Dance Festivals- Behind the Scenes

My last post was on what goes on "officially" at Dance Festivals.

This post is about what goes on behind the scenes among the participants and parents.

There is talk, talk, and more talk.

Dance Festivals are great for networking,
for making friends,
seeing friends not seen in a while,
spending time with your own studio dance friends,
and, let's face it,
gossiping.

And, as hard as I try not to gossip, it's just so tempting at Dance Festivals.

Let's just say that gossiping helps to explain and learn about people and why they do things.

Through Dance Festivals and Summer Intensives, one learns just how small a world the dance community really is.

And, because of this, dance gossipers try very hard not to be vicious and try very hard to be kind.

I just love my dance parent network!

Dance Festivals

What goes on at Dance Festivals?

First, it is NOT a Dance Competition.

Dance Festivals are put on by a group of dance studios in an area or region that come together once a year.

There are about four different events that happen at Dance Festivals:

1) Auditions for Ballet Summer Intensives
(More on this subject at a later date.)

2) During the festival, professional dance companies come as entertainment and to enlarge our horizons on the definition of "dance."
(There may be more on this subject at a later date.)

3) Professional dancers and dance teachers from around the country are invited to teach dance classes.

This year my children got to take some of their classes from Leslie Browne.

Note: The intention of this blog is not to name "names," nor is it to "name drop."

However, one of the reasons I fell in love with the art of ballet as a child was Mikhail Baryshnikov.

And, I loved the movie, Turning Point, with Baryshnikov and the young, up-and-coming ballerina, Leslie Browne.

So, back to the Dance Festival:

In order to defer my cost of attending as an observer, I volunteered to help.

My job was to take roll and make sure that the instructors had everything they needed.
(And, I got to help in Leslie Browne's class- twice.)

Volunteers were also so supposed to ask the instructors if observers were allowed to take pictures during class.
(Which Leslie Browne was so very nice about.)

Students took one and a half hour long classes in a variety of dance genres (ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, Hip Hop, etc.) -
on Saturday, they took three classes
and
on Sunday they took two classes.

4) Dance Showcase
of the participating dance studios'
Festival participants
(In other words, in order for a dance studio to have a dance number in the Showcase, the dancers in the number had to attend at least one class in the Festival.)

Oh, and least I forget, there definitely will be photos added to this post, as soon as my son helps me (which will be in the next few days!)

Nutcracker 101- Make-up

Let's start out by saying that this is not, by any means, an expertly written blog on stage make-up.

These are the things my little brain can remember after thirteen years of performances (this includes school performances and spring shows, as well as, Nutcracker).

As a quick side note:
Ballet dancers tend to wear less street make-up
(and often none)
than the rest of society.

The basics of ballet stage make-up includes:

1) Base that is one shade darker than one's skin color.

2) Eyeliner

a) Black or brown

b) Optional: White
(For between the upper and lower extended lines of the black or brown)

3) Blush
(pink or orangish)
(nothing with a blue tint*)

4) Lipstick with some shine to it.
(nothing with a blue tint*)

* Note: A blue tint makes one look blue and unnatural on stage because of the lights.

5) Eyeshadow
(usually the color of the eye color)

6) Make-up remover wipes
(Sensitive skin works best)

Some parts in Nutcracker have professional stage make-up, these include:

Drosselmeir,

Animated Toys,

Soldiers,

Gingerbread Children,

Mother Ginger,

and possibly,

Arabian,

Chinese,

or other character parts.

At some point, photographs will be added to better illustrate this post, because it is definitely difficult to describe everything in details.

Nutcracker Backstage Version

One of the fun things about Nutcracker is the camaraderie among the backstage helpers.

While sewing costumes, building props, moving into and out of the theatre, and working backstage during a performance, patterns begin to emerge in the way people act and react, often based on their part or their child's part in Nutcracker.

Over the years, a Nutcracker Backstage Version has emerged in our minds.

We have only discussed this version and never really written anything down, so here is my attempt at some of the ideas.

