La Danse playing here in Spokane next week!
Submitted by Inland Northwest Ballet Blog
LA DANSE
Documentary master Frederick Wiseman’s 38th film in a career that has spanned more than that number of years, turns his attention to one of the world’s greatest ballet companies, the Paris Opera Ballet. John Davey’s camera roams the vast Palais Garnier, an opulent 19th century pile of a building: from its crystal chandelier-laden corridors to its labyrinthine underground chambers, from its light-filled rehearsal studios to its luxurious theater replete with 2,200 scarlet velvet seats and Marc Chagall ceiling. LA DANSE devotes most of its time to watching impossibly beautiful young men and women — among them Nicolas Le Riche, Marie-Agnès Gillot, and Agnès Letestu — rehearsing the choreography of Mats Ek, Wayne McGregor, Rudolf Nureyev and Pina Bausch. For balletomanes and the curious alike, LA DANSE serves up a scrumptious meal of delectable moments, one more glorious than the next, made even more precious by their ephemeral nature.
This film will play in downtown Spokane on Thurs. Feb. 4th, as part of the Spokane International Film Festival, at River Park Cinemas at 7 pm. See Studio Director Janine Fraser for more details…This is not to be missed for any ballet lover! 
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Student teachers or class leaders…How we choose!
Submitted by Inland Northwest Ballet Blog
We have been recently asked by a parent how we choose our Inland Northwest Ballet student teachers/class leader, and thought our answer would make a great blog post…:)
First, let us explain that at our Spokane studio, a student teacher simply means an assistant to the adult teacher, we never hire children to teach our classes, all our teachers are full grown adults…:)
We choose student teachers in a couple of ways. Usually a student makes a request, and if she is someone that could be a help (a good role model, a good leader, and someone that will say the words for the instructor), then Miss Janine or Miss Kaiti tries to find a suitable Creative Dance class for her to help with. She must attend a training session in the summer, where we go through a normal class, and discuss all of the important issues regarding student teaching.
At first the position is volunteer, but once the student proves to be a leader (knowing what exercises are performed in what manner and saying all the words while dancing with the students) then they are credited a small amount of tuition. A student teacher that does not say the words is actually a liability rather than an asset, as the instructor is then constantly trying to recruit help from the student teacher/class leader. In this case the class leader may be removed until she grows a little more responsible and is actually able to help.
Class leaders usually lead two classes in a row, and to get tuition credit, they must be Creative Dance classes, since this is where we need the assistance. Often you may see girls helping with older class, but the girls are doing this simply to enhance their own dance education, and for fun!
Important: If the student teacher is going to miss a class, she MUST find a replacement. This teaches them about the real world of teaching, that an instructor cannot just call in sick/busy etc. If we have problems with a student teacher missing without finding replacements, she will be removed. With little ones, consistency is vital.
On occasion, the class leader performs with them onstage, however this is only on occasion, and is in no way guaranteed, despite what may have bee done the prior year. Their is usually a soloist dancing with the ballet Creative Dance classes (to give them cues for their own choreography), but it is often an older soloist.
Also, please note that we also have a different kind of “class leader” Sometimes have “little class leaders” which are usually about age 5, and are chosen because they perform excellently in their own class, and are a good example for younger students who may be having trouble following. Sometimes little ones need to see how a peer follows the instructor in order to learn themselves. These students are given tuition credit for 100% of that class, and must take that class in addition to their own class. They learn leadership skills, and often increase their own confidence at the same time…:) They dance as a student, not up front with the instructor, and sometimes but not always perform with the class.
We hope this helps all student teacher hopefuls to understand what is required of this leadership position…:)
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Missed out on Books?
Submitted by Valery Lantratov’s Ballet Blog
We ran out of copies of our book, A Child’s Introduction to Ballet, towards the end of last week. If you were interested in getting a copy autographed by Valery Lantratov, but missed out, you can order directly from us online, and we will ship you an autographed copy as soon as we have restocked.
