Dance Dialogue… The ABA Newsletter Excitement-Again! – April 2007 Performance Time! I think most of us know what that means!  Starting the beginning of this month we will be rehearsing for our June Show (June 16th – make sure it is on your calendars, and let me know ASAP if you have any conflicts!).  I have been getting lots of questions as to what we will be performing.  I can tell that many of you parents are as excited about the show as the students!  So, now I will tell all of you.  We are going to do Seussical the Ballet.  We are doing it as a benefit for the Boys and Girls Club.  I am still figuring out some of the logistics to the show… like with anything that I try to turn into a ballet there are changes and adjustments that need to be made, not to mention fitting it to our studio!  But, there will be lots of parts – all adorable I am sure.  The music will be fun, and I hope that the students will relate well to this theme, especially since there has been a lot of excitement surrounding the 50 year anniversary of the Cat in the Hat. Now, more about rehearsal season.   We put together an entire ballet in just over 2 months.  Many of the students only meet once, maybe twice a week.  This is not an easy task.  However, I don’t like starting earlier in the year for a couple of reasons: classes continue to change with people moving up or switching times, allowing for new students.  It is extremely difficult on a class when dancers and spacing change.  The other reason is that I strongly believe that the months prior to the show are as important, if not more important than rehearsal time because of the additional necessary emphasis on technique.  But, with only 2 months to put together a show it is extremely important that I not only have the full attention of the students, but also the commitment from the family in getting students to practice to ensure every dancer is confident!  This is what will allow everyone to have a positive experience, and make dancers excited for our next show. I would like to briefly review the rehearsal attendance policy.  Please, if you have any questions regarding this policy please review the handbook for further detail.  If you still have further questions after that review, please send me an email!  The policy is this:  students are allowed 1 unexcused absence per day of class a week during the duration of rehearsal season.  For example, if your student is in pre-ballet II (meeting once a week), they can have one unexcused absence between when rehearsals start and the show.  If your student is in Ballet II (meeting twice a week), your child may have 2 unexcused absences between when rehearsals start and the show.  Obviously, there are some events that are unavoidable; school shows, church performances, illness, family emergencies, etc.  These events are excused and do not count against your allotted number of absences.  However, I do ask that in these situations you please give me as much advance notice as possible (please send me an email) so that I can plan rehearsals accordingly.  On the other had, social events, trips with family of friends, or just missing class do count as an absence.  Of course, I do not want to prevent students from being in the show.  This can be extremely upsetting and discouraging to them.  But, I don’t want them to feel as if they must miss out on fun events because of ballet.  This policy is not set up as a form of punishment – putting them in a situation where they must choose if they want to be in the show or go to a party.  What I ask is that if you do miss more than your allotted number of absences you come in for a private to make up missed material.  Please note, privates are not cheap; they run at $40 an hour.  I need to assure all of you that I am plenty busy with everything else, and do not want to spend all of my “extra” time teaching privates.  In the case that it is necessary to come in for a private I promise that I will only do what is necessary to catch your child up with the rest of class.  Commonly I will only need 15-30 minutes.  Please understand that if your child has excessive numbers of excused absences and falls behind in a dance that I may still ask that they come in for a private – but only if I feel they need a little one-on-one attention to get caught up.  Please know, I never want to put a child in the embarrassing situation of having to go out on stage without knowing what it is that they are supposed to do.  This can be extremely traumatic, and have an adverse effect that stems far beyond just ballet.  However, by giving a child the tools and training they need to succeed, a performance can be a great confidence builder that will carry them far beyond just the studio and the stage. Now, it is my hopes that everyone can understand this policy.  I set it up trying to find the balance of what would be fair to dancers and families, allowing for extracurricular activities and family emergencies, but still permitting the students to succeed in the show.  I hope that the policy acts as a motivator encouraging everyone to make it to rehearsals, and is not seen as a burden.   Pre-Ballet I Performers! This spring I am going to try something a little different for our pre-ballet dancers.  I know for many of them the full day of rehearsal and show is overly exhausting.  However, I get the sense that many of you feel obligated to have your child perform.  Of course, I love having the little ones out on stage as they are always adorable.  But, I worry it is too much.  I have told everyone before that I try my best to make everyone’s experience at ABA as positive as possible.  I hope that this will help.  Pre-ballet I students: Your involvement in the performance is completely voluntary.  Now what this means is that pre-ballet I classes will not have rehearsals every week at the end of every class as we have done in the past.  Instead, I am going to set up 4 additional times for short rehearsals (approximately 20 minutes) when you will come in and learn your part.  They are: Saturday May 12th at 2:15, Saturday May 19th at 2:15, Wednesday May 30th at 6:45, and Wednesday June 13th at 6:45.  There are also 2 all-cast performances on June 2nd and June 9th – You will only need to come to one of the all-cast practices.  Whereas it is always best to make it to all rehearsals, you will still be permitted 1 absence.  That way if you need to make extra arrangements for a Saturday practice, or if the evening practice is a little late for your child, it only has to be done once.  I’m sure some of you are going to wonder if this will be a good opportunity for your child.  If they are able to handle the full day I would always say yes!  I want to make sure you all know what the extent of the dance will be.  Frequently pre-ballet I dances are simple.  