Street NE Calgary, AB T2E 2W7
Ph: (403) 250-1185 • Fax: (403) 250-1190
[email protected]
www.productionlighting.ca
W
hen it comes to the arts, nothing
is black and white. In fact, many
might say it’s all grey.
However, this is what’s so appealing
about the arts — there’s no right or wrong.
That’s why, when we asked opinions
about the profession of dance, we weren’t
surprised to gather a variety of opinions
from Calgarians when posed this very
question: Is dance art or sport? As with
most cases of the arts, there is no one answer.
The physicality of dance
One needs only to glance at a dancer’s
body to realize the physical commitment
required their craft. Postures are perfect,
muscles are sculpted, bodies are lean and
strong. And for most, this body isn’t just
inherited — it’s earned.
To be accomplished, dancers must dedicate many hours to train, develop their skill
and hone their abilities. The most talented
dancers make dancing look easy. However,
these people have dedicated painstaking
hours to ensure their technique is perfect,
and that requires immense physical and
mental dedication.
“Dance has evolved over last few decades to be more athletic in nature,” says
Nuala McCreanor, a physiotherapist at
Calgary Youth Physiotherapy. “The athletic
requirements are similar to gymnastics.
Just look at the amount of training dancer
do. It’s about 10 to 12 hours of classes
a week for most competitive high level
“If your child is serious about dancing
and savours competition, he or she will
probably thrive in a studio where the
competitive aspect is emphasized,” says
Heidi Hillman, director of the Bedouin
Dance Company, a modern fusion belly
dance company in Calgary.
If you child is more interested in
enhancing fitness and confidence, and
finding a way to express themselves
creatively, you’ll want to choose a studio
where this is the main focus, she adds.
“Finding the right instructor is
very important — finding a teacher
that clicks with you,” says Hillman,
a former Young Canadian who has
studied a wide range of dance styles,
from ballet, jazz, tap, modern and
4 \ DANCE \ fall 2013
Dance:
Beauty vs.
brawn
dancers. This matches or exceeds what
sports teams would do.”
When it comes down to the physical
demands of dancers, training involves intermittent exercise of brief duration.
In general, all dance requires the individual to have good cardiorespiratory
fitness to allow for optimal performance
and help prevent injuries. For instance,
a dance performance for a ballet dancer
requires high-intensity exercise lasting
for one to three minutes (during allegro
or solo variation) while a modern dancer
may be required to sustain their activ-
RIGHT FIT
finding a
dance studio
contemporary to Indian classical
dance.
Competitive programs typically
require a greater time commitment,
with a higher cost for lessons. “It’s a
lot more driven at that level and more
focused,” says Cinzia Eremita, owner of
Dance Explosions, a recreational and
competitive dance studio in northeast
ity at a high intensity over much longer
periods. For a ballet dancer, Mean Aerobic Capacity (measured though maximum oxygen uptake) has been shown to gradually
increases from ballet barre at 36 per cent
VO2 max to allegro at 46 per cent and
solo performance at 80 per cent.
“This highlights that jumping into performing may put you at increase risk of
injury if your stamina is not where it needs
to be,” says Catriona Joyce Davies, a registered physiotherapist and qwner of Calgary’s Dance Physiotherapy.
The beauty of it all
Despite its obvious physical demands,
dance serves up something your run-of-themill team sport doesn’t — an emotional connection between performer and audience.
“Dance has interpretive qualities to it; it
tells a story; it evokes and creates emotion,”
says Stephanie Knowler, dance school
director of Evolutions School of Dance in
Calgary.
“In contrast to most sport, dance allows for interpretation. A choreographed
piece often has a story or underlying
meaning that evokes emotion. Dance
itself is very personal to the individual(s)
performing; the dancer has an objective
to not only connect with the movements
themselves, but also to involve the audience and connect with them on an emotional level. The music, the lighting, the
movements, the costumes are all very
purposeful in this regard, therefore making dance an art form.”
d
Calgary that teaches all genres of dance
to students ages three to 18.
“At the end of the day, it’s not just about
dance,” says Erimata. “For these kids, it’s
about them gaining confidence and having
friendships that last a lifetime, because
they are all interested in the same sort of
goal. The big thing is they are learning so
many more skills than just dance, as well as
keeping their body fit for a lifetime.”
Adds Angela Benson, artistic director
with the Young Canadians of the Calgary
Stampede: “In choosing the right dance
studio it’s important to research the
faculty, and make sure the faculty and
staff have the professional working
experience — that’s the golden ticket.”
— Jacqueline Louie
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BY Rachel Naud
d
DANCE \ fall 2013 \ 5
Going
for gold
Is competition
healthy?
Register Now For September
Dance & Music Classes!
Dance instruction for children ages 3 to teen, beginner
to advanced, Mom & Tot and Pre-school classes.
d
ce
an
W
ith an elite level of talent and dedication in any sport or art form comes
competition. But many are divided
as to how much, if any, is healthy in dance,
especially when it comes to children.
We’ve all heard stories of crazy hockey parents;
we’ve seen pageant moms on TLC, but is dance
like how it’s portrayed on reality television?
Debra Mudd, owner and director of Ultimate
Dance Co. Inc., says competition is almost always
a positive experience for dancers, and builds selfconfidence and friendships unlike anything else.
