inside - Dance Council of North Texas

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DANCE COUNCIL OF NORTH TEXAS • CELEBRATING 40 YEARS 1973-2013 • VOLUME 16 ISSUE 1 • Feb-Apr 2013
INSIDE:
50 Years in Dance: Norma Shields
in the spotlight p. 5
Performance Calendar pp. 6-19
Pictured: (Front) Christopher Vo, guest artist for Dance Planet 17, pp 11, 14-16. Photo: Chris Callis, courtesy Lar Lubovitch Dance Company
Dance Planet 17 pp. 14-16
contents
features
5
Dance Council, Inc.
Dance Council of North Texas
Pam Deslorieux
Executive Director
3630 Harry Hines Blvd.,
Dallas, TX 75219
Voice (214) 219-2290
Fax (214) 219-2289
[email protected]
www.thedancecouncil.org
Editor
Linda James
[email protected]
Creative Director
Sarah Nesbit
[email protected]
Advertising Manager
Bonnie Perry
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
IN DANCE: NORMA
SHIELDS
14 WELCOME HOME TO
DANCE PLANET 17
18 THE PROCESS OF
GETTING IN: STEPS 6-10
29 IN MEMORIAM:
GENE PFLUG
departments
4
from the editor
6
the performance
calendar
24 the low down
[email protected]
26 what’s up with dance
Contributors
Alyssa Magsano
30 dance directory
DANCE is published quarterly by the
Dance Council of North Texas and has
a distribution of 12,000 copies.
Membership copies are distributed by
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DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
a publication of the dance council of north texas
vol. 16 • no. 1
February 2013
page 3
from the editor
2013 Mantra: Transformation and Sustainability
S
nuggled in a soft, cozy blanket with a cup of
hot tea on a rainy, wintery day, I am not surprised to learn that Dallas made it onto a list of
the top 12 communities in the United States that
have most successfully combined art, artists and
venues for creativity and expression with independent businesses, retail shops and restaurants. A new
annual initiative conducted by ArtPlace America recLinda James
ognizes neighborhoods in the largest 44 metropolitan areas in the country where the arts are central to creating places
where people—residents and visitors—want to be.
You just have to walk from One Arts Plaza to the Dallas Museum of
Art to realize that the Dallas Arts District has finally blossomed into
the great world center of the 21st century that former Mayor Jack
Evans and Dr. Philip O'Bryan Montgomery Jr. envisioned in the 80s
when plans for the Arts District were nothing more than artist renderings. The 2012 openings of the Dallas City Performance Hall and the
Klyde Warren Park have added to the buzz of people strolling and taking photographs of the architecture and activities from one end of
Flora Street to The Park.
The uptown Arts District has been transformed by dreamers who
believed in the ability of the arts to inspire and invigorate. Their vision
provided the catalyst for change that contributed to making Dallas a
robust and vibrant arts community comprised not only of buildings
but also people and arts organizations.
the black. The Center has increased programming staff, volume and
quality of programming, and consequently—ticket sales. The Center
has doubled its Individual and Annual Fund, increased Corporate
Sponsors and more than tripled Corporate Giving. These improved
revenues and efficiencies have enabled the Center to progress from
being a start-up operation towards being a sustainable nonprofit business.
Across town at Southern Methodist University arts leaders are also
committed to fostering lively metropolitan economies. They are
embarking on a project that will serve as a vehicle for the transformation and sustainability of arts and cultural organizations nationwide.
SMU arts leaders are exploring how the University can provide databased insights that will strengthen arts organizations locally and
nationally. In collaboration with the Cultural Data Project (CDP), TRG
Arts, Boston Consulting Group, IBM, Theatre Communications Group
and the Nonprofit Finance Fund, SMU is examining ways to serve
the needs of the arts and cultural sectors with information that helps
take the guesswork out of managerial decisions. In mid February
2013, SMU will embark on a new phase of discovery and will make
an exciting announcement about their plans for the future.
As so aptly stated by ArtPlace America, “when a community mobilizes to place the arts at the core of a set of strategies to effect positive
civic change, everyone benefits.”
For the first time since its opening three years ago, the AT&T
Performing Arts Center is operationally ending its 2012 fiscal year in
page 4
February 2013
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
in the spotlight
T
Celebrating 50 Years in Dance
Norma Shields
he Artistic Director of the balletfoundation for the XXI century and Dance Institute of Dallas, Norma Shields, celebrates her Golden (50th) Anniversary in the Arts in 2013.
Norma Shields studied Classical Ballet under Yvonne Chouteau and
Miguel Terekhov and performed with the Oklahoma City Civic Ballet
during their first six seasons. She performed with stellar artists
including Maria Tallchief, Marjorie Tallchief, George Skibine, Rosella
Hightower, Lupe Serrano, Royes Fernandez, Melissa Hayden, Moselyn
Larkin, Roman Jazinski, Yvonne Chouteau and Miguel Terekhov.
Though performing was a love, her artistic journey in the professional
world began earlier at the age of twelve when she was asked to direct
and teach for a small Oklahoma City studio of 100 students when
they lost their teacher. While continuing her own studies, she held
that position for two years and then she opened her first studio,
L’Ecole de Danse, at fourteen. She sought direction from her high
school teachers who mentored her in accounting, business management, marketing, sewing and costume design for her business. Their
own daughters were among her students. World famous danseur,
George Zoritch, of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo was her first Guest
Artist whom she hired while still in her teens.
The next years, her life was filled with teaching, directing, performing, ministry, as well as studying Business Management, Costume
Design, Tailoring, Music and Interior Design. In 1986, she and her
husband, Steve, moved to Dallas. In Dallas she had the special privilege of being personally coached in Russian technique by Leo Ahonen
and Classical Artistry by Soili Arvola. Together they set up the Russian
Classical Ballet curriculum and specialized diploma training program
for the balletfoundation. Arvola introduced her to Madame Nathalie
Krassovska who became her dearest friend and mentor in directing
and teaching.
Norma Shields has served on the Board of Directors of the Chamber
Symphony of the Metrocrest, Texas State Board of Dance Advisors,
and has served as president of Carrollton Music Teachers Association,
Dallas Dance Council and Chairman of the National Piano Teachers
Guild. She was awarded Carrollton Music Teacher of the Year (19881989), National Honor Roll for Music Teachers (1988-1992), Who’s
Who in Executive and Professionals (1999-2000), American
Biographical Institute Woman of the Year (2001), International
Cultural Diploma of Honor (2001), and recognized by the
International Biographical Centre in 2000 for The Nutcracker OperaBallet Libretto. She was founder of the first “Artist in Residence” program for the Arts Council of Oklahoma and “Joining of the Artists” a
vision of Ballet Met and the Chamber Symphony of the Metrocrest.
Norma Shields is author of The Discipline of the Arts (©2000), Vision for
the Arts for the XXI Century (2000), The Elements of Dance (©2001), The
Christian Interpretation of The Nutcracker (©2000), The Nutcracker OperaBallet (©2000) and In God I Trust (©2000).
In 2004 Norma Shields was commissioned to write the libretto for a
new ballet, The Happy Prince (©2004), by composer, Timothy Brown.
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
Pictured: Norma Shields
This spring she will stage the dual world premiere of this new symphonic and choreographic work with her daughter, ballerina and
business partner, Leia Hardimon.
Her company, the balletfoundation for the XXI century is internationally recognized for classical Russian training, the world home of The
Nutcracker Opera-Ballet, the annual Classical Ballet Festival in Honor
and Memory of Madame Nathalie Krassovska, its vision for the
future of ballet, the development of Classique Nouveau works and its
ministry and outreach programs. The balletfoundation training program offers certification for demi–soloists, soloists and ballerinas
study as well as men’s classes and a full performance season.
Her school Dance Institute of Dallas, founded in 1989 is a comprehensive dance school which has received top awards for its training
program, performances and impact on the community by the United
States Commerce Division.
Norma’s passion is to reach all her students to aspire to higher goals
and to take their art and artistic disciplines into adult life equally
whether with a career or as a patron. She believes “art is the color of
inspiration and creativity” found in a black and white world. She is
wife of Steve Shields, mother of Leia Hardimon and Michael Shields
and Mimi of two granddaughters, Trinity and Alexa Hardimon.
vol. 16 • no. 1
February 2013
page 5
the performance calendar for February-April 13
February 9
Classical Ballet Festival
In memory and honor of Madame Nathalie Krassovska, balletfoundation for the XXI century, presents the Classical Ballet Festival.
The festival is produced by artistic director and choreographer Norma
Shields with Leia Hardimon, resident prima ballerina and choreographer. The festival begins on February 8, 2013 with a master class for
CBF participants taught by Silver Medalist Norbert Nirewicz, adjudication of solos and choreography. The event culminates in the creation
of a new work presented the following evening. February 9, 2013 at
7:00 pm at the Prince Of Peace Fine Arts Theatre, 4000 Midway Road,
Carrollton, TX 75007. $16 adults/$12 seniors and children.
www.theartsatprinceofpeace.org
Pictured: Chamberlain Performing Arts “Coppélia.” Photo: Sharen Bradford/The Dancing
Image
February 9
Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet
Pictured: Nathalie Krassovska and Nicalas Magellanes in “Night Shadow”
February 9
Coppélia
Chamberlain Performing Arts presents a charming comic ballet—
Coppélia, staged by Phillip Broomhead, the famed former Ballet
Master of Houston Ballet. Coppélia features guest artists Mishic Marie
Liberatore, former senior soloist with Cincinnati Ballet, as the inquisitive young Swanhilda, and Dallas Blagg, a former soloist with the
Zurich Ballet, in the role of lovesick Franz. Val Liberatore, who
danced professionally with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Fort Worth
Dallas Ballet (now Texas Ballet Theater) and Cincinnati Ballet, performs the role of the eccentric Dr. Coppélius. Handsome boy meets
pretty girl and falls in love. But it's complicated. The boy is also infatuated with a doll he has spied upon a balcony. Perhaps this kid has bad
eyesight; perhaps he's not too bright. Either way he doesn't know she's
a doll. Miffed by wonder boy's admiration for the other gal, the real girl
and her girlfriends break into the doll maker's house (Did we mention
the wacky village doll maker?). Relieved to discover the other gal is
actually just a doll, the real girl pulls a prank on the doll maker and
pretends to be the doll. Naturally, the doll maker falls for it. And that's
just the beginning... February 9, 2013 at 7:30 pm in the Hill
Performance Hall, Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Drive,
Richardson, TX 75082. $10-$100. (972) 744-4650.
www.eisemanncenter.com/
“Combining voluptuous physicality with classical technique… Cedar
Lake is one of the most exciting companies performing today.” New
York’s Joyce Theater. The New York-based company is taking the
dance world by storm with its combination of exquisite classical technique and edgy physicality. The result, says The New York Times, "…pulls
viewers right out of their seats…" with its "…weird and wonderful
poetry of the body." The Village Voice offers its own assessment of Cedar
Lake: "…fierce, athletic and compulsively sensual." Under the leadership of artistic director Benoit-Swan Pouffer, Cedar Lake’s Dallas
program features new works by some of the world’s most sought after
choreographers and composers—including famed Czech choreographer Jirí Kylián, UK-based Hofesh Shechter and Canada’s Crystal
Pite. A TITAS favorite, Cedar Lake promises to be a highlight of the
2012-13 dance season. February 9, 2013 at 8:00 pm at the Winspear
Opera House, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201. $12-$200.
