News News - Alabama Dance Council

Transcription

1
SPRING 2008 • VOLUME 12 NUMBER 1
Alabama
Dance Council
Member
National
Special Feature
Upcoming Dance
News
Spotlights
News
Summer Dance
Opportunities
Performances
PAGE 3
PAGE 9
PAGE 23
PAGE 26
PAGE 34
Synchronicity Spring 2008
2
Inside
Special Feature:
Page 26
Summer Dance Opportunities
Alabama Dance Council News
Message from the Board President
Message from the Executive Director
Save the Date: A preview of the 2009 Alabama Dance Festival
Remembering Martha Wynne
Member Spotlights
Montgomery Ballet Excited About Growth
Community Ballet Association Announces New Artistic Director
Sanspointe Dance Company Presents LIFE_FORMS
Andalusia Ballet Celebrates Its Silver Anniversary Season
Science Dance? What’s That?
Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center Dance Programs
Downtown Dance Conservatory Begins Affiliations with the Royal Academy of Dance
Devyani Dance Company Announces Successful Year
Upstart Dance Company Making Their Mark
Centre for Performing Arts Attends National Dance Convention
Nashville Irish Step Dancers of Birmingham Offer Glimpse of Irish Tradition
Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts Offers Summer Workshops
Alabama Ballet School to Become Alabama Ballet Royal Academy of Dance
Page 3
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 9
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 13
Page 13
Page 14
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 20
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
National News
Bates Dance Festival Announces 2008 Training Programs
National Performing Arts Convention: Taking Action Together
10th Annual National Dance Education Organization Conference
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Upcoming Dance Performances
Page 34
Alabama Dance Council Board of Directors and Staff
Page 37
3
From our
Board President
Diane Litsey
“Happy Spring”
Spring is here, and along with it comes performances,
festivals, and the gearing up for summer intensives. It is also
time to celebrate dance on a big scale with National Dance
Week, April 25 – May 4, 2008. This is one more tool for us
to help students, parents, and communities to share the joy
and benefits of dance.
We know that Alabama’s dance community is a bold and
diverse collection of artists, and we all must continue our
efforts to raise awareness of our work all year long. Spring
brings colorful and vibrant opportunities to gain visibility and
encourage participation. What do your stories say about you
and your work? Who will you share your stories with?
Happy Spring!
Diane Litsey
President
4
From our
Executive Director
Rosemary W. Johnson
The 11th Annual Alabama Dance Festival has come and gone, and with
it came the largest number of participants in Festival history! This past
January, over 700 participants descended upon Birmingham to take part
in the Festival and its community component, Dance Across Birmingham.
What a great way to start off 2008!
As you plan for summer, I hope you will keep your eye on Synchronicity’s
special feature on summer dance camps and intensives. There’s quite a lot
going on in Alabama this summer and so many ways to stay involved. Also,
the ADC’s 2008-’09 annual membership drive will kick off this June. If
you haven’t already done so, this is a great time to keep your membership
current and continue to enjoy the Festival registration discount that is only
available to current members.
And finally, the Alabama Dance Council will attend the National
Performing Arts Convention (NPAC) this summer in Denver, CO. The
nation’s first truly combined convention for all genres of the performing arts is
scheduled for June 10-14. NPAC will bring together nearly 5,000
people, with a diverse range of interests in the non-profit performing arts,
to shape the direction of the industry over the next decade. Attendance is
open to anyone, including: actors, agents, arts administrators, businesses,
composers, conductors, critics, dancers, directors, educators, fundraisers,
marketers, musicians, producers, singers, trustees, and volunteers. If the
performing arts are your business, or your passion, you should make plans
to attend this fabulous conference. It promises to be a wonderful time, and
I hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Rosemary W. Johnson, Executive Director
“Get
involved”
5
News
Alabama Dance Council
Save the Date: A preview of the 2009 Alabama Dance Festival
The Alabama Dance Council is pleased to announce that the 2009 Alabama Dance Festival
will take place January 16-18, 2009 in Birmingham, Alabama. Complexions Contemporary
Ballet will be the guest company-in-residence
throughout the three-day event.
Co-founded by Dwight Rhoden and Desmond
Richardson, “two of the most gorgeous virtuosos ever to emerge from Ailey Land” (New York
Magazine), Complexions has always sought
to distinguish itself by grounding its cuttingedge choreography and original music within
the roots of classical dance. From “point” to
“pop,” the company has harnessed various multi-media to mirror its times and to comment on the
past. Inspired by social and political issues, Complexions has always sought to ponder the human
condition and to explore the full range of human emotions. The company was conceived with the
intent of bringing together many different artists to express their uniqueness in culture, race, and
background through dance – hence the name “Complexions.”
Nationally renowned dance faculty for the Festival will include Dwight Rhoden, Desmond Richardson, and other Complexions company members; Robert Battle, Artistic Director of Battleworks
Dance Company; Marcus Alford; Annie Day; and Celeste Miller.
Dance Festival activities will include the annual Alabama Dance Showcase, master classes for ages
11 and up, arts education workshops for teachers, audition opportunities for summer intensives, the
Alabama Dance Exchange exhibit hall, and networking opportunities for dance teachers and students.
Opportunities for professional artists ages 18-up will include a choreography intensive taught by Robert Battle, and workshops focusing on dance pedagogy, arts management and technology, grant
writing, and arts integration through movement in K-12 schools.
In addition to the Alabama Dance Festival, on Saturday, January 17, the Alabama Dance Council will present the 2nd Annual Dance Across Birmingham: A Community Celebration, a
day of free community classes for all ages in styles that include
hip-hop, ballroom, praise dance, African dance, Latin dance,
swing dance, dance fitness, and tap. Local Birmingham artists
will teach the classes and perform on the free Birmingham Community Dance Showcase.
For more information regarding the 2009 Alabama Dance
Festival as it becomes available, or to subscribe to Footworks, our free weekly eNewsletter, please visit our website
www.alabamadancecouncil.org.
6
News
Remembering Martha Wynne (1950-2008)
To write of this dancer we have
not seen dance in so long…
Martha did indeed dance, beautifully, en pointe….before the
sneakingly insidious disorder
Multiple Sclerosis affected her.
I still teach her ballet barres…
the same combinations she
passed down to me, given to her
from her teachers…so her presence will always be near, and I
can easily hear her sweet, clear
and caring voice.
I will never forget the moment
we met…Laura Knox (former Alabama Dance Council
President, Recipient, Governor’s Arts Award) had called
a meeting of the defunct ADC
in the early ‘90s, and I, new
dancer in town…came to it…
at the conclusion of the meeting (which had ostensibly been
held to decide what to do with
the paltry $1000.00 dollars left
in abeyance)…was attracted to
Martha Wynne
this graceful and unassuming
woman with the direct green
eyes…she made a motion as if to say “follow me”…and I did…like a disciple following the master,
and so learned ballet from Martha…in ways that I had never known ballet.
Since that initial ADC meeting, a new era of dance in Alabama unfolded. The ADC grew to what
it is today, an organization with a budget approaching the hundreds of thousands. Between Laura,
Martha, myself, Kim Deale, Janet Rooney, Edie Barnes and many others, we built a dance community and that old studio competitiveness was replaced with excitement about the art form and the
ways dance was being expressed! As friend and fellow dancer Avery Warren put it: “I am sorry to
hear about Martha Wynne’s passing. She was a beautiful person and a wonderful talented dancer.
She certainly brought many of us together. She was earnest and forthright, disciplined and strong
willed.”
Martha was an expert Parliamentarian, and I often went with her to meetings of the Mary Haislip
Unit in Birmingham, and The Homewood Ballet, owned and directed by Martha, did dance programs for their entertainment. Martha had wonderful costumes and excellent, educational programs,
performed all over Birmingham from the Brookwood Mall to the Hoover Public Library, and enjoyed publicity such as the article by the Birmingham News featuring her as the Swan Queen with
the caption: “Keeping Homewood on It’s Toes.” Laura Knox and Martha both became members
of the National Society of Arts and Letters around the same time, and brought a welcome infusion
of “dancer” energy to share amongst the wider world of the arts in Birmingham, as well as finding
artistic fellowship.
7
News
Martha was special in her understanding and implementation of the spiritual life of the artistic process…
she understood that the person is not merely physical, but emotional, spiritual and mental as well…
and so, in the development of the dancer as an artist,
trained all aspects of one’s being for highest illumination and expression. So the dancer developed
physically along with the inner self and the soul.
Martha was an angelic fairy …like Kahill Gibran
said of children, they come through us but are not of
us, so Martha came through this world and touched
those she was supposed to touch…but Martha was
really not of this plane of existence. Martha was
ahead of her time, and yet ancient…Avery said:
“She had that fairy spirit, being in this world but
not of it. She infused imagination and vitality into
her movement. Yet she was a classic and traditional
old school ballet dancer...what a combination!!! We
loved her choreography.”
Martha was a rigid classicist…rigid…barre began with plies and NEVER any other way…yet
ballets that she wrote could be of such topics that
good Homewood mothers were anxious about their
daughters hearing words like “reincarnation” (from
Martha’s Ballet “Times of Day”) and astral travel
(From “Journey to the Wandering Stars”)….words
and concepts that now we take for granted for they
are an accepted part of the vernacular, even here
in the deep south’s Bible belt….not so in the early
80’s!
For Martha....
We are greatly saddened by the untimely death
of Martha Wynne. She contributed greatly to the
dance life of Alabama for many years.
She was a special person to me. Her tenure as
second president of the Alabama Dance Council
accomplished the non-profit status with the IRS
in October, 1994. Martha brought her knowledge,
enthusiasm and vision to the ADC’s venture for
renewal.
In support for the National Society of Arts and
Letters as Chair of the local Dance Competition,
Martha demonstrated extraordinary aptitude.
She continued in the same fashion for the
National competition.
When I was nominated for the Governor’s Arts
Award of May 1997, Martha wrote a superb
recommendation on my behalf which, I am
certain, was responsible for the Award presented
by Davis Romei for the Alabama State Council on
the Arts.
Martha wrote a very elegant prose, which
touched me to the core. She wrote with such
sincerity and love. Her Honesty as teacher, choreographer and organizer for the world of dance
was apparent in our field. We have lost a great
dance friend.
Martha was a professional ballerina for 38 years,
including principal roles in most of the major traditional ballets such as Paquita, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. She was invited to perform before ScotWe love you, Dear Martha.
tish and Russian royalty as well as the Diplomatic
Laura B. Knox
Corps of the USA. Martha was an honors student
Past President, Alabama Dance Council
at Florida State University, UAB, and Birmingham
Southern. She wrote the librettos, choreographed,
designed costumes for, and produced six full-length
classical ballets. She owned the Homewood Ballet
for fifteen years, and it was a preparatory school for the Alabama Ballet and ASFA for seven years.
A trained anatomist and medical illustrator, Martha taught human anatomy and human neuroanatomy at UAB, and was a research assistant and technical writer at the Einstein Medical Center
in Philadelphia for two years. Martha was a feature model for Birmingham Magazine and National
Teen Magazine, as well as consultant for Seventeen Magazine and Dupont Fabrics.
8
News
It is amazing how this renaissance woman was blessed in her life…her talents as a beautiful model,