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Pretty costumes…
Submitted by Inland Northwest Ballet Blog
Below are a few photos of some of our beautiful costumes for our upcoming ballet performances to be held in Spokane in June…
This classical tutu will be worn by our level 7 soloist, but in a shade of pink…
This tutu will be worn by our level 5Bs, 6s and 7s, but in a romantic style, and in both pink and periwinkle…
This periwinkle dress will be worn by our little dancers in Ballet I…
This beautiful costume will be worn in pink by our Ballet 3s and 4s…
This pretty pink dress will be worn by some of our Ballet 2 and 3s…
The eggplant and pink costume will be worn by some of our little ones in our Creative Dance Tap class…
…and this darling coral costume will be also worn by our little tap dancers…:)
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Ballet North: Costumes for Alice Getting Ready To Order
Submitted by Ballet in Kansas City Blog
January 9th, 2010
From: Ballet North Studios
This is an exciting time of year when the next production is being set up and rehearsals have started. In keeping with this preparation the massive costume order that will create all the characters for Alice, Carmen and Watermark is coming up on Saturday January 16th 2010.
Joining a ballet program during a great preparatory phase like this can be a real exciting thing to do as everyone gets focused, is motivated and large sparks of creativity fly around every day. In a way it is very much an annual Renaissance months ahead of Spring but no less as powerful - the essence is in the air to be sure!
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Going, Going… Gone
Submitted by Valery Lantratov’s Ballet Blog
We have updated our online calendar. Our winter schedule is now completely full and we cannot add any more classes at this point. Contact us now about summer, as our summer 2010 schedule is also filling up quickly.
We look forward to seeing many familiar faces and to making new friends in new parts of the country.
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Ballet North: Classes As Usual Despite Extreme Cold
Submitted by Ballet in Kansas City Blog
January 5th, 2010
Ballet North IS having class today Tuesday January 5th despite universal school closings. The reason? The closings are due to extreme cold air, but for going to and from ballet class this is not nearly so much a concern as no one waits outside for a “ballet bus”.
Should the supposed blizzard come on Wednesday January 6th that might cause a class cancel as roads will become impassible IF there is a blizzard. But otherwise, we may very well have class on Wednesday January 6th as well.
Just stay tuned to http://www.balletnorth.com or http://wwwballetnorth.blogspot.com or the Ballet North Facebook page, Twitter feed, or MySpace page to keep up on the latest class status.
And regardless of the weather, the costume deadline is January 16th 2010.
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Today in Dance History: December 20
Submitted by Valery Lantratov’s Ballet Blog
On this date in 1585: A spectacle was presented for King Phillip II of Spain. As Maurice Esses recounted in Dance and Instrumental Diferencias… “…all the associations representing the manual trades presented dances near the gates of the palace so the ladies of the court might see them. On each side of the palace a stage was constructed on which musicians played for the dancers each day… using small drums, recorders and other lowly instruments, they played together well and maintained the beat very effectively for the dancers… In short, each trade association presented something new. They danced so much that they broke down a 25-foot wall located on the bank of the river next to the palace and many people fell into the water.”
On this date in 1911: Swan Lake makes its U.S. debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.
On this date in 1949: John Cranko’s ballet Beauty and the Beast premiered.
And on this date in 1981: Michael Bennett’s Dreamgirls opens on this date on Broadway. The musical will run more than 1500 performances.
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This Day in Dance History: December 17
Submitted by Valery Lantratov’s Ballet Blog
December 17, 1892- The Nutcracker ballet had its premiere at the Marinski Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia. Tchaikovsky was initially not pleased with the score. “And now it is finished, Casse-Noisette is all ugliness,” he wrote.