(214) 880-0202. www.tickets.attpac.org/
Pictured: Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet
page 6
February 2013
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
February 10
In the Name of Love
February 19-20
BTWHSPVA Senior Choreography Projects
Epiphany DanceArts and 8&1 Dance Company unite to present
In the Name of Love this Valentine's Day weekend. These two excellent
companies bring dance to the stage to commemorate a great day.
February 10, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Plano Courtyard Theater,
1509 H Avenue Plano, TX 75074. www.8and1dancecompany.com/
Celebrate the accomplishments of Booker T. Washington High
School for the Performing and Visual Arts’ senior choreographers.
Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the work of these promising
young artists before they leave “The Cradle of the Arts District” to
make their mark in the world of dance. February 19-20, 2013 at
6:00 pm in BTW Dance Studio Theater, Booker T. Washington High
School for the Performing and Visual Arts, 2501 Flora Street, Dallas, TX
75201. $5 students, $10 adults, free with ARTS Pass. (972) 925-1200.
www.btw.dallasisd.tandemcal.com/
February 12-24
Catch Me If You Can
Based on the hit DreamWorks film and the incredible true story that
inspired it, Catch Me If You Can is the high-flying, splashy new
Broadway musical that tells the story of Frank W. Abagnale, Jr., a
teenager who runs away from home in search of the glamorous life.
With nothing more than his boyish charm, a big imagination and millions of dollars in forged checks, Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a
doctor and a lawyer – living the high life and winning the girl of his
dreams. But when Frank’s lies catch the attention of FBI agent Carl
Hanratty, Carl chases Frank to the end…and finds something he never
expected. This delightfully entertaining musical has been created by a
Tony Award®-winning “dream team,” with a book by Terrence
McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime), a swinging score by Marc
Shaiman & Scott Wittman (Hairspray), choreography by Jerry Mitchell
(Hairspray, Legally Blonde) and direction by Jack O’Brien (Hairspray, The
Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). Catch Me If You Can is presented by
Dallas Summer Musicals. February 12-24, 2013 at multiple times at
Music Hall at Fair Park, 909 1st Avenue, Dallas, TX 75210.
(800) 982-ARTS (2787). www.dallassummermusicals.org/
February 22
Brown Bag: DANCE!
DanceTCU presents: Brown Bag: DANCE! featuring TCU BFA Ballet &
Modern Dance majors in original choreography in a variety of styles.
February 22, 2013 at 12:00 pm at Erma Lowe Hall, Studio Theatre,
3000 South University Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76129. Free.
(817) 257-7615. www.dance.tcu.edu/ www.facebook.com/tcusccd/
Pictured: DanceTCU in “it gentles them,” Jane Weiner, Choreographer; Photo: The
Dancing Image/Sharen Bradford
February 22-23
Black Dance Rhythm and Soul of a People
Featuring Jamaica’s Stella Maris Dance Company and Dallas’
Black Academy Dance Ensemble. www.tbaal.org/
February 22-24
DBDT Cultural Awareness Series
Pictured: “Catch Me If You Can”
February 16
20th Anniversary AIDS Outreach Center Benefit Concert
DanceTCU presents Chi Tau Epsilon Dance Honor Society’s 20th
Anniversary AIDS Outreach Center Benefit Concert featuring performances
by DanceTCU, Big Rig Dance Co., Contemporary Ballet Dallas,
Epiphany DanceArts, Gaudium Dance Movement and Nymbal.
Join us for a reception following the concert, sponsored by Chancellor
Victor Boschini. February 16, 2013 at 7:30 pm at Erma Lowe Hall,
Studio Theatre, 3000 South University Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76129.
$20 general admission; $10 students – cash or check only.
(817) 257-4255 for reservations. www.dance.tcu.edu/
www.facebook.com/tcusccd/
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
Audiences will be invited to take a journey through a historical dance
perspective during the Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s Cultural
Awareness Series. The historical perspective features the voices of John
Archie Sanders and Sandra King Stewart accompanying dances
set to Negro Spirituals and Folk songs. DBDT Artistic Director, Ann
Williams narrates the performance. The life of artist Romare
Bearden will be captured through movement choreographed by the
2012/2013 Princess Grace Choreography Fellow, Bridget Moore. Tally
Beatty’s masterpiece, Mourner’s Bench and Asadata Dafora’s Awassa
Astrige/Ostrich promises to keep audiences spellbound. February 22,
2013 at 7:30 pm, February 23 at 2:00 & 7:30 pm and February 24 at
2:30 pm at the Wyly Theatre, 2400 Flora Street Dallas, TX 75201.
School matinees will be held February 21 at 10:15 am & 11:45 am.
$15-$55. (214) 880-0202. www.dbdt.com/
vol. 16 • no. 1
Continued on page 8.
February 2013
page 7
February 25 - March 1
Spring Brown Bag Series
Presented by students in the SMU Division of Dance, this popular
series features lunchtime performances of 10-15 original works that
range from flowing, traditional ballet to edgy modern dance, peppered
with touches of humor, fun and drama. February 25-March 1, 2013 at
12 pm Mon., Wed. and Fri.; 12:30 pm Tues. & Thurs. at Bob Hope
Lobby, Owen Arts Center, Southern Methodist University, 6101 Bishop,
Dallas, TX 75205. Free. (214) 768-2718. www.smu.edu/meadows.aspx
March 1-3
Lambarena and Voluntaries
Texas Ballet Theater presents Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena and Glen
Tetley’s Voluntaries. TBT’s production of Caniparoli’s visually stunning
Lambarena treats the audience to a celebration of two cultures where
incredible choreography, dancing, African rhythms and the melodies of
Bach are infused to delight every soul! Audiences will be enthralled by
Tetley’s beautiful and emotional Voluntaries. In the late Tetley’s words,
“although there is a fall into gravity or into death, there also is a continual lifting, a continual trying to soar, like angels, in what is almost a
constellation of light.” March 1, 2013 at 8:00 pm, March 2 at 2:00 &
8:00 pm and March 3 at 2:00 pm at Bass Performance Hall, 330 E 4th
Street #300, Fort Worth, TX 76102. $20-$55. (877) 828-9200.
www.texasballettheater.org/
Pictured: “Among the Stars” by Jessica Lang featuring Yuan Yuan Tan and Clifton
Brown. Photo: The Dancing Image/Sharen Bradford
March 5
Celtic Fire
Presented by University of Texas at Tyler. March 5, 2013.
www.cowancenter.org/
March 8
Grupo Corpo
Passion lives in the Brazilian DNA. The parties, the food, the futbol—
and, of course, the dance—are all lived with unbridled exuberance and
undeniable energy. For more than 35 years, Grupo Corpo has channeled the Brazilian spirit, using it as a sort of mantra that inspires their
passionate, cultured and memorable dance works. With their own
unique language of movement, Grupo Corpo captures the soft, sinuous form of ballet—stoked by the fiery influence of Latin American
dance—and creates a smoldering, sensual experience unlike any other.
The company’s physical virtuosity—with inexhaustible dancers moving
to relentless rhythms—is matched only by their highly conceptual storytelling. The result is something innovative, exciting and altogether
authentic. Grupo Corpo is presented by TITAS. March 8, 2013 at
8:00 pm at the Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX
75201. $12-$200. (214) 880-0202. www.tickets.attpac.org/
Pictured: Texas Ballet Theater in “Lambarena”
March 2
Command Performance
Stunningly beautiful and exciting, the spectacular Command
Performance features ten of the world’s most renowned stars performing
the best of dance today – from classic pas de deux to contemporary
works. Command Performance, known for its dance pyrotechnics, has
become the showcase for premieres of TITAS-commissioned choreographic works by dance’s brightest stars including Dwight Rhoden,
Mia Michaels, Jessica Lang and Twyla Tharp. Year after year,
Command Performance brings thrilled audiences to their feet. Experience
the beauty and passion of this tour de force dance event. March 2, 2013
at 7:00 pm at the Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX
75201. $12-$200. (214) 880-0202. www.tickets.attpac.org/
page 8
February 2013
Pictured: Grupo Corpo
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
March 8-9
DBDT II Spring Fiesta
March 20-30
Mary Poppins
Bringing breathtaking and powerful performances during the
Inaugural Season of Dallas’ City Performance Hall, Dallas Black
Dance Theatre II, the second professional company of Dallas Black
Dance Theatre presents new works by noted national artists, Nycole
Ray, Dianne Grigsby and Ray Mercer. March 8-9, 2013 at 7:30 pm
at the City Performance Hall, 2100 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75201. $20.
A school matinee will be held March 8 at 10:15 am. (214) 871-2390.
www.dbdt.com/
Based on P.I. Travers cherished stories and the classic 1964 Walt
Disney film, Mary Poppins features the Sherman brothers original
Academy Award-winning songs. The show has been created, in collaboration with Cameron Mackintosh, by Academy Award-winning
screenwriter Julian Fellowes, who has written the book, and the
Olivier Award-winning team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe,
who have composed new songs and additional music and lyrics. Mary
Poppins marks the first collaboration between Disney, producer of
acclaimed The Lion King and Cameron Mackintosh, legendary producer
of the record-breaking The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Les Miserables.
The result is a musical so extraordinarily enchanting that, like the critics, you'll have just one word for it: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Mary Poppins is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. March 20-30,
2013 at multiple times at Music Hall at Fair Park, 909 1st Avenue,
Dallas, TX 75210. (800) 982-ARTS (2787).
www.dallassummermusicals.org/
March 15-16
My Brother’s Keeper
The Bruce Wood Dance Project kicks off Season 3 with a work
whose time has come—Bruce Wood’s much heralded My Brother’s
Keeper. Come and be moved by feelings shared by brothers and fathers
throughout time. Experience the hush and onslaught of emotions
engendered by this one act, all male dance drama, no intermission.
March 15-16, 2013 at 8:00 pm at the Montgomery Arts Theatre,
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts,
2501 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201. $35-$45 general; $100 donor;
$15 student. (214) 428-2263. www.brucewoodance.com/
Pictured: Bruce Wood Dance Project in “My Brother’s Keeper.” Photo: Brian Guilliaux
March 19-20
Monty Python’s Spamalot
Lovingly "ripped-off" from the internationally famous comedy team's most
popular motion picture, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's
Spamalot is the winner of three 2005 Tony Awards including Best Musical
and Best Director (Mike Nichols), as well as the Drama Desk and Outer
Critics Circle awards for Best Musical. Telling the legendary tale of King
Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and their quest for the Holy
Grail, Monty Python's Spamalot features a chorus line of dancing divas and
knights, flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits and one legless knight.