She says the move from recreational to competitive dance usually evolves out of a child’s interest
in more performance opportunities.
A child sports psychologist who works with elite
competitive dancers, April Clay says for most children, their love of dance or their sport of choice
comes to be through beginner or recreational programs. It’s their passion that spurs them to be competitive and take their talent to the next level.
Where competition falls into a toxic place is
when we forget the developmental age of the
child, Clay says.
“Sometimes we get into trouble when we put
an adult template on a children’s game or sport,”
says Clay. “But learning to compete doesn’t have
to be a negative thing.”
Both a teacher and mother to a competitive,
16-year-old dancer, Mudd has experience from
both sides of the studio, and knows how finding a
healthy balance for your child is a delicate process.
“These dancers have high expectations for themselves. I think that all parents can do is encourage
them to do the best they can and support them in
doing that,” says Mudd. “By allowing and providing them opportunities for extra dance camps and
workshops, you help them pursue their passion.
But you also need to help them balance their social
lives and school work. It can be hard to say ‘no.’”
Clay says with children in dance or any sport, it
is important to focus on the portions of competition that the child and parent can control. These
include working hard, showing up on time and being a team player. Parents have to find the balance
between supporting their children and letting them
take responsibility for their successes and failures.
With competitive dance being subjective, unlike
running or swimming where the winner simply has
the fastest time, the judging can sometimes leave
unanswered questions when a dancer doesn’t
place where a child or parent thought they would.
Mudd says as a teacher, she speaks with students
about managing expectations in competition.
“I always tell them that it’s subject to one person’s opinion on one day. The next day, it could be
completely different. But results help the students
to problem-solve, because dance competitions
are subjective. They become stronger and learn to
find a solution within themselves,” says Mudd.
Jus
td
By Cara Casey
By Rachel Naud
W
hen Patti MacNeil noticed her son
Jack, then 6, dancing around the
house, she enrolled him in hip-hop
lessons.
The classes weren’t just to help him with his
moves, however. MacNeil also thought it could
serve as a confidence-booster.
“He wasn’t shy or lacking in confidence,”
says the mom of two, but he was an inter-
esting mix of “cautious willingness.” He was
happy to go to dance lessons, but a bit unsure
of what to expect of it and of himself.”
This is a normal reaction, says Erika Serbu,
owner/director of Calgary’s Absolute Dance.
She says dance can not only help children feel
comfortable expressing themselves but bring
them out of their shell as well.
“Dance is one of the best activities to promote self confidence, physical awareness,
artistic expression and life skill,” says Serbu.
“So often, parents register their child in a
dance class because they are timid and shy
with the hopes of allowing them to not only
have fun but also come out of their shell.
Although the dance studio can be an intimidating place for the first time, it is our job as
dance educators to be great role models for
kids, to share and teach movement as a form
of expression to motivate our dancers to be
confidant with who they are and who they
can strive to be.”
After Jack started hip-hop classes MacNeil
says he started joining the older kids at school
in the Friday Fun song (dancing in the halls).
“He would come home and say the Grade
6 kids had made a circle around him while he
danced, they said ‘Hi’ to him in the hall and
the big girls always smiled at him and told
him he was cool. He was six at the time. I can’t
help but think that helped his confidence
maybe find a solid foundation sooner that had
he not been dancing.”
Serbu says she’s received similar feedback
from parents who noticed a change in their children after participating in dance class, noting
that in addition to a boost in self-esteem, dance
lessons can also teach children about commitment, self discipline and teamwork.
She says as a teacher, she hopes her dance
students transfer these skills to other aspects
of their daily lives.
“To be able to stand up in front of a crowd
in the studio or on stage performing in front
of peers, friends, family or teachers is not an
easy task and can be applied to other areas,”
says Serbu. “From giving your first speech in
elementary school to taking your first postsecondary job interview, we hope to contribute small pieces to each individuals bigger
picture.”
MacNeil says because of dance, today
Jack, who is now 8, dances unselfconsciously
in Starbucks when a good song comes on,
talks to strangers — at length — has lots of
friends and falls asleep when his head hits
the pillow at night.
Moreover, MacNeil says dance has taught
her son a very important life lesson.
“He fell at one of his recitals this year for the
first time. He got up and kept dancing. I hope
that becomes a metaphor for his life.”
d
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6 \ DANCE \ fall 2013
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DANCE \ fall 2013 \ 7
BY Jacqueline Louie
SYTYCD Star
Stacey Tookey
By Cara Casey
S
tacey Tookey is the pinnacle of what a dancer’s life could be.
In the dance world, there are very few who will make it
into the leagues of “dancer” as a profession, and there are
even less who will transition from ballerina to stage performer to
choreographer and then to TV star.
Tookey is a prairie girl from Edmonton who grew up in her mother’s
dance studio. Starting dance as soon as she could walk, she lived and
breathed as many genres of dance she could get her hands on, from ballet to
hip hop and even baton and highland dance.
It was her foundation in ballet though that had her thinking the life of a prima
ballerina was for her.
“At the age of 13 or 14, I started taking my training very seriously,” said Tookey
from her current homebase of Los Angeles. “I gave up every summer vacation to
go and train at the best ballet schools I could get into. It was when I graduated
that I really focused on what the next step was.”