Act I: Scene 1

Backstage Costume Room less than five minutes before performance:

Costumes are being frantically sewn and pinned together at the last minute.

Young ladies with nervous giggles are being sewn into their tutus.

Pointe shoe ribbons and boys' shoe elastics are being sewn at the last minute and blood is being drawn with each stitch.

Party Men are nervously asking how to put the costume together.

And, Party Boys are being wrangled to make sure that their costumes are in order.

Act I: Scene 2

Backstage Wings:

Dancers are jumping up and down to keep warm and fight off nervousness.

Dancers are checking each others' costumes.

Little ones and some Nutcracker veterans are being yelled at by the backstage crew to leave the props alone.

And, there are lots of "shs" being sounded.

Act I: Scene 3

As Clara gets ready to go on stage, her mom is frantically making sure that every curl is in place with more hairspray.

Clara's hair ribbon is getting pinned to her head with cries from her mom of:

"Now don't cry!

I'm sorry!

Yes, I should have used a bobby pin, not a safety pin that was meant for your dress ribbon.

Stop yelling at me!

Smile, it's time for you to go on stage.

Remember to smile..."
(as Clara runs on stage just in time).

Act I: Scene 4

The director is frantically trying to get someone's attention on stage because they forgot to take off their backstage socks that they wear over the ballet shoes.

Note: Socks are worn over the ballet slippers backstage so that wax is not brought on stage, which could make the floor too slippery for the pointe shoe dancers.

Act I: Scene 5

The backstage crew is cursing under their breath because of all the Party props that have to be removed off stage before the Battle begins.

To top it all off, no matter which way they attempt to clear a path for themselves and the props, there are dancers and moms getting in their way at every turn.

Act I: Scene 6

The Snow Scene begins and beautiful dancers run on and off stage between their pieces.

All one can hear is "THUD, THUD, THUD"
(not to the music)
of the pointe shoes on stage

and

the PANTING of the dancers as they try to catch a quick breath before running back on stage.

Intermission:

Parents, family, and friends are flooding backstage to congratulate the dancers and take pictures among the chaos of trying to prepare for Act II.

The little ones are being wrangled to get their costumes off before they try to eat a snack.

Company Ballet Dancers are doing a last minute hair, make-up, and costume check.

Mothers are telling their daughters to go to "So-and-So" because it is easier to deal with another child that is not your own whiny one.

Act II: Scene I

Angel moms are obsessing over the costumes, trying to make sure they are "perfect" before their princesses go on stage.

As the angels go on stage, their moms are trying to take pictures with flashes on their cameras.

Note: Flashes should never be used at a dance performance because it can temporarily blind the dancers.

Note: Flashes going off backstage can often be seen by the audience- a very big "no, no."

Backstage crew is muttering under their breath about "newbies,"
as the angels and their moms take their time to leave the backstage wings and walk where they are not allowed in a possible "audience may see backstage zone."

Act II: Scene 2

Instead of dancers on stage, the moms and some dads in some very gaudy costumes have decided to imitate the dances that they have seen year after year to the same music that they hear year after year.

The dancers are looking very appalled backstage.

Act II: Scene 3

The backstage crew and props people have put police tape around the props as a reminder to not touch.

The Nutcracker has been wrapped in bubble wrap before being returned to Clara on stage because the backstage props crew is tired of repairing it year after year.

A few Party Girls are in tears because the Fritz took their chocolate and other candies and tried to rub it on them.

And, Fritz, well, let's just say he really is in
"Time Out"
(since spankings are no longer allowed in this day and age).

The End!

Nutcracker- My Daughter's Roles

My daughter could not wait
until she was old enough
to be in Nutcracker.

It was three years
after her brother,
(even though she is
two years younger),
that she was able to start
her Nutcracker career
at the age of eight (almost nine).

In 2005,
she was a
Small Mouse,
like her brother
had been.

Due to new choreography,
my daughter had to be told
that she could not teach
the other mice the part;
she was a little disappointed,
but she loved
that she got to steal a prop-
Clara's doll house.

