Summer School Blog

Starting in a small local dance school and ending up in the Corps de Ballet is huge, but most dancers don't even realize how or when they go there. "I wasn't even thinking about a career yet. It was all sort of a whirlwind, and I just went with it." says Betsy McBride, a 24 year-old dancer who started in her local dance school at the age of 3 in the suburbs of Dallas. At 14, Mc Bride went to a summer intensive to get better and learn more, at a school that's affiliated with the Texas Ballet Theater. After a few weeks, she was offered a year-round place at the school. A couple months after that, she was hired into the Texas Ballet Theater. In 2015, McBride contacted the American Ballet Theater, in search of something bigger and new to do in her career. ABT originally said that there were no open spots but offered to let her take a class with them. After the class was over, she had made a good enough impression that a spot just so happened to open up and she was of...

During the most emotional and meaningful part of a performance inspired by the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, the fire alarm sounds. With the perfect timing of the alarm, most of the audience remained seated, treating it like it was part of the performance, when in reality, the on stage smoke mixed with the humidity, setting off the fire alarm, creating a real need to evacuate until the fire department gave the all clear. What is a performer supposed to do when something like the above happens? Dr. Charlie Brown,  a retired performance psychologist who has worked with dancers from Charlotte Ballet, talks about the difference between successful and not as successful performers in tricky situations like this, "The most successful performers aren't more perfect; they know how to visualize performance success and mentally prep for when things go wrong," says Dr. Charlie Brown in a interview with Dance Magazine. Dr. Brown suggests that to be a successful performer, you ...

Yesterday, on our class trip downtown, we were asked to speak to a few business owners to find out what its like to own a business. I came across a few coffee shop owners and a few more native to our area shop owners. I learned a few things from each of these places; and surprisingly a lot of it is the same from shop to shop. One of the things many of the owners said that they learned from owning a business is that you should never think like a business owner, but you should think like a costumer. In all honesty, this makes a lot of sense. You want to think like the costumer, so you can understand what they want, what they are looking for, and if it is set at a reasonable price yet you'll still make a profit. Another thing I learned from all the owners I talked to is that the costumer isn't always right. I was slightly shocked by this. Usually you get told that the costumer is always right, but in reality you must stick to your values and only try to appease someone if it sta...

http://www.dancemagazine.com/how-to-actually-find-neutral-2440448159.html When in dance classes, all dancers are asked to keep on their neutral spine. But, what is a neutral spine, and why must we stay on our neutral spine? Your neutral spine is when your spine, from the cervical to the pelvic, is in its natural s curve. This is different for everyone because of the different structure types for each different person. Each dancer must stay in their neutral spine to stay balanced and to work all the correct muscles. This is extremely important. If a dancer is off balance or working the wrong muscles, then they could seriously injure themselves. As a dancer myself, I am asked to keep on my neutral spine all the time and I can honestly say this is difficult if you have no idea what they are talking about. This article actually helped a lot and I actually feel better about how to do it.

Capturing dance on camera is a feat all on its own, and having a dance background is a very helpful thing. Ezra Hurwitz is a former dancer, who after he injured himself in dance, decided to pursue photography and filming. "I always knew I wasn't going to dance forever," says Ezra in an interview with Dance Magazine. When he was back in New York of rehab after his injury, Ezra says, "I was bored, so I started working with Ellen Barr in the New York City Ballet video department." That's what got him into filming dance. Dance is an art form that engages the eyes and imagination of those who watch it. To catch it on film and capture the magic of it is extremely difficult. If you don't get the dance at the right angles, you are not going to be able to understand the story and connection of the piece and those are two of the  most important things of dance, the third being the emotion of the piece. If one cannot connect emotionally with the piece, then they w...

What makes people seek out the dangerous things in life? The things that give us a trill and a rush of adventure? Well, just that. The rush of adventure is the entire reason for people taking risks in life. Some people like the feeling of a rushing heart beat and a normally frightening sight in front of them. It makes then feel alive. For example, Alex Honnold, a free solo climber, just free scaled El Captain in Yosemite National Park on June 3rd. He is the first person to accomplish this, while others have died trying. As Tommy Caldwell, one of Alex's friends, explains in an article about Alex, "Alex climbs to live, not to cheat death." This reflects back  on what I mentioned earlier when I said that it makes some people feel alive. It puts people out of their comfort zone and gives them a chance to live life to the fullest.

Mira Nadon, 16, and Davide Riccardo, 17, preformed a duet by George Balanchine on June 3rd. Durning this beautiful and "romantic 1952 homage to the Highland landscape" piece, Nadon's character teases the guy and will "'call to him then say no, and he has to run after her.'" The chemistry so strong and "a happy surprise," between the two of them. They have never worked together before this but as Suki Schorer, who put together the "Scotch Symphony", said, "'They have chemistry together that is magic.'" I absolutely love this dance so much! It is so beautiful and light hearted. You can definitely see and feel the connection between the two of them. They are so beautiful to watch.