At 17, she entered the prestigious Genee competition in London, which is only
open to dancers at a high level of ballet. The only dancer from Canada, it was there
where the ongoing pain in her shins, (which she thought were shin splints,) turned
out to end her competition when she found out she had stress fractures.
A year later, ready to enter the world of professional dance, Tookey was instead
told not only might she never dance again, but never walk.
“I had to stay off my legs for a year and all of a sudden I was told that
everything I had worked for might not happen,” said Tookey. “It was a huge life
lesson for me on the value of your instrument and how to take care of your body.
Up until then, I thought I was invincible.”
After a year of using a wheelchair and crutches and taking courses at the
University of Alberta, Tookey was ready to take on an apprenticeship at Ballet
British Columbia.
But the company life of a ballerina wasn’t for her. After years of studying so
many styles of dance, she just couldn’t commit herself to one form.
So, she did what many say is the tragic tale of a dancer — move to New
York City in hopes of making it.
But Tookey made it.
Her big break was getting cast as a dancer in Celine Dion’s Las
Vegas show A New Day, which ran for five years at Ceasar’s Palace to
sold-out audiences of three million spectators in its run.
Following her five-year stint, Tookey was encouraged by her husband to apply for
the So You Think You Can Dance Canada television show that was being created on
the heels of the widely popular U.S. show. Never in a million years did she think she
would be chosen.
Tookey has since choreographed and been a guest judge on both the Canadian
and U.S. shows, and is one of North America’s most in-demand choreographers.
Today, she balances her many dance gigs as an Emmy-nominated choreographer
creating, directing and dancing in several productions.
“I really like directing bodies in a studio. When I’m creating a piece, I’m trying
to tell a story. My biggest compliment is when people say ‘you made me cry,’ ‘you
made me fall completely in love with my spouse again’ or ‘you reminded me what
its like to feel like this,’” said Tookey.
As a judge at many dance competitions, Tookey says while technique,
costuming and choreography are all important, her best advice for dancers is to
surrender and enjoy being on stage.
“You have to remember that dance is an art form and we really need to see the
artist,” said Tookey. “Allow yourself to tap into that and not let any outside voice
tell you you can’t do it. Every performance needs to be genuine.”
d
S
o you think you can dance your way
into a career? Think again.
There’s much more to turning professional than simply being a good dancer,
says da Costa Talent Management principal
agent Melissa Panton.
“Our ideal client is a triple-threat performer, singing, dancing and acting,” says
Panton, herself a former dancer and choreographer with a wide range of industry
experience.
“We have clients in film and TV, in commercials, and on stage doing musical theatre. We
are looking for the top people in the fields of
singing, dancing and acting.”
da Costa Talent Management is a principal agency representing actors, dancers,
singers and choreographers. With locations
in Toronto and Vancouver, the company
represents clients of all ages, the majority
of them adults, along with a small youth
roster.
While most of its clients work in Canada,
da Costa also has clients in the U.S. and overseas, including at Tokyo Disneyland and the
Moulin Rouge in Paris.
“We have found our niche representing
theatre actors, dancers and choreographers,”
Panton says. “There are hundreds of acting
TripleTHREAT
PERFORMER
SING, DANCE AND
ACT YOUR WAY
TO THE TOP
agencies across Canada, mostly in Montreal,
Toronto and Vancouver, but we are the leading agency for dance and theatre.”
In addition to being diverse in your skill set,
Paton says it’s also important to have good
business skills, “because it’s all about self
promotion in this industry.
“Take workshops, take dance conventions,
and go to different competitions, because
networking and word out of mouth is huge
in this industry,” Panton says. If you are prepared to do this, and show great skill and a
great work ethic, the people you meet in the
industry could remember you, and bring you
on for a job down the road.
Dancers also need to have a great resume
and head shot, and they need to be able to
write a nice cover letter.
“You should have a reel of your performance — a demo of you acting, singing or
dancing. You have to treat yourself as a business,” Panton says.
While a dance career is not limited to age,
Panton notes “once you get into your 30s
it’s hard to be a full-time dancer. It’s hard
on your body, and you’re competing against
18-year-olds. So those who have the acting
background and the singing background
can move on to different aspects of the industry.
“You have to know your skill set and know
where you belong in the industry, and your
skills have to adjust to where you belong.”
Panton says it’s possible to make “a great
living as a dancer, it depends on how diverse
your skills are.”
For example, da Costa Talent Management
has choreographers who — when they’re not
working on film or TV sets — are teaching
classes, doing workshops, or adjudicating
across the country.
“Again, it takes a lot of time management,
and it takes a lot of planning,” Panton says.
“Having an agent definitely helps with that,
and brings a lot of opportunities.”
d
DANCE \ fall 2013 \ 9
Pure Energy
Dance F undation
le
Studio profi
e
rofil
p
r
e
c
l
o
e
n
e
r
B
a
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i
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Je
Dan
By Paula Trotter
T
he story of how Jessica Breneol came
to dance is common.
The 19-year-old Calgarian started ballet at the age of three, a rite of passage
seemingly shared by most little girls.