anatomist, vocalist, leave one speechless…yet few ever knew the harsh side of Martha’s life…the
hours of trial and suffering, uncertainty…patience in adversity…patience in the face of adverse
social, financial, physical, emotional or political forces…but she wanted it that way…Martha had
pride in herself and what she had accomplished in her years…it was almost a victory in her mind,
to know that no one realized that the glittering ballerina onstage went home to burn candles in lieu
of expensive electricity…these things and many others were part of the choices and challenges she
had set for her life.
So, Martha was loved, Martha was misunderstood…Martha was admired, and, perhaps, painfully,
perhaps Martha was ignored. It was difficult for her to ask for help because of her sense of social
pride, and, later, her life and thought was debilitated by the advancement of the MS. Alice Faye
Love and I discussed how we had not had time to visit Martha during the final months of her life,
Alice Fay pointing out that: “We will all have those memories of her, let us celebrate her life and
her freedom (from) this world and (its) limitations and pain. I …do not grieve over what could have
been done. We do the best we can at each moment. If you have those feelings of wishing you had
done differently just take them to people you know now and act upon them, so that when they go,
you have done differently.”
But in her last year Martha was happy with a performance at The University of Alabama at Birmingham and was thrilled by the Rosamon Henderson Award bestowed by the NSAL in 2004: “It is a
very sad thing for Martha to have been so incapacitated these past months. I am so very glad that we
(NSAL) honored her in 2004 with the Rosamon Henderson Award. It meant a great deal to Martha...
she “shimmered” that evening.” (Edith Bauman, Former President, Birmingham Chapter, NSAL).
Said Alice Faye, “I did the best I could to give her the thing she wanted most, which was to keep
FEELING like a dancer…Deborah enabled her last performance which she carried until the end”.
Martha was married to Mr. Thomas Wynne for her lifetime. Of other people who loved Martha
dearly, Mr. Gibson McKenzie, founder of the Caledonian Society in Birmingham, especially found
in Martha a kindred and refined spirit, and they shared a love of, and accomplishment in, Scottish
Country Dance. When we speak of love, Corinthians has the enduring definition: “Love is patient,
love is kind, love does not envy, is not prideful, rude or boasting, self seeking or self-centered…
Love is not easily provoked. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth; Love bears all
things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails.
Through her many activities Martha Smith Wynne lived a diverse world of interests…as a writer,
vocalist, neuroanatomist, parliamentarian, dancer, choreographer, fashion model! What a challenging
and unique personality that many of us might have known only in one aspect. Annie Smith, Martha’s
sister summed it up so eloquently: “Everyone of us holds a piece of that puzzle that was Martha.”
Contributed by Deborah Mauldin
President, The American Dance Guild
Alabama Dance Council Board Member
Deborah Mauldin
Spotlights
Member
Montgomery Ballet Excited About Growth
During the past season the Montgomery Ballet, under the
direction of new Artistic Director, Elie Lazar, has experienced exceptional growth and expansion of their professional company, school and outreach programs.
The Montgomery Ballet’s next exciting event is the Intensive
Summer Seminar, which will be 4 weeks, June 23 - July 19,
2008. All participants in the 2008 Summer Intensive Seminar
will have the opportunity to perform at the Montgomery Ballet’s 33rd Annual Performance on the Green, lakeside at the
Blount Cultural Park on July 18, 2008. Attended by thousands
each year, this free outdoor performance has been named a
Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, and is one of
Montgomery’s cultural highlights of the summer. The Friday performance will feature the professional company, and
the Saturday performance will feature the seminar participants.
Dancers are coming from Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Israel
to attend the seminar and perform in the late summer event.
The Montgomery Ballet’s Summer Intensive Seminar focuses on ballet, and also offers a wide variety of classes in Abby Maruna & Ian Morris in Montgomother dance forms, including Jazz, Modern, Character, Men’s ery Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty
Class, Variations and Partnering. The Seminar is designed
for those who desire the best training available, and who are up for the challenge of a rigorous and fulfilling program. Seminar Faculty place students in the appropriate class level on the first day. The Montgomery Ballet School is located in an air-conditioned facility with three large studios featuring high ceilings and sprung floors. The facility is in Central Montgomery, located near many hotels, restaurants and
businesses. Lodging accommodations available on the campus of Auburn University of Montgomery.
The Montgomery Ballet is also proud of its accomplishments this year. Elie Lazar, founder and
director of Joffrey Ensemble Dancers and LazarBalletNYC, was appointed Artistic Director in June
2007. He has continued all of the existing educational programs and performances of the Montgomery Ballet and added many new ones including 3 free lecture demonstrations at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts - which will continue during the 2008/2009 season thru a partnership with
the Museum. In addition, the Montgomery Ballet gave 3 different performances at the new Civic
Center in Wetumpka, under the auspices of the City of Wetumpka, including the full-length The
Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and a Repertoire Performance, which introduced the audience to the
contemporary style of ballet through many of Mr. Lazar’s originally choreographed ballets.
Also, Mr. Lazar began the Tuesday Club lecture demonstrations, free to the public at the Montgomery Ballet Studios. The Tuesday Club gave the audience a close-up view of the ballets that the
professional company dancers were currently working on. Mr. Lazar also invited guest speakers
to speak on various subjects related to the Art of Ballet and dance in general. He also began a new
project of Lecture Demonstrations in the public libraries, which will be expanded next season.
During Mr. Lazar’s first year as Artistic Director, he produced the following full-length works: a
new full-length Nutcracker, a premiere production of Sleeping Beauty, and a premiere production
of Lost, the Story of Carmen.
He also choreographed or set the following new ballets for Montgomery Ballet: How Far is 2 Far,
Surrender 2 Love, A Night in the Tropics, plus new Divertissement including Rossini 4 3, Ocean &
9
Spotlights
Member
Pearls, La Bayadere Act II, Raymonda Pas Hongrois, Jardin Annimé from Le Corsaire, Capriccio,
Satanella Pas De Deux, Flames of Paris Pas De Deux, Pas de Slave from Le Corsaire, and White
Swan Pas de Deux.
Ballets to be added to the Montgomery Ballet’s Repertoire in 2008/2009 are the following: the
full-length Coppelia, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Snow White, Gloria, and Dance with Me to the
End of Love. New ballet’s include: Masa, Niche and Nocturnes. New Divertissement will include:
La Peri, Suite Senses, Esmeralda Pas De Deux, Esmeralda Pas de Six, La Fille Mal Gardé Pas de
Deux.
The Montgomery Youth Ballet has been working hard this season as well. In addition to performing alongside the professional company in The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty, they will give their
own special performance for family and friends at the Montgomery Ballet School in April.
The Montgomery Ballet is also proud of its school and the growth it has undergone this year. The
Montgomery Ballet School Performance at the Davis Theatre on May 4, 2008, will feature two
complete ballets set by Mr. Lazar, Les Petits Riens and La Fille Mal Gardée, plus a special performance by the outreach classes in the genre of Alvin Ailey’s “Revelations”.
With the guidance of Mr. Lazar, the Montgomery Ballet has had a very successful year and hopes
to continue this success next season. The Montgomery Ballet invites you to attend all of its performances in the upcoming season and see for yourself what all the buzz is about! Season tickets will
go on sale July 1, 2008.
For information on any of the programs talked about in this article, please contact the Montgomery Ballet Office at (334) 409-0522, [email protected], or online at
www.montgomeryballet.org.
Community Ballet Association
Announces New Artistic Director
Sherry Polk, Community Ballet’s Chairman of the Board, has
announced that Phillip Otto has been selected as Huntsville Ballet Company’s new artistic director. CBA’s governing Board of
trustees accepted the recommendation of the Search Committee
last week. Otto will succeed Clinton Rothwell who led Huntsville Ballet Company from Spring 2005, to February 2008.
“Phillip’s achievements as an artist, his strength of character and motivated spirit made a very positive
impression with the entire Board of Directors” said Ms. Polk. Phillip’s connections to the Balanchine
style and his deep dedication to dance education is just one compelling aspect of his background.
Said Otto, “I am honored to receive the opportunity to lead Huntsville Ballet Company. Over the
past few months I have had the pleasure of meeting the ballet community of Huntsville and I look
forward to working with the ballet’s talented faculty, and staff to create a school and company that
trains the finest classical ballet dancers in the country.” Otto also said he is committed to outreach
and education and plans to start programs in the public schools.
ABOUT PHILLIP OTTO: Mr. Otto has most recently served as New Haven Ballet’s artistic director. Mr. Otto has trained at the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre School, and
the Joffrey School among others. As a child Mr. Otto was a member of the Metropolitan Opera’s
10
Spotlights
Member
children’s chorus and danced with New York City Ballet, the Royal Ballet, the Stuttgart Ballet
and the Bolshoi Ballet. As an adult Mr. Otto danced principal and soloists roles with Milwaukee
Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. After retiring as a featured soloist from
PNB in 1996, Mr. Otto joined the faculty of Pacific Northwest Ballet School and went on to direct
PNB’s student company as well as the company’s outreach and educational programs for which he
was nominated for the State of Washington’s Golden Apple award for excellence in education. In
addition Mr. Otto serves as permanent guest faculty for the Rock School for Dance Education in
Philadelphia and has taught master classes throughout the United States and Scotland.
Rachel Butler – Otto will be joining her husband on the CBA staff in the positions of Ballet Mistress and School Director. After training with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet School
and Atlantic Ballet Contemporary Academy, Rachel was a soloist and principal dancer at Pacific
Northwest Ballet and the Pennsylvania Ballet. She has taught ballet classes for Pacific Northwest
Ballet as well as The Rock School and the Pennsylvania Ballet. She also assisted Pacific Northwest
Ballet’s artistic staff setting the children’s roles for their Nutcracker Production.
Sanspointe Dance Company Presents LIFE_FORMS
Sanspointe Dance Company is pleased to present a concert of new and recent work, Thursday, May 29th through
Sunday, June 1st. Titled LIFE_FORMS, this concert will
highlight 8 eclectic dances by 6 Alabama choreographers
and will include collaborative work with musicians and
showcase work by visual artists.
Sanspointe, a cutting-edge Birmingham modern dance
company, exists to create new dance works, present highquality art with integrity, collaborate artistically and connect to the community. Sanspointe, comprising 12 professional modern dancers, celebrates its 6th anniversary and
1st year as a not-for-profit.
LIFE_FORMS will feature improvisation as well as choreography by Shellie Chambers and Michelle Whittington,
inaugural recipients of the Cultural Alliance of Greater
Birmingham’s Grants to Individual Artists Award.
Shellie Chambers, Artistic Director of the company said, “It
takes a lot of motivated and committed people to put together
a dance concert. Most of our company members work or attend graduate school full-time, so we have
to rehearse on the weekend, which does not leave time for much else! Each of us is passionate about
dance and about educating audience members on what modern dance is. We would create and perform,
even if there was only one person who was moved by it.”
People often ask what modern dance is. Chambers says, “It is an expressive, American dance form.