March 19-20, 2013 at 7:30 pm in the Hill Performance Hall,
Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson, TX 75082. $48-$64.
(972) 744-4650. www.eisemanncenter.com/
Pictured: “Mary Poppins”
March 22
Wizard of Oz
Presented by American Theatre for Youth in partnership with The
Black Academy of Arts & Letters. www.tbaal.org/
Pictured: Ensemble from “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” Photo: Scott Suchman
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
February 2013
page 9
March 22-23
Collage 2013: Denton Dance Festival
March 29
DBDT & DBDT II Dancing Beyond Borders
Known as the Collage Dance Festival for 17 years, this dance production brings emerging, pre-professional and professional dancers from
all genres in dance, and all locations in the area and the US to join in a
two-day display of dance and the joy of movement. Hosted by Denton
City Contemporary Ballet and founded by Artistic Director, Lisa Racina,
this joyous celebration brings into view the delicate the delightful, the
daring and damning facets of life through art. Often the stage is open
to musicians, to mime experts, the artists and vocalists. Planned to
accommodate the tastes of both young teens through adults, the show
entertains and educates while challenging the mind and revealing the
heart. March 22-23, 2013 at 8:00 pm at Campus Theatre, 214 West
Hickory Street, Denton, TX 76201. $12.50-$16.50. (940) 382-1915.
www.dentoncitycontemporaryballet.org/
Dallas Black Dance Theatre and DBDTII present Nascimento by
David Parsons, choreography by Rennie Harris Puremovement
and a work by Daryl Sneed. This is the only series in the Metroplex
that features the works of both professional companies. March 29,
2013 at 7:30 pm at the W. E. Scott Theatre, 3505 W. Lancaster Avenue,
Fort Worth, TX 76107. $15. (214) 871-2390. www.dbdt.com/
March 29-30
Spring Performance 2013
Ballet Ensemble of Texas presents the world premiere of a new rock
ballet by Margo Sappington—Plaza del Fuego. The evening performances also include local premieres of Walpurgisnacht by George
Balanchine and revivals of Gordon Peirce Schmidt's American
Portrait and Tammie Reinsch's No Pressure. March 29-30, 2013 at
7:30 pm at Carpenter Hall, Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur
Blvd., Irving TX 75062. $26 adults/$21 students and seniors.
(972) 252-ARTS. (972) 745-0201 fax. www.irvingartscenter.com
Pictured: Ballet Ensemble of Texas in “Plaza del Fuego”
April 5-7
DanceTCU in Concert
DanceTCU presents choreography by dance faculty members
Li-Chou Cheng; Susan Douglas Roberts, with original music by
Claudia Howard Queen; and Dr. Suki John (premiere). Guest
choreographer Charlotte Boye-Christensen (Artistic Director of
Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, UT) will stage a new work entitled,
Note. The concert also features performances of a concert version of
Who Cares? from choreography by George Balanchine, © The George
Balanchine Trust staged by Repetiteur Michele Gifford. The concert
features lighting design by SCCDance faculty member Roma Flowers.
April 5-6, 2013 at 8:00 pm and April 6-7 at 2:00 pm at Ed Landreth
Auditorium, 2800 South University Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76129 (corner of University Drive and Cantey, TCU campus). $10 general admission; $5 TCU ID & student ID from other institutions; children under 6
enter free. Tickets sold at the door; cash or checks only. (817) 257-7615.
www.dance.tcu.edu/; www.facebook.com/tcusccd/
Pictured: “Collage 12 Tango”
March 23-24
Ballet Gala and Pinocchio
Ballet Frontier of Texas’ Ballet Gala brings audiences the finest
dancers and choreography. Bring everyone in your family to enjoy the
touching children’s tale of Pinocchio. March 23, 2013 at 7:00 pm and
March 24 at 2:00 pm at the W.E. Scott Theatre, 3505 West Lancaster
Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76107. $20. (817) 852-6887.
www.balletfrontier.org/
page 10
February 2013
Pictured: DanceTCU in “Le Corsaire,” Li-Chou Cheng, Répétiteur. Photo: Sharen
Bradford/The Dancing Image
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
April 6
Plano Dance Festival
April 6-7
Allen Dance Festival
The Plano Dance Festival, hosted by Plano Metropolitan Ballet under
the artistic direction of Cindi Lawrence Hanson, features an eclectic
mixture of dance styles guaranteed to captivate audiences ranging
from the casual dance patron to the discriminating arts connoisseur.
Professional dancers and local dance companies will perform original
choreography in dance forms including ballet, pointe, modern, and tap.
April 6, 2013 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm at the Courtyard Theater,
1509 H Avenue, Plano, TX 75074. (972) 769-0017.
www.planometballet.org/
Allen Civic Ballet, under the artistic direction of Stefanie Best, presents the Allen Dance Festival. The event presents a variety of dance companies in movement genres from the classical to the contemporary.
April 6, 2013 at 7:00 pm and April 7 at 3:00 pm at the Allen Civic
Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen, TX 75013. $10, all seats general
admission. www.allencivicballet.org/
April 6-7
DancePlanet 17
Everyone will swoon for Dance Planet 17 featuring SMASH Season 2
dancer, Dallas native and BTWHSPVA alum—Christopher Vo. The
Dance Council of North Texas proudly brings this amazingly talented
New York professional back home to Dallas as the headliner of this
free, community-wide, weekend dance festival. Come out and take free
Zumba, Musical Theater, or Contemporary classes with Chris, who was
a principal dancer in the national tour of Twyla Tharp's Come Fly with
Me and former dancer with the renowned Lar Lubovitch Dance
Company. Altogether, Dance Planet 17 features 30 free classes from
Samba to Swing, from African to Middle Eastern, with Circus Silks and
more. Also on the roster are two thrilling afternoon Performance
Showcases with dance styles from around the world. Dance Planet 17
returns for the 4th year at BTWHSPVA—“The Cradle of the Dallas Arts
District." April 6-7, 2013 at Booker T. Washington High School for the
Performing & Visual Arts, 2501 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201. Master
Classes and Pilates workouts in the school’s spacious studios begin at
9:30 am on April 6 and 1:00 pm on April 7. Performance Showcases
run from 1:00-5:00 pm both days in the Montgomery Arts Theater.
Free. (214) 219-2290. www.thedancecouncil.
April 10-11
On Stage at the MAT
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and
Visual Arts presents Repertory Dance Companies I & II and the
World Repertory Ensemble. The school’s dance faculty premiere
works for these performances that are sure to have audiences buzzing
and coming back to see multiple casts perform. Repertoire will vary
with each performance. Return to “The Cradle of the Arts District”
each of the three evenings to see it all! April 10-12, 2013 at 7:00 pm in
the Montgomery Arts Theater, BTWHSPVA, 2501 Flora Street, Dallas,
TX 75201. $5 students, reserved seating $10-$15 available at the door.
(972) 925-1200. www.btw.dallasisd.tandemcal.com/
Pictured: Mykal Stromile and Caroline Haidet. Photo: The Dancing Image/Sharen
Bradford
Call for Nominations for Dance Council of North Texas Honors 2013
Nominate an outstanding individual for the:
Mary McLarry Bywaters Award for Lifetime
Contribution to Dance
Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence
Mary Warner Award for Service to Dance
Larry White Dance Educator Award
Texas Tap Legend
For more information, go to
Deadline: May 15, 2013
Pictured: Christopher Vo
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
February 2013
page 11
April 10-May 5
Wicked
April 12-13
Selections for Spring
Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, the music and lyrics are by
Stephen Schwartz (Godspell) with a book by Winnie Holzman.
Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz.
One, born with emerald green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood.
The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked follows these
two unlikely friends and college roommates as they grow into very different women: The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good
Witch. Wicked is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals.
April 10-May 5, 2013 at multiple times at Music Hall at Fair Park,
909 1st Avenue, Dallas, TX 75210. (800) 982-ARTS (2787).
www.dallassummermusicals.org/
This annual dance treat brings varied repertoire from Momentum
Dance Company, under the artistic direction of Jacquelyn Ralls
Forcher, as well as Beckles Dancing Company, Texas Ballet
Theater School Ensemble and others. The stage will be filled with
wonderful choreography sure to delight the audience. April 12-13, 2013
at 7:30 pm at the Irving Arts Center, Dupree Theater 3333 N. MacArthur
Blvd. Irving, TX 75062. $12-$20 with group rates available and a discount
for ISD employees. (972) 252-ARTS. www.irvingartscenter.com/
April 12-14
Spring Dance Concert
The SMU Spring Dance Concert features Balanchine’s Valse-Fantaisie, a
short, classical ballet piece set to the music of Mikhail Glinka and called
“a small gem” by The New York Times; a pas de deux from Friandises by
visiting artist-in-residence Adam Hougland, set to Christopher
Rouse music; and the premiere of a new work by SMU faculty member
and noted jazz artist Danny Buraczeski, set to Leonard Bernstein’s
Three Dance Episodes from the popular musical On The Town. The second
half of the concert features a new look at Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring
by Dutch choreographer Joost Vrouenraets, in honor of the work’s
100th anniversary in 2013. Meadows dancers also perform The Rite of
Spring at the Meadows at the Winspear gala on May 1, 2013. April 12-13,
2013 at 8:00 pm and April 14 at 2:00 pm at Bob Hope Theatre, Owen
Arts Center, Southern Methodist University, 6101 Bishop, Dallas, TX
75205. $13 adults, $10 seniors, $7 students, faculty and staff.
(214) 768-ARTS. www.smu.edu/meadows.aspx
April 13
Paul Taylor Dance Company
Pictured: Dee Rosciolio and Patti Murrin as Elphaba and Glinda in “Wicked.”
April 11-13
DanceMakers Concert
The Paul Taylor Dance Company, established in 1954, is a national
treasure and one of the world’s most sought-after dance troupes. Mr.
Taylor has become an American cultural icon and a living legend, and
one of history’s most celebrated artists. His two dance companies
(Taylor2 was created in 1993) travel the globe, bringing his ever-burgeoning repertoire to theaters and venues of every size and description in cultural capitals, on college campuses and in rural areas. April 13, 2013 at
8:00 pm in the Hill Performance Hall, Eisemann Center,
2351 Performance Drive, Richardson, TX 75082. (972) 744-4650.
www.eisemanncenter.com/
Texas Woman's University presents the exciting work of our students
and faculty! April 11, 2013 at 4:00 pm, April 12-13 at 7:00 pm at Margo
Jones Performance Hall, Texas Woman's University, 1322 Oakland Street,
Denton, TX 76201. $9 general, $7 non-TWU students, $5 TWU students.
www.twu.edu/dance/ Like us on Facebook: Texas Woman's University
Department of Dance.