But dancing has never been merely a
hobby for Breneol. Instead, it was almost
an immediate calling.
“My mom could never get me to play
any sports — all I wanted to do was
dance,” says Breneol. “I continue to crave
dance all the time.”
Ballet. Jazz. Tap. Lyrical. The well-rounded dancer does it all, although she remains
particularly attached to the powerful and
graceful technicality of ballet and jazz.
As she’s grown as a dancer, Breneol
says she’s gained an appreciation for the
subtleties of this craft.
“I love that I can express myself without having to talk,” she explains. “I like
to tell people something by portraying
and telling a story through dance.”
One of her more recent lyrical
dance solos centered on the theme
of body image, something that dancers can struggle with.
Her goal with the piece was to
communicate that society’s focus
should not be so heavily invested in
what people’s bodies look like but in
celebrating what they can do.
Breneol also marked the 10th anniversary of 9/11 through a lyrical
dance solo. Though she was just in
Pure Energy
Dance offers
Tap, Jazz, Ballet,
Hip Hop, Lyrical,
Contemporary
instruction.
We are a Not-For-Profit Dance Studio, now in our 5th year,
providing recreational and competitive classes for all interested
dancers ages 3 to adult.
[email protected]
#1 3220 5th Ave NE (403) 250- 1209
www.pureenergydancefoundation.com
10 \ DANCE \ fall 2013
d
BY Jacqueline Louie
I
f good things do indeed
come in small packages,
then Calgary’s Pure
Energy Dance Foundation
offers the biggest gift of
them all.
“Being so small, we’re
able to know all the kids and
families really well,” says PEDF
president Tracy Hodal. “All the
parents hang out together and
help each other out.”
This kind of attitude extends
to the students who are eager
to help others, who are not
catching on as quickly, learn
their dance steps outside of class
time. During performances, “our
kids sit in the audience and they
congratulate each other. They
support each other,” Hodal says.
“If kids walk into our studio,
regardless of whether they have
ever danced, if they want to compete
they all get to compete. Most kids (at
our studio) do everything, and they
compete in all lines.
A family-oriented dance studio
located in Marlborough in northeast
Calgary, Pure Energy Dance
Foundation teaches ballet, tap, jazz,
contemporary, hip hop, lyrical and
acro to students ages 3 to 21. A notfor-profit studio, PEDF focuses on
finding a balance between dance, family,
DANCE
REGISTRATION
15, 8555 Scurfield Dr NW Calgary, AB T3L 1Z6 in the basement of the Medical Centre
403-270-ARTS (2787)
403-554-ARTS (2787) CELL
www.ppadance.ca
hosts a number of family
gatherings throughout the year.
The goal is to offer quality dance
instruction that is affordable to all.
Fundraising and volunteering are
key to studio operations, as are
community donations. Fees for dance classes are middle
of the road, Hodal says. PEDF
offers parents a variety of ways to
offset their dance fees if needed —
for instance, by working Calgary
Flames and Stampeders games,
casinos and bingos.
“It’s very affordable for
kids,” Hodal says, adding
the foundation also offers
scholarships.
d
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community and school, offering
both recreational and competitive
classes for students of all levels,
from beginners to advanced.
Class sizes are small — most
classes have fewer than 10 students
— which allows students to
receive more personal attention.
Teachers emphasize technique,
performance and being the best
you can be.
While boys are in the minority
at PEDF, as is typical in most dance
classes, “they love it,” Hodal says.
“They don’t worry too much about
what other people say about them.
They’re dancers — that’s what they do.”
Potentially, anyone looking for
friendship and a family atmosphere
would enjoy the classes at Pure Energy
Dance Foundation, says Hodal.
“All the kids are very, very tight. They
do lots of things outside the studio
together — they’re not just coming to
the dance studio and leaving. They do
things outside all the time. They really
have this friendship bond.
“There are days when somebody is
mad at so and so — but not for very
long. They don’t leave anybody out. The
teachers don’t tolerate it — they make
sure each kid is included.”
Founded in 2009 by a parent group
with a focus on providing a supportive,
inclusive environment, PEDF is run by
a volunteer board of directors. Parents
have a say in running the studio, which
Adults/Teens/Kids (3+)
www.freehousedance.com
20
Come out and try your first class free.
Grade 2 when hijacked planes crashed into
both towers of the World Trade Center, the
significance of that day never escaped Breneol, and she felt it was important to remind
people of the tragedy.
“I think people don’t realize the power that
dance can have,” she says of a performance
that resonates with an audience.
While June may have marked the end of
Breneol’s competitive career, the University
of Calgary math major isn’t ruling out a professional dance career.
She has, after all, completed the Royal
Academy of Dance Canada’s Advanced 1, the
third-most challenging exam for students who
are considering and contending for careers in
dance. She plans on training for and completing the Advanced 2 exam, as well.
She was awarded with a scholarship during one of her final competitions to train with
world-renowned choreographers for a week at
the Broadway Dance Center in New York City.
In June, Breneol travelled to Vancouver to
be the first one in line to try out for the fifth
installment of the dance movie franchise Step
Up. She was not offered a role, but the experience left her feeling optimistic about her
dance future.
Last year, she started teaching at Boundless Dance Studio in McKenzie Towne, where
she has trained for the past 11 years.
