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| Dancing Arts Center's Quarterly Newsletter |
March 2010 | |
Coming Events
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Bring a Friend to Dance Week, March 1-6
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Firebird Dance Workshop, March 14th (3:30-5:30 for 3-8 yr olds)
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Youth & Main Division Peek Week March 22-27th
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2010-2011DAA applications due April 1st w/ deposit
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Swan Lake Dance Workshop, April 11th (3:30-5:30 for 3-8 yr olds)
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Spring Break, April 19-24th
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Coppelia Dance Workshop, May 9th (3:30-5:30 for 3-7 year olds)
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Memorial Day, May 31st - No Classes
- Youth Division Peek Week, June 5-11th
- Last Day of Classes, June 12th
- Spring Dance Concert, June 12th , 2:00 - Sorenson Theater Babson College
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Little Kids, Big Expectations
Introducing values that will help children grow into adults who do not accept mediocrity in their lives or themselves is taught at the Dancing Arts Center. Here, our actions speak louder than our words.
Together we can cultivate considerate, and responsible qualities in children who may one day aspire for a better world.
With you, the staff models the behavior expected of the students. Their commitment to the each child is supportive and long-lasting. The teachers will challenge the children toward higher achievement, yet remain 'on their side' as students strive to meet their goals.
The phrase, 'dancers don't have problems; they solve them' rings through every classroom. This message encourages productivity, and reasonable approaches and reactions.
Before invention there must be imagination. DAC is one birth place of imagination. We train young minds to expand their possibilities, hearts to trust, and bodies to endure. Today's DAC student is more likely to to improve their own life and the lives of those around them with a strong foundation in imagination.
While a child is growing, immersion in dance helps develop the brain with discipline, the body with proper alignment, and flexibility, and the spirit with courage and confidence.
It is never too late to start. Children can enroll any time during the year and move on to the next level as they are ready. Tuition is pro-rated. Tell your friends!
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Choices, Choices, Choices.
Before you make a choice, be sure of what you are choosing.
For main division students in grades four through twelve, there are two choices of programs: The Dancing Arts Academy, for an integrated academic and dance education, and the After School Enrichment program for students choosing academic programs elsewhere. Students in both programs enjoy classes with the same master teachers.
We're proud to report that students in the after-school program develop skills sufficient to attend good summer and college programs. However, students who wish to dedicate more of themselves to gain strength, endurance, artistry, and possibly earn private coaching and competition opportunities may want to consider choosing the Dancing Arts Academy. History shows that the Academy students achieve acceptance at the most prestigious summer and college programs in the world, even employment!
The differences between the after-school and the Academy programs may not be noticeable to an untrained-eye watching class work or concerts at DAC. However, the professionals who choose who advances in the field notice the distinction in the clarity of movement, the confidence and commitment with the performance, and the speed of learning.
At the Academy, parents are an integral part of the educational loop leading to close-knit relationships at home and direct knowledge of their child's progress. Distance learning is the way of the future and the Academy is already successfully implementing several accredited top-notch programs. The academic facilitation at the Academy is individualized and allows for each child to blossom in his/her own way.
If a student decides to pursue a dance profession through the Academy program early then changes his/her mind, he/she only stands to be ahead in dance and more mature in knowledge of his/herself. Conversely, if a student decides not to seriously pursue dance now and later changes his/her mind, he/she is up against increasing obstacles as each year goes by. No amount of teaching excellence can make up for the time a student does not give. Every parent wants the highest possible educational experience for their child, so why talk of waiting for a future time to apply to the Academy. Do it today! A missed year cannot be made-up. The training (to be most effective and easy) must happen when a child is growing.
The only way to find out if your child is a good match for the Academy is to inquire, visit and try it! Those interested for their child's academic education for the coming year may schedule a family interview between now and March 31st. The deadline to apply is April 1st. | |
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Increasing The Limits of Human Possibility.
The world just wrapped up international athletic competitions with the winter Olympics. Do you ever wonder about the financial investment that goes into the support of individual athletes, the construction of the venues themselves, not to mention the cost of organizational man-power, and if it is all worth it? Our society invests in great scientific endeavors such as NASA, new pharmecuticals, and projects like the proton expander. Do they matter to our lives? I have to answer an unequivocal, YES!
In an atmosphere of competition, experimentation, and exploration, society doesn't always find what it hopes, but it often discovers new possibilities which drives humanity to achieve beyond what was once thought impossible.
By teaching children to compete, experiment, and explore we help them also reach beyond what was once unimaginable. At the Dancing Arts Center, we start with teaching creative movement, add technical skills that build a secure foundation through ballet and modern, strive toward competition, and then take those advancing skills to the next level at prestigious schools or right into employment!