In 2006,
she was a
Small Animated Doll.

She was great
at being motionless
at times
and
was very precise
and mechanical-like
in her movements.

And, she had her
adorable dimples
frozen in her smile.

In 2007,
she finally got to try-out
for Clara.

In the years leading up
to her first Nutcracker,
she would often tell
her ballet teachers
that she wanted to be Clara.

They would remind her
that she had to start
with other roles
and try-out for Clara
when she was old enough
and at the appropriate
ballet level.

However, 2007 was not
her year as Clara,
but she got to be a
Party Girl.

In 2008,
she knew that if she
did not get to be Clara,
she would soon be
too old for the part;
we were elated
when she got the role of
Clara.

Also in 2008,
my husband was finally convinced
to help build some props
(he led the family
in making the doll bed
for the Nutcracker prop,
as well as,
the life-size rolling bed
for the "living" Nutcracker)
and
he began working backstage
during performances.

In 2009,
my daughter got to play
a very mischievous
Mouse.

This time,
all the girls were older
so that they would
look bigger and human size.

Also, in 2009,
my daughter finally got
into the Second Act in the
Arabian Corp.

Most of the girls
had been looking forward
to the choreography
of the Arabian piece,
but it was changed.

My daughter did a great job
of learning and performing
the new piece.

After reviewing
my son's roles,
my daughter's roles,
and the family participation
(props, costumes, backstage)
of all that we did
for Nutcrackers in 2009,
it seems almost a blur
of activity-
but we really enjoyed that year!

In 2010,
my daughter joined Junior Company
and got the role of a
(French) Shepherdess
and danced "en pointe."

Shepherdesses costumes
were reconfigured from the previous
Mirliton costumes
by several volunteers-
It seemed we were always working,
reworking, and reworking some more
on the new Shepherdesses costumes.

During Thanksgiving holidays,
which was the week before
Tech/Dress Rehearsal Week,
I was handed a couple
of costume pictures
and a cardboard mock-up
of a Shepherdess hat.

After many hours spent
reworking the mock-up
and creating and sewing
a sample hat
out of rigid felt
during the Thanksgiving holidays,
I began Tech/Dress Rehearsal
with the goal of nine hats
to be made in a week.

The last couple of days
of Tech/Dress Rehearsal,
several volunteer moms
and dancers,
including some
of the Shepherdesses,
were sewing on the trim
and loops for bobby pins.

There were several
bleeding fingers
in this labor of love
to top off a great costume.

In fact, I was sewing
on the trim for the last hat
during the First Act
of the first performance.

Although a couple
of the girls
put on their hats
at the last minute
and they had to be readjusted
before they went back on stage,
none of them ever fell off.

In 2011,
my daughter was an
Arabian Demi-Soloist
and was in the
Rose Flower Corp.

After several years
of attempted bribes
to get my daughter
into full splits
before the next Nutcracker,
getting a role that required splits
finally encouraged her to finish
getting her splits.

And, this year it was even more fun
to watch the Waltz of the Flowers
with my daughter "en pointe"
and spinning in her skirt
with her beautiful smile.

Nutcracker- Clara Mom

While I try very hard not to be a "backstage" mom, when your children get "lead" parts, sometimes it just comes with the territory.

When my son was Fritz, he was ready to be out of the Party Scene after four years of being a Party Boy.

In other words, he was starting to need less time with me as a backstage "boy wrangler" and almost resented me making a big deal out of him being Fritz.

My daughter became Clara the next year.

Now, my daughter wanted to be Clara from the first Nutcracker performance she watched around age two.

She repeatedly told her ballet instructors this fact.

She could not wait until she was:
first, old enough to be in Nutcracker;
and then, far enough along in ballet to audition for Clara.

She enjoyed her first year in Nutcracker as a Small Mouse, just like her older brother had begun his Nutcracker career.