With all these new opportunities, it’s no
wonder Breneol feels as though she’s just
starting to emerge as a dancer.
“With dance, you’re always growing,”
Breneol says. “Dance will always be a part of
me no matter what. I will never give it up.”
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DANCE \ fall 2013 \ 11
DANCE
WEAR101
Young Cana
d
ian
s
e
l
y
M
e
i
Magg
Get your groove on
by Jacqueline Louie
After finishing school, Myles would like
to audition for cruise ships. She enjoys
travelling, so “being able to dance at the
same time is a two in one — it would be a
really cool experience doing that.”
She plans to audition for shows and commercials across Canada, and is also considering going to England, where her parents were
born, to audition; or heading to Broadway to
pursue a dance career.
“Performing is what I love to do. If you love
what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
As far as her favourite type of dance goes,
there are many.
“I do love ballet — it really centres me as a
dancer. Musical theatre is one of my favourites,
because you portray a story — you get to perform with your face and body.
“I really like making people smile. I also really
like it because it makes me really happy.”
d
BellyDanceClasses
ALL LEVELS
KIDS & ADULTS
AIRDRIE & CALGARY
www.shimmywithsuzy.com
12 \ DANCE \ fall 2013
Jean Grand-Maître
BY Cara Casey
S
ixteen-year-old Maggie Myles has her
sights set on a professional dance career — and the Young Canadians are
giving her the tools to get there.
The Young Canadians of the Calgary Stampede focus on dancing, “but we do sing as
well,” says Maggie, 16, a senior female dancer,
who is in her second year with the Calgary
group.
Myles began her dance studies at age 3,
when she told her mother she wanted to be
a dancer. She started out with ballet, which
provided her with the building blocks of
dance. She has also studied jazz, musical theatre, tap, clogging and Bollywood.
“I’ve tried every style, pretty much. Coming to the Young Canadians has definitely
broadened my horizons,” says Myles, who has
taken classes at several dance studios over
the years.
“We do so many styles, and we get vocal
training as well. It’s a way of rounding yourself out as a performer and increasing your
versatility.”
Myles is going into Grade 12 this fall at Centennial High School, and plans to spend one
more year with the Young Canadians. After
that, she wants to continue performing.
“I want to put that time and investment into
a career if I can. The Young Canadians have
set me up to do that,” she says.
When the Young Canadians went on tour to
Disneyland this past spring, they did an audition workshop, complete with mock auditions.
“Teachers from Disney taught us how to
take advantage of an audition situation. They
talked us through it and gave us feedback,”
she says.
Alberta
Sure, dancing is about the art form, the
technique and the performance. But the
gear is not only necessary, but also a fun
part of being a dancer.
With each genre of dance, come
different requirements. The Masque has
been outfitting dancers of all ages for 39
years. Owner Linda Booth says the key for
beginners is to talk to their studio and find
out what they require.
“Most ballet and jazz programs will
require bodysuits, shoes, tights, hair
pulled into a bun,” said Booth. “A lot of
studios provide us with lists so we know
what they require.”
When thinking of ballerinas, most
people think of pointe shoes, but these are
only for serious ballerinas of a certain age.
They can only be worn when a dancer’s
foot has been cleared by their teacher, and
in some cases their doctor.
“The biggest evolution in the technology
of dance products has been in pointe
shoes,” says Booth. “These days, pointe
shoes are made with lamb’s wool and
even have gel pads. The shoes are now
designed to fit the feet, whereas before
you made your foot fit the shoe.”
Outside of class, dancers require
costumes for year-end recitals and
competitions. Most studios order
costumes from a catalogue for their
recitals and advise parents on what they
need to purchase.
In the competitive world of ballroom,
Latin and other partner dances, the
costumes are unique to the dancer, and can
range from affordable to high-end couture.
Yvonne Hum, head manager of
Dancenergy Premier Centre of Dance Inc.,
says for competitive dancers in ballroom,
Latin and country forms of dance, there are
a variety of options to stay within budget.
“You can buy costumes used from other
competitors, you can buy them online or
you can make them,” says Hum. “Another
option is some people buy them from a
dress store and stone them with crystals
themselves.”
Just like any other sport or activity, the
more advanced you get, the more the cost
goes up.
tor
c
e
r
i
d
c
i
t
s
i
Ballet art
by Cara Casey
H
e’s created ballets with music’s
royalty including Joni Mitchell, k.d.
lang and Elton John. He also choreographed the opening and closing
ceremonies for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. And all the while, Jean Grand-Maître
has continued to inspire and awe audiences
around the world as artistic director of our
homegrown Alberta Ballet.
Alberta Ballet has always been a steady
figure in the dance world. But for a ballet
company to survive, it must be unique, avantgarde, feature great music and appeal to as
many audiences as possible.
Jean Grande-Maître has been the catalyst
for taking the company to this next level to
meet all of these demands.
Born in Hull, Que. in 1963, a young GrandMaître had nothing to do with ballet growing up. Instead, he pursued his creativity
through the mediums of sculpture and
other arts. At age 16, he saw a ballet at the
National Arts Centre in Ottawa and a flame
was ignited. He immediately began ballet
lessons.