Recently, Starbound, Dance Olympus and the Youth America Grand Prix dance competitions gave six of our dancers additional performing experience, feedback, and a 'second opinion' on their abilities, plus a chance to learn how to 'tour' more extensively and coopertively. Our dancers made a very good impression wherever they danced, and received high accolades: high gold, 1st, 2nd, and one 3rd place, or scores of 89+ to 93 (out of 100). All six of our competitors: Angela Cole, Julia Joshi, Brittany Eger, Daena Bortnick, Adriana Greaves, and Lindsey Moore scored high enough to be invited to the Starbound National finals. We are very proud of them. We are happy to announce that all their awards will be on display in our lobby at the beginning of March.
While all of our dancers scored in the two top highest ranges, they faired the best in the classes that followed the days after the competitions because DAC students have such strong classical and contemporary training. Their technique, alignment, and artistic attitude stood out among a packed studio of students who have mostly been coached in their variation above learning to develop real understanding of their own bodies, art form, and the manner in which to conduct oneself. I especially enjoyed how Carlos de Santos, a master teacher from Alvin Ailey , singled-out Daena Bortnick and Adriana Greaves during modern classes AND how Jeffrey Edwards, company teacher for Wheeldon and Company, and former dancer with NY City Ballet, gave specific feedback to Daena Bortnick in a variation class.
The future for your child looks bright, too! He / she will have similar direction and instruction as these six dancers, plus the wisdom of increasing staff experience. We teachers are very happy to see so much emerging talent coming forth in our ranks. We don't have a crystal ball to predict the opportunities for each child, as they will have to earn them like their predecessors, but the groundwork is assuredly here. |
What Are You Doing This Summer?
Further your self with dance this summer. Develop a dancer's body, discipline, and imagination. DAC's short, but in-depth summer program gives you a chance to delve into dance and come away with more than you bargained for! While there is lots of work, there is even more fun in the friendships that are built, the skills that emerge, and the break time for letting loose.
Summer is just a few months away, but schedules are set and enrollment is coming in. Don't miss out. Forget the rain and wind that threaten to send you flying as you hurry to class. Think sun. Think "no school work and light work schedule." Think Summer Classes or Workshop at the Dancing Arts Center.
This summer promises to be even better than ever as DAC welcomes three guest teachers to our programs. Maria Galan of Flamenco Dance Project will return to lead exuberant flamenco classes. Karen Krolak of Monkeyhouse Modern Dance Company, and Lorraine Chapman of Chapman and Company will lead the upper lever modern classes. All will choreograph new pieces for the summer concert. A bit of character dance and hip hop will be included for students with an established foundation.
Bring your ballet and modern technique to life with classes in nutrition, anatomy and physiology and dance history!Come and learn to design and decorate your own dance bag, sew your own ballet skirt or cumberbund, and design and create a tiara.
It is worth it to organize your family vacations around DAC's programs. The return on your time is HUGE! Summer classes are offered for students age three to adult. Workshop programs / camp is for students age 4-18. For more information about summer programs, click here. |
Dance is very subjective, especially when viewed from the eyes of a parent. Some parents are unduly harsh with their expectations and impatient to see results. Others are inadvertently amazed with their child's talents and expect them to be noticed by every casting director. Most parents fall in between and are not quite sure how accurate their assessment is.
Ask your child's teacher! Do not compare one child to another as each student has something to give and something to get. Do not judge based on the casting of roles which are filled mostly on who fits what costumes or who matches with other dancers. Being a school, not a company, casting is also used to develop skills such as dramatic characterization for acting skills, a solo to instill leadership and responsibility, group formations to enhance awareness of others, and much more. Keep in mind, a main role is not always the most advanced, and a short piece is not always less demanding.
While some parents of older students appear to 'know', having been a part of the dance world in way that a new parent has not, they do not know your child like you and your child's teacher do. Count on the expertise of the Dancing Arts Center staff.
Some students with experience can even have a skewed view on what they see and understand from class, rehearsal or coaching. A few determine their heirarchy by who they are dancing with; others count their worth by their number of years invested, but most are just confused as to where they stand in their progress. Again ask your teacher!
The teachers at the Dancing Arts Center can, and have, taught all over the world. They know how to give an honest, appropriate assessment. They have nothing to gain by misleading you. Besides, doing so would only make their job harder. There are several master teachers on staff at DAC, each with their own background and ability to give you insight. They are not just here to teach your child. They are also here to help you understand the world of dance and how your child fits in it.
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Spring Concert Tickets On Sale Now
The Dancing Arts Center's annual Spring Concert, featuring the Brothers Grimm's Twelve Dancing Princesses will be performed at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, 2010 at Babson College Sorenson's Center for the Arts in Wellesley, MA. Sure to delight audiences of all ages, the concert will also include Main Division department demonstrations and a selection of modern and jazz pieces. With only one performance, this show is sure to sell out. Don't miss your chance - buy your tickets early. Tickets are available by calling Dancing Arts Center at 508-429-7577 or by clicking here. | |
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