The Ballet Conservatory
Preschool through
Professional Level
Classical Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern
and Musical Theater
YAGP Outstanding School
Home of LakeCities Ballet Theater
972.317.7812
balletconservatory.com
page 12
February 2013
Pictured: Francisco Graciano and Parisa Khobdeh in Paul Taylor’s “The Uncommitted.”
Photo: Tom Caravaglia
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
April 17-20
TCU Senior Capstone & Honors Presentation
narrating the Carnival of the Animals. With both ballets offering original
choreography, original costuming, and a live professional orchestra, this
production promises to keep the audience fully engaged and enchanted! April 20, 2013 at 7:30 pm and April 21 at 2:00 pm at Krum High
School Performance Centre, 811 East McCart Street, Krum, TX 76249.
$12-$18. (940) 383-2623. www.DentonCityContemporaryBallet.org/
DanceTCU invites you to Senior Capstone & Honors Presentation
Performances. Come and enjoy performances of original dances choreographed by senior ballet and modern dance BFA candidates and presentations by senior dance majors in the TCU Honors Program.
Concerts A & B showcase different works. April 17, 2013 Concert A at
6:00 pm & 8:00 pm (reception follows each performance). April 18
Concert B at 6:00 pm & 8:00 pm. April 19 Honors Presentation
Performance at 3:00 pm. April 19 Senior Concert A at 6:00 pm &
8:00 pm. April 20 Senior Concert B at 6:00 pm & 8:00 pm. Erma Lowe
Hall, Studio Theatre, 3000 South University Drive, Fort Worth, TX
76129. $10 general admission; $5 TCU ID & student ID from other
institutions; children under 6 enter free. Tickets sold at the door; cash
or checks only. For reservations (817) 257-4255. www.dance.tcu.edu/;
www.facebook.com/tcusccd/
April 21
La Fille Mal Gardée
The Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, directed by Ann Etgen and Bill
Atkinson, present La Fille Mal Gardée (The Badly Guarded Daughter).
This full length delightful ballet is one of the oldest in ballet repertoire.
Igor and Maria Youskevitch staged this charming production for
the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet. Today the ballet takes its place as an
enduring classic masterpiece of comic Ballet April 21, 2013 at 2:00 pm
at McFarlin Auditorium, Southern Methodist University, 6040 Boaz
Lane, Dallas, TX 75275. $10-$40. (214) 631-ARTS.
Pictured: Dallas Metropolitan Ballet
Pictured: DanceTCU in “Soundbars,” Susan Jaffe, Choreographer. Photo: The Dancing
Image/Sharen Bradford
April 20
Spring Classics
Collin County Ballet Theatre, under the artistic direction of Kirt &
Linda Hathaway, presents an evening of traditional and original classical dance works. April 20, 2013 at 7:00 pm at Heritage High School,
14040 Eldorado Parkway, Frisco, TX 75035. $12 & $15. (972) 747-0600.
www.ccballet.com/
April 20-21
Peter & the Wolf and Carnival of the Animals
Denton City Contemporary Ballet and Odysseus Chamber
Orchestra present Peter & the Wolf and Carnival of the Animals.
Prokofiev’s classic ballet has become the favorite of children worldwide.
Imaginatively scored so that each character is represented by a particular instrument, the piece provides a playful way to introduce young
audiences to the orchestra and the ballet! This version of Peter & the Wolf
will be narrated by Mr. Dalton Gregory, retired school principal and
Denton City Councilman. Carnival of the Animals, one of Saint Saens’
most well-known works, is a ballet set in 14 movements, each depicting an animal or set of animals. The orchestration, with Conductor
Jason Lim, is at once humorous, satirical, and virtuosic providing a
perfect foundation for Racina-Torre’s choreography, which will be both
classical and contemporary highlighting DCCB’s wide range of talent.
Janet Latham, a veteran storyteller through the Texas Storytelling
Festival and Tejas Storytelling Association Summer Conference, will be
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
Continued on page 17
February 2013
page 13
WELCOME HOME
to Dance Planet 17
T
he Dance Planet 17 headliner is the remarkably talented
New York dancer, dance and fitness teacher, choreographer and Dallas native, Christopher Vo. As a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the
Performing & Visual Arts (BTWHSPVA) and The
Juilliard School, Chris comes home to blaze a trail at
Dance Planet. Mark your calendars for April 6, 2013
from 9:30 am-5:00 pm and April 7, 2013 from
12:00 pm -5:00 pm. Chris will teach, perform, and talk about his
career working with the best in the dance business.
Executive Director of TITAS, Charles Santos reflects: “At Booker T.,
Chris was very sweet, very talented and young but danced with
maturity. He just wanted to dance. Today, I see a vibrant artist that’s
danced around the world with depth in his dancing and a clear
focus on his artistic path. His spirit is open and generous and he
never forgets where he came from.”
Dance Planet holds many memorable experiences for Chris. From the
time he started dancing in 4th grade through his days at BTWHSPVA, Chris was at this free, annual dance festival—performing, taking classes, and volunteering. As it was known then, “Dance for the
Planet” took place outdoors on the spacious lawns of Annette
Strauss Artist Square. The festival consisted of classes in tents, art
and food vendors on the walkways, dancers warming up along the
Pictured: Teresa Espinosa teaching a Master Class at Dance Planet 16. Photo:
Fermaint Photography
stage, and audiences sitting on blankets or lawn chairs enjoying the
performances. On the hour were 7-Minute Globals where everyone
was encouraged to dance the electric slide or the wave, do a basic
swing step or join in a conga line.
Chris recalls, “I remember Chuck Davis. I remember the Arts
District—Annette Strauss Square coming alive with dancers and
supporters of dance. I remember the incredible sense of community
and feeling so connected to the city through dance. I remember
working in the soda stands. I remember laying Marley for some of
the events. I remember looking forward to it every year.”
Pictured: Ballroom dancers at Dance Planet 16. Photo: Fermaint Photography
page 14
February 2013
BTWHSPVA Dance Coordinator Lily Cabatu Weiss remarks “As a
student at Arts, Chris was always willing to try anything, to take
advantage of every master class, and to be a risk-taker. When you
see him now, you cannot imagine Chris falling and rolling across
the floor every time he lost his balance in class. His senior choreography was a preview of his creative talents. Since then we have
commissioned several works from Chris; each work demonstrates
sensitivity to musicality and an innate ability to showcase the talents of his dancers, while allowing his giving soul to shine through
the work. Chris has always been a graduate who gives back to the
community who he feels gave him so much. It is so appropriate
that he is the 2013 Dance Planet guest artist, the event that is about
community.”
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
Pictured: Christopher Vo, front center. Photo Chris Callis, courtesy Lar Lubovitch
Dance Company
The Dance Council of North Texas is pleased to note that Chris is
the recipient of several DCNT Scholarships including the: 2001
Summer Study, 2003 Margaret Rylatt Scholarship, and in 2004 and
2006—the Rosalee Kimple Scholarship.
In 2004, Chris was designated a Presidential Scholar in the Arts by
the U. S. Department of Education in conjunction with the National
Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. This award is the highest
distinction that a high school senior may receive. Only 20 winners
in the arts are chosen annually. In addition to receiving his
Presidential Medallion, Chris and his fellow arts awardees performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
For college, Chris put his pedal to the metal and moved to New
York City. In 2007, during his years at The Juilliard School, Chris
was named a Princess Grace awardee in Modern Dance. He graduated with a BFA in Dance from The Juilliard School in 2008.
Pictured: Showcase performer at Dance Planet 16. Photo: Fermaint Photography
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
November 2012
page 15
Dance Planet 17 — Continued from page 16.
From 2008-2011, Chris performed with the internationallyrenowned Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. Chris was singled out as
one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch—Who’s Looking Fine in ’09.”
Writer Harris Green says, “Although only 5’8”, Christopher Vo, 23, is
a hard man to overlook when he’s onstage and in motion.”
In 2011, Chris was a principal dancer on the national tour of Twyla
Tharp’s, Come Fly With Me. He played the role of Marty, a bumbling,
Pictured: Dance Planet 16. Photo: Fermaint Photography
Emmy award-winning choreographer for the show. I get him. He
gets me. When the creative juices are flowing in the studio, the
excitement from the whole team is palpable.”
Pictured: Dance Planet 16. Photo: Fermaint Photography
clumsy bartender who provided comic relief and acrobatic energy.
And if it could get any better than that, Chris decided to transition
from concert dance to the commercial world of dance and musical
theater. Now, he is a dancer on Season 2 of the NBC hit show,
SMASH, premiering in February 2013!
Coupled with all that, Chris is recently rated as one of New York
City’s Best Zumba Instructors of 2012 by RateYourBurn Blog. He is
a certified Zumba instructor who is in demand. He teaches Zumba
and Barre Burn classes at the Equinox Fitness Clubs on 92nd
Street, on 76th, on Columbus Circle and at the ZClubNY TriBeca.
Chris gushes, “I love Jennifer Hudson. Hearing her sing right next
to me, right into my ear, and dancing alongside her was thrilling.
The stars on the show are down-to-earth, fun people.”
This twenty-seven years old sensation returns to Dance Planet and
will knock our socks off at the state-of-the-art Booker T.
Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts. Come
out and take free Zumba, Barre Burn, Musical Theater, or
Contemporary classes with Chris. Altogether, Planet offers 30 free
dance and fitness classes taught by professionals from our region.
Asked what the highlight is of working on SMASH, Chris enthusiastically declares: “the big dance productions—Josh Bergasse is the
Enjoy the Afternoon Performance Showcase from 1:00 pm to
5:00 pm presenting a fantastic array of dance styles from our community in the Montgomery Arts Theater. Preceding the showcase
Chris will do a Question & Answer about his career from12:15 pm1:00 pm. During the final hour, Chris will bring down the house
with his performance.
For 17 years, Dance Planet is the place for bringing dancers together—professionals and enthusiasts of all ages, styles, and abilities to
share their love of dance, broaden their experiences, and create a
stronger dance community.
Asked what dance means to
him, Chris poignantly says: “I
have always felt a deep connection with Martha Graham’s
description of dance as being
‘the hidden language of the
body, of the soul.’ Dance has
the power to heal, to motivate,
to educate, to empower, to
transform. You name it. Dance
has the ability to do it.”
To read the interview with
Chris Vo, go to
www.thedancecouncil.org and
click on the Dance Planet page.
Pictured: Dance Planet 16. Photo: Fermaint
Photography
page 14
February 2013
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
April 25-27
Dance UpClose Concert
April 26-28
Coppélia
Texas Woman's University presents the exciting choreography of
our students and faculty! April 25, 2013 at 4:00 pm, April 26-27 at
7:00 pm at the Dance Studio Theatre, Texas Woman's University,
1514 Bell Avenue, Denton, TX 76204. $6 general, $4 students.
www.twu.edu/dance/ Facebook: Texas Woman's UniversityDepartment
of Dance.
