4dancers

Name: Music For Ballet Class 2, Ayumi Hirusaki

Review: Truthfully, I might have considered buying this CD just for the cover art. The lovely picture of a ballerina at the barre is as engaging as the music within.

This CD features Ayumi Hirusaki, the main pianist at the National Opera of Tokyo, and it is the second of two CDs designed specifically for ballet class. (The first is simply “Music For Ballet Class“.)

There are arrangements of music from composers such as Gershwin, Minkus, Prokopiev and Joplin here, and the variety helps keep things interesting. Hirusaki also includes improvisations on the CD. Once you hear the music, there can be little doubt that she is an accomplished musician.

If you are wondering what the music sounds like, you can listen to short samples of the music on this CD on the Mediaphorie website to see if it would work for your class. (One of the nice things about the web is the days of buying a CD without having any idea what is on it are pretty much over.)

The barre is a pretty straightforward one, and the centre tracks offer music for tendus, an adagio, allegro and more. The music here is probably too “grown up” for a children’s class, but would work well for higher levels or adult ballet classes. I’ve used it in my class and the students enjoyed it–it offers a break from the typical “routine” barre music that is out there.

It’s nice to have options, and this is a good CD to have in your rotation.

Name: Behind Barres Presents: Tune in and Turn Out, Volume VIII

Much like the other CD that I thought could have been a disaster (but was actually quite good) Under the Palms, the thought of teaching a ballet class with an album full of TV theme songs made me a little more than nervous. Once again, I didn’t have to worry…

This fun CD offers up some wonderful music from television shows such as The Munsters, The Flintstones, The Odd Couple and even I Love Lucy. Before I played the tracks, I couldn’t imagine how this might be pretty, but it really is. Although the melodies are the same, the tunes have been expertly arranged so that they are appropriate for the dance classroom (thanks again to Judy Rice and Paul Lewis). I think that students will be amused and entertained listening to the music and matching the songs to the show.

This is a wonderful CD to use as a change of pace to bring a little freshness to the studio environment. After all, who says you can’t have a little fun in ballet class? Tracks are all on the shorter side, so it is probably a good album for beginners, or to use mixed in with another CD for kicks. Adult students are probably the best audience for this, as many of the theme songs are from older TV shows, such as I Dream of Jeanie and the theme from the Carol Burnett Show.

I probably never would have chosen a CD like this for fear that it would be campy and silly, but I would have missed out on a really interesting compilation of music. My students loved it–and to me, that’s what it is all about.

Disclosure

1. What is your dance background, and how did the idea for Dance Teacher Press come about?

I began taking ballet in the 1960’s. Since then I have always been taking and or teaching ballet. After years of teaching I organized all of my notes on my computer. My notebook became an indispensible tool for class planning.  I used my own notebook so much I thought that other ballet teachers would like it too.  Hence The Ballet Combination Book became my first publication and Dance Teacher Press was born. 

Janet Jerger from Dance Teacher Press

2. What types of products do you carry? 

Dance Teacher Press has a variety of educational and fun teaching tools for dancers.   Books for students and teachers, posters, coloring sheets, flashcards, banners, wallpaper, and gifts.

3. What is unique about the things you offer your customers? 

My products teach the terminology needed in dance, and reinforce positive characteristics such as hard work and discipline.

 4. What are your most popular items? 

Ballet Step by Step  – an illustrated ballet dictionary for students, The Ballet Combination Book, Reproducible Ballet Coloring Sheets, and the Ballet Essentials Poster Sets have been my most popular.

5. Who should consider shopping at Dance Teacher Press? 

Anyone needing some new ideas for stimulating students to learn, enjoy, and progress in dance.

Advertising disclosure

The CD: Behind Barres, Volume 1 (Revised)

The Details: Over an hour of ballet class music, 25 tracks. This revised CD has doubled the length of nine of the musical selections for the centre work.

The Review: The excellent pairing of Judy Rice and Paul Lewis team up again for another wonderful ballet class CD featuring selections by Tchaikovsky, Delibes, Minkus and various others. The tracks are infused with emotion and Lewis once again delivers a top-notch performance; although one would expect nothing less from this accomplished ballet accompanist.

