4teachers
Setting Dance Goals For 2012
Every year I set a few professional goals for myself. I’ve reached almost all of them. I think the key is to spend a little time thinking about what you really want to do before creating any resolutions. That way you are clear on what it is that you want.
I spent a lot of time thinking about how I want this blog to evolve in the coming year. Up until this point I have just let it grow slowly, without spending a lot of time on the “plan” for where it is going next. But, with 4dancers turning 2, I thought it might be time to define a few long-term goals for 2012. One of them was to develop an editorial calendar, which I am still in the process of finishing, and the other was to begin the process of focusing the content so that it is a solid resource for dancers and dance professionals. That goal will evolve over time.
Setting a couple dance goals for yourself can be very helpful. Just the act of writing out what it is that you want to do helps solidify it in your mind. You don’t have to do anything fancy…just jot them down.
Of course, after you set the goal you’ll want to create a plan for achieving it. Try to be as specific as you can in terms of the steps you need to take to get there. Map out ways to measure your progress along the way so you don’t get discouraged. And be ready to adjust the plan on the fly if need by. After all, life has a way of shifting things…
Do you have any dance goals for 2012? I’d love to hear them!
Review: Artistry In Motion by Lisa Harris
It really is a joy to be able to listen to ballet class music that is arranged by someone who has been doing it for such a long time. It’s something I think of every time I hear one of this lady’s CDs.
Lisa Harris is known for her musical work in the ballet classroom, both as a pianist and as an artist who releases CDs for ballet class (as well as digital music). “Artistry in Motion” is an excellent example of why she is so well-regarded in the field.
Selections here include favorites such as an adagio from Swan Lake, slow tendu music from Bach and a minuet from Mozart. Harris has a knack for selecting composers that mesh well with a particular exercise, and her command of the piano insures that they are played flawlessly. This makes for a CD that is wonderful for both the teacher and the students in the classroom.
This album has 26 (repeated) tracks for the barre and 16 for the centre. Other composers that are included in the mix here include: Schubert, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Handel, Verdi and Adam.
Interested in this album, or in seeing more of what Lisa Harris has to offer for the ballet classroom? Visit her site. For those who are making the switch to digital music–she has options for you as well.
Dance In The UK: NYCB’s Nutcracker Production
by Jessica Wilson
The Nutcracker
There’s an extremely Christmassy privilege heading to the UK on 22nd December, in the form of New York City Ballet’s brand new production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, with tickets priced at just ten pounds. This multi-million dollar production includes a forty foot Christmas tree which weighs a staggering one tonne, seventy ballet dancers, fifty children from the School of American Ballet – the official school of NYCB – and a sixty-two piece orchestra. It is ultimately described by the New York Post as “the Christmas show of all Christmas shows”.
NYCB has an unparalleled active repertory of more than 150 works, many of which are considered modern masterpieces. The Company was established in 1948 by choreographer Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein, joined by Jerome Robbins in 1949 as associate artistic director. Now under the artistic direction of Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins, the company performs an impressive annual 21-week season in New York, the longest home season of any dance company in the world.
The production’s defining feature is its vast scale, described as a ‘virtually live performance’ to be screened in cinemas all over the UK. This will ultimately provide mass audiences with the chance to view such an iconic and prestigious work by Balanchine, who is generally argued to be the father of modern ballet. This great accessibility is proved unhindered by the extremely limited run, due to the fact it is the ‘golden ticket’ of ballets for all dance lovers, available nationally.
0Interview with Trinette Singleton from the Joffrey
Today we have a special feature for 4dancers readers..an interview with Trinette Singleton from the Joffrey. One of the company’s well-known ballerinas, Singleton appeared in the multi-media ballet, Astarte, created on her by her mentor, Robert Joffrey. She was also the first dancer to ever appear on the cover of a national news magazine – Time. Later, she went on to become Ballet Mistress for the Joffrey.
Listen to her reminisce about her career here, and enjoy!
Interview with Trinette Singleton from the Joffrey
If you are interested in learning more about the Joffrey and its history, be sure and keep tabs on the new documentary, Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance, slated for release in 2012. More on that soon….
2Review: Every Step You Take by Jock Soto
by Catherine L. Tully
I’m fascinated by the lives of dancers. Even though I was one, I can never seem to get past t
he fact that each of us has such a distinctly different path–and a totally unique perspective on what it is like to live this life.
Because of that, I was excited to read Every Step You Take, a memoir written by Jock Soto (with Leslie Marshall). After all, this is a man that I grew up watching in the ballet world. Soto was a principal dancer with NYCB when he retired at the age of 40, and this book begins with the end of his career on stage. A peek inside the thoughts and fears that swirl around one’s head when the final performance looms, I thought it was a great opener.
Where, I thought, will this book go from here?
0Review: Variations by Lisa Harris
This is a CD by the well-known ballet pianist, Lisa Harris. Variations features some unique tracks, adapted for piano, including:
Seasons/Elton John
History of Us/Indigo Girls
Save the Best for Last/Waldmen
‘Til There Was You/Willson
The Rose/Midler
Piano Man/Joel
And many others, including classical composers, Tchiakovsky and Delibes. Played expertly by Harris, there are tracks for both barre (19) and centre (20). If you are looking for a ballet class music CD with lots of variety, this is it.