They are led out on stage and do a few movements before they are escorted off.  It is nothing complicated, but it gets them on stage.  This is a wonderful experience for them as it allows them to get a sense of what it is like on stage without having to be overwhelmed with a lot of choreography on top of everything else.  I always get the sense that the pre-ballet I students have fun learning their part, dressing up in costume, and dancing on stage – being surrounded by all of the older dancers.  I hope that many of you will choose to be involved in the show.  Please let me know as soon as possible and no later than May 1st if this is something that you would like to do.  Depending on the number of students that are interested, I may allow a few friends/siblings to be involved also.  Let me know if you know someone who would want this opportunity and I will put them on a list to call if there is room!  Oh, and there is no additional cost beyond the costume for your involvement (and I always keep costume cost at an absolute minimum).    Volunteers Some of you may remember my brief description of changes I am making to our volunteer positions earlier this year.  Instead of having a few people back stage that help throughout the entire performance, as well as designated dressing room helpers, I am going to have a mom  (and sometimes 2) from each class sign up to be in charge of their group.  This means that there will be more volunteers, which is good and bad.  It is good because it will help the day be less chaotic, but it also means that some parents won’t be able to relax throughout the day and show quite as much.  However, I strongly believe it is a necessary change.  It will work like this.  I will need one mom from every class to basically learn the performance order (know approximately when the dance you are in charge of is positioned in the show as well as what comes before), know where students enter from, and help them get to their spots on time.  You will need to watch some of the rehearsals to know this, and come to the all-cast rehearsals to familiarize yourself with the show.  You may want to take notes (that is up to you, but I know I would!).  In addition to knowing this, these parents will stay with the class throughout the day (and I hope have another couple of parents with them!).  The children should stay with their class throughout the day, and if you need to take your child, I will ask that you tell this parent and let them know when you will be returning so they can keep track of everyone (I hope that this parent may also know the show well enough that they can stay with the students in the auditorium during the dress rehearsal so the dancers can see as much of the show as possible!).  This parent will help double check costume and make-up for the class.  I may ask that this parent check in and out the costumes themselves.  Like I said before, I hope that there will be other parents that sign-up to help this parent in charge.  But, this parent will be my go-to person, and hopefully your go-to person as well.  I want everyone to know this is a big responsibility.  Only sign-up for this position if you can commit yourself for the entire day of the show.   If you are unsure of this position, please come and talk to me.  I thank each and every one of you who even consider this job. Now, I will be putting up volunteer sign-up sheets shortly.  This is earlier in the rehearsal season than I normally do.  But, I feel it is necessary so that those of you who volunteer to be your classes’ contact have ample opportunity to familiarize yourself with the dances.  Please sign up for this position, or any others that are listed as you are able.    I thank you all in advance for your generosity in your time and skills.  I could not do this show without you!   All-Cast Rehearsals As I am doing a full ballet I don’t see that I have a choice but to have all all-cast rehearsals.  However, in saying that, I am going to try to make the day more bearable!  I am going to split it between Act I and Act II.  Ballet II and up will most likely still be in both acts, but it will make it better for the younger students.  Only 1-1.5 hours instead of 2 ½ to 3 hours…  I am tentatively going to say Act I at 1:00 and Act II at 2:30.  Please keep your eyes on the chalkboard and ears open before class in case this changes.  The dates are June 2nd and 9th.   Summer Reminders Hurray for summer!  It is almost here!!!  Just a few reminders: ABA has a full dance schedule over the summer months!  We will operate on the punch card system for July and August meaning that you will purchase a punch card instead of paying monthly tuition and come to any class of your level as your schedule allows.  Please take advantage of this flexible scheduling and continue to dance as much as possible!  Ballet I students: remember that because I am especially wanting to encourage you to dance this summer so that I can continue your advancement that when you purchase a 6 class punch card I will give you 12 classes.  I hope all of you will dance as much as possible!  Summer camps start at the end of June.  I will have brochures available shortly for those of you who are interested in enrolling.  Please do so quickly as space is limited!   Master Class On Sunday, April 15th, Salem Ballet Association will host master classes at our studio.  There will be both ballet and tap classes offered.  The ballet master classes are for those of you ages 9 and older with 2 or more years of training.  This is a wonderful opportunity as it allows students to be dance with other people in the community, and have instruction from a well respected instructor (please read the biography of Florabelle Moses on the registration from).  I have passed out registration forms to those of you who qualify.  If you were somehow missed, or are interested in these classes, please pick up a form from the bulletin board or come talk to me!   Upcoming Information! I always run out of room on the newsletter.  Next month I will try to fit in information regarding next year, opportunities for all dancers to perform solos and duets in more of a “recital” set-up without making a 3-4 hour show, and how I continue to strive to find the balance between not only the instruction, but the performance of classical ballet with a young studio and differing audience demands!   Arts in the Area   Salem Film Festival: April 20th-22nd; an array of events throughout the weekend!  Take advantage of an opportunity to enjoy another entertaining art form.  Visit www.salemfilmfestival.com/2007/ for more information.   Oregon Ballet Theatre: Spring Program including Apollo, Il Nodo, and Eyes on You.  April 27th-May 5th, Keller Auditorium, call (888) 922-5538.   Eugene Ballet: American Spirit.  April 14th-15th.  Hult Center, Eugene, call 541.682.5000.