At the first rehearsal for Small Mice, my daughter had to be told that there was new choreography, so she had to stop trying to teach everyone the old choreography that her brother had used.

The next year she was excited to be in the Party Scene as an Animated Small Doll.

Her third year of Nutcracker, she was finally able to audition for the part of Clara.

She got the part of a Party Girl and she was happy.

The next year, she had it in her head that she would be Clara.

There was no talking her out of it.

It was difficult to prepare her for not getting the part because of her positive enthusiasm.

As a mom, I was extremely worried.

I prepared myself for a cry no matter what the outcome.

When we arrived at the ballet studio and saw the cast list, we were elated- she had the part of Clara!

I left the ballet studio as soon as possible, both to keep myself calm and to do some errands.

I called one of my best childhood friends in California.

The phone kept cutting out for almost ten minutes.

Finally, we got a good connection and I managed to tell her the good news through my tears.

The relief to finally cry was cathartic.

And then, Clara Mom was set in motion.

The reason Clara Moms act the way they do is mostly due to pressures.

The pressures include:

1) Three to four practices per week for Clara.

2) Learning and practicing the hair and make-up, which includes:

a) Putting lots of curlers in my daughter's long, thick hair; a task that takes at least an hour after a long day
.
b) Wearing curlers overnight and having a daughter who claims not enough sleep the next day because of it.

c) How much hairspray and what kind is needed before, during, and after curling in order to make the coiffure last.

3) Learning to help with the Clara quick change from party dress to nightgown in the dark.

4) Keeping Clara calm as the stress mounts the closer one gets to the performances due to:

a) Even more rehearsals

b) Special mini performances at schools, homes for the elderly, libraries, etc

c) Late night Tech Week

5) Nutcracker gifts for the cast
(While both my daughter and I love to craft our Nutcracker gifts, we chose to go a slightly easier route and bought mini Nutcrackers and my daughter hand-stamped cards and signed her name and I filled in the cast names.)

Of course, the hardest part is remembering to smile at people when your exhausted;
especially for me because am naturally a shy person and have to think about smiling anyway.

And, the best part of being a Clara Mom is helping other Clara Moms through the ordeal.

My daughter and I like to host an annual Clara and Mom Gathering where past Claras and past Clara Moms pass on their words of wisdom and memories to the current Claras and their moms.

As one of my friends reminded me when I started to get upset because I thought my daughter was being overlooked for a part, "Remember that she had the honor of being Clara."

I had the honor of being a Clara Mom.

Once a Clara Mom, always a Clara Mom.

Nutcracker 101- Casting

The most difficult part in dealing with Nutcracker is casting.

A cast for Nutcracker can include hundreds of people.

While most parts are for ballet dancers, there are some that might be cast to actors.

Those that are cast to actors may include:
Fritz,
Adults at the party,
Drosselmeir,
and
Mother Ginger

As a parent, there are parts that you would really love for your child to have, especially the "lead" parts.

The "lead" parts for girls include:
Clara,
Snow Queen,
and
Sugar Plum Fairy

The "lead" parts for boys include:
Fritz,
Snow Cavalier,
and
Sugar Plum Cavalier

Of course, there are years when your dancer also wants these parts too.

Let's just say that emotions run very high around casting time.

However, the thing that one must remember is that the Artistic Director has their own idea of what they want to see on stage.

This means that sometimes parts are cast based on dance ability, or "looks," or a combination of both, and, on very rare occasions, monetary contributions.

And, the Artistic Director does NOT have to explain their reasoning for the cast list.

So, at the end of the day, a dancer must embrace the part they are given and hope for the one they want next year.

Nutcracker 101- As a Ballet Play

Breaking the Nutcracker down into a play makes it even easier to understand.

First, the only difference between a play and a ballet is the lack of words being used in ballet.

The dancers are supposed to tell the story through facial expressions, pantomimes, and, of course, dance.

Second, if you know the basic storyline and the main characters, then the breakdown of the play into acts and scenes is really easy to understand.