No shoes are required, and it has a strong relationship with the floor. If you ever peek in on a Sanspointe rehearsal, you will see a lot of collaboration between the choreographer and dancers and a
lot of physical partnership with the floor and each other.”
Improvisation is an important aspect of modern dance. Improvisation is when the dancers generate
the movement, structure and interplay based on their inspirations in the current moment. LIFE_
11
Spotlights
Member
FORMS will highlight an improvisational dance led by
Kim Guion titled “#1 Show up,” which will be different
in each performance. Instead of learning choreography to
prepare for this dance, the dancers practice different improvisational structures and make a new dance with each
rehearsal. Musicians are also invited in to improvise with
the dancers. It requires a collective consciousness among
the dancers, which they are working to build.
Sanspointe invites all LIFE_FORMS ticket holders and
friends to join them in Homewood Park 30 minutes following the conclusion of Sunday afternoon’s performance
for a Community Improv. All ages can participate, and
no experience is required. This free event allows for
Sanspointe to connect to the community and educate them
about modern dance. For LIFE_FORMS, Sanspointe has
also collaborated with percussionist John Scalici, Founder
and Director of Get Rhythm!, Inc. and has invited visual
artists to display their work at the performances.
Michelle Whittington founded Sanspointe Dance Company in 2003 and currently choreographs, dances and
serves as a board member for the company. She said, “I wanted to produce a dance concert, and that is how
it all started.” Since 2003, the company has presented three more concerts that have been performed in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa at The University of Alabama, the alma mater for several Sanspointe dancers.
Most of Sanspointe’s dancers are recent college graduates, though the age range is 25 to 42, many with a degree
in dance. The company has been rehearsing 2-3 weekends per month since September for LIFE_FORMS.
The company has recently become a not-for-profit organization with eight members on its board of directors and is campaigning now for financial support. All donors are invited to Sanspointe’s signature event,
PreMoves: Dances in Progress, an opportunity to experience a rehearsal, meet the artists and ask questions
on April 18th. To make a donation to Sanspointe, visit www.sanspointe.org.
Chambers and Whittington were awarded together one of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham’s
Grants to Individual Artists. The two will use the award to attend the American Dance Festival’s Dance
Professionals Workshop in Durham NC and choreography workshop at Liz Lerman Dance Exchange this
summer. Following the workshops, the pair will collaborate on a new work for the company to premier
in Sanspointe’s Repertory Works concert September 19-20, 2008.
The Cultural Alliance’s second round of individual artist grants is currently underway. The deadline for
submitting an application is May 16, 2008. Grants to Individual Artists (GIA) support committed, accomplished artists by financially supporting the advancement of their careers as professional artists. These
project-based awards focus on professional development, career promotion, creation or presentation of new
work and equipment/supplies. The GIA program operates on a two-year cycle; artistic disciplines rotate on
a biannual basis. The Cultural Alliance believes having a strong base of artists living and working in our
community enriches the lives of all citizens and fuels a dynamic economy.
LIFE_FORMS will be performed in an intimate theatre setting at Children’s Dance Foundation’s Community Arts Center in Downtown Homewood (1715 27th Court South) May 29-31, 7pm and June 1,
2pm. Tickets, $10, will be available at the door. Seating is limited; make reservations now by emailing
[email protected].
For more information or to make a donation to Sanspointe Dance Company,
visit www.sanspointe.org, or www.myspace.com/sanspointe or email [email protected].
12
Spotlights
Member
Andalusia Ballet Celebrates Its Silver Anniversary Season
Andalusia Ballet’s 25th anniversary season started off
with the State of Alabama naming Andalusia Ballet an
Alabama Treasure. Additional awards and commendations from many state and civic officials were presented
to both Andalusia Ballet and artistic director Meryane
Murphy in honor of the Silver Anniversary. The celebration continued with a joyful Nutcracker Season which
included completely sold-out Nutcracker performances,
including outreach performances for every fifth grade
class in Covington County. The Nutcracker featured
alumni members in major roles; Ginny Smith, now a
company member of Montgomery Ballet danced as the
Sugar Plum Fairy and Leslie Anne Kilpatrick, a sophomore at Birmingham Southern, danced the role of the
Dew Drop Fairy. Alumni from every year of Andalusia
Ballet’s twenty-five years were invited to join in the Nutcracker celebration that included a blacktie gala and an alumni brunch. In February the BUILD THE BALLET Campaign was launched to
raise funds for a new 12,000 sq foot state of the art training facility for Andalusia Ballet. The Silver
Anniversary season comes to a close with Andalusia Ballet’s Spring Showcase, but the celebration
of this Alabama Treasure will continue for years to come. For more information about Andalusia
Ballet, upcoming performances, workshops or BUILD THE BALLET fundraising efforts, we encourage you to call 334.222.6620.
Science Dance? What’s That?
C
Children’s
Dance Foundation’s (CDF) Science Dance Initiative is a series of residdencies in 4th grade classrooms at local elementary schools, teaching the science
ccurricula through dance elements. Peek into a Birmingham elementary school, and
yyou may find CDF teaching artists dancing with the 4th grade students. CDF’s Scieence Dance Initiative residency meets six times, for an hour each, culminating with
a performance by all of the 4th grade students.
T Initiative began in 2003 as a small project led by Mary Foshee, CDF’s project
The
ddirector, motivated by teacher interest. Almost 25 schools have hosted the residency since then. The program helps elementary school teachers incorporate dance into learning,
making concepts tangible. This Initiative helps schools satisfy obligations due to the No Child Left
Behind Act, and has been funded, in part, by the Jefferson County Commission, through the Jefferson County Community Arts Fund, administered by the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham.
CDF has two teams of teaching artists who visit the schools, using the framework BEST (Body,
Energy, Space and Time) to investigate science concepts, to
encourage creative thinking and
to get students moving! Science
concepts explored include cell
structure, volcanoes and oceans,
electricity, formation of fossil
fuel, habitat, states of matter
and Water cycle/pollution.
13
Spotlights
Member
One fourth grader wrote in a letter to CDF, “I really enjoyed your visit and learning about the nature
of Earth and our bodies in movement. I especially enjoyed working as a group. I learned more
about the planets, water and volcanoes by watching them in movement. Thank you so much for
coming to our school!”
The Science Dance Initiative is part of CDF’s Community Partnership Program, which serves more
than 2,000 toddlers to teens and senior citizens in Birmingham each week who are typical, who face
physical, mental or emotional challenges or who are considered “fragile.” “Movement to Music,”
a CDF-developed curriculum for young children and those with special needs, is taught by a CDF
dance instructor and musician to more than 1,400 young children in the Community Partnership
Program. Participants learn skills and concepts that help prepare them to enter school or further
enhance learning in Kindergarten through movement, songs, stories and tactile objects. The Community Partnership Program serves 100 senior citizens with drumming circles and almost 50 teen
girls with jazz and modern dance classes.
To learn more about the Community Partnership Program, and how you can help, visit
www.childrensdancefoundation.org. CDF also has a School Touring Program that presents the
academically-linked professional dance performance, “Math in Motion.” CDF is supported, in part,
by a tuition-based studio program, and donations to Children’s Dance Foundation for the Community Partnership and School Touring Programs are accepted year ‘round.
Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center Dance Programs
Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center opened its doors on July 25, 2007, and inaugurated its
activities with an unprecedented workshop with Wade Robson. More than 160 dancers from across
the southeast participated in two master classes with the Emmy® winning choreographer and over
100 auditioned for him. Wade selected thirteen dancers and two understudies to be part of a threeday intensive, where he set his original work, “Change.” “Change” was previewed on July 30,
2007, and was performed on January 27, 2008, at Merrimack Hall’s Evening of Dance. Wade
returned to Huntsville for this performance, conducted a master class and has promised to return to
Merrimack Hall annually. Merrimack Hall is proud to say that it is one of five organizations who
had the honor of presenting new work by Wade Robson; the other four are the San Francisco Ballet,
Cirque du Soliel, “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Merrimack Hall also hosted Wade’s sister, LA based choreographer Chantal Robson. Chantal is
the choreographer for the NBC television series “America’s Got Talent” and has toured extensively
with pop artist such as Usher, Madonna, Britney
Spears and *NSYNC. Chantal has her own management company, Patchworks Entertainment,
and is currently working with a number of young
artists to develop their careers. Ashton Grant, an
up-and-coming pop star, is one of Chantal’s artists
and traveled to Huntsville to work as Chantal’s
teaching assistant. Ashton is working on her first
album, due for release later this year. While at
Merrimack Hall, Chantal conducted master classes, held an audition and selected 10 dancers to perform with Ashton at Merrimack Hall’s Evening of
Dance. Chantal also conducted an informative
“How To Audition” class, which offered students
Wade Robson working with Abbey Jayne
the chance to learn how to prepare for professional
Moody, a freshman at Grissom High School,
while teaching a master class at Merrimack Hall auditions in the future.
14
Spotlights
Member
Hip-Hop choreographer Chris Tyler visited Merrimack Hall in January and March, conducting
master classes for dancers age 6 and up. In addition to his work as Shane Sparks’ assistant and as
a choreographer, Chris is the artists’ representative
for the southeast for the DDO Agency. In January,
Chris held an open audition and selected 13 area
dancers for representation by DDO. These dancers
are already receiving audition calls from DDO!
Plans are underway for Merrimack Hall’s summer
dance program, which will include master classes
and workshops with a number of choreographers
from around the south and from LA. Merrimack
Hall’s goal is to provide unique educational opportunities to dancers that will enhance their existing
dance education. Merrimack Hall wants to bring
top working professionals to Huntsville so that
dancers can have up-close and personal access to a
variety of choreographers and dance styles. Merrimack Hall is also planning its programming season
for 2008-2009 and has already booked Tapestry
Dance Company for a performance of “The Souls
of our Feet,” a tap dance performance that integrates film and dance, scheduled for February 6 and
7, 2009. Negotiations are underway for several other exciting dance performances.
The Evening of Dance featuring Wade Robson was held on January 27 and was a one-of-a-kind
celebration of dance in our community. The production featured the work of 17 choreographers
from 11 different dance organizations, along with the work of Wade Robson and Chantal Robson.
Chantal choreographed Merrimack Hall’s first “music video” which featured Ashton Grant’s performance of “Misery Loves Company,” her first single, and 10 back-up dancers. This performance
opportunity was a great experience for these dancers, who were able to see first hand what it’s like
to be a back up dancer for a pop singer. The Evening of Dance included a wide variety of dance
styles, from Alabama Youth Ballet’s award winning pas de deux “Living the Dream” to the contemporary jazz of Barbara Ellen Smartt and the North Alabama Dance Center. Merrimack Hall
plans to present an Evening of Dance annually.
Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center is a 501 (c)(3) organization founded by Debra and Alan
Jenkins. The Jenkins purchased historic Merrimack Hall in May 2006 and have personally funded
its restoration. The $3.5 million renovation was completed in July 2007 and includes a 300 seat,