The 25-track listing includes a full barre that is suitable for any level class. Centre music is varied and offers petit, medium and grand allegro as well as an adage and pirourette selections. Sample tracks can be heard on the website, including tendu and a medium allegro. It’s a good sampling of what the album has, so if you are interested, be sure and have a listen.

This CD is a good investment since it can be used for all levels and the track lengths are long enough to used in advanced classes. If you are looking for dramatic arrangements, this is also a great pick–many of the selections are very moving. (For something lighter, take a look at Under The Palms.)

Buy this CD for $30.00

Advertising disclosure

David Hunter from Ballet For Men has a line of ballet t-shirts that are pretty terrific…

To check them out, click on the graphic to the right and browse…

Dance t-shirts make a great gift, and Hunter will be adding to them over time, so be sure and keep checking back for more! You won’t find these shirts anywhere else. (I really love the one with the pointe shoes!)

The DVD: Caterina & Her Baby Ballerinas

The Details: DVD for teaching children ballet. 30 minutes. Cost is $19.95 + $2.99 s&h

The Review: This is a cute DVD, featuring a “grown up” dancer dressed as a cat and two ballet students. I think it would be something that young children would find appealing, and you can tell that thought was put into how to capture their attention. “Caterina” has a cute demeanor and is very encouraging, and the use of creative dissolves where she speaks directly to the camera is sure to be a hit with little ones. (She says things such as “purrfect” and “cat-tastic”.)

Things covered include a warmup, stretching and the ballet positions as well as some barre work and center work. I appreciated the fact that safety was emphasized–things such as not forcing turnout, and proper plie technique.

I’m not sure about the difficulty level–the age group that this video is best for is a bit hard to determine. Most of the dance information is at a very basic level, but she also teaches pirouettes and combinations that are best left for older, more experienced dance students. (That said, it doesn’t mean that your child couldn’t sit those out and do the rest of the video, as it’s pretty obvious which exercises are more difficult.)

All in all I found this to be a cute video that kids would enjoy. Very clever concept–I’ve never seen anything quite like it before. 

Today we have an interesting feature for 4dancers readers–the team behind the “SayBallet” app answers questions about the process of going from the idea to the finished product….

1. Carol, what is your background in dance?

My name is Carol Richmond and I am the Director of the Carmel Academy of Performing Arts.  The Academy is located in downtown Carmel, California and was built as a dance studio by the late Joanne Nix in 1954.  I bought the studio in 1989.  Currently we have 35 teachers on staff and teach ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, voice, drama and all musical instruments.  I was originally trained in ballet by Billie Jacobson, a Chicago Opera Ballet dancer turned teacher.  My true formative years in dance were in Texas studying with Doria Avila, a retired Broadway choreographer whose claim to fame was being Judy Holliday’s partner in many Broadway productions.  He formulated my belief there was a big world out there and I was going to get out of South Texas and see it!  I attended the University of Texas at Austin and studied under Ygor Youskevitch, a tough taskmaster.  I auditioned for the San Francisco Ballet and was cut while doing plies at the beginning of the class by one of the Christensen Brothers and that began a 5 year hiatus from dance.  After moving to Carmel, I connected with Mrs. Nix who owned the studio I now own.  She taught me how to teach and I found I loved working with young people.  That was in 1978.  The rest, as the say, is history.

2. Can you tell me what SayBallet is and who it is designed for? (Carol)

SayBallet is designed for the teacher or the student.  I found after years of teaching, I am not able to demonstrate the way I did years ago.  For me, the app is a teaching tool for the classroom.  For the student, it is a way to not only hear the french terms stated, see what the terms mean, but be able to study how the step is performed.

3. How did the idea for this app come about? (Carol)

Phillip Corrigan, the software designer that created the app, came to me with another idea for a fundraiser for the non profit dance organization I founded.  It was a great idea about a photo of the Nutcracker that people could download for .99 as a screen saver.  One thing lead to another, I talked about flashcards I had created five years ago for classroom study…and Phillip thought the flashcards could be beneficial to students and teachers in an app form.