So, here it is:

Act I: Scene 1

Christmas eve at a wealthy family's home
(usually the Stalhbaums' or the Mayor's home)

Act: Scene 1 Pre-Party

The children are excited over the decorations, presents, and the party that's about to begin.

There is usually a squabble or two between the girl
(usually called Clara, but sometimes Marie)
and her (usually younger) brother (Fritz).

Act I: Scene 1 Party

The family's friends and relatives, both young and old, greet each other.

A late and dramatic arrival of a toymaker-
Drosselmeir
(AKA: Herr Drosselmeir, Godfather/papa Drosselmeir, Uncle Drosselmeir)
entertains the guests with magic and life-size, animated toys made by the toymaker.

Drosselmeir gives Clara and Fritz a present.

Fritz is jealous over the soldier Nutcracker that his sister receives.

A fight ensues and the Nutcracker is damaged.

Drosselmeir bandages the Nutcracker and the children return to their respective friends.

The adults dance.

As everyone is saying goodnight, Clara is forced to leave her beloved Nutcracker behind as she goes to bed.

Act I: Scene 2

Midnight

Mice scurry around looking for treats.
(Apparently at this time in history (1800s), all homes- including the rich- had mice.)

Clara, in her nightgown, returns for her Nutcracker and is frightened by the mice.

Drosselmeir returns making everything magical.

The mice (who become life-size and stand upright) take away all of the Christmas decorations and gifts.

The Nutcracker (who also becomes life-size and alive) commands an army of animated, life-size soldiers to fight the mice and their very large leader.

As the Nutcracker lays on the ground about to be harmed by the Mouse (King or Queen), Clara comes to his rescue and distracts the Mouse (King or Queen) (by either throwing a shoe or pulling the tail).

This gives the Nutcracker an advantage and he kills the Mouse (King or Queen).

The Nutcracker is released from a magical spell and he becomes a prince.

Act I: Scene 3

Snow

The Nutcracker Prince takes Clara on a magical journey that begins in the land of snow where dancing snowflakes come alive, including a Snowflake Queen who is often escorted.

Act II: Scene 1

Angels

Angels, lead by the Dew Drop Fairy
(or sometimes by the Sugar Plum Fairy),
announce the arrival of Clara and the Prince to the Land of Sweets.

Act II: Scene 2

Clara and the Prince tell their magical story in the Land of Sweets
(and are often made honorary rulers)
as they watch dancers from the different countries
(Arabia, China, France, Spain, and Russia),
as well as,
Mother Ginger
(similar to "The Old Woman in the Shoe" and usually played in drag)
and,
dancing flowers.

After all the dancing is done, Clara and the Prince say good-bye to the Land of Sweets.

Act II: Scene 3

This is an optional addition to the ballet.

Often, Clara wakes and finds everything is a dream.

Sometimes, Clara finds that the Nutcracker Prince was a guest at her party or is the nephew of Drosselmeir.
.

Nutcracker 101- Storyline

There is so much information about Nutcracker that it is difficult to even know where to start.

So, let's start with the basic story line.

It's Christmas eve in the 1800s
(the original story was written in the early 1800s,
but the ballet is usually set in the late 1800s)
in Europe (usually Germany).

A family is preparing for a Christmas eve party.

The brother and sister are very excited and constantly have little sibling quarrels.

The party begins.

The children separate into their girl and boy groups and the parents exchange pleasantries.

All of a sudden there is a dramatic arrival of the toymaker who is also the godfather or uncle (depending on the version of the story).

The toymaker presents a magic show and brings large animated dolls to dance as part of the entertainment.

Then he gives gifts to the children (sometimes to just the brother and sister).

The brother usually receives a trumpet (or, in a few versions, a stuffed toy mouse).

The sister receives a Nutcracker that looks like a soldier.

After explaining the function of the Nutcracker, the sister shares the nuts with everyone.

The brother's jealousy grows and he tries to take the Nutcracker from his sister, damaging it in the process.