state-of-the-art theatre, a 3,000 square foot dance studio, a performer green room and many more
amenities. In its first nine months of operation, Merrimack Hall has hosted Grammy® winners Dionne Warwick and Simon Kirke; Academy ® Award winning actor Billy Bob Thornton; a sold-out,
seven-week run of “Menopause the Musical®” along with Wade Robson and many other exciting
productions and events. For complete details on Merrimack Hall, it’s programs and services, please
visit www.merrimackhall.com, or call 256-534-6455.
15
Spotlights
Member
Downtown Dance Conservatory Begins Affiliations
with the Royal Academy of Dance
Linze Rickles McRae, director of the Downtown
Dance Conservatory located inside the Hardin Center for Cultural Arts of Gadsden, Alabama, has recently been offered a place in the Royal Academy of
Dance’s Faculty of Education program. The Royal
Academy of Dance, based in London, England, is the
world’s largest educational, examining, and membership organization founded in 1920 to advance the
standards of teaching in dance. With over 14, 500
members, its influence has spread to 77 countries with
a network of 34 international offices representing 64
jurisdictions supporting its operations. Its registered
teachers provide standards of excellence in ballet and
dance teaching, entering some 175,000 students of all
ages and abilities for examinations worldwide.
The ballet teaching program certificate lasts for two
years through distance learning and mentor training
with week long intensive study periods each year.
Candidates are admitted by an examination board on
the basis of a variety of qualifications, experience, Downtown Dance Artist’s Ensemble
and professional backgrounds. Upon completion, as “The Muses of Gaia”
Linze will become a registered Royal Academy of
Dance faculty member, able to examine and train students to the pre-professional level. The Downtown Dance Conservatory, located in the heart of historic downtown Gadsden, trains students in
classical and contemporary dance as well as hosts master classes, workshops, and original productions each season. The Conservatory is also a full member of the National Guild of Community
Schools for the Arts.
The Conservatory is the home of the Downtown Dance Artist’s Ensemble, a collaboration of dancers
from Northeast Alabama. During the 2007-2008 season the Conservatory produced a piece titled
“The Muses of Gaia” inspired by the goddesses of the arts and literature of Greek and Roman Mythology. Performed throughout the state, it was recently debuted at the Alabama Dance Council’s annual
Alabama Dance Showcase. The Conservatory’s current season will also produce an original retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty titled “Waking Beauty.” The story is based on an intertwining of
the original folk tale by Charles Perrault and Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet. With originally designed
costumes and scenery, the story unfolds on June 7th at 7:00 pm, at the Wallace Hall Performing Arts
Center in Gadsden, Alabama, with a cast of over 250 students currently in training at the Conservatory. For more information on the Conservatory’s programs, contact 256-543-ARTS ext.41.
16
Spotlights
Member
Devyani Dance Company Announces Successful Year
Devyani Dance Company, located in Irondale, Alabama, experienced a flourishing and prosperous
2007-2008 season. Whether the studio was undergoing expansion or the dancers were going on
tour, this season served to reinforce the notion that Devyani is one source for the cultural experience that binds us all.
In November, Devyani teamed up with Dandasha Dance Company from Chattanooga, TN and
Awalim Dance Company of Atlanta, GA to hit the road with Raquy and the Cavemen, a progressive Middle Eastern music experience out of Brooklyn, NY. This three-city southeastern tour was
one leg of Raquy and the Cavemen’s larger “Give Thanks” tour. Devyani performed in a sold out
show at the Barking Legs in Chattanooga; wowed a particularly enthusiastic group at the Red Light
Café in Atlanta; and were heavily supported by the home crowd at Bottle Tree Café in Birmingham.
Each show provided audiences with a taste of several styles of belly dance including American
tribal style and tribal fusion, along with core shaking live music. In fact, the shows were so well
received that dates are already set for the next tour and will feature two more cities in the lineup:
Asheville, NC and Knoxville, TN. Look for more information in fall 2008!
Devyani’s Megha Gavin was invited to teach two workshops in February at TribalCon, a highly
lauded annual belly dance event held in Atlanta that brings in teachers and students from around
the country for three days of classes, networking, and shopping. Gavin’s workshops were packed
with helpful information on dance technique and full details of new dance moves and combinations, much to the delight of the students. A highlight of the TribalCon event is the all-star show,
and Devyani was invited to participate. The number included breathtaking floor work and many of
the new dance combinations that Gavin taught in the workshop. The audience was filled with the
energy generated by the performance, made evident through their boisterous praise.
In line with spring’s beauty and new beginnings, Devyani began a new venture by
hosting a hafla on March 1 that featured
two-time Grammy award winner Naser
Musa and Grammy nominee Souhail Kaspar. Prior to the hafla, Kaspar offered a
course at the studio detailing the history
of belly dance; additionally, on the day of
the hafla, Musa and Kaspar offered several
drumming and melody workshops. The
hafla itself featured dance companies and
performers from around the southeast. The
event included belly dancing, flamenco,
hula, and Indian classical folk fusion dance.
Devyani’s Megha Gavin (left) and Deanna
Freeman (right) perform at TribalCon in February 2008. The Devyani students performed alongside
Photo courtesy of Russ Matthews Photography
several troupe members in a traditional
number. The second half of the show was
dedicated to the music of Musa and Kaspar with a few belly dance solos peppered into the pieces; one
of the soloists was Devyani’s Deanna Freeman, who also coordinated this festive event.
Devyani also has two cover girls to announce! Gavin graced the cover of Zaghareet magazine in
April 2007 and was featured in one of the articles. Devyani’s Michelle Amaral lit up the cover of
the January / February 2008 issue of Jareeda Magazine for her winning article describing the addictive nature of belly dance costuming. An enormous “thank you” goes out to Sharon Creel for her
fabulous photography that made each of these cover shots simply stunning.
17
Spotlights
Member
And, as if these Devyani women just can’t sit still, their much sought-after American tribal style
dance moves are once again going international! For the third straight year, Gavin will be teaming with Carolena Nericcio of Fat Chance Belly Dance, who is the creator of this dance style, to
instruct Tribal:Pura workshops in such places as Canada, Madrid, Mexico, and Finland, to name
just a few.
Devyani is looking forward to several upcoming performances including the ONB Magic City Art
Connection in April, and the Devotion Show in San Francisco, where they will work in conjunction
with sister troupe Fat Chance Belly Dance.
A studio expansion has allowed incorporation of many more classes at Devyani Dance Studio,
including children’s belly dance, hula, and Middle Eastern drumming. More information may be
found at www.devyani.net.
Upstart Dance Company Making Their Mark
Last year, many people heard about and might have even laughed at
the dance company that began in a basement in McCalla last spring. In
less than one year, that same company has gained their studio, Rhythm
N Motion in Mt. Laurel, been featured in multiple national/local news
media, and will produce their fifth professional show this May.
The Vulcan Performers were created by TJ and Wendy Zito to promote and unite a variety of professional dance styles in the Birmingham area. TJ and Wendy compete professionally in the Theater Arts
division of ballroom on the open national circuit, in Showcase West
Coast Swing, and in Showcase Hustle. Inspired by the television show
“So You Think You Can Dance,” they wondered what other professional dancers existed in Birmingham that were lacking a chance to
showcase their skills to the Birmingham audience.
The group consists of dancers ages 19 and above that have training in
styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, ballroom, gymnastics, street
break dancing, theater, and other performing arts backgrounds. The
Zito’s find their performers using Myspace, Facebook, and other internet tools. They are always interested in finding talented guys and
girls that are interested in dancing with their group.
The company’s shows and styles have changed dramatically since their beginnings. Originally the
shows were set in local theaters, but scheduling proved to be very difficult. Using their experience
from ballroom events, the Zito’s constructed their own floor and held events at the Highland Conference Center in Birmingham. They would assemble and disassemble the floor after each show
and store it in the Zito’s basement. This has allowed them to bring the shows to various locations
including future shows coming to the Birmingham Public Library.
Finding their unique look and style has been a challenge. The Zito’s vision for the group was for
dancers to do group, duet, and solo numbers in multiple styles of dance including couples dancing. This was a challenge to many of the first classically trained dancers because ballroom dancing
utilizes different techniques, terminology, and styles. The outfits also tend to follow the styles of
the west coast swing and hustle circuits which can resemble night time club wear of Los Angeles
and New York. The music choices are very diverse and can utilize everything from blues, top40, or
even alternative.
18
Spotlights
Member
Anytime there is something different from the status quo, there can be resistance. The Zito’s bring
different experiences from the ballroom and swing circuit to their shows and choreography. Other
dance professionals in the area have disagreed with their methods, but the Zito’s are operating from
a different perspective than the styles Birmingham has been accustomed to.
The Vulcan Performers are proud to bring a different way of doing things to the Magic City and the
company invites everyone to watch them grow and progress. Each show has presented new challenges and they have learned from different experiences. They dance because they love to perform
and wish to share this with others.
2008 will bring the first charity events for the group. In a benefit with Magic Moments charity, the
company will produce a local version of Dancing with the Stars featuring local celebrities on May 3.
They will also debut their new show, “Vulcan Performers Go Hollywood” which will have themed
dances and music featuring Hollywood movies.
The event will be free at the Birmingham Public Library and a donation during the event to Magic
Moments would be appreciated. The event will feature a red carpet entrance for celebrities and
performers complete with classic limos, media coverage, and formal wear. The group always stands
behind their slogan, “Creating Dance Entertainment.” They like to promote the entertainment and
pageantry of their shows just as much as the dancing.
Just as they do for all of their events, the group will hold a social dance after the show where you can
dance with your favorite performer in various styles of Latin, Swing, and Ballroom dancing. After
many of the shows, the Zito’s have taught free lessons to those attending the after party.
There are other planned charity/non charity events and shows including a Pop Culture Rewind show
in August (featuring 70s, 80s, 90s music/themes), a show this fall, and a holiday show planned for
December. Their 2009 season will kick off with their Anti-Valentine’s show in February. Each
show features different choreography, styles, and music from the year and shows before. They do
not repeat numbers in any shows.
The group performs at corporate events and in the past has promoted with Rave Movie Theaters
for “Hairspray” and “Step Up” and “Enchanted” for Carmike Theaters. They have performed at the
Bravo Arts Festival, UAB International Festival, and multiple exhibitions for charity and special
events. They do choreography at their studio for everything from dance teams, high school theater/
choir shows, community shows, public events, and any other dance need. They are also available
for exhibitions for your next event.
At the studio Rhythm N Motion, they specialize in adult classes in the evenings and have children’s
classes during the day. They offer children’s classes for many age groups in ballet, tap, jazz/hip
hop, contemporary, lyrical, mommy and me, and more. They have evening group classes for adults