With such a desperate need for male dancers, the school at Les Grands Ballets Canadienes de Montreal took the teen dancer
under their wing.
“I was not the best dancer in my class,”
says Grand-Maître. “But after my full training,
by some miracle, I got accepted into Theatre
Ballet of Canada in Ottawa. I danced professionally for eight years.”
While dancing in Ottawa, Grand-Maître was
plagued by both injuries and stage fright.
He says while most dancers thrive on the
stage and find a personal catharsis, he much
preferred to choreograph and watch from
the wings.
It was his choreography that made a mark
on the dance world. In 1991, his creation of
a piece for the National Ballet of Canada
earned him critical acclaim and launched
him into the world of choreographing fulltime.
For Grand-Maître, choreography is almost
spiritual. His joy comes from the process of
creation as much as the final product.
“It’s such a sensuous experience working
with live dancers,” he says. “Composers and
visual artists work with fabrics and materials, but I work with living people. I sculpt
them, move them, stage theatre on them
— it’s really one of the most extraordinary
opportunities in life to do something like
that. To go into a room with very talented
people and create beauty that will touch
others is a joy.
“Inspiration is letting things come to you,
not grasping for it. It’s letting life bring things
to you. I don’t think artists really create beauty, they just recognize it and see it where others do not.”
These days, Grand-Maître is working on a
new ballet with Mitchell after their successful collaboration in the 2007 production of
The Fiddle and the Drum. While the previous ballet was themed around the concept
of war, this ballet is all about love. Mitchell’s
NorGlen
Rhythmic
www.NorGlen.ca
[email protected]
d
LEAP STUDIOS is the SW dance
destination for toddlers to teens
– call us to try a class today!
So many class options and
dance styles for the recreational
& performance dancer in our
family-friendly, vibrant studios.
Gymnastics Club
Fun blend of dance & gymnastics
using hand apparatus such as
hoops, ribbons, balls, scarves,
skipping ropes.
Performance opportunities.
role encompasses not only the
music, but also the set design and
a side-by-side relationship with GrandeMaître to create a ballet that represents
many facets of love.
Alongside contemporary ballets such as
this, the 2013-2014 season at Alberta Ballet
will feature the most classical ballets of the
20th century including Giselle and familyfavourite, The Nutcracker, as well as the
dramatic Madame Butterfly set to the iconic
score of Puccini.
Our classes are based on fun,
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(403) 862-1237
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JAZZ - BALLET - TAP - HIP-HOP - LYRICAL - MUSICAL THEATRE - ACRO
DANCE \ fall 2013 \ 13
directory
stage
presence
ine Louie
by Jacquel
PRIME
TIME
it’s never
too late
by Rachel Naud
M
ary Anderson’s dance card
is full and she wouldn’t have
it any other way.
The 78-year-old has a twice
weekly date at Calgary’s Good
Companions 50 Plus Club. Her
activity of choice? Line dancing.
“I enjoy the music, the rhythm, the
social aspect, the exercise, the fun
and also the challenge of dancing
with different partners,” says
Anderson, who adds dancing has
always been part of her life.
“I did a little square dancing as
a teenager. I attended Teen Town
where my girlfriend and I really
learned to dance. And my husband
was a really good dancer.”
Marjorie Lucian, executive director
of the Good Companions 50 Plus
Club, says line dancing is the most
popular class at the club, which
offers it at beginner and intermediate
levels. She says participants are
also excited about prospective new
classes coming to the club this fall —
zumba and square dancing.
“A lot of camaraderie develops in
the dance classes,” says Lucian.
Ian Gooley, franchisee for Arthur
Murray Calgary, says although
Arthur Murray doesn’t offer classes
exclusively for the 50-plus, he sees a
lot of baby boomers taking up dance
classes from swing, chacha and
rumba to waltz, foxtrot and two-step.
“They not only reap the health
14 \ DANCE \ fall 2013
benefits of dance but for most
of the 50-plus crowd, it’s about
reconnecting,” says Gooley. “After
kids have grown and left the house,
parents need to reconnect after years
of working, soccer, swimming, etc.
basically putting their kids first.”
It’s also about making connections
with new people, adds Lucian.
“Social isolation is huge problem
in Calgary with seniors,” she says.
“At our club, we have a motto:
‘Friendship with a difference.’”
And when it comes to this motto,
the proof is in the pre- and post
surveys participants fill out.
“The city requires our participants
to fill out a pre-test and posttest,” says Lucian. “We ask our
participants, ‘do you have some
place to go and people to show
you affection?’ When they come
onboard, the answer is usually a
little. Post-test, at the end of the
year, we ask the same question and
participants will answer, ‘most of the
time.’ That’s how the city measures
success of social inclusion.”
Knowing the benefits of dance
first-hand, Anderson encourages
others to join.
“I say, just do it, you might like it,”
she says. “ I’m very fortunate to have
stayed active and Good Companions
has been an excellent fit for me in
my retirement.”
Adds Gooley: “The one comment
we always get is, ‘Why didn’t we do
this sooner?’ Well, it’s never too late.”