The toymaker consoles the sister by bandaging the Nutcracker with a handkerchief.

The children return to their play groups and the parents dance.

As the party ends and the guest are leaving, the sister asks if she can take the Nutcracker to her room.

She is told "no" and the Nutcracker is placed with the other gifts.

Just before midnight the mice began to scurry around the party room.

The sister comes back looking for her Nutcracker and is frightened by the mice.

As the clock strikes midnight, the mice steal all of the Christmas treats and gifts and the toymaker returns.

The toymaker brings a life-size, live Nutcracker who leads a life-size toy soldier army against the human-size mice and their leader (a king or queen, sometimes with seven heads).

During the battle, the Nutcracker is about to be struck by the mouse leader, when the girl intervenes (by either throwing a shoe or pulling the tail).

The Nutcracker takes advantage and kills the mouse leader.

The spell that made him a Nutcracker is broken and he becomes a prince.

The prince takes the girl on a magical journey: first, through the land of snow where snowflakes come alive to dance; and then, on to a Land of Sweets.

The Land of Sweets is ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy who, after hearing of their adventures, invites the two to watch her and her subjects dance .

The subjects include:
Arabian (coffee)
Chinese (tea)
French (marzipan)
Russian (candy canes)
Spanish (chocolate)
Mother Ginger (gingerbread)
and
Flowers.

The prince and girl leave the Land of Sweets.

And, depending on what version of the story, the girl may awaken from a dream and find that the Nutcracker prince is really someone from the party (or the toymaker's nephew).

Pardon my French

I love ballet.

I love watching performances and classes, and participating in classes.

I also love the the Behind the Ballet Barre scenes- costumes, props, etc.

However, the one thing that I absolutely cannot stand about ballet is the language.

In first and second grade, I had some basic French.

For high school, my parents encouraged me to take Spanish since we were living in Southern California at the time.

So, I had three years of high school Spanish, a little practice with my Spanish speaking friends, and then audited three or four classes of Spanish in college.

I love the simplicity of the Spanish language, especially the easy pronunciation and readability.

Now, hearing French terms in class is difficult enough for me to interpret.

Trying to later look the terms up is even more difficult because the spelling doesn't always match the pronunciation.

And, to make things more difficult, I have trouble hearing the correct pronunciation anyway.

My friends in high school thought I spoke Spanish with a Southern accent.

At least they could understand what I was saying, ever so slowly.

With French, let's just say that I've been laughed at by my children and ballet instructors for my pronunciation.

On one occasion, my instructor liked my pronunciation better, even though it was incorrect.

Let just say,
"Pardon my French"

Seasons of Ballet Details- Summer

"Summer
Summer Intensives"

Summer activities for our family use to include finishing up baseball season, swim team, and visiting grandparents.

Then it was a day/week/two weeks of Ballet Summer Intensive, Scout summer camps, swim team, and visiting grandparents.

Two years ago, my son received a scholarship for a two week Summer Intensive; we spent two weeks driving just over two hours one way between the grandparents' house and the Summer Intensive.

As a result of the Summer Intensive's Performance date change, my annual summer meeting for my state women's club board was missed.

However, we did drive another hour and a half out of our way to say that we got an hour before sunset beach trip and a very nice Japanese dinner.

Last year, my son had three scholarships and one partial scholarship for Summer Intensives.

This meant nine weeks of six hours of ballet, dance, and stretching/fitness classes.

We started in our hometown for two weeks; followed by four weeks driving twenty minutes one way from his grandparents' home; dropping him off with strangers (now friends) for a week two hours away; and then hometown again for two more weeks.

Improvement was definitely noticed after both summers, but most noticeable after this last one.

My son now has friends all over the world, in this country, as well as, professional dance contacts for his future as a ballet professional.

A favorite part of my summer was meeting a former Soviet ballet dancer who studied under Pushkin at the Kirov Ballet.

He told stories of traveling between the former East and West Germany before they put up the Berlin Wall. (The history buff in me loved the stories.)