LakeCities Ballet Theatre closes its 2012-2013 season with the fanciful
ballet, Coppélia. Coppélia is the story of a girl, by the same name, who sits on
her balcony all day reading, while speaking to no one. A local boy named
Franz falls head over heels for her and decides to marry her, regardless of
the fact that he is already engaged. His fiancé, Swanhilda, finds out about
Franz’s plans, but soon learns that Coppélia is really only a wind-up doll
that belongs to Doctor Coppélius, the town’s mad scientist. Swanhilda
decides to impersonate the doll and win back the love of Franz. Chaos follows, but, in the end, Swanhilda and Franz make up and get married. The
townspeople celebrate the marriage with festive dances and merriment, as
everyone involved goes happily on their way. April 26-27, 2013 at 7:30 pm
and April 28 at 2:00 pm at Medical Center of Lewisville Grand Theater, 100
N. Charles Street, Lewisville, TX 75057. $15. (972) 966-8006.
www.lakecitiesballet.com/
April 26-27
Diamonds
New from Epiphany DanceArts! Come see the show Diamonds—an
inspiring story about beauty, confidence, and perspective. The evening
performances promise new choreography, stunning new costumes,
and a heart-warming story. Here for a limited engagement, don't miss
Diamonds! April 26-27 at 7:00 pm at Granville Arts Center,
300 N 5th Street, Garland, TX 75040. www.epiphanydancearts.org/
April 26-27
Garden Party
Elledanceworks Dance Company, under the artistic direction of
Ronelle Eddings & Michele Hanlon, presents an evening of dance
and live music under the spring sky in McKinney! Bring your blankets,
dinner, family and friends. You don't want to miss this! April 26-27,
2013 at 7:00 pm in Katie's Garden, Heard-Craig House, 205 W. Hunt
Street, McKinney, TX 75069. Free. (214) 366-0630.
www.elledanceworks.org/
Pictured: LakeCities Ballet Theatre
April 29
Sleeping Beauty
Presented by American Theatre for Youth in partnership with The
Black Academy of Arts & Letters. www.tbaal.org/
May 1
Meadows at the Winspear 2013
The SMU Meadows School of the Arts Dance Division joins the
Meadows Symphony Orchestra for the gala culmination of the performing season. Dance performances include Balanchine's Valse-Fantaisie,
set to Mikhail Glinka music; a pas de deux by Adam Hougland from
Friandises, with music by Christopher Rouse; the premiere of a new work
by Danny Buraczeski set to Bernstein's Three Dance Episodes from On The
Town; and a new Rite of Spring by Dutch choreographer Joost
Vrouenraets, with set by Russell Parkman and lights by Steve Woods.
Meadows at the Winspear is the 20th annual concert benefiting Meadows
students, programs and the Meadows School of the Arts educational
mission. Proceeds help fund the Meadows Scholars program, providing
annual scholarships to students who have demonstrated strong artistic
and academic achievement. May 1, 2013 at 8:00 pm at the Winspear
Opera House, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201. (214) 768-2787.
May 2
BTWHSPVA Repertory Workshop Showcase
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual
Arts features all dance classes in short class works. May 2, 2013 at
7:00 pm in the Montgomery Arts Theater, Booker T. Washington High
School for the Performing and Visual Arts, 2501 Flora Street, Dallas, TX
75201. $5 students, $10 adults. (972) 925-1200.
www.btw.dallasisd.tandemcal.com/
Pictured: Tiffanee Arnold & Melissa Bjork. Photo: Brian Guilliaux
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
February 2013
page 17
The Process of Getting in: Steps 6-10
by Alyssa Magsano
A
s the last chills of winter nip at our nose we open our eyes
to a full and exciting New Year. The time has come to
place the harvest of the holidays behind us and welcome
in the laundry list of resolutions, reforms, and responsibilities. With
your applications signed, sealed, and sent off, as a high school senior
you are set to embark on your final semester of high school.
However, before this chapter of your life comes to a close it would be
best to tie up any loose ends you have left astray. By following these
final five steps you will welcome in a stress free spring forward and
before you know it will be moving that tassel to the other side.
STEP 6: THE INTERVIEW
While there are simply not enough recruiters, admissions officers,
and alumni to grant every applicant an interview, it doesn’t hurt to
be prepared. You never know who or where you might meet someone that can be the key ingredient to furthering your future. To
begin, let us start with dress: Coco Chanel once wrote, “I don’t
understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little—If only out of pointlessness. And then, you never
know, maybe that’s the day she has a date with destiny. And it’s
best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.” So ladies, and gentlemen, as cliche as it may sound, always dress for success. As tempting as it may be to go to school in sport shorts and your bed t-shirt
the world is full of spontaneity and serendipity and you never know
if opportunity is right around the corner. Now, while the tips in step
6 may seem commonplace, it isn’t a bad idea to treat everyday like
an interview. In our day and age, where success is a hard thing to
secure, simple graces can go a long way. If you are lucky enough to
secure a scheduled interview with your college of choice, the following will surely apply.
Part A: Attire. As stated above, dress for success. Unlike the
spontaneous situation previously mentioned, if you know that a college interview is on your agenda for the day, prepare yourself in
every way you can. For the ladies a cute, but classy, dress is never a
bad idea. Make sure it is an appropriate length and always bring a
jacket or cardigan to drape over your shoulders. Wear sensible shoes
and make sure your hair is neat and in place. For the gentlemen,
the same applies. It is true what they say about first impressions,
and a properly groomed guy is a rarity today. Comb your hair, and
wear a collared shirt. Regardless of the weather, shorts are not
acceptable leg wear. While a three piece suit might be over top, one
can never go wrong with trousers to slacks. A pair of jeans can be
deemed acceptable so long as they are dark wash and properly tailored. While it is important to stay true to who you are, stepping
outside of your comfort zone might be just what you need to make
a lasting impression. Whatever you wear, keep in mind that you’re
still young. Have fun with colors and prints; just do your best to
keep it classy and professional.
Part B: Questions. Although some recruiters will have a set list
of questions to ask you, most of the time the college interview is a
chance for you as an applicant to ask any remaining questions you
may have about the school. Interviewers accept your interview as an
additional supplement to your application. It is a way for them to
get to know you off paper, and in person, so being eloquent and
educated is important. Having a list of specific questions for the
interviewer will surely leave a lasting impression. On the days before
page 18
February 2013
Author Alyssa Magsano working on her applications
the interview, spend some time reviewing the school’s website.
Research the details of the programs that interest you. While some
general questions are okay, it is important that your questions can
not be easily found on their website. By asking broad, yet tactile
questions like: “What are some internship opportunities available to
students in {your specific major}?” “Would I as a {major} be able to
study abroad? What programs do you recommend?” or “Tell me
about some of the clubs and organizations open to freshman.” By
asking simple questions like this, you show that you are informed
but also interested in furthering your knowledge of their program.
As a dancer, another good question to ask is whether it is possible
for you to double major and/or minor in an additional program of
interest. While many schools allow it, the dance program in some
schools can be so rigorous that there just isn’t enough time.
Whenever the interviewer is speaking, be attentive and interested.
Don’t interrupt, and be sure to make an acceptable amount of eye
contact.
Part C: Necessities. Along with your well put together outfit, it
is always sensible to pack a bag that can save your day. Having a
notebook and pen is very helpful. Jot down key points and answers
to your questions as the interview goes on. This will show the interviewer that you are organized. However, be mindful of your notes,
doodling mindlessly will leave an impression that is a dud. It is wise
to pack of tissue in your bag, lipgloss, and a small mirror. Include a
bottle of water. You will be talking a lot during the interview so it is
more than acceptable to take a sip during the process, just be sure to
drink daintily. Before you go in, freshen your breath with a mint,
smooth out your lips, and check your teeth for any technicalities.
Prior to entering the room, make sure your phone is silenced—out
of sight, out of mind. In the case that you have a very sick elder in
the hospital, or your sister is about to give birth, discretely inform
your interviewer of the situation and put your phone on vibrate.
However, even in this rare circumstance, your phone should not be
visible, place it in your bag and don’t let it distract you.
Part D: Thank You, Come Again. Whether your interview
was a rousing success or an epic failure a sincere thank you can go a
www.thedancecouncil.org DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
May 3-4
Alvin Ailey American
Dance Theater
May 4
Dance 2008 Concert
Presenter: Texas Woman's University presents the exciting choreography of our students and faculty! May 4, 2013 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm at
Dance Studio Theater, Texas Woman's University, 1514 Bell Avenue, Denton,
TX 76204. $5 general, $3 students. www.twu.edu/dance/ Like us on
Facebook: Texas Woman's University Department of Dance.
"Possibly the most successful modern dance company on the planet."
— The New York Times. In a nowfabled 1958 performance at the
92nd Street YMCA in New York City,
Alvin Ailey led a group of young
African-American dancers in an
event that forever changed the perception of American dance. Today,
Alvin Ailey American Dance
Theater continues its reign as an
American “Cultural Ambassador to
the World”—having performed live
for an estimated 23 million people in
48 states, 71 countries, and six continents. Now guided by the vision of
new artistic director Robert Battle,
the Alvin Ailey American Dance
Theater remains the nation’s leading modern dance company. TITAS
welcomes Ailey back for their first
Dallas performance since 1993.
May 3, 2013 at 8:00 pm and May 4
at 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm at the
Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora
Street, Dallas, TX 75201. $12-$200.
(214) 880-0202.
www.tickets.attpac.org/
May 14-26
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Based on the Oscar award-winning film, Priscilla tells the story of Tick,
Bernadette and Adam, a glamorous Sydney-based performing trio that agree
to take their show to the middle of the Australian outback. Priscilla is a heartwarming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old
bus (nicknamed Priscilla) searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. With a dazzling array of outrageous costumes and featuring a score of dance-floor classics, this wildly fresh
and funny new musical is a sensational journey to the heart of fabulous.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. May
14-26, 2013 at multiple times at Music Hall at Fair Park, 909 1st Avenue,
Dallas, TX 75210. (800) 982-ARTS (2787). www.dallassummermusicals.org/
May 17-19
DBDT Spring Celebration Series
Join Dallas Black Dance Theatre for an extraordinary season finale with
guest artist Dayton Contemporary Dance principal dancer, Sheri
“Sparkle” Williams as she performs Growth by Dwight Rhoden, Artistic
Director of Complexions. Also scheduled to appear will be Nejla Y. Yatkin,
a 2008 Princess Grace Choreography Fellow. And back by popular demand,
DBDT performs Escapdes, a commissioned masterpiece by Alvin Ailey.
