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A Studio Director’s Change Of Heart: Why Ballet Exams Work

June 7, 2012 by 4dancers

by Risa Gary Kaplowitz

I would have never thought that I would one day espouse the idea of examinations for the ballet students at my school. Certainly the studio in which I grew up, Maryland Youth Ballet, has produced dozens of professional dancers, and they never presented their students for exams. And weren’t the students at my own studio thriving and going on to pursue their own careers without ever having taken an exam?

I am far from the only studio director to have disregarded exams. Even as ballet exams are relatively common in Europe, especially at the world’s major ballet schools with their own training systems in Russia (Vaganova), France (Paris Opera Ballet), Italy (Cecchetti), England (Royal Academy of Dance, also known as RAD), and Denmark (Royal Danish Ballet), most American ballet schools, which generally offer a potpourri of the above curriculums, do not offer graded evaluations to their students.

An example of a typical American ballet teacher’s reaction to exams can be found in my thoughts several years ago, when I witnessed Paris Opera Ballet School students prepare for their exams (a perk of being a former famous ballerina’s business partner at the time). The students were going from one combination to another, which they had memorized.

At the time, my thoughts were thus: Didn’t we American ballet instructors need to keep our impatient students happy and their aversion to boredom at bay? And didn’t American ballet students need more diversity in their ballet classes than simple preparation for an exam in order to be prepared for an American ballet company where they could be dancing a Petipa variation one minute and a Nacho Duato piece the next?

This video shows young Vaganova Ballet Academy students’ incredible clarity. Surely this type of regimented single-curriculum training system couldn’t be possible in an American studio with varying body types and skill levels.

Or could it?

Enter American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum, which offered it’s inaugural training sessions to ABT alumni dancers in 2007. For the simple reason that ABT was my favorite company, I was curious enough to start to nibble on the ballet curriculum bullet. However, I never gave serious thought to presenting my students for exams, which were an optional part of the ABT training system. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 4dancers, 4teachers, Editorial Tagged With: abt, abt training system, american ballet schools, american ballet theatre, ballerina, ballet exams, Cecchetti, dance exams, nacho duato, paris opera ballet, petipa, royal academy of dance, royal danish ballet, teaching ballet, vaganova

10 Questions With…Violeta Angelova, Ballerina

February 19, 2010 by 4dancers

Today we have a special treat for 4dancers readers…an interview with Violeta Angelova…a young, and very talented ballerina…

1. Tell me a bit about your background in ballet.

I spent substantial time in the Vaganova training, then the Western school and am now immersed in American ballet.

2. What are you currently doing?

Right now I perform for The Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

3. Can you share some advice for those who want to be a professional dancer?

Dancing is a commitment. And there is a difference between the lives of professionals in ballet and the lives of professionals in competitive dance for example. In any case it is hard work, so make sure you know what you want and what you are getting into.

  4. One thing I noticed about you is that you have a very creative spirit. Do you think that adds something special to your performances as a dancer, and if so, how?

It depends on the role or style I am dancing. Some parts allow more room for flair than others. I have been told I surprised people by elements I add. But I can’t really see myself so I can’t give more definitive answer here.

An intelligent mind is indispensable to any artist. Especially if one is to enrich or challenge the audience. With dance you also need your body to facilitate your vision.

5. What is the high point of your career so far?

Carrying a show or meeting the President could qualify. But it was realizing that I have to follow what is within me and should not hide that I am different.

6. Can you tell me about any challenges that you have faced in dance and what you have done to overcome them?

I am an imperfect perfectionist. I cope with that every day. 

7. What does your warm-up consist of before a performance?

Usually it’s half an hour to an hour of warm-up exercises plus another hour for hair, make-up and shoes preparation.  

8. Can you share five items you can’t live without on tour?

Pointe shoes, underpants, water. Can’t live without them, hehe..

I like to be comfortable when traveling, so I take things. Sometimes situations have you go without the elements you enjoy. For me foam roller, foot roller, heating pad in winter, tea even in summer and iPod – these are all on the list.

9. You recently launched “The Vio Shop“. What does it have and how did that idea come about?

The idea just came to me. It was a while back and originally I dismissed it. Right now in the shop we have the “Angel” tutu, first model of the Viotard, gifts, among them posters. We might add more things in the future.

10. What is next for you?

Dancing, reading and hopefully spending more time on and showing original works.

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Filed Under: 10 Questions With..., 4dancers Tagged With: american ballet, ballerina, suzanne farrell ballet, the vio shop, vaganova, Violeta Angelova, viotard, western school

Featured Studio: Conservatory Ballet, Reston VA

November 18, 2009 by 4dancers

Name: Conservatory Ballet

Location: 2254-L Hunter Woods Village Center, Reston, Virginia 20191

About: Conservatory Ballet was created in 1972 and Julia Cziller Redick serves as the Artistic Director. The school combines Vaganova style training with a Montessori approach for a unique blend of teaching styles. There are over 160 classes designed specifically for all kinds of age groups, beginning at 18 months, all the way to adult. In addition to ballet there are also Irish, Flamenco, Jazz, Hip Hop and Tap classes at the studio. A detailed list of the curriculum classes can be found on the Website as well.

Filed Under: Studios, Uncategorized Tagged With: Ballet, conservatory ballet, flamenco, hip hop, irish, jazz, reston, tap, va, vaganova

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