Best of all, he was able to point out small things to change in one's body that makes ballet easier; my son was able to comprehend about two weeks later (his learning curve for permanent changes) and I also use the techniques in both ballet and life.

So, nine weeks of traveling for Ballet Intensives and back and forth to my daughter's Girl Scout camp, did not leave any vacation time for the family.

[Pictures will be included at a later date]

Seasons of Ballet Details- Spring

"Spring
Spring Performance"

Spring is my favorite season.

Warm weather- not freezing
nor high humidity hot.

As mentioned at the end of the last post, dressing like a princess in a tiara at the Spring Fairy Tale Ballet Performance is a highlight of my year.

Unfortunately, as soon as the Spring Performance is over, there is less than two months until
"Spring
School Performances"

When one has two teenagers that take about six classes a week, then that equals about six to eight costumes.

Our ballet school tries to keep costume cost down by borrowing from the ballet company (for a small fee), finding basic costumes that can be worn to classes, or even having the students use their own wardrobe.

However, coordinating and making sure that the teacher has picked out a costume, especially if it needs to be ordered, purchasing the costume and costume pieces, and making any necessary alterations is often stressful.

Our local ballet and dance clothing stores help make the experience as positive as possible within their power.

Of course, no matter how many lists one makes and questions one asks of the students, a visit to the ballet store will occur a minimum of once a week and daily for the week and a half before performances.

And the number one thing that is purchased at the last minute-
Dance Shoes-
usually due to at least one of the three M's:
Magical foot growth within two months time
Mysterious holes or wear in the shoes
Misplaced footwear (usually on the day before or the day of performance).

Despite all of the stress of multiple costume changes and coordinating portrait times with rehearsal schedules, the best part of School Performances is watching the improvement of the dancers from year to year.

Seasons of Ballet Details- Winter

"Winter
Summer Intensive Auditions"

Winter should be for hibernation.

For every hour spent on Nutcracker, one should have one hour of sleep in hibernation mode.

However, now that there is one teenager on the career track for ballet, Summer Intensives have become very important.

This past winter break was spent driving back and forth to another city to take daily ballet classes in order to perfect techniques for try-outs for Summer Intensives.

January is spent making sure that ballet pose pictures and head shots are done, forms filled out, choosing a location and time frame, and then auditioning.

And, all of this on top of
"Winter
Spring Performance Season"

It's my understanding that ballet companies must have at least two paid performances per year in order to keep their tax exempt status.

So, every January begins the preparations for a Spring Performance at the beginning of April.

Auditions and new dances to learn.

Costumes and props to make.

However, unlike Nutcracker where there are over a hundred participants on stage from age seven to seasoned adults, there are just company members from age eleven to adults.

My favorite part about Spring Performance is that our company has Fairy Tale based ballets.

It's so much fun to sit in the audience dressed like a princess, including a tiara, with all of the little princesses and princes in awe of the ballet dancers.

Seasons of Ballet Details- Fall

As the last post was done in about five minutes before a Nutcracker Evaluation Meeting, and my children think that more details about my feelings are needed for the last blog, here goes...

"Fall
New Classes"

While fall is great when the temperatures finally start dropping, calling August part of the fall season is not fun in my book.

August should remain as part of the summer!

Unfortunately, in my state, the schools have decided that the school year starts at the beginning of August.

This means that activities start in August, though most will start at least a week or so after the schools reopen.

What this means to me:

1) No recovery time from summer activities.

2) It is way too hot (100 degree weather)
to be thinking- Fall.

3) Trying to adjust to a new schedule.

4) Updating the calendar of activities
(which never really gets completely done).

"Fall
Nutcracker Season"

While this is one of my favorite times of the year, thinking about Nutcracker and the list of things associated with it is not always fun.

The list includes:

a) The contemplation of what parts my children would like this year verses what parts they will actually get.

b) Thinking of crafty gifts to make based on the parts of my children.

Don't get me wrong, crafts are one of my favorite things to do.