May 17, 2013 at 7:30 pm, May 18 at 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm, and May 19 at
2:30 pm at the Wyly Theatre, 2400 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201. School
matinees will be held May 16, 2013 at 10:15 am & 11:45 am. $15-$55.
(214) 880-0202. www.dbdt.com/
Pictured: Alicia Graf Mack.
Photo: Andrew Eccles
May 3-5
SpringFest: Lambarena and Voluntaries
Texas Ballet Theater presents Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena and
Glen Tetley’s Voluntaries. TBT’s production of Caniparoli’s visually
stunning Lambarena treats the audience to a celebration of two cultures
where incredible choreography, dancing, African rhythms and the
melodies of Bach are infused to delight every soul! Audiences will be
enthralled by Tetley’s beautiful and emotional Voluntaries. In the late
Tetley’s words, “although there is a fall into gravity or into death, there
also is a continual lifting, a continual trying to soar, like angels, in what
is almost a constellation of light.” May 3, 2013 at 8:00 pm, May 4 at
2:00 & 8:00 pm and May 5 at 2:00 pm at at the Wyly Theatre,
2400 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201. $20-$60. (877) 828-9200.
www.texasballettheater.org/
Pictured: Texas Ballet Theater in “Lambarena”
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
February 2013
page 19
Getting Into College — Continued from page 18.
long way. Of course it is common sense to thank your interviewer at
the end of your interview, but sending a note post questioning is
sure to leave a lasting impression. Every aspiring lady, and gentleman, should always have a stack of stylish but sensible notecards on
hand. Snail mail is a dying art form, so even if you think your interview sent your acceptance astray, a hand written thank you note can
very quickly move your “maybe” into the “future students” pile.
Etiquette is easy. It is just up to you to decide whether your time will
allow it.
STEP 7: FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIP
The students of today have so many pressures put on them. Unlike
our parents and grandparents, our goal is not only to get into college, but to get into the right college. And, even after applications
have been sent, reviewed, and accepted, celebration is still far into
the future. Because a college education is almost a mandatory component for future success, the competition to get into the “right
school” is high, and with the rise in competition comes a skyrocketing price tag. Each school is different, but the process is virtually the
same. Many schools in the United States accept FAFSA (Free
Application for Federal Student Aid), but deadlines differ. Check on
each school’s website, or speak with an admissions officer to find
out the exact details of their financial aid package. Prior to applying
it is important to figure out whether your school is need based,
merit based, or simply rewards scholarships. Once you have come to
understand the institutions financial situation, you can begin
searching for outside funds. Nowadays, people can get a scholarship
for virtually anything. If you’re short, or tall, blonde or brunette,
there will always be someone offering you a financial incentive.
There is no harm in applying. So, as tedious as the process may be,
fill out those applications and you can only be rewarded.
STEP 8: STRAYING AWAY FROM SENIORITIS
As spring semester comes rolling in, many seniors are subject to
senioritis. Symptoms and side effects include:
• skipping class,
• stopping work,
• sleeping in, and
• showing up in sweats.
If this is you on a regular day, then congratulations on even making
it to senior year. However, if you see any of these symptoms arising
and they are not a part of your daily routine, take a look at yourself
in the mirror and remember that no one makes it to the finish line
by stopping dead in their tracks. Don’t sell yourself short by thinking you’ve already made it to the other side. School still matters.
Stay focused and attentive in all your classes, study for exams, and
properly complete your projects. After all, although high school
might be coming to an end, in just a few months you’ll be entering
the courtyards of college and your workload will do anything but
dwindle. Take advantage of your last few months of schooling security, and pay your respects to the teachers who helped you get to
where you are going next. Savor all that you can, and graduate with
a gold star.
STEP 9: WAITING IT OUT
The only thing more daunting than applying to college is waiting to
get accepted. When the New Year rings in and you’ve completed
your applications, the only thing left to do is wait. So, as horrible as
these first few months of the year may seem, trust in the fact that
you have done all that you can. As previously mentioned, stay
abreast of the goings on at schools, but also take some time for family, friends, and yourself. Unless you’ve applied early decision, there
page 20
February 2013
is really no point in refreshing your inbox every five seconds during
the final days of winter. Rather than balling yourself up in the corner and pulling your hair out, get up, get dressed, and go out. These
last few months could very well become your most cherished memories, so embrace them. As hard as it may be, once acceptance season begins do your best to maintain a modicum of composure.
Congratulate friends that have found out, your time will come too.
Be delicate to those who are disappointed, but don’t allow yourself
to settle in their slump. If you happen to be with the first batch of
acceptances, gloat with grace. There is no reason to hide the good
news, but also keep in mind that many of your peers are still anxiously awaiting the news.
STEP 10: CELEBRATE
Once acceptances start coming your way, the clouds will clear and
you will welcome in the next chapter of your life. The only thing left
to do is decide. Whether the choice is clear, or you are still feeling
out a few schools, take solace in the knowledge that the choice is
ultimately yours. After the pro and con lists have been delineated, a
decision has been made, and a down payment made, it is finally
time to pull up a seat, elevate your feet, and celebrate. Whether
you’re going to the college of your dreams, or taking an alternative
route, you’ve made it through high school and the rest of your life is
right in front of you. Let go and dance your heart out at prom, toss
your cap at graduation, and savor every moment you can by making
each second a blissful memory.
So, there you have it. As your high school career comes to a close, so
do the steps of getting into college. The best knowledge you can take
with you from high school might not be the Pythagorean Theorem
or the scholarly elements of literature, but the lessons of life and etiquette. A few more tips to remember include:
Guide With Grace. Truly successful people not only are good at
what they do, but also do good with what they have.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. Life is full of pressures and obstacles that might get you down. However, by taking a step outside and
remembering where it is you want to end up will always help to get
your head back in the game.
Stay True to Who You Are. No matter where life’s path may lead
you, or what journeys you might embark on in the future, remember that you can always come home. High School seems to be the
place you love to hate, but will quickly turn into the place you miss
the most (or at least that’s what Paramount Pictures has led us to
believe). Stay true to who you are, and you will be invincible.
I would also like to give a final shout out to my Graduating Class of
2013! We’re almost there! Embrace these last few months because
we have nothing but bright lights and crazy adventures ahead of us.
And now, as we move our tassel to the other side we look onto the
class of 2014... follow these steps, and you’re bound for success.
Here’s to all of us!
Alyssa Magsano is a senior dance major at Booker T. Washington High School
for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas. She was a previous student at
the National Ballet School of Canada, and has participated in the summer
programs at the National Ballet School and the Joffrey Ballet School in New
York City. In addition to her love for dance, Alyssa has also acquired a passion
for writing. This past summer she completed a three week creative writing
and journalism program at Columbia University. After graduation, Alyssa
hopes to pursue a career in both dance and writing.
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
UPSTAGE DANCEWEAR
Shoes, bodywear, everything for dance I Open 7 days; Open Late!
114 W. Virginia I McKinney, TX 75069
972.547.4444 I www.upstagedancewear.com
the low down
auditions
Feb 8 Cedar Lake 360° Summer Dance Intensive audition held at
Booker T. Washington HSPVA. www.cedarlakedance.com
lectures
Apr 18 José Limón: Speaking Eloquently Through Movement. José Limón
(1908-1972), one of the most renowned Mexican-American choreographers, was a storyteller of epic proportions who, in his memoirs, spoke
of himself as an interpreter. In this lecture, Patty Harrington
Delaney focuses on two of his seminal works, La Malinche and
Carolotta. Patty Harrington Delaney Chairs the Division of Dance at the
Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. Free.
April 18, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak
Street, Dallas, TX 75204 . Free. (214) 671-0052.
www.dallasculture.org/latinoculturalcenter/
master classes
Feb 9 Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet master class held at Booker T.
Washington HSPVA. (214) 978-2852. www.titas.org
Feb 23 Black Dance master class with Jamaica’s Stella Maris Dance
Company held at Naomi Bruton Main Stage, Black Academy of Arts &
Letters. www.tbaal.org/
Apr 12 Paul Taylor master class held at Eisemann Center’s Bank of
America Theatre. (972) 744-4650. www.eisemanncenter.com
ongoing performances
First Thursday of every month Harem Nite - repertoire of belly
dancers from the DFW area. Free.
Stratos Greek Taverna Restaurant,
2907 W Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX
75220. (214) 352-3321;
(214) 497-7984.
www.belly-dancing.net/
social dances/Dallas
Pilates Squared offers ballroom
social dance for all levels every
Tuesday at Pilates Squared, 3122
Swiss Avenue, Dallas, TX 75204.
www.pilatessquared.com/
Dallas Swing Dance Society usually hosts three Swing on a String
dances each month. (972) 504-6301 www.dsds.org/
Swing dances are held every Wednesday night at the Sons of Hermann
Hall, 3414 Elm Street, Dallas, (214) 747-4422,
www.sonsofhermann.com/ Irish Dance Club meets weekly.
(972) 377-3669. www.irishdance.dragonseye.com/
North Texas Traditional Dance Society holds Contra Dance/English
Dance events on Saturday evening at multiple locations in Dallas.
(214) 381-7032. www.nttds.org/
Marilyn Meyers Dance Connections Club sponsors a ballroom dance on
the 3rd and 5th Saturday of every month. 7448 Greenville Ave., Dallas,
TX 75231. (972) 342-1742. www.danceconnectionsclub.org/
social dances/Euless
Salsa Dance Mixer held every Sunday. 13500 Trinity Blvd, Euless, TX,
76040. (972) 533-2936. www.SalsaMixer.com/
social dances/Fort Worth
Fort Worth Swing Dance Syndicate holds swing dances on the 2nd,
4th, and 5th Fri of each month, 1959 Sandy Lane, Fort Worth.
www.fwsds.org/
Southside Preservation Association holds Swing Night every Tues and
Big Band Night on the 1st Fri of every month, Southside Preservation
Hall, 1519 Lipscomb Street, Fort Worth. (817) 926-2800.
www.southsidepreservation.com/
social dances/Lewisville
A Grand Night for Swing!—Beginners east coast swing dance every
Friday night, MCL Grand Theater's recital hall, 100 N. Charles St.,
Lewisville, TX. (510) 205-6498.
social dances/Mansfield
Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, Cha-Cha, Bachata lessons and dancing are
held every Wednesday night by the Sandunga Dance Company at Bella
Vita Pizza & Pasta, 2000 North Highway 157, Suite 102, Mansfield.
social dances/McKinney
Ballroom, Latin and Swing Dances are held on Friday and Saturday
nights at the DaVindy Ballroom, 207 East Virginia Street, McKinney.
social dances/Plano
Dance, Dance, Dance! for people 50 years and older are held Tuesdays
at the Plano Senior Center, 401 West 16th St, Plano. (972) 941-7155.
Upcoming Dance Intensives
Denton Dance Conservatory
4103 Mesa Drive
Denton, TX 76207
Phone: (940) 383-2623
www.DentonDance.com
Dates: April 8-12, 2013
Times: 10:00 am, check with DDC
for more specifics!