However as time went on Tchaikovsky changed his mind about The Nutcracker, which had premiered on the same day as the opera Iolanthe. “Strange that when I was composing the ballet I kept thinking that it wasn’t very goof but that I would show them [the Imperial Theaters] what I can do when I began the opera. And now it seems that the ballet is good and the opera not so good.”
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Contracts Due!
Submitted by Valery Lantratov’s Ballet Blog
It is December and the sounds Tchaikovsky waft from dance schools across the nation as they prepare their full scale productions and winter recitals. Meanwhile, at Double V Promotions, we’re making our final preparations for a two month tour that begins the first week of January.
We understand that for many of our dance school friends this is the busiest time of the year. Getting a contract back for a master class that will be held three or four weeks down the line gets pushed further and further down the to do list after “repair Mouse King heads” and “send out order forms for DVDs” and “make my Christmas travel plans.”
We understand how busy you are, but because we have only a very short time before we have to get on the road, and we need to know that our class schedule is completely firm before we book hotels and plan our route, we are asking that you take a moment and put that stamp on that envelope. It will get a pesky item off your to do list, and assure that Valery Lantratov will be coming to your studio.
If we sent you a contract more than two weeks ago, and we have not received it by the end of this week, we will release your dates to ensure we have enough time to fill them elsewhere before we leave. Happy Nutcrackers, and thank you for inviting us to your studio.
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This Day in Dance History: December 16
Submitted by Valery Lantratov’s Ballet Blog
December 16, 1937- A now famous dance step, “The Lambeth Walk” was introduced during the first performance of Noel Gay’s “Me and My Girl” in London.
On this same date in 1977- the disco film Saturday Night Fever was released. John Travolta, who was also shooting the Welcome Back Kotter tv series during the filming, ran two miles a day and danced for three hours daily to get in shape for this film. The iconic opening sequence of Travolta’s feet strutting along the streets of Brooklyn was actually performed by the actor’s stand-in, Jeff Zinn.
On this date in 1987-Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a program designed to help fight the threat of the AIDS virus, was launched.
And on this date in 1993- The Red Shoes, a Broadway musical based on the 1948 film of the same name, opened at the Gershwin Theatre to unanimously unfavorable reviews. It closed after only five performances.
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Ballet Image of the Day
Submitted by Valery Lantratov’s Ballet Blog
Ballerinas standing on window sill in rehearsal room at George Balanchine’s School of American Ballet.
Ballerinas standing on window sill in rehearsal room at George Balanchine’s School of American Ballet.
Photo: ALFRED EISENSTAEDT
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This Day in Dance History: December 15
Submitted by Valery Lantratov’s Ballet Blog
Dec 15, 1879- Rudolf Laban, inventor of the labanotation system of dance notation, was born.
Also on this date in 1944- Ballet International performed Mad Tristan choreographed by Leonide Massine against a set painted by the surrealist artist Salvador Dali. Time magazine wrote of the performance: “When Salvador Dali’s ballet, Mad Tristan, opened in Manhattan in 1944, it provided one critic with ‘a 25-minute yawn.’ Most other balletgoers yawned, too, if not so long-windedly, and Mad Tristan flopped.”
And on this date in 1986-Serge Lifar passed away at age 81. “Universally dubbed one of ballet’s greatest egocentrics (even by his admirers),” wrote Anna Kisselgoff, “he has also been recognized (even by his detractors) as the major figure in the renewal of 20th-century French ballet. Yet, perhaps in the long run he will and should be remembered for the ideas and actions that were forerunners of many of the premises we now take for granted in dance.” (You can read the entire obituary by following the link above.)
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This Day in Dance History: December 14
Submitted by Valery Lantratov’s Ballet Blog
December 14, 1844: English ballerina Clara Vestris Webster’s dress caught fire during a performance of The Revolt of the Harem at the Drury Lane Theater. She died three days later.
And on this date in 1954: Danish ballet dancer Ib Anderson was born. The former New York City Ballet dancer and choreographer
with the Royal Danish Ballet is now artistic director of Ballet Arizona in Phoenix.