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ABSOLUTE DANCE
20-3616 52nd Ave. N.W. Calgary
Phone: 403-210-0188
Email: [email protected]
Web: absolutedanceinc.com
Absolute Dance offers dance and fitness classes
for the whole family in a positive and encouraging
atmosphere. A variety of classes are available for all
ages and abilities including jazz, hip hop, classical
ballet, musical theatre, tap and modern/lyrical.
Alberta Ballet
Head office: 141 18th Ave. S.W., Calgary
Phone: 403-245-4222
Email: [email protected]
Web: Albertaballet.com
Alberta Ballet is in its 47th season and is the province’s largest arts organization. Every year, the
company reaches thousands of Albertans in both
of its home cities in Calgary and Edmonton with a
mixture of contemporary and classical repertoire.
Alberta Ballet tours extensively, with recent sold
out performances across Canada, the U.S., and
China. In the 2013-2014 season, Alberta Ballet
presents seven world-class productions and will
tour throughout British Columbia.
DECIDEDLY JAZZ
1514 4th St. S.W. Calgary
Phone: 403-245-3533
Email: [email protected]
Web: decidedlyjazz.com
Decidedly Jazz Danceworks runs Calgary’s largest recreational dance school. With more than
70 classes each week there is something for
everyone — beginners, children as young as two
years old and experienced dancers. DJD offers
an abundance of non-competitive classes and a
professional program to develop select jazz dance
artists. DJD’s performance company enlivens local
and national audiences with engaging jazz dance
performances and musical creations. DJD has created more than 50 full-length performances,
EVOLUTIONS SCHOOL OF DANCE
238 Cranberry Place S.E., Calgary
Phone: 403-819-0758
Email: info (at) evolutionsdance.com
Web: evolutionsdance.com
Evolutions School of Dance aims to create an
open-door policy for students and parents while
fostering a fun, positive and safe dance environment that provides students with the freedom
to become creative and confident dancers, while
maintaining their individual expression. Instruction
is offered in hip hop, Ukrainian, classical ballet,
jazz, tap and lyrical for students of all ages.
FREE HOUSE DANCE PLUS
2020 2nd Ave. N.W., Calgary
Phone: 403-282-0555
Email: [email protected]
Web: freehousedance.com
Since 1988, Free House Dance Plus has offered
Calgarians a broad spectrum of programs in a
non-competitive atmosphere. Aerial fusion, African, ballet, belly dance, breakdance, drumming,
flamenco, Highland, hip hop, jazz, Latin/ballroom,
lyrical, modern, pilates, tap and zumba are some
of the programs offered to people of all ages,
from 3 years to senior and from novice to pro.
LEAP STUDIOS
2122 8561 8a Ave. S.W. Calgary
Phone: 403-862-1237
Email: [email protected]
Web: leapstudios.ca
Specializes in jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, lyrical,
musical theatre and acro for dancers of all ages,
from toddler to teen. Adult classes this fall include
tap, hip hop and zumba.
MCDONALD WILSON DANCE ACADEMY
5107, 33rd St. N.W. (Brentwood)
Phone: 403-286-8119
Email: [email protected]
Web: mwdadance.ca
Celebrating over 40 years of teaching dance,
McDonald Wilson Dance Academy has a mandate
to develop strong technical skills hand-in-hand
with the joy of artistic expression within ‘the noncompetitive philosophy.’ Shana Eriksen, A.R.A.D.;
R.T.S., and a staff of very qualified and dedicated
dance educators offer a variety of dance classes
from ages two months through to pre-professional and senior classes.
MUGE Performance Wear
202, 3132 26 St. N.E. Calgary
Phone: 403-263-9500
Email: mugewear.com
Providers of dance wear, dance shoes, skating,
gymnastics, fabrics, rhinestones, appliques, trims
and active wear products.
NorGlen Rhythmic Gymnastics Club
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.norglen.ca
NorGlen is a non-profit organization operating in
southwest Calgary since 1979. The programs feature non-competitive rhythmic gymnastics classes
for ages 3 through mature adult ladies who enjoy
the challenge of movement to music using hand
apparatus such as hoops, scarves, ribbons, balls.
It’s a group sport combining dance and gymnastics with innovative choreography by certified
coaches and includes performance opportunities.
Emphasis is placed on improving flexibility, coordination, having fun and making new friends.
Platinum Performing Arts
15, 8555 Scurfield Drive N.W.
Phone: 403-270-ARTS(2787)
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ppadance.ca
Platinum Performing Art offers both competitive
and recreational programs in a fun and healthy
environment for all children, including ballet, tap,
jazz, lyrical/contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre and acro. Also available are multiple classes
and family discounts. Teachers are fully qualified
and have trained at the Broadway Dance Center
in New York and The National Ballet School of
Canada.
PRODUCTION LIGHTING
4630 11th Street N.E., Calgary
Phone: 403-250-1185
Email: [email protected]
Web: productionlighting.ca
For over 25 years, Production Lighting has been
providing stage lighting and related products to
the theatrical and entertainment industry. Offices
are located in Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon and
Regina. Production Lighting represents the top
manufacturers in the industry and has a broad
range of clients including theatres, schools, places
of worship, casinos, nightclubs and TV studios.
PURE ENERGY DANCE FOUNDATION
#1 3220 5th Ave. NE.
