4dancers

From PBS: Lesson Plan Help For The Dance Classroom

December 13, 2009 by 4dancers

I found this while searching for lesson plan help…figured that classroom teachers could use another resource, and this one is a good one, depending on the age group you teach. PBS has put together a comprehensive plan for introducing students to the roots of Modern Dance in America.

There is a radio story to listen to as well as plenty of ideas for discussion, and you will even find activity sheets that you can print out. Use everything they have provided–or customize your own lesson plan based on some of the ideas from here.

Dance Jobs: University Of North Carolina, Ballet Faculty – School of Dance

December 12, 2009 by 4dancers

Since I just featured a school from the state, I thought I might add a job opportunity from there as well. The University of North Carolina School Of The Arts is searching for a Ballet Faculty member for the School of Dance. The appointment begins in September of 2010, and the review for the postion will start on January 15, 2010. If you are interested, see the job description for more details.

Featured Studio: Cary Ballet Conservatory

December 10, 2009 by 4dancers

Name: Cary Ballet Conservatory

Location: 3791 NW Cary Parkway, Cary, NC, 27513

About: The Cary Ballet Conservatory is a lovely facility located in North Carolina. The building they are housed in is a large one and there are four studios–the largest of which is more than 3,000 square feet. Sprung floors and vaulted ceilings provide a wonderful, safe environment for students. I was really impressed with what I saw of the facility.

In addition to the studios, there is also a lounge area and gazebo on the premises. With ballet training as the underpinning for their philosophy on dance, the school trains students and the Cary Ballet Company gives the advanced level, pre-professional students plenty of performance opportunities.

At the helm here is Suzanne Laliberté Clark, who is the Founder and Director, Rossana Nesta Machi, who serves as Ballet Mistress, and a well-rounded staff with a variety of different backgrounds. If you are interested in classes, or want to get in touch with the studio, call 919-481-6509.

The Nutcracker And You

December 10, 2009 by 4dancers

Everyone has their favorite corner of this holiday classic. For me it was always the snow queen. It doesn’t matter how many times I hear that music….

Some people love the sugar plum. Others have an affinity for the Spanish dance or the Arabian dance. The choices are as varied as the music. It never ceases to amaze me how different parts of The Nutcracker affect different people. As a little girl, I wanted to be Clara, but as I got older the role had less and less appeal…

I’d be interested to hear what 4dancers readers have to say about this ballet. What do you connect with? Who would you be if you had your choice? What was your favorite role to dance?

Dancing With The Music

December 9, 2009 by 4dancers

Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another. ~Author Unknown

There was a girl in my early ballet classes that had it all–or so I thought. She had perfect feet, a perfect body and flawless technique. Every combination was executed exactly as it should be. Every position was correct. I thought I wanted to be her…

Then I discovered something…she had no musicality.

Now…I don’t mean she couldn’t dance to the beats of the music. She did that. But there is a certain something that sets a dancer apart when she becomes one with the music instead of dancing to it. And that…she didn’t have.

It can be difficult to explain why a dancer captures an audience. There is a certain, elusive “something” that they have that by its very nature defies quantifying. Even so…you know it when you see it. And it is my firm belief that you either have it–or you don’t. I think that musicality is something that is innate. I don’t think it can be learned. That is why the quote above speaks to me. It puts forth the same type of idea as dancing to the music as opposed to dancing with it.

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