(Phillip) I see a future where more and more Internet access and personal computing functions are delivered on small portable personal devices. Apple, with their iPhone, is the first company to deliver a product that is not only a powerful computer in the form-factor of a phone, but is also very enjoyable and easy to use.  Apple’s revolutionary touch interface is one of the keys to the iPhone’s incredible success.  I believe that the touch interface and the simplification of the user’s interaction with the device (i.e. users don’t have to know and worry about file systems, users don’t have to follow complex software installation processes, etc.) will also make the Apple iPad a very successful product.  These two products are ushering in a new era of personal computing.

But beyond the technical merits, over 90% of the younger generation prefer the iPod (and the convenience of the iTunes music store) over all other MP3 music players.  This generation is purchasing the iPod Touch (if they can afford one) and later migrate to the iPhone, because they already have an investment in iPod Touch/iPhone app software (not to mention their iTunes music library).

To-date over 75 million iPod Touch/iPhones have been sold worldwide in 98 countries. And that number continues to see enormous growth while competing smartphone product sales are either stagnating or seeing declines.  Two years ago, the smartphone market in the US was dominated by 33% RIM Blackberry, 33% Microsoft Windows Mobile, and 33% Palm.  Today, the market is 33% RIM Blackberry, 20% Apple iPhone, and 10% Android.

4. What are the features of the app? (Phillip)

About the app:  The majority of kids prefer to play games on their devices, but I see an opportunity to create fun-to-use educational applications.  The SayBallet application was originally conceived as a flash card application for learning the French ballet terms.  I had spoken with ballet instructors and repeated heard that they wished their students would learn the ballet terms outside of class, so that they could focus dance inside of class.  During the course of our development, the app morphed more into a multimedia reference glossary of ballet terms. Students can:

- Search for a ballet term

- Read a description

- See a video or picture of the movement or position

- Hear the term properly pronounced

- Practice saying the term (with voice recognition)

- Take a quiz to test their knowledge of the terms

5. How difficult was it to develop the app? (Phillip)

I have 20 years of computer software development experience.  For me it is not that difficult, but there is a learning curve – I had spent a year (part-time) learning to develop applications for the iPhone.  The actual application took about 6 months to develop (again, I did this in my spare time).  Our follow-on apps, SayTap and SayJazz will probably take around 3 months to complete (one month if I could afford to work full time on the projects).  To be successful as an app, the software must not only be functional, but also look fantastic – a lot of time and effort must be invested in design.  There are over 150,00 apps now available in the iTunes App Store – in order to be noticed by consumers, the app must be designed very well.

The international market for apps created by Apple, is also unique.  From the beginning, I designed the app to be used by international users.  I translated the app into 10 languages.  To-date, we have had sales in 31 countries.  Prior to the iPhone and the iTunes App Store, it was inconceivable for me, as an independent software developer, to be able to independently publish a software application and have sales in 31 countries within the first 3 months.

Carol & Phillip

6. Are you planning other apps in the future for dance, and if so, what are they?

We are currently in production for SayTap, SayJazz, SayHipHop and all 10 of the ballroom dances. 

7. Do you work with others who have ideas for dance apps, and if so, what are you looking for? 

It would be of great interest to work with others with ideas we have not yet approached.  Both Phillip and I are open to interest and look forward to other opportunities to create teaching tools for educational dance/music products.

8. How has this app been received thus far? 

The app has been a huge success, with sales in 31 countries.  We expect our follow-on dance application to experience similar sales.  Our big challenge is marketing – with over 150,000 applications available in the iTunes app store, it is difficult to get noticed.  But with the email flyers that we send out, we are experiencing constant daily sales.  With more dance apps in our portfolio, we expect to eventually grow brand awareness.  Additionally, every year a new group of students start dance instruction.  And every year the adoption of the iPhone in this market demographic increases.