Curriculum: Daily classes in ballet
and variations for IntermediateAdvanced level students. Guest
instructor: Thom Clower.
Tuition range: $120-$200 for week.
Target Second Saturday offers free
monthly Latin Dance Lessons every
second Saturday of the month at
the Latino Cultural Center,
2600 Live Oak, Dallas, TX 75204.
(214) 671-0045.
www.dallasculture.org/latinocc/
Ballroom Dance Party, presented by
USA Dance Dallas has two venues,
Sammons Center for the arts and
Sokol Hall on multiple weekends.
Please see web site for times and
locations. www.usadancedallas.org/
page 24
February 2013
Pictured: Thom Clower
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
what’s up withdance
in the metroplex
Jerry Bywaters Cochran performed I Wonder as I Wander on
Christmas Eve 2012 at Northaven United Methodist Church.
The haunting Appalachian carol written by folklorist and singer
John Jacob Niles has its origins in a song fragment collected
by Niles on July 16, 1933. “Don’t forget that the original meaning of ‘to carol’ was ‘to dance’. When I dance to a beautiful carol
like this one, and hear the tenor’s wonderful voice, it’s almost
like dancing in Heaven,” Jerry said.
announce that the new studio has five studios (with the option
to combine two into one for showings, mini-performances &
fundraisers), larger offices, new state of the art dance floors, new
sound systems, new ballet barres, viewing windows into classes,
men’s and women’s changing areas, break-room, small kid’s
area for siblings to play, large lobby/waiting area, six bathrooms,
and abundant parking.
across the state
Tapestry Dance Company's Co-founder and Producing
Artistic Director Acia Gray has taken a medical leave to undergo treatment for ulcerative colitis, which she has been battling
for more than ten years. Assistant Artistic Director Matthew
Shields has stepped in to assist with operations of the company.
A call for submissions to the {254} DANCE festival held at the
Waco Convention Center from September 26-29, 2013 has been
issued by L. Brooke Schlecte—artistic director of Out On a
Limb Dance Company. The festival, presented by the Waco
Cultural Arts Fest, strives to bring new contemporary movement
ideas to Central Texas. Festival planners seek artists that push
the limits of dance while also exploring dance traditions. They
would like to provide the audience with current dance making
ideas in movement, performance, choreography, and collaboration that one cannot find in popular culture. Contact: L. Brooke
Schlecte at (254) 723-2285 or email her at
[email protected]/ Online application deadline: January 1, 2013. Application due: April 1 ($20
submission fee per dance)
Notification by email: June 1.
Confirmation by artist: June 11.
Pictured: Jerry Bywaters Cochran
After 42 years of service in the Metroplex "dance staple" Mimi
Robbins owner of Dance Etc Dallas! retires at end of year.
FTA Productions—a company specializing in film, theatre and
dance—is acquiring Dance Etc Dallas! which will continue to
operate under that name is now a wholly owned subsidiary of
FTA Productions.
Contemporary Ballet Dallas, formerly located at the
Lakewood Shopping Center for eleven years, has moved to
Mockingbird/Central Plaza Shopping Center, 5400 East
Mockingbird Lane, Suite 207-11, Dallas, TX 75206. Lindsay
DiGiuseppe Bowman and Valerie Tabor are pleased to
in the nation
Parisa Khobdeh—Paul Taylor
dancer, DCNT scholarship recipient and Chamberlain Performing
Arts alum—is profiled in a feature story and is pictured on the
cover of Dance Magazine’s
December 2012 issue.
Ida Saki—DCNT scholarship
recipient, Dance Industry and
Booker T. Washington HSPVA
alum—is featured in the January Pictured: Parisa Khobdeh
2013 issue of Dance Magazine as
one of the top 25 to watch. See
her perform with Cedar Lake
Contemporary Ballet in
February when TITAS brings
the company to the Winspear.
HATHAWAY ACADEMY
OF BALLET
Home of Collin County Ballet Theatre
Directors, Kirt & Linda Hathaway
Professional Instruction Classical Ballet
Modern, Jazz & Hip-Hop
Ages 3 through Adults
“Lessons of a Lifetime”
2865 McDermott Road, # 140 • Plano, Texas 75025
972.747.0600 • www.hathawayballet.com
page 26
February 2013
Pictured: Ida Saki
Booker T. Washington High
School for the Performing
and Visual Arts proudly
announces dance awardees in
the 2013 YoungArts program
administered through The
National Foundation for the
Advancement of the Arts:
Finalists—Nick Gomez/Tap and
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
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DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
February 2013
page 27
what’s up withdance
Modern; Madi Hicks/Modern; Ani Mayo/Tap; Montana
Michniak/Modern; Jenna Mitchell/Modern and
Choreography. Honorable Mention—Bekah
Adkins/Choreography; Trashad Alladin/Hip Hop; Taylor
Boyland/Modern; Nick Gomez/Choreography;
Ani Mayo/World Dance; Emily Mikolitch/Tap.
Merit—Madi Hicks/Jazz.
Pictured above is Anastasia Tillman in LakeCities Ballet
Theatre's Dracula production. This award winning photograph
taken by Nancy Loch was posted by Youth America Grand
Prix on their Facebook page for Halloween events.
page 28
February 2013
Pictured below are Maestro Adron Ming of the Lewisville
Lake Symphony, Sarah Lane, soloist with ABT, Sascha
Radetsky, soloist with ABT, Kelly Lannin, Artistic Director of
LakeCities Ballet Theatre, and Kristin Houck Langford
LBT Production Manager following LBT's annual performance
of The Nutcracker. Ms. Lane was the dance double for Natalie
Portman in the movie, Black Swan. Mr. Radetsky performed as
Charlie in the movie Centerstage.
Save the Date
May 21-25
National Tap Dance Celebration
Presented by DCNT and DSM
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
IN MEMORIAM
Gene L. Pflug, Age 84, died December 12, 2012 born in
Springfield, IL, lived in Dallas most of his life. Known as the "Boy
with the Flying Feet" began his career at age 7 appearing with
Allan Jones in a Dallas Summer Musical Production of The Firefly.
He turned professional tap dancer at the age of 14 appearing in 33
Dallas Summer Musicals. Selected for a four year college scholarship at North Texas State College to travel with "Fessor Graham's
Variety Show," staging shows and peforming weekends with the
"Aces of Collegeland." He served his country in the Special Services
Unit staging, performing and dancing in 190 military shows and
named Outstanding Entertainer at Ft. Meade. After the military,
Gene worked in TV, nightclubs and stage productions in
Hollywood and New York. As Hollywood musicals declined, he
hung up his shoes at age 28 spending the next 30 years in
Commercial Insurance. By a chance meeting with a prior dance
instructor, Gene agreed to train an advanced tap class. He found
teaching his greatest joy and passion. Gene taught 12 years at
Gingham Girls, 25 plus at Calico Kids and five at Stars for
Tomorrow. His students and productions earned 110 gold medals.
Highlights include Calico Kids exhibition numbers at the 2000
Olympics. Gene created dances for the 1999 and 2000 National
Tap Dance Day. Personal awards include the 1999 National Tap
Dance Committee for Outstanding Contribution in Teaching Tap
Dancing and the 2011 Texas Tap Legend by the Dance Council of
North Texas. He gave countless hours to help students showcase
their unique talents, often for no charge. Gene became a Mason
while in college (Stanfield Lodge, Denton), being most active with
the Dallas Hella Temple Clown and Greeter Units. As an avid
showman, he shared his joy and zest of life through his charitable
service to others, delighting all with his sense of humor and antics.
Survived by his wife, Suzanne; sons, John and Garry and fiancée
Leslie; daughters, Janet and husband, Richard Jensen and Gayle
and husband, Mark Sackett; Step daughters, Robin Nelson and
Julie Mathews; grandchildren, Rev John R. Pflug Jr. and wife,
Brittany, Michael and Kimberly, Jack, Kyle and Taylor Pflug,
Richard Jr. and Mathew Jensen, Katie and husband, Stephen
Barbieri, Clayton and Grant Sackett and great granddaughter,
Emma Pflug.
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
ANOTHER WAY TO SUPPORT
DANCE COUNCIL OF NORTH TEXAS
WHILE YOU SHOP FOR GROCERIES
If you shop at Tom Thumb, please see form below.
1. Cut out the form.
2. Add your information to the form.
3. Take to Tom Thumb customer service desk the next
time you shop in the store.
4. Tell them to link the DCNT # (1480) on the attached
form to your Tom Thumb reward card.
And you’re done. DCNT will receive 1% of your purchase
amount from Tom Thumb every time you shop–at no cost
to you. Adds up quickly, so THANK YOU!!
vol. 16 • no. 1
February 2013
page 29
ALLEN
DA N C E D I R E C TO RY
ACADEMY OF DANCE ARTS
Home of Dallas Repertoire Ballet.
Kathy Willsey & Megan Buckland,
Directors; Classical ballet, jazz, lyrical,
tap, hip-hop. All levels; 604 W.
Bethany, #200, Allen, TX 75013 972727-1455; www.danceada.com;
“one of top 50 studios in the country”
- Dance Spirit and Dance Teacher Magazine
CINDY’S SCHOOL OF DANCE
Offering ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop,
baton, and clog for all ages—3 thru
adult. Morning, afternoon, evening
and Saturday classes. Located in Allen
at NW corner of Greenville &
McDermott. 972-727-1722
www.cindysschoolofdance.com
ARLINGTON
BEAUTY AND BEYOND
PERSONAL ENHANCEMENT CENTER
Offering teen and adult hip hop,
Zumba, yoga, Pilates and fitness
classes. Dance and event space for
rent. 1100 N. Fielder Rd., Arlington,
TX 76012. Minutes from Cowboys
Stadium. 817-860-9400
www.beautyandbeyondpec.com
COPPELL
Classes for ages 4-adult in ballet,
modern, jazz ethnic; The official school of
Dallas Black Dance Theatre.
Ann Williams, Artistic Director
ETGEN-ATKINSON SCHOOL
OF BALLET
Home of The Dallas Metropolitan Ballet
Ann Etgen & Bill Atkinson, Directors;
6815 Hillcrest Ave., Dallas, TX 75205;
214-361-0278;
www.etgenatkinsonballet.com
MOVE STUDIO
Pilates, yoga and dance for grownups.
Free trial! Classes, workshops, Pilates
equipment training. North Dallas,
Preston & Campbell SE corner. Info at
www.movestudio.com or
972-732-0206.
PARK CITIES DANCE/
THE DALLAS CONSERVATORY
“A Little Bit of New York in Dallas”
www.dentonballet.com
www.festivalballet.net
DENTON DANCE CONSERVATORY
Lisa Racina-Torre, Owner/Director.