in ballet, hip hop, ballroom, bellydance/latin/yoga fusion, burlesque strip aerobics, Travolta Aerobics, and also offer privates. They specialize in first dance choreography for weddings.
Visit the Vulcan Performers online at www.vulcanperformers.com, www.bhamrhythm.com, or
www.myspace.com/vulcanperformers. Or call TJ and Wendy Zito at (205) 792-4642.
19
Spotlights
Member
Centre for Performing Arts Attends National Dance Convention
Twenty five students from the Centre for
Performing Arts in Prattville attended
Showstoppers National Dance Convention in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in
January. The girls were able to receive
ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop instruction
from a variety of master teachers who
had gathered from across the United
States. Some of these included stars
such as MTV’s Geo Hubela and Darrin
Henson, as well as Broadway performers Haley McClelland and Mary Ann
Lamb, to name a few. The girls also
had an opportunity to attend the 2008
Dance Olympus Convention in Atlanta
where they kicked off their competition
season at Dance America.
Students from the Centre of Performing Arts
Although their were several competitions on the calendar, the Centre for Performing Arts found
time to celebrate their First Anniversary with a Disco Dance Party in February. The studio has far
surpassed their goal of 100 students even though the business is still in its infancy. Studio owners
attribute much of their success to the family atmosphere and Christian values. The highlight of
the year will be the Spring Dance Recital on May 24th at the Davis Theater in Montgomery. The
performance, which begins at 6:30 p.m.,is free and open to the public.
The girls and the instructors from the Centre are pictured here with Showstoppers Convention host
Julian Thorn and hip-hop instructor Dena Rizzo. For additional photos and information visit
www.centreforperformingarts.com.
Nashville Irish Step Dancers of Birmingham Offer
Glimpse of Irish Tradition
The Nashville Irish Step Dancers (NISD) is a dance school that has become a beacon
for the Irish community in both Nashville and Birmingham. NISD has cultivated the
centuries old passed down traditional Irish dance steps and has bridged the gap between
today’s progressive dance, by creating new innovative steps of their own. The dancers
have fostered a deeper appreciation of Irish heritage through their many performances at
area schools, nursing homes, churches and festivals. NISD provides a family environment
in which students learn not only how to dance, but develop poise, grace, self-confidence
and friendships with dancers of all ages. NISD will continue to “carry the Celtic torch”
and preserve its Irish heritage and tradition in Birmingham’s multi-cultural society.
NISD is a “full-service” Irish dance school, offering the many aspects of Irish dance including all levels of
competition, solo and team dancing, performances, learning the tradition of the Irish culture and having a
great time. The staff firmly believes that families are the top priority. You choose the level of involvement
that’s right for you. Some students may want to simply learn a few traditional tunes or jig steps. Others may
look forward to the thrill of stepping out on stage; be it a parish party or a sold-out theater. Still others may
have aspirations of reaching championship level competition. Any and all are possible with the Nashville
Irish Step Dancers. Regardless of the direction you choose, the ultimate goal is to provide the best instruction
possible. NISD strives to instill a sense of belonging, direction, spirit, confidence and self-motivation in each
and every child that enters our classroom.
20
Spotlights
Member
Nashville Irish Step Dancers of Birmingham is directed by Mary Moran, TCRG, and Katie Cox,
TMRF. Both are teachers certified to teach Irish dance by An Coimisiun, the Irish Dancing Commission in Dublin, Ireland.
Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts Offers
Summer Workshops
The Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts (AIEA) is a nonprofit organization that offers summer sessions in comprehensive Music Education, Theatre Education, Visual Arts Education, and Dance Education.
Administrators attend the Administrator’s Institute and may then join their faculty in the arts discipline
workshops. Teachers have attended from Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, and from as far away as Tokyo,
Japan, and London, England. In the ten years of AIEA’s existence, over 1000 teachers, art specialists, docents, parents, and artists have been trained and subsequently impacted the lives of over 25,000 children.
Institute 2008: The ART of STORY will be held June 16-20, 2008, in Montgomery. Schools are encouraged to send teams of at least three teachers, who will explore the essential place of Story in history as
reflected in the arts. Teachers select which Institute they will focus on during the week: Music, Theatre,
Visual Art, or Dance. Cost for the five days is $250 before May 1; $350 after. Housing at AUM is available
at an additional cost of $150 for the week.
Each Institute will work throughout the week
on lesson planning. Teachers will leave with
at least one personally designed lesson and receive a collection of all of the lessons developed in all of the Institutes. Digital Storytelling will be a part
of Institutes as teachers work to make the technology a part of their classrooms. Music participants will
learn to create pod casts through technology and take these skills back to their students. Dance participants
work with the dance concepts of time, space and energy, integrating those concepts with academic subjects
and technology. Teachers will learn techniques to open their classrooms to interdisciplinary activities that
weave dance with language arts, math, science, and social studies. All will take home texts, CDs, units,
technology resources and a newfound appreciation of the art form of dance and its place in the classroom.
All work is grounded in the Alabama Course of Study: Arts Education. The Course of Study will be utilized,
and teachers will work with the standards presented. Follow-up is provided to participants throughout the
year. Staff will make site visits in fall and spring. Institute Directors will be able to communicate with participants via email. In addition, each year AIEA sponsors at least four SuperSaturday sessions across a wide
range of topics free to participants from AIEA schools.
Focus on Arts Integration: Integrated Curriculum Design Workshop will be on July 7-10, 2008, at the Saint
James School in Montgomery. This workshop will provide a practical starting point for elementary and
middle school teachers who are interested in exploring the theory and practice of arts integration. The goals
of the workshop are to:
• Introduce key principals of arts integration practice
• Use authentic connections among the arts and other content areas to teach common concepts
• Demonstrate that integration is an effective strategy for teaching
• Model a collaborative process for planning, teaching, and reflecting
Curriculum topics and concepts will be grounded in National and Alabama state standards. Teachers will
receive the new Arts Course of Study: Arts Education and the National Standards for Arts Education. Instruction will be student centered and exploratory in nature.
For more information on either of these workshops, please visit the AIEA website at
www.artseducation.org, or email Randy Foster at [email protected].
21
Spotlights
Member
AlabamaBallet School to become
Alabama Ballet Royal Academy of Dance
Alabama Ballet is excited to announce that in August 2008, the Alabama Ballet School will reopen as the Alabama Ballet Royal Academy of Dance. With this new distinction, Alabama Ballet will be
introducing the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Syllabus and will
become the first registered RAD school in the state. Founded over 80
years ago, the Royal Academy of Dance is the largest, most influential
teacher training and examining body for classical ballet in the world.
The RAD Syllabus is taught in over 70 countries in the world, setting
high standards of dance training for over 250,000 students each year.
Alabama Ballet is currently working with the RAD headquarters in London as well as in the United
States to arrange for the school’s teachers to undergo an intense period of training. Over the summer, Alabama Ballet teaching artists will be working with RAD tutors to ensure that they are thoroughly comfortable with the new syllabus. Alabama Ballet School students and families can expect
a smooth transition to the RAD syllabus.
Of this new direction, Artistic Director Tracey Alvey said, “I feel that this is, without a doubt, the
right direction for the school to move in order for us to be established as an integral part of the further development of dance in the Birmingham community and the state of Alabama.”
For more information on the Royal Academy of Dance, visit www.radusa.org. To learn more about
Alabama Ballet’s program, visit www.alabamaballet.orgor call 205-322-1874. Registration for the
2008-2009 School year begins on April 25!
22
News
National
Bates Dance Festival Announces 2008 Training Programs
The Bates Dance Festival, northern New England’s
leading contemporary dance training and presenting
program, announces its 26th season, July 3-Aug. 9,
2008. The festival includes the renowned three-week
training program for dancers 18 years and older (July
19-Aug. 9), as well as the Young Dancers Workshop,
a 17-day intensive training for young pre-professional dancers ages 13-17 (July 3-19). The six-week festival features workshops and performances by more
than 30 internationally recognized dance artists from
around the globe.
Recognized throughout the dance world for its noncompetitive environment and emphasis on experimentation, the Bates Dance Festival brings more than
340 students to the Bates College campus from across the United States and overseas to study,
create and perform.
Highlighting the festival’s 26th season will be residencies and performances by the acclaimed New
York-based troupe Keigwin+Company, contemporary African dance makers Gregory Maqoma
and Nora Chipaumire, emerging talents Zoe Scofield & Juniper Shuey, Nugent+Matteson Dance,
and Christopher Williams among others. Noted dance scholar Joan Frosch will present her awardwinning film, “Movement (R)evolution” and lead “Inside Dance,” an audience enrichment program
held in conjunction with the main stage concert series.
The Three-Week Professional Training Program offers 28 daily classes including modern, jazz, ballet, contemporary African, Odissi, contact improvisation, repertory, creative process, rhythm studies, dance theory, business of the arts. The festival’s extensive roster of artists includes popular and
frequently requested veteran teachers Victoria Marks, Colleen Thomas, Gabriel Masson, JoAnna
Mendl Shaw, Chris Aiken, and Cathy Young among others.
The Young Dancers Workshop, a structured, non-competitive program designed for preprofessional dance students, features intensive study with a gifted faculty that includes modern teachers
Heidi Henderson and Nicole Wolcott; veteran ballet instructors Shonach Mirk-Robles and Martha
Tornay; Simonson teacher Teresa Perez; gifted hip-hop artist Jennifer Archibald; contemporary
Caribbean choreographer Tania Isaac; improvisation teacher Karl Rogers; and acclaimed dance
maker Larry Keigwin who will offer repertory.
Known for its’ emphasis on the integral relationship between dance and music, the festival features
a roster of acclaimed musicians who accompany classes and present an annual concert. This summer accompanists Tigger Benford, Rajesh Bhandari, Glen Fittin, Peter Jones, Carl Landa, Jesse
Manno, John Clark Steifel, and Shamou will be in residence enlivening the environment.
A wide variety of dance-related and special workshops, films, lectures and a critically acclaimed
main stage performance series of 11 concerts complement the daily class schedule.
More information about the Bates Dance Festival is available at: www.bates.edu/dancefest;
by e-mailing [email protected]; or by calling Nancy Salmon, festival registrar,
at 207-786-6381.
23
News
National
National Performing Arts Convention: Taking Action Together
Registration is open for the nation’s first truly combined National Performing Arts Convention (NPAC) at www.performingartsconvention.org. Scheduled for June 10-14 in Denver, NPAC will bring together nearly 5,000 people, with a diverse
range of interests in the non-profit performing arts, to shape the direction of the industry over the next decade. Attendance is
open to anyone, including: actors, agents, arts administrators, businesses, composers, conductors, critics, dancers, directors,
educators, fundraisers, marketers, musicians, producers, singers, trustees and volunteers.