The music here can be used for classes at all levels. I’m sure adults would appreciate the selections, but the music would work for any age group. If you haven’t heard Ms. Harris play before, know that she has plenty of experience–and many other CDs to choose from, as well as digital downloads available. Look for more reviews of her music on 4dancers soon.
Visit her site for more information and for samples of the music.
0Review: “Dancing Keys” by Gill Civil
This is one of two ballet class music CDs by Gill Civil. Keep an eye out for the other review, coming up soon.
“Dancing Keys” has 28 tracks–all original works that were played and composed by Civil. I really do love the original ballet class music CDs. I think it adds another level of artistry to the class environment to use compositions that were created with this particular dance form in mind. Adapted pieces are fine–and many people like them. I just prefer original work.
I believe this would be a perfect CD for an adult ballet class or beginner/intermediate class. The music is clear and metered, and the selection is good. The reason I wouldn’t use it for an advanced ballet class is because the barre is on the short side. Other than that, it is appropriate. Tracks are of adequate length–neither too short, nor too long.
The centre music is plentiful, with tracks that include sautes, allegro, waltz, gavotte and adage. I found the music inspiring and beautiful. I think it is such a challenge to come up with tracks that have heart in them, and Civil is able to do so. She has quite a background in the field, having played for schools and companies in New Zealand, Canada and Australia–she’s no newbie to this type of music and it shows.
If you would like to hear samples of the music on “Dancing Keys” or if you want to purchase a CD to use for teaching, visit her website.
0Review: Ballet Studio Inspirations, Volume Two
Yet another lovely CD by Richard Maddock. By now, it should be no surprise.
Ballet Studio Inspirations, Volume Two is a terrific CD, appropriate for more advanced classes in my opinion. The music is stunning, but a more expert ear is required to find the music here–it is perfect for honing musicality as a dancer at a higher level—something I believe is very important. While not every track is challenging this way, I do think that younger, more inexperienced dancers may find some of the music difficult to follow.
The other reason I would recommend this CD for higher level classes is the fact that there are plenty of choices for the instructor. There are 45 original compositions for barre and centre here, with some designed specifically with pointe in mind–although they can be used for other exercises as well.
There are 12 tracks for the regular barre and six more for the pointe barre. The centre features music for port de bras, petit allegro, grand allegro and more. The pointe section of the centre has an additional eight tracks.
This CD would make a fine addition to any ballet teacher/studio’s collection. Hear samples and more at Maddock’s website–and if you need digital downloads, he offers those as well.
0To Choreograph or Not to Choreograph….That is Always My Question…..
by Lucy Vurusic Riner
Lucy Vurusic Riner
Being a high school dance teacher I typically choreograph anywhere between three to five full length dances each year for my student companies. Back in the day, when I was super young and wet behind the ears I made dances about just about anything. I might really enjoy a song and that would be my jumping off point. Or I might have just gotten out of a bad relationship or had a family quarrel and that would be enough to conjure up a combination or two. I was never at a loss for some idea and I was never afraid to try just about anything. I followed the basic rule that most high school dances (and I guess commercial dances as well) were typically three to five minutes in length and they may or may not have some sort of story line or underlying theme but they were always entertaining. And let’s be honest, choreographing on high school students can be somewhat forgiving because they can appreciate where all the above ideas might come from. Although they may have a limited movement vocabulary at such a young age they have plenty to dance about in their lives. My early dances were fun but simple. I know they were entertaining but they definitely weren’t masterpieces by any stretch of the imagination. And so why did I choreograph? Was it for me? The audience? Did I have a message or just some great moves I wanted people to see?
2Review: Ballet Etudes By Robert Long
This was my first exposure to a Robert Long CD and I really enjoyed it. Many fellow teachers have expressed the fact that they enjoy his music for ballet class, and I have to agree–it’s very good!
I always “test” CDs out on my adult ballet class. They are an eclectic group of students, and I received some nice comments on the music. The tracks were arranged well, and best of all, labeled well. As an instructor, I found the way he used the liner notes to be very helpful. They were broken down into categories that made sense for the way I teach: at the barre, centre practice, pirouettes, adage, petit allegro, batterie and grand allegro. It made it very easy to arrange my class, and it was a detail that was much appreciated.
The music itself is passionate and pretty, and there are plenty of tracks to choose from since the CD offers many selections. Since I have a fairly large class, some of the tracks in the centre were a bit short for my purposes, but I doubt that would be true for all teachers. There are 48 original selections in all for barre and centre practice. I listened to everything here and found each track to be well-suited to ballet class exercises.
It is obvious that Mr. Long has been involved with the dance community for a long time–his intuitive sense of planning the CD and its selections showcases this fact quite well. I’m looking forward to hearing more from him and using his music for class well into the future.
It’s worth noting that Mr. Long offers music on iTunes and Amazon as well, for those who prefer that format.
Visit Robert Long’s site for more information about him and his music.
Read more about this artist in the 4dancers “10 Questions With…” interview.
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