940-383-2623, 4103 Mesa Dr., Denton,
TX 76207. Ballet, pointe, jazz, tap,
modern, hip-hop, Pilates & Mom &
Me ballet. Affiliate dance company,
Denton City Contemporary Ballet;
[email protected];
www.dentondance.com
TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF DANCE
www.twu.edu/dance
Performance, Choreography Research;
Teaching BA, MA, MFA, and Ph.D
degree programs; 940-898-2085
[email protected]; P.O. Box 425708,
Denton, TX 76204
FARMERS BRANCH
Jacqueline Porter, Artistic Director
World-class instruction for ages 2-82
in ballet, pointe, partnering, variations,
contemporary, jazz, modern, hip hop,
theatre dance. singing, acting, tap,
tumbling, ballroom, salsa and fitness.
Gorgeous studios; Sunday Masterclass
Series; home to Bruce Wood Dance
Project. 7979 Inwood, Ste. 201,
Dallas, TX 75209; 214-518-1888
www.parkcitiesdance.com
BROOKHAVEN COLLEGE
STUDIO B
BALLET CENTER OF FORT WORTH
Director: Bessie Waddill
Ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, musical
theatre & “company B,” our traveling
dance troupe. Located in the heart of
Lakewood; 214-826-3800;
www.studiob-dallas.com
Art. Dir. Enrica & Chung-Lin Tseng
5242 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth, TX
76132. 817-423-9888;
www.balletcenterfortworth.com
[email protected]
School of the Arts - Dance
Department; Beginner to advanced
courses in ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, tap and composition.
www.BrookhavenCollege.edu/BCSA
3939 Valley View Lane,
Farmers Branch, Dallas, TX 75244.
972-860-4122; [email protected]
FORT WORTH
BALLET ACADEMY OF TEXAS
Lisa Slagle, Director
145 Fitness Ct., Coppell, TX 75019;
972-745-0199
www.balletacademyoftexas.com;
Home of Ballet Ensemble of Texas
DALLAS
817-257-7615; TCU Box 297910,
Fort Worth, TX 76129;
[email protected]; www.dancetcu.edu;
FRISCO
DONNA ROSS SCHOOL
OF CLASSICAL BALLET
Donna Ross, Director;
Pre-Ballet - Professional.
Adult classes are also offered.
5605 Wilmington Dr.,
Frisco, TX 75035; 214-202-3219;
[email protected];
www.donnarossballet.com
SHEENA’S DANCE ACADEMY
Sheena Laramore, Artistic Director;
7975 Stonebrook Pkwy., Frisco, TX
75034. 972-712-1100. *Voted “Best
Dance Studio” in Collin County 14
years straight. Ages 2-1/2-adult,
Beginner through professional levels.
Home of the Frisco Ballet Company.
www.sheenasdanceacademy.com
GARLAND
LONDON SCHOOL OF DANCE
Directors: Gwen Owens & Misty
Owens; established in 1966. Classical
Ballet, Modern, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop.
565 W. Oates Rd., #105, Garland, TX
75042 972-686-1966. Teachers include
Eileen McKee, formerly with
Krassovska Ballet Jeunesse and Misty
Owens, former Dance Faculty and
current Guest Teacher at Mark Morris
Dance Center, Brooklyn, NY.
[email protected]
www.londonschoolofdance.com
IRVING
MARGO DEAN SCHOOL OF BALLET
CONTEMPORARY BALLET DALLAS
Directors: Lindsay DiGuiseppe
Bowman & Valerie Shelton Tabor.
Classes in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary dance, modern; largest
adult selection of dance classes & fitness classes. Located in the Lakewood
area of Dallas; 10 minutes from SMU
and downtown. 214-821-2066;
www.schoolofcbd.com;
www.contemporaryballetdallas.com
TEXAS BALLET THEATER SCHOOL,
DALLAS ACADEMY
The official School of Texas Ballet Theater,
includes classes in Ballet, Pointe,
Modern and Jazz offering students a
well-rounded dance education.
670 North Coit Rd., Ste. 2379,
Richardson, TX 75080; 214-369-5200.
www.texasballettheater.org
DENTON
DALLAS BALLET CENTER
DENTON BALLET ACADEMY
Judy and Brent Klopfenstein,
Directors; 8530 Abrams, Ste. 608,
Dallas, TX 75243; 214-348-3224;
Classical ballet, tap, jazz and modern
www.dallasballetcenter.com
Eldar Valiev & Lilia Valieva,
Owners/Directors. Home of Festival
Ballet of North Central Texas,
a classical ballet school in Denton
for 34 years. Age 3-Adult, Classical
Ballet (Vaganova Technique),
Pointe/Variations, Character Dance,
Pas de Deux, AdultBallet, PreBallet/Tap; 637 Londonderry Ln.,
Denton, TX 76205; 940-891-0830.
DALLAS BLACK DANCE ACADEMY
2700 Flora St., Dallas TX 75201
“Where the Arts District Begins”
214-871-2387; [email protected].
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February 2013
Home of Ballet Concerto
3803 Camp Bowie Blvd.,
Fort Worth, TX 76107;
Ballet for all ages & levels, flamenco &
jazz dance; 817-738-7915;
[email protected]
margodeanballet.com;
www.balletconcerto.com
TEXAS BALLET THEATER SCHOOL,
FORT WORTH ACADEMY
The official school of Texas Ballet Theater,
includes classes in Ballet, Pointe,
Modern and Jazz offering students a
well-rounded dance education.
1600 Green Oaks Rd.,
Fort Worth, TX 76116, 817-763-0207
www.texasballettheater.org
DANA’S DANCE ACADEMY - IRVING
Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop,
Gymnastics, Acro-Dance/Gymnastics,
Theatre, Modern, Stretch/Leaps/Turns,
Creative Movement for 2 yr. olds,
Belly Dance, Adult Tap, Polynesian
414 S. O’Connor, Ste. 101,
Irving, TX 75060; 972-259-1258
[email protected]
www.danasdanceacademy.com
KELLER
TULLE A DANCEWEAR BOUTIQUE
350 Rufe Snow Dr., Suite 200
Keller, TX 76248; 817-337-2327
www.tulledancewear.com
LEWISVILLE
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
School for Classical & Contemporary
Dance; BFA in Ballet and/or Modern
Dance; MFA beginning Fall 2013;
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
DANCERS WORKSHOP STUDIOS
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Flamenco,
Ballroom, Salsa, Swing; Adult &
vol. 16 • no. 1
DA N C E D I R E C TO RY
Children; Dance space available for rent;
190 W. Main St., Lewisville, TX 75057
972-420-1314;
www.dancers-workshop.com
Pre-School through Pre-Professional
Ballet; private instruction/technique
evalution;
[email protected];
www.texasyouthballet.com
THE BALLET CONSERVATORY
PLANO
Home of LakeCities Ballet Theatre
Kelly Lannin, Director; 1400 FM 407,
Lewisville, TX 75077; 972-317-0194;
www.balletconservatory.com;
wwwlakecitiesballet.org
CHAMBERLAIN PERFORMING ARTS
3003 W. 15th St., Plano, TX 75075;
214-412-8589
www.chamberlainperformingarts.org
MCKINNEY
Rhythm & Broadway Tap, Vocal &
Musical Theatre Technique; Audition
Preparation; Tap Workshops, all ages.
Nominated “Best Choreography
2007” by Dallas Theatre League.
Private studio, classes by appointment
only. 972-529-2439. Also create
“custom fit” taps for tap shoes.
[email protected];
www.tappinjj.com
TEXAS YOUTH BALLET CONSERVATORY
Home of the Texas Youth Ballet
Resident of the McKinney Performing
Arts Center; 111 N. Tennessee St.,
McKinney, TX 75069
Classical Ballet training/CPYB syllabus
Plano’s Premier Dance Studio
Offering classes for dancers ages 2-1/2
to young adult. Classes available in
ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, drill team prep,
hip hop and musical theater.
Call 972-473-4017 for additional
information. www.kjdance.com;
4017 Preston Rd., Ste. 546,
Plano, TX 75093
RICHARDSON
TUZER DANCE SCHOOL
CHAMBERLAIN SCHOOL OF
PERFORMING ARTS
JOSEPH JONES, PRIVATE INSTRUCTION
KJ DANCE
Kathy Chamberlain, Director
3003 W. 15th St., Plano, TX 75075
972-985-1374; Fax 972-867-8072
Classical ballet, jazz, tap, musical
theater, adult classes
COLLIN COLLEGE DANCE DEPARTMENT
Diverse Curriculum; Fall, Spring,
Summer 3 campuses; Student Dance
Company; Dance Residencies;
Summer Festival.
Tiffanee Arnold, Dance Chair,
2800 E. Spring Creek Pkwy.,
Plano, TX 75074; 972-881-5830;
[email protected]
www.collin.edu/dance
Home of the Tuzer Ballet
Tanju and Pat Tuzer, Artistic Directors
Pre-School through Pre-Professional
levels. Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Lyrical,
Tap and Character;
310 N. Glenville, Richardson, TX
75081; 972-783-1735;
www.tuzerdance.com
ROWLETT
ROWLETT DANCE ACADEMY
Carol Ann Maggiotto, Director
Ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip
hop, musical theatre, competitive
teams and performance companies.
Voted “Best Dance Studio in the Lake
Ray Hubbard Area” and “Most Well
Rounded Studio” by Jump judges;
5000 Rowlett Rd., Ste. 110,
Rowlett, TX 75088; 972-475-8269
www.rowlettdanceacademy.com
SAGINAW
JO BONDS DANCE STUDIO, INC.
The Dance Ranch
Ballet, Hip Hop, Pointe, Tap, Jazz,
Tumbling.
10857 Bus. Hwy. 287, Saginaw, TX
76179; 817-232-3555;
www.jobondsdance.com
SOUTHLAKE
STUDIO A DANCE
Classes in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical,
Hip-Hop and Musical Theatre.
Studio A is committed to being a
unique, excellent and uplifting place
to develop the whole child through
the art of dance. 611 E. Southlake
Blvd., Ste. 100, Southlake, TX.
817-442-5678.
www.studioasouthlake.com
Dancer-Friendly Businesses
The following businesses and organizations offer discounts to DCNT Members:
ADVERTISING
FACILITY RENTALS
DCNT—discounted or free to members
Sammons Center for the Arts
DANCEWEAR
MASTERCLASSES
Artful Dancewear
Capezio
Sandy’s Shoes & Dancewear
Spotlight Dancewear
Upstage Dancewear
Park Cities Dance
EQUIPMENT RENTALS
DCNT marley floor rentals
PERFORMANCE TICKETS
Beckles Dancing Company Performances
Bruce Wood Dance Project
Dallas Summer Musicals
Eisemann Center for “Eisemann Center Presents” shows
Texas Ballet Theater
TITAS
Check the website periodically for new additions!
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS
vol. 16 • no. 1
February 2013
page 31