While NPAC has been designed to engage attendees in shared, multi-disciplinary content where they will learn best practices and meet colleagues from other fields, time has also been reserved for each artistic discipline’s organization to convene
its own members for special events and programming. During NPAC’s online registration process, participants will be
prompted to also enroll in discipline-specific sessions of special interest to them.
NPAC is being presented by nearly 25 national performing arts service organizations that are rolling up their sleeves and coming together to develop, design, fund and facilitate the 2008 convention in close partnership with colleagues from the Denver
performing arts community. “We expect this historic collaboration will more clearly communicate the importance of the
performing arts to the nation’s quality of life, economy and identity,” said Ann Meier Baker, co-chair of NPAC and President/
CEO of Chorus America. “By working together, performing arts leaders will be able to more effectively bring the value of
what we do to a wider audience, not least of all to policymakers and politicians through an online Advocacy Center that will
be operating through the convention,” added Marc A. Scorca, co-chair of NPAC and President/CEO of OPERA America.
In addition to general session speaker Jim Collins, acclaimed author of Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the
Leap…and Others Don’t, nearly 100 speakers and presenters of note have been confirmed. Some of the diverse names include: Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel, Baltimore Symphony music director Marin Alsop, Venezuelan music
education phenomenon Jose Antonio Abreu, Jazz at Lincoln Center executive director Adrian Ellis, current and former National Endowment for the Arts chairs Dana Gioia and Bill Ivey, contemporary American tenor John Duykers, New York Times
critic and founder of the Lincoln Center Festival John Rockwell and Louisiana Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu is also tentatively
scheduled – to name a few. A full list of speakers and presenters can be found at www.performingartsconvention.org.
Examples of some of the 60 planned sessions include: Taking Art Off the Shelf: Making the Arts Relevant Again; The Art
of Living, or Living for Art: A Survival Guide for Individual Artists; The Value of A Seat; Design, Evaluation and Research
on Arts Education Programs; Playwriting Bootcamp; Fun with Critics; The Changing Technological Universe and its Potential for the Arts Sector; Boomers: A Blooming Audience, or Fading Flowers in the Cultural Scene?; Artists from Abroad:
Everything You Need to Know about Visa and Tax Issues; Opera: From Soap to Nuts; It Ain’t Easy Being Green!; and, Art
and Activism: Making Art, Making a Difference.
The participating NPAC arts service organizations include: American Composers Forum, American Music Center, Americans
for the Arts, Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Chamber Music America, Chorus America, Conductors Guild, Creative
Capital, Dance USA, Early Music America, Folk Alliance, Grantmakers in the Arts, International Association for Jazz Education,
League of American Orchestras, Meet the Composer, Music Critics Association of North America, National Assembly of State
Arts Agencies, National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, National Performance Network, North American Performing
Arts Managers and Agents, OPERA America, Theatre Communications Group, and University/Resident Theatre Association.
NPAC also expects more than 150 different companies to exhibit: ranging from artist managers and music publishers - for
example - to acousticians, staging, apparel and recording companies in the convention’s 100,000 square foot exhibition hall,
located an escalator ride away from the majority of the programming. NPAC is made possible through the generous support
of a range of donors and sponsors. A full list is available at www.performingartsconvention.org/sponsors.
24
News
National
10th Annual National Dance Education Organization Conference
In June 2008, Towson will come alive with dancers,
dance educators, dance students, classroom teachers,
mentors and mentees, presenters, performers, and choreographers. The 2008 NDEO Conference will be held
June 25-29 hosted by Towson University, which is in
close proximity to Washington DC. The theme is appropriately Contact Politics: The Dance of Personal
and Public Change. Presentations will address issues
concerning dance as a mirror for social and political
reflection and change. They will explore the power of
dance within the classroom, school, state, or nation’s
community and examine how its promote change. With this conference, NDEO celebrates its tenth
anniversary as an advocate for dance as an art in education.
NDEO Conferences typically offer 150-200 presentations that appeal to dance educators in every
genre and teaching venue. At last year’s conference, presentations were marked by specific interest
areas. NDEO will continue this practice as feedback was extremely positive.
Although there is an additional fee for the Pre-Conference workshops on June 25, Dance Advocacy:
Speaking Up, all events during the Conference are free to full registration participants (evening of
June 25 through June 29). Full registration includes the Opening Reception, Member Breakfast, the
Book Signing Session, the Banquet, 3 evening performances, and the site-specific event at the Caner
Survivors Monument. Wednesday evening features a showcase performance of students from area
schools. Thursday and Friday concerts feature CREDO area (Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC)
talent and work of the Towson University faculty.
NDEO Conferences are celebrations of dance education. It is time for NDEO members to become a
united community in which 600-700 high-powered leaders of the field, dedicated teachers, and students join together to dance, share, dialogue, and move the field forward toward excellent dance education for all students across the nation. For conference schedule and registration details, visit the NDEO
website at www.ndeo.org/conference. Or call NDEO at (301) 585-2880 for more information.
25
Special Feature:
26
Alabama Ballet
Birmingham, Alabama
It is with a great deal of excitement that Alabama Ballet would like to announce that with the
beginning of the new academic year, the Alabama Ballet School will be introducing the Royal
Academy of Dance Syllabus to our curriculum and will be renaming the school the Alabama Ballet Royal Academy of Dance School. This will make Alabama Ballet the first registered Royal
Academy of Dance School in the state of Alabama. Artistic Director Tracey Alvey feels that this
is the right direction for the school to move and will establish Alabama Ballet as an integral part of
the further development of dance in the Birmingham community and state of Alabama. For more
information on the Royal Academy of Dance, visit www.radusa.org or call 205-322-1874.
Alabama Ballet Summer Program 2008
The Alabama Ballet invites intermediate and advanced ballet students ages 11 -19 to
audition for an incredibly 3 to 6 week summer program at our ballet facility, featuring six
state of the art studios. An exceptional faculty of resident and guest teachers will provide
careful instruction to further each young dancer’s technical and artistic progress. Daily
technique, pointe and variations classes will be supplemented by informational seminars
on topics important to the young dancer. The program will culminate in an end of session
performance. Housing is available. Call Libba Owen at 205-322-1874 or visit
www.alabamaballet.org for audition information.
Session I: June 9-June 28
Session II: June 30-July 19
Faculty: Tracey Alvey, Alabama Ballet Artistic Director, former London City Ballet
principal; Roger Van Fleteren, Alabama Ballet Resident Choreographer, former ABT
soloist and London City Ballet principal; Amanda McKerrow, Former ABT Principal;
John Gardner, Former ABT Soloist; Shawn Black, Alabama Native and former ABT
soloist; Teri Weksler, Southern DanceWorks Artistic Director, former dancer with Mark
Morris Dance Group; Margi Cole, Artistic Director and founder of The Dance
COLEctive in Chicago; Donnette Cannonie, Dancer with The Dance COLEctive,
hip-hop instructor.
Special Feature:
27
Alabama Ballet Tutus & Tiaras
Alabama Ballet’s Tutus & Tiaras offers young dancers the opportunity to experience
dance in a fun and nurturing environment and is a wonderful introduction to ballet study.
For one week, four hours a day, children ages 4-7 will take an age appropriate ballet
class, a tap class, create ballet oriented crafts and learn how ballet dancers tell stories
with pantomime. During the day, the children will also have a story time where they
can learn about ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella and other classics.
Students need to bring a sack lunch. At the end of the week, parents are invited to an end
of the session performance. Cost: $200 Per session. Contact Libba Owen or visit
www.alabamaballet.org to download the registration form.
Session I: July 21-July 25, 10 am – 2pm daily
Session II: July 28-August 1, 10am – 2pm daily
Alabama Ballet Summer Junior Camp
Join the Alabama Ballet for a 2-week Junior Ballet Camp for dancers 8-12 years of age.
Students will take age appropriate ballet classes, learn modern dance and jazz technique,
and take character and theatre dance classes. All students will study dance history and
prepare for an end of the session performance. Family and friends are invited to join
us for this performance. Cost: $375 - 2 weeks; $225 - 1 week. July 7-July 18,
10 am – 3 pm daily.
Special Feature:
28
Alabama Dance Theatre
Montgomery, Alabama
Alabama Dance Theatre Summer Classes
The Alabama Dance Theatre will be offering classes in
classical ballet (pre-ballet to the professional level), modern,
jazz, hip-hop, and tap May 27- July 3 on a new state of the
art dance floor. Highlights of summer classes include
classical ballet training and creative movement classes open
to ages 4 to 7. Classes will be held at the Armory Learning
Arts Center, home of the Alabama Dance Theatre located
at 1018 Madison Avenue. For more information please call
(334) 241-2590 or visit www.alabamadancetheatre.com.
Summer Dance Seminar
The Alabama Dance Theatre will host its annual Summer
Dance Seminar from July 14-July 28, 2008. Intermediate and
Advanced dancers are eligible for this two week intensive
seminar which features classical ballet, modern, and jazz
classes taught by a nationally recognized guest faculty
featuring former American Ballet Theatre Soloist, Shawn
Black, former Principal Ballerina with American Ballet
Theatre and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Marianna Tcherkassky,
and Complexions dancer and Ballet Academy East instructor, Sabra Perry, along with
Alabama Dance Theatre faculty.
The Summer Dance Seminar which culminates with two free performances of “Stars on
the Riverfront” is sponsored by Summit America, Alabama Power, Wachovia,
Montgomery Advertiser, and the City of Montgomery. “Stars on the Riverfront” features
a unique array of classical and contemporary works. Performances are Sunday, July 27
at 2:30 p.m. at the Armory Learning Arts Center and Monday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m.
at the Riverfront Amphitheater. For more information call (334) 241-2590 or
visit the website at www.alabamadancetheatre.com.
Alabama School of Fine Arts
Birmingham, Alabama
May 23 is the deadline to sign up for The Dance Excellence Young Dancer
Camp at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. Dance Excellence Young
Dancer Camp is a community-based program for students age five through
nine years old. It is designed to provide an excellent education in the art of
classical dance. The program provides an excellent preparation for those
wishing to audition to ASFA in the future. To register, call 205-252-9241
for a registration form to be submitted with a non-refundable $50 registration fee (applied to tuition). Space is limited and will be filled on a firstcome, first-served basis. (Tuition is due in full May 23.) The registration fee
will apply to total tuition of $150, which covers daily classes and snacks.
Special Feature:
29
Alabama School of Fine Arts Young Dancer Camp
$150 tuition for ages 5-9
June 9-13, 9:00-11:00am
June 13, 11:00 a.m. performancefor families and friends
Teacher Margaret Galloway brings more than 25 years of studio and stage experience,
including training and performing with UAB Ballet and the Alabama Ballet in major
productions like Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella and La
Bayadere. She has danced corps de ballet and solo character roles. She has studied in
New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, with extensive mentoring from Dame Sonia
Arova, the former director of the Alabama Ballet, and choreographer Thor Sutowski,
both internationally acclaimed.
Andalusia Ballet
Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia Ballet will hold their Summer Intensive