9. How long did it take to develop the app from the idea to the finished product? (Phillip)

It will probably take around 3 months to finish SayTap and SayJazz.  We also have SayHipHop and the ballroom dances lined up as well. I’m trying to also add new features to the application so that users will be attracted to using it more often.  Currently, I hear that very young children love watch the videos over and over again.  Older students probably only use the application occasionally. Experienced students may look at the application once or twice.  I’m trying to design features and learning tools that will attract students to use the application more frequently.  I’m also investigating adding social networking features into the app.

10. What has been the best part of the process for you both?

Carol:

The best part for me is the knowledge that this app can create another avenue of learning for young people interested in dance.  I believe in a solid, technical base of study, terminology, and understanding the basics is vital to the 2010 dancer that must be well versed in not only ballet but all of the other styles of dance and music.
It has also allowed me to grow as a teacher and mentor to young dancers.  Phillip has created an opportunity for me to learn (a little bit!) about an area I didn’t know anything about!  His “detail oriented” personality and my “big picture, let’s go for it” attitude seem to create a great product!

Phillip: 

For me the process is a lot of fun.  I enjoy working with our young dancers.  I learn a lot about different forms of dance.  My daughters and wife are all interested in dance, so they take an active roll in the design process.  Programming the iPhone (and iPad) is a challenge and a lot of fun.  I also find the business aspects of creating and marketing a product, building a business, and interacting with an international customer base very enjoyable.

The cost of this ap is $4.99

If you are into dance–and into poetry–this book is for you. An anthology of poems on dance, this book has noted authors such as Carl Sandburg, Lord Byron, Ezra Pound and Anne Sexton.

Famous dancers that are talked about in the poems include Gene Kelly, Anna Pavlova and Isadora Duncan, among others. There are 86 poems in all.

This book would make a great gift for a dance lover, or a nice addition to your own library of dance books.

You can find it at Dance Horizons for $18.95

CD Title: Under The Palms, Brazilian, Cuban, Creole and other Tropical Music For Ballet Class

By: Behind Barres Presents: Paul Lewis & Judy Rice 

I have to confess that I was a little frightened to see what this CD was all about when I heard the title. If done poorly, it could have been a disaster.

Luckily, I had no need to worry.

Under the Palms is a terrific CD for ballet class. If you are ever having a day where you need a little bit of inspiration, use this album and you’ll be in a better mood in no time. Recorded with a single stereo microphone, it gives the music the sound of live piano in the studio. I doubt that it’s possible to feel anything other than energetic when you hear these tracks. So many ballet class CDs sound the same that it was very refreshing to hear something so different–and so good.

Peppy without being campy, I was very impressed that the CD was filled with such thoughtfully arranged tracks. Carefully metered out by Lewis without losing heart and soul, the flow here is palpable. Although most of the music is upbeat, the slower tracks are also quite pretty.

The class was designed by Judy Rice, a professional with over 20 years of experience as an instructor, including time on faculty at the Joffrey Ballet School, Steps and the Broadway Dance Center. Pianist, Paul Lewis has 29 years of experience playing–and it shows. He is the company pianist for the Joffrey Ballet.

Don’t be afraid to take a chance on this CD–it’s better than many of the “regular” ones out there, yet it is truly different. Adding it to your lineup will give you a sunny pick for those days that you need one.

Buy this CD

Disclosure

This charming kids book makes a great gift for a younger child (designed for ages 3 to 8). At 40 pages, there is plenty to look at, and the illustrations are darling.

The story is about Gwendolyn and her pig pal Omar and their pursuit of a dream. Gwendolyn longs to be a ballerina, while clumsy Omar is hoping to score a spot on the football team.

It’s a simple story, but one with an uplifting message of hope. Children have the chance to see that you can reach your dreams, and that hard work does indeed pay off.

I loved that the story appeals to both boys and girls–a surprise that made this book even more valuable. And since it’s a hardcover, it can stand the test of time when it comes to repeated readings.

This is a cute kids book that is great for little dancers, but the storyline is bigger than the dance classroom.

$15.95 / Picture Book / Hard Cover / 8.5 x 11
Author – David Ira Rottenberg
Illustrator – Lesley Anderson

Buy This Book