Phone: 403-250-1209
Email: pureenergydancefoundation.com
Web: pureenergydancefoundation.com
PEDF Dance offers both recreational and competitive classes for ages 3 through adult, from
beginners to advanced. Studio classes are offered
in tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, pointe, and
contemporary. PEDF stresses the importance of
technique, showmanship and performance and
how to be the best you can be.
School of Alberta Ballet
West Annex, 906 12th Ave. S.W., Calgary
Phone: 403-245-2274
Email: [email protected]
Web: schoolofalbertaballet.com
The School of Alberta Ballet is Western Canada’s
leading dance training institution and the official
training centre of Alberta Ballet. It offers a professional division including full-time dance training,
a junior and senior high school accredited by
Alberta Education and a residence option. Its recreational program features classes for ages 3 to
adult. Led by artistic director Edmund Stripe, the
school has more than 500 students and reaches
more than 6,000 Albertans a year through free,
community outreach programs.
SHIMMY WITH SUZY
Airdrie
Phone: 403-912-SUZY(7899)
Email: [email protected]
Web: shimmywithsuzy.com
Experience the unique art form of Middle Eastern
dance. Due to the intricate movements learned
and performed, the student will learn each movement step by step and will be gradually introduced
into the technique of layering moves. Workshops,
weekly classes and training for teens is offered.
SHOWTIME DANCE PROMOTIONS
1778 Vineyard Dr. West Kelowna, B.C.
Phone: 250-768-7202
Email: [email protected]
Web: showtimedancepromotions.com
Showtime Promotions promotes young talent
across Canada. It has a 30-year history in the dance
community and has been organizing dance festivals
over the past 25 years. It was the first Canadian
festival offering training levels so dancers are adjudicated according to their training and provided
a fair atmosphere in which they can progress from
the beginner stages right through to professional
careers. It uses the foremost adjudicators who are
current performers and choreographers in the professional dance field.
SUMMIT SCHOOL OF DANCE
Hawkwood Village Shopping Centre, Calgary
Phone: 403-240-9315
Web: www.summitschoolofdance.com
Offers recreational as well as competitive dance
classes in the following disciplines preschool
(starting at age 3), ballet, jazz, tap, musical
theatre, modern, and hip hop. Also available is
a parent and tot program for younger children
(1.5 - 2.5 years), eight-week adult programs, and
teen-only classes. Summit also offers private and
group music lessons in voice, piano, guitar, choir,
and drums.
YOUTH SINGERS OF CALGARY
Performing Arts Youth Centre
1371 Hastings Cres. S.E Calgary, T2G 4C8
Phone: 403-234-9549, 403-234-9590
Email: [email protected]
Web: youthsingers.org
The Youth Singers of Calgary was created in 1985
by Shirley Penner who quickly enlisted Darlene
Dusevic and Tricia Penner to develop a unique
performing arts organization, providing an opportunity for young people to express themselves
onstage through music, dance and theatre. A
commitment to music, excellence in teaching and
a strong team approach has sustained the organization to the present day.
DANCE \ fall 2013 \ 15
CPAF (Canadian
Performing Arts
Foundation) is a Not-forProfit Foundation created
to support dance and the
performing arts in Canada.
Our Mission is to create a
scholarship fund for upand-coming Canadian
performing artists and
choreographers. To ensure
a bright future in the
Canadian performing arts
industry, CPAF will
be dedicating
100% of all
monies raised
to support
Canadian
performing
artists and
Choreographers alike. We
believe that with your support we can
ensure a growing and vibrant Canadian
Performing Arts industry.
Our Choreographers Guild Hall of
Fame is comprised of licensed Canadian
teachers and choreographers working
in the industry. Each year CPAF and
the Guild members will nominate and
award at least one inductee into the
Choreographers Guild Hall of Fame.
Showtime Dance Promotions is the largest dance festival series in Canada, with over
30 years’ experience in the dance industry, hosting over 14 events in Western Canada
as well as the Rocky Mountain Dance Project Summer Camp held each year in
Jasper, AB.
We’re excited to introduce new studios and dancers to our innovative approach to
Dance Competitions and Festivals which supports and encourages dance training
in Canada.
Listed below is our 2014 Dance Festival and Competition schedule. Please visit our
website to register your studio.
Great Canadian Dance Challenge:
Fort Saskatchewan | Dow Centre | March 26-30
Calgary | Glenmore Christian Academy | April 2-6
Medicine Hat | Esplanade Theatre | April 24-27
Lethbridge | Yates Theatre | April 29-May 4
Kelowna | Community Theatre | May 11-13
Kids Help Phone Challenge:
Surrey | Performing Arts Centre | April 3-6
Banff | Eric Harvey Theatre| April 9-13
Sherwood Park | Festival Place | April 2-6
Dance Extreme Festival:
Sherwood Park | Festival Place | April 9-13
Dream Team Dance Festival:
Surrey | Arts Center | May 2-4
Sherwood Park | Festival Place | May 7-11
Evergreen Dance Festival:
Sherwood Park | Festival Place | April 30-May 4
Crystal Classic Grand Championships:
Kelowna | Community Theatre | July 2-6
www.cpaf.ca
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Rocky Mountain Dance Project
Jasper | August 3 - 8
www.showtimedancepromotions.com
[email protected] 250.768.7202