June 2nd – June 14th. Students will receive expert
training from guest teacher, Elie Lazar and ABA’s
Artistic Director, Meryane Martin-Murphy. The workshop includes classes in: ballet, pointe,
variations, pas de deux, special men’s classes, modern, conditioning, yoga and more. Upper level
students have the opportunity to take classes and perform with company members from Lazar Ballet
NYC. Ages 9- and up. For more information regarding registration, please contact 334.222.6620
today. Spaces are limited and spots are filling fast!
Birmingham Ballet
Birmingham, Alabama
Summer is approaching! Birmingham Ballet has an excellent Summer
of Camps, Intensives and Evening Classes to keep your dancer enriched
throughout the summer months. Dancers from three years old through
advanced and pre-professional dancers will find Birmingham Ballet
Summer Camps and Intensives are entertaining, enriching and fun!
Birmingham Ballet will feature guest teachers from American Ballet
Theatre, the Radio City Rockettes, and Broadway! BBA resident faculty
teachers will also offer classes to inspire dancers of all ages.
It is an excellent idea for young dancers to continue their dance training
during the summer months. This way, they will not lose what they have
gained during the rest of the year, but will continue to grow in strength,
flexibility, coordination, alignment, balance and confidence. They can
concentrate on specific areas to improve and gain the experience of
dancing with different teachers, professionals, and other students.
Register soon, space will be limited! For questions, fell free to contact Academy Director,
Amanda Limbaugh at (205) 979-9492 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Registration forms are available online at www.birminghamballet.com/academy.
Performing Arts Camp for Boys and Girls, ages Kindergarten 5th Grade, July 14-18, 2008
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm, Camp Fee: $160
Dance, act, and explore the performing arts. Stretch your imagination, expand your
talents and try something new. The weeklong camp includes instruction in drama,
Special Feature:
30
ballet, tap, musical theatre, jazz and more! The curriculum is based on age appropriate
lesson plans so that each child will have an enriching experience. Performing Arts Camp
concludes with a mini-performance presented by the campers for family and friends.
Summer Intensive for Beginner through Advanced Dancers, Ages 8-22,
June 16-20, 2008
Monday through Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm, Program Fee:
$400 full day (ages 11-22); $200 half day (ages 8-10).
Featuring instruction from Master Teachers as well as Birmingham Ballet faculty,
this program includes morning classes of ballet technique, pointe and variations,
character dance and partnering. Afternoon sessions are dedicated to repertory classes,
jazz, choreography and more. The week will conclude with a performance for
family and friends.
Evening Classes for Intermediate through Advanced Dancers, Ages 10 – Adult
Monday through Thursday 4:30pm - 7:00pm, Fee: $150 per session; choose three or
more sessions- fee: $125.
Session I: June 9-12, 2008
Session II: June 23-26, 2008
Session III: July 7-10, 2008
Session IV: July 14-17, 2008
Session V: July 21-24, 2008
Birmingham Ballet Academy, the official school of the Birmingham Ballet, hosts summer
classes for area-wide intermediate through advanced dancers. Guest teachers from
various dance disciplines and master teachers will be part of the training. Dancers may
attend one or more sessions. Class placement is based on technical ability. Each session
offers daily ballet technique followed by pointe, jazz, or dance conditioning.
Young Ballerina Camp for Pre-School age students Ages 3 – 4
Session I: June 23-27, 2008 9:30am-10:15am
Session II: July 14-18, 2008: 5:30pm-6:15pm
Session III: August 11-15, 2008: 1:30pm-2:15pm
Does your child dream of becoming a prima ballerina? Would she love to be a dancing
princess? Young Ballerina Camp is designed especially for budding stars with big
dreams. This camp offers daily dance instruction coupled with a creative exploration of
classic ballet stories. Students may attend all sessions!
Birmingham-Southern College
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham-Southern College announces the 2008 Intensive Summer Dance Workshop for ages 12 and up on June 9 - June 20, 2008.
This Intensive Summer Dance Workshop for Summer 2008 will offer
daily classes in ballet technique, jazz, modern, character, with additional classes in pointe, acting, tap, and pilates. Mira Popovich and
an outstanding faculty of performer-teachers will lead classes in each
area. Classes will begin on Monday, June 9, and conclude on Friday,
afternoon June 20. All students must have passed their twelfth birthday. Students who plan to live on campus will be housed in modern,
air-conditioned dormitories under the supervision of BSC Dance senior students. Food is provided at the BSC cafeteria. BirminghamSouthern’s swimming pool, tennis courts, and other recreational facilities are available to all workshop participants. Each application
must be accompanied by a non-refundable reservation registration
Special Feature:
31
fee of $50.00 which will not apply to tuition. For more information contact Mira Popovich, director
of the Workshop. Tuition is only refundable in the case of acute illness. Deadline for applications is
June 7. To apply, or for more information, contact the director of the workshop at (205) 226-4945
or (205) 323-5390, or email [email protected], or download additional brochures at www.
mirapopovich.com/brochure.
Bluebird Dance Academy
Pearl, Mississippi
2008 Summer Dance Intensive Program
Website: www.blubirddance.org
Session 1: 6/9/08 to 6/28/08
Session 2: 7/7/08 to 7/26/08
Lower School Program (3 to 7 yrs.) -- $75.00 per session
Middle School Program (8 to 12 yrs.) -- $140.00 per session
Upper School Program (13 to 18 yrs.) -- $140.00 per session
For session details or questions, please contact BDA at the following:
Email: [email protected], phone: 601-559-3830
Community Ballet School
Huntsville, Alabama
Summer Intensive, June 2-June 6 and June 9-June 13
Community Ballet School (Official School of Huntsville
Ballet Company) is pleased to announce its 2008 summer
intensive for intermediate and advanced dancers. Classes will
include ballet technique, Pointe, variations, choreography,
character, modern, jazz, hip hop and pilates mat. Each week
will culminate with an in-studio performance by all
participants. Faculty will include Phillip Otto, Huntsville
Ballet Company’s new Artistic Director and Rachel Butler,
Community Ballet’s new School Director as well as CBS’s
own faculty. For information and registration contact
Community Ballet School at (256) 559-0961 or visit our
website at www.communityballet.org.
Summer Program, Huntsville, June 16-August 8
Community Ballet School (Official School of
Huntsville Ballet Company) is pleased to announce
its 2008 regular summer program for ages 3-adult.
Classes offered include ballet, Pointe, modern, Jazz,
tap and Pilates mat. New this summer are interna
tional Latin dance classes taught by Community
Ballet’s own Olga Jacobs. Faculty will include Huntsville Ballet’s new Artistic Director,
Phillip Otto and Community Ballet’s new School Director, Rachel Butler. For more
information and registration contact Community Ballet School at (256) 559-0961 or visit
our website at www.communityballet.org.
Special Feature:
32
Mobile Ballet
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile Ballet is pleased to announce a summer intensive
with guest instructor Michael Wardlaw, June 9-20. Wardlaw is a former soloist with Cincinnati Ballet, director of
the Northwest Florida Ballet Pensacola School, and a guest
artist with Mobile Ballet. Two sessions are offered: one for
students ages 12-14 and one for students ages 15 and up. Jazz
classes are available on those same days and will be taught by
Mobile Ballet faculty member Zoe Lombard Todd and guest
faculty. For more information, please call Mobile Ballet at
Sheryl Ware
251-342-2241.
Mobile Ballet also is offering master classes June 13-14 with Sheryl Ware, faculty member of
School of American Ballet and former soloist with New York City Ballet. Classes are offered for
students 12-14 and students 15 and up. Enrollment is limited. For more information, please call
Mobile Ballet at 251-342-2241.
Montgomery Ballet
Montgomery, Alabama
The Montgomery Ballet’s 2008 Summer Intensive Seminar, June 23 - July 19, 2008, focuses on ballet, and also
offers a wide variety of classes in other dance forms, including Jazz, Modern, Character, Men’s Class, Variations
and Partnering. The Seminar is designed for those who
desire the best training available, and who are up for the
challenge of a rigorous and fulfilling program. Seminar
Faculty place students in the appropriate class level on the first day. The Montgomery Ballet School
is located in an air-conditioned facility with three large studios featuring high ceilings and sprung
floors. The facility is in Central Montgomery, located near many hotels, restaurants and businesses.
Lodging accommodations available on the campus of Auburn University of Montgomery. For more
information, please contact the Montgomery Ballet Office at (334) 409-0522, montgomeryballet@
knology.net, or online at www.montgomeryballet.org.
Nashville Irish Step Dancers of Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
2nd Annual Magic City Irish Dance Camp
The Magic City Irish Dance Camp is an Alabama-based day camp for Irish dancers and
experienced dancers of other forms to enhance their Irish dance skills, cross-train, and
sample other Irish arts under the direction of top-class instructors! The 2008 camp
features Amy Campbell-Moran, ADCRG and many others! As the Magic City Irish
Dance Camp is entering its second year, we are also including a special Irish music track
for both dancers and non-dancers. The 2008 Magic City Irish Dance Camp will be held
July 7-13, 2008 in Birmingham, Alabama, and registration is now open! Check
www.irishdancesummercamp.com for information on the camp and to register, and
contact us at [email protected] with any questions.
Colin Dunne Masterclass Tour 2008
Dancer and choreographer Colin Dunne, former principal dancer with Riverdance –
The Show and nine times World Champion Irish step dancer will teach a series of two
day workshops in six North American cities this summer. Classes will focus on technique
and repertoire and will be split into two groups, Beginner/Intermediate and
Intermediate/Advanced.
Special Feature:
33
Dunne has choreographed for Riverdance – The Show (notably the step dance/tap dance
duel, Trading Taps) as well as choreographing for the West End
(Dancing on Dangerous Ground) and The Abbey Theatre Dublin
(The Shaughraun 2004). More recently he has appeared on British TV, teaching and
preparing a group of six coach drivers, with no prior Irish dance experience, for a one
off dance performance (Dancing at the Depot), and as a judge on the Irish TV show
Celebrity Jigs and Reels. Colin Dunne will be in Birmingham, Alabama,
July 25-26, 2008. Contact Katie Cox, TMRF for more information at [email protected]
or (256) 426-5180.
Southeast Alabama Dance Company
Dothan, Alabama
Southeast Alabama Dance Company will bring together dancers, teachers and choreographers for “an explosion” of dance, June 3-6, 2008. This
annual Summer Dance Workshop and Exhibition will introduce the latest
dance styles and ideas. The following master teachers and choreographers
will be teaching at our upcoming workshop: Billy Larsen-Jazz, Thom
Clower-Ballet, Cornelius Carter-Modern, and Fred Ferguson-Hip Hop. For
more information, please call the SEADAC office at 334-702-7139 or email
us at [email protected].
Stevan Grebel Center for Dance
Pelham, Alabama
2nd Annual International Summer Dance Intensive, Novi-Sad Serbia
On July 14 - July 28, students, parents and guests will enjoy 2 weeks of an exciting
program in beautiful Novi-Sad, Serbia. Included in the program are rehearsals and
classes with international teachers and professionals, and a Gala performance on the last
day of the workshop. This year, the Novi-Sad Ballet students and their classical teachers
join the Grebel Workshop for an intense schedule of classical ballet training. This year’s
participants are former Grebel Workshop students with professionals and teachers from
America and abroad. The workshop will be conducted in English. For more information,
visit www.grebeldance.com.
Summer Intensive Program 2008
June 2-June 21 & June 23-July 12; Junior Camp Intensive, June 2-14; Princesses and
Princes, June 16-21 & 23-28. $100 registration fee due at sign-up & will be applied to t
tuition. Remainder/Balance due on 1st day of classes. Full workshop (6 wks.) is $1200,
1/2 workshop (3 wks.) is $650. Workshop taken per week is $225. 1 hour classes are
$12/class and 1.5 hour classes are $18/class. Class cards may be purchased for $120 and