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This Day in Dance History: December 13
Submitted by Valery Lantratov’s Ballet Blog
December 13 1826-Carolina Rosati, ballerina with the Paris Opera, was born. “Mile Carolina Rosati is a dancer of the very first order,” wrote Sir Bernard Burke in 1847, “her style is intellectual and varied her grace and agility of motion are most striking She enacted to the life the charming creation of Fouque so closely indeed did she copy the original that the very words of the romance itself describe exactly her appearance on her first coming on her performance and the wonderful effect it produced.”
Dec 13 1998-Charles Laskey, performer with the New York City Ballet and the Metropolitan Ballet passed away.
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Today in Dance History: December 12
Submitted by Valery Lantratov’s Ballet Blog
Dec 12, 1882- The Bijou Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, became the first theatre to be lighted by electricity.
On this date in 1995- Tap dance instructor Mary Bruce passed away at age 95. Her students included Josephine Premice, Ruby Dee, Martina Arroyo and Marlon Brando.
And on this date in 2000- Costumes and other memrobilia belonging to Dame Margot Fonteyn, one of Britain’s best loved dancers, brought in ₤640,000, six times more than expected, at Christie’s auction house.
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Children’s Party a HUGE Success - OPEN HOUSE Starts Tuesday
Submitted by Ballet in Kansas City Blog
A huge Ballet North thank you to Jeaneen, Vicki, Kathy, Dana, Tammy, Mark, Heidi - everyone involved with this year’s Nutcracker Children’s Party. It was a total beyond sell-out success. Anytime you consume about 1,000 cookies while also presenting an aggressive ballet like the 2nd Act of the Nutcracker Suite, surely a good time is had by all!
And to remind, OPEN HOUSE will run from Tuesday December 15 to Monday December 21 at the normal class times. December 22, 2009 through January 1, 2010 we are on break; Saturday January 2, 2010 class resumes.
FYI, Day 3 for Nutcracker School Tour is this Friday December 18 with 2 performances in Plattsburg and 2 performances at St Therese. Wish us luck!
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Today in Dance History: December 11
Submitted by Valery Lantratov’s Ballet Blog
Dec 11, 1901-Choreographer Lev Ivanov passed away. Ivanov was best remembered for his work on two of the world’s most popular ballets, The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. The Nutcracker became Ivanov’s project when Marius Petipa fell ill. An early version of Swan Lake created by choreographer Julius Reisinger was a failure. After Tchaikovsky’s death in 1893, Ivanov staged a one act version in honor of the composer. The success of Ivanov’s choreography for Act II led the company to stage a complete new production in 1895, under Petipa’s artistic direction, in which Ivanov created the choreography for Acts II and IV and Petipa for Acts I and III. It is now the most popular ballet in the world, providing the most iconic images of classical ballet.
And on this date in 1916- “The Mambo King” Pérez Prado was born. One of the most influential pop orchestra leaders of the early 1950s, was the first to market his compositions under the name “mambo,” and his “Mambo No. 5″ took Latin America and the U.S. by storm.
And on this date in 1923-George Balanchine, still known by his Georgian name, Balanchivadze, as the ballet master of the Maly Opera Theater, staged the dances for the company’s production of Le Coq d’Or, which debuted today.
And on this date in 1929-Sir Kenneth MacMillan was born in Scotland. He was artistic director of the Royal Ballet from 1970 until 1977, but continued to choreograph works for them until his death backstage at the Royal Opera House in 1992.
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This Day in Dance History: December 10
Submitted by Valery Lantratov’s Ballet Blog
Dec 10, 1958- Ekaterina Maximova made her first solo appearance in the Peasant pas de deux in the first act of Giselle. The English ballet critic A.V. Coton called her “a happy and lovely girl, who moves like a wondrous bird… she has the most appealing smile I have ever seen in a dancer in performance.”
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