$180, good for 10 classes of 1 or 1.5 hours. Monthly tuition varies by number of hours
taken per week and is based on $50/hour. Faculty includes: Stevan Grebel – Technique;
Deborah Grebel – Technique; Amanda Brice – Technique; April Parker - Hip-Hop,
Technique; Shannon Andrews – Yoga; and Emory Jarvis - Pilates and Conditioning.
For more information, visit www.grebeldance.com.
Upcoming Dance
34
Performances
April
April 1-4, Tuscaloosa - Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre, the pre-professional dance company of
The University of Alabama welcomes the wonders of Spring with this fresh and feverish spring concert. Folding in a wide variety of dance styles, the Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre has something for
every taste. This semester’s concert features the character dances from Swan Lake, some edgy contemporary work (both on pointe and off!), and collaborations with visual and computer artists. Dance styles
range from classical ballet to jazz to contemporary to postmodern influenced choreographic methods.
Come and let your senses be enlivened! Tickets may be purchased ahead of time at the following link:
www.as.ua.edu/theatre/calendar.html. April 1-4, 2008, Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30pm,
Friday at 5:30pm. Morgan Auditorium, University of Alabama Campus.
April 4-5, Huntsville - Merrimack Hall is bringing Step Afrika! for two performances and two
master classes in stepping. Performances are Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 5 at 7
p.m. Tickets are $20 Adults, and $18 Students & Seniors. Master Classes are $30 each, and will
be Saturday, April 5 from 10:00am-12:00pm, and Saturday, April 5 from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Call the
Merrimack Hall Box Office at (256) 534-6455, or go online to www.merrimackhall.com to purchase
your tickets today. For more information, please visit our website or contact Leigh Caruso, Merrimack Hall’s Director of Dance Education, at [email protected].
April 4-6, Birmingham - Don’t miss Alabama Ballet, under the artistic direction of Tracey Alvey,
as the company takes to the stage with one of the world’s most beloved ballets, Coppélia. Running
at the Samford Wright Center on the campus of Samford University April 4-6, this enchanting ballet
for all ages combines humor, romance, and mystery. Coppélia is the perfect end to Alabama Ballet’s beautiful 26th Season. Fri. April 4, 7:30 pm; Sat. April 5, 2:30 & 7:30 pm; Sun. April 6, 2:30
pm. To order tickets, call 205-975-ARTS, 1-877-ART-TIKS, or visit www.alabamaballet.org. For
more information call (205) 322-4300, ext. 33.
April 5-6, Dothan - The Southeast Alabama Dance Company will present its annual spring performance of “The Little Mermaid and More” on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6 at the Dothan
Civic Center. Performances are Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 6 at 2:30 p.m. at
the Dothan Civic Center. Tickets go on sale March 24 at the Civic Center Box office and range in
price of $14.00 for children 12 and under and $19.00 for Adults. Show and ticket information is
online at www.etix.com, or you can call the Civic Center Box office at 334-615-3170 or SEADAC,
334-702-7139.
April 19, Montgomery - The BTW Dance Theatre (the performing dance unit of the Booker T.
Washington Magnet High School, Montgomery, Alabama) will present it’s annual Spring Concert
Saturday, April 19th, 2:00 & 7:00, at the Troy University Davis Theatre, Montgomery, Alabama.
All tickets are $5.00 and may be purchased at the door. The program is an eclectic collection of
ballet, modern, and jazz works choreographed by the Dance Theatre’s Directors, Gary Moore and
Joy Ohme. Featured on the program will be “Minnie the Moocher,” a joint collaboration between
the BTW Dance Theatre, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the National Endowment for the
Arts, and the Alabama Council on the Arts. Choreographed by Gary Moore, “Minnie the Moocher”
is based on the exciting music Cab Calloway and features twenty dancers in a tribute to this classic
1930’s entertainer. Also on the program will be works choreographed by Joy Ohme that also feature
both the BTW Strings and BTW Classical Guitar magnets. The Concert will close with an extravagant, albeit “looney”, Tropical Extravaganza that features works to music by Manhattan Transfer,
Yuma Sumac, and Irving Berlin. For further information please call the BTW Dance Theatre at
334-269-3617.
Upcoming Dance
35
Performances
April 19, Birmingham - On Saturday, April 19, at 2:00 pm, Irene Rimer Dance Essentials offer a Davidic Dance Workshop. (Middle-eastern refreshments included.) $25 per person. Experience personal
spiritual revival in a special way learning to dance for the Lord by yourself and with the group. You must
register 48 hrs in advance by email [email protected] or by calling 205-933-8922. Please leave a
voice message...you must specify your name, phone number, and number of participants in your group.
April 22, Montgomery - The long-running Broadway hit, Forever Tango, will sizzle Montgomery
for one night only in April. Don’t miss this internationally acclaimed performance, April 22 at 7:30
p.m. at the Montgomery Performance Arts Center. Tickets range from $25 to $45 and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 334-481-5100. Make sure to ask about our
$149 package that includes two tickets, dinner for two and wine.
April 25, Fultondale - Dance with the Birmingham Swing Dancers on Friday, April 25 at the
Fultondale Friendship Hall, 1024 Old Walker Chapel Road, Fultondale from 7:30 – 10:30 pm. to
the tunes played by the BSD’s very own DJ, Rick Alfano. Even though the focus of the BSD is
Jitterbug/East Coast Swing, the DJ will also play a mix of Ballroom, Zydeco/Cajun, West Coast
Swing and Bop!! Cost is $6 for BSD members, $8 for non-members. Soft drinks, water and ice will
be furnished. No alcohol or smoking is allowed in the Friendship Hall. For more information or
directions visit www.birminghamswingdancers.com or call Shirley at 205-903-0278. Everyone is
welcome, join us and have a great time!
April 25-26, Birmingham – Birmingham Ballet presents Peter Pan at the BJCC Concert Hall, April
25-26, 2008. Peter Pan is a colorful fast moving ballet with upbeat contemporary rhythms that audiences
love! Wendy, Tinkerbell and Tiger Lily display classical beauty and grace. Peter Pan, the Lost boys,
Captain Hook and his Pirates will tickle your funny bone and delight all ages. The aerial ballet in this production is stunning! Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations including Publix Supermarkets, online at www.ticketmaster.com; by phone 205-715-6000 or at the BJCC Central Ticket Office. Children’s
tickets are half price! Group discounts are available by contacting Birmingham Ballet at 205-979-9492.
April 26, Birmingham - Alabama Dance Academy’s Ballet Classique and Contemporary Ensembles will present a Spring Repertoire Performance. The program will feature excerpts from
four acts of Swan Lake as well as several exciting “World Premiere” works in Ballet, Jazz and
Modern by Artistic Director Pamela Merkel, Cari Coble, Professor of Dance at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida and Jamie Coston. Performances will be held at Oak Mountain
High School at 2:00 and 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10.00 and available by calling (205) 978-6830.
April 26, Birmingham - Time Step Studio celebrates 20 Years of Dancing at the Alabama Theatre! This year on April 26th, at 7:30 p.m. TIME STEP STUDIO will celebrate 20 years
of Shows at the historic Alabama Theatre. As
always, this Show of Adult Tap Dancers will
be filled with fun, laughs, surprises and lots of
dancing! This year is all about SHOW PEOPLE - it is truly an “Adult Tap Spectacular”.
For advance tickets, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with a check
written to TIME STEP STUDIO for $24 x the
number of tickets to: Louise Beard, 504 Dexter
Avenue, Birmingham, Al 35213. Orders must
be postmarked 10 days prior to show. For more
information, visit www.timestepstudio.com.
Upcoming Dance
36
Performances
May
May 3, Birmingham - Children’s Dance Foundation’s upper
school students present “Hidden Treasures from Grandmother’s Trunk,” a dance performance including modern, jazz, tap,
musical theatre and excerpts from the ballet, “Coppelia.” Saturday, May 3, 7pm at The Alabama Theatre, 1811 3rd Ave N,
Birmingham. Admission is FREE. For more information, visit
www.childrensdancefoundation.org, or call 205-870-0073.
May 11, Birmingham - The Stevan Grebel Center for Dance and
the Alabama Youth Ballet Company present the Spring Dance
Gala - “Paquita,” “Garland Waltz” from Sleeping Beauty, and
other dances. All performances will take place at Pelham High
School. 1000 Panther Circle, Pelham, Al 35124. All tickets are
$5. Contact: 205.987.7234 or www.grebeldance.com.
May 24-25, Huntsville - Dance Theatre of Huntsville presents
“Stormy Weather: A Rebirth of Legends”. This performance
tells the story of legends from the late 1930’s classic movie
“Stormy Weather” which featured Lena Horne, Bill (Bojangles)
Robinson, Katherine Dunhamand her company, Cab Calloway,
Fats Waller, and many more. Dates: May 24 and 25. Times: 5:00
p.m. both days. Cost $10.00 Adults and $5.00 for children 10 and under. Location: Lee Lyric Theater
(Lee High School). This show is sponsored by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
May 29 - June 1, Birmingham - Sanspointe Dance Company is pleased to present a concert of
new and recent work, Thursday, May 29th through Sunday, June 1st. Titled LIFE_FORMS, this
concert will highlight 8 eclectic dances, including collaborative work with musicians and work
by visual artists. Sanspointe invites all LIFE_FORMS ticket holders and friends to join them in
Homewood Park, 30 minutes following the conclusion of Sunday’s performance for a Community
Improvisation. All ages can participate, and no experience is required. LIFE_FORMS will be performed at Children’s Dance Foundation’s Community Arts Center in Downtown Homewood (1715
27th Court South). Tickets, $10, will be available at the door. Seating is limited; make reservations now by emailing [email protected]. For more information or to make a donation to
Sanspointe Dance Company, visit www.sanspointe.org or www.myspace.com/sanspointe or email
[email protected].
37
Board of Directors
Diane Litsey, President
Executive Director,
Children’s Dance Foundation
[email protected]
Cornelius Carter
University of Alabama, Department of Theatre & Dance/
Artistic Director, Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre
[email protected]
Ruth Henry
Birmingham-Southern College
[email protected]
Therese Laeger, Vice-President
Artistic Associate,
AROVA Contemporary Ballet
[email protected]
Winthrop Corey
Artistic Director, Mobile Ballet
[email protected]
Debra Jenkins
Executive Director
Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center
[email protected]
Tracy Solomon, Treasurer
Executive Director,
Southeast Alabama Dance Company
[email protected]
Faith Lenhart, Co-Secretary
Vestavia Hills High School
[email protected]
Jenna McKerrow Wilson, Co-Secretary
Alabama Ballet
[email protected]
Lindy Ashwander
Executive Director, Princess Theatre
[email protected]
Edith Barnes
Independent Choreographer & Teacher
[email protected]
Lavondia Bryant Square
Executive And Artistic Director,
Nathifa Dance Company
[email protected]
Cindy Davino
[email protected]
Kim Deale
University of Montevallo/Orchesis Dance
[email protected]
Mary Halverstadt, Immediate Past-President
Independent Choreographer and Teacher
[email protected]
Rafael Delgado
Dance Department Chair
Alabama School of Fine Arts
[email protected]
Foye DuBose
Ballet Master
Alabama Dance Theatre
[email protected]
Laura Knox
Elie Lazar
Artistic Director
Montgomery Ballet
[email protected]
CJ Martin
Artistic Director, Prattville Ballet
[email protected]
Deborah Mauldin
President, American Dance Guild
[email protected]
Teri Weksler
Artistic Director, Southern Danceworks
[email protected]
Asha Xulu
Managing Director, Umdabu Dance Company
[email protected]
Staff
Rosemary Johnson, Executive Director
[email protected]
Wesley Taylor, Program Development Director
[email protected]
Geoff Langdon, Chief Creative Guy
Advantage Marketing Communications
[email protected]
Chris Haralson, Webmaster
CTH Media
[email protected]
Production & Design
Ted Perry
[email protected]
PO Box 2126 • Birmingham, AL 35201
Phone (205) 602- 3599 • Fax (205) 979-5214
[email protected] • www.alabamadancecouncil.org

News News - Alabama Dance Council

Transcription

Similar documents

2009-2010 Facts

The History of Middle Eastern Dance, Part 1.

Back to School!!! It`s Time to get back to the Dance Studio!

A Dancer`s Director

Week 6 - Burklyn Ballet Theatre

Dinner Dance Dinner Dance - Franciscan Sisters of Chicago

Join us for Grand Open House 2015! Open House Party

SWING CATS WORKSHOP and DANCE

Sahara

Luvabulls Dance - Bulls Blog- BULLS.com