It's the planning and getting the supplies early, knowing that, in the end, one will be staying up for several late nights during the last few weeks of rehearsal making gifts.

c) Costumes-

Alterations and more alterations

Helping to make new ones

Revamping old ones

Trying to teach someone to take over a group of costumes that one is tired of seeing and dealing with year after year-
"MICE"

My favorite part doesn't come until almost the end- details on the costumes.

[Pictures will be posted at a later date of some of my Nutcracker costume details.]

d) Props-

Repairing

Building new ones

[Pictures to be posted at a later date of some of the props our family has made]

Discussions with my husband on improvements and the cheapest way to make something that will last for years and need little repair.
(FUN!)

A list of ways to keep hands and other body parts off of props when not in use on stage.

Hm, I wonder if mouse traps would work...

Buzzers are too loud.

A small jolt of electricity?

Seriously, props are made for a specific purpose.

Please don't handle props unless it's during the rehearsal for the prop or one is on stage performing with the prop.

By the way, exceptions will be made for handling props for pictures, if prior permission has been obtained from one of the following "proper authorities"-

Artistic Director
School Director
Props Coordinator
Backstage Manager

d) Are we actually ready for another Nutcracker Season of weekly weekend rehearsals for four (4) months, last minute performing opportunities, and all of the backstage projects?

After saying all this, it may be difficult to believe that Nutcracker Season is one of my favorite times of the year!

Seasons of Ballet

Fall
New Classes
Nutcracker Season

Winter
Summer Intensive Auditions
Spring Performance Season

Spring
Spring Performances
School Performances

Summer
Summer Intensives


Where did my vacation time go?

The Lobby

The Lobby...

So many hours of waiting.

And keeping the siblings entertained so that they are not jumping on the furniture, causing a commotion about sharing, or run in and out of their sibling's class.

Thank goodness for electronics, books, and homework to keep the older ones busy.

It's always fun to watch a group of younger siblings playing together over the years.

It's even a little sad when the younger siblings start their first official ballet class.

And, the best thing about The Lobby...
Friendships

Friendships between the parents that share this common bond of ballet.

Often we don't even learn each others names, other than "So-and-so's mom," for up to three years; but we enjoy the conversations and the time spent together.

There are Girls in Ballet

When my son began ballet classes, he was the only boy in the class.

He was fine with this because at home it was just him and his younger sister.

With the exception of one substitute teacher making a big deal about how special it was that he was a boy in ballet, he was never really self-conscious about being the only boy in the class.

He did like the fact that he got to bow when the girls curtsied at the end of class.

By the end of his third year of ballet, he was definitely ready for a boy's class.

Jumping and Leaping, oh Boy!

Now that my son's a teenager, some of his friends like to tag along to ballet events because...
There are Girls in ballet!

Ms Meg

Ms Meg is my hero.

She has the patience of a saint when it comes to toddlers and very young children.

Her talents include gymnastics, ballet, choreography, wonderful stage make-up, props, and friendship.

Both my children started gymnastics as toddlers with Ms Meg and then took Creative Ballet (pre-pre ballet) with her for about three to four years each.

Ms Meg's daughter, her daughter's best friend, and my son were all the same age and took ballet class together with Ms Meg.

After class, the three of them and my daughter would color, play games, or figure out some way to stick around the ballet studio for an extra hour or so.

When my daughter tagged along to ballet class, Ms Meg would allow her to sit quietly in the studio and then participate for some of the exercises.

Due to the strict rule about being four years old to begin ballet, my daughter's January birthday prohibited her from beginning her own ballet class in the fall.

After many tears, I reluctantly agreed to let my daughter take dance at another dance studio where she took a combination class of ballet, tap, gymnastics, and singing.

Between the class being at my daughter's natural evening slow down time, my daughter only liking the ballet and gymnastics (which she was also taking somewhere else), and the studio wanting recital money in December for an "unknown" costume for May, I begged Ms Meg to please let my daughter take ballet classes with her the day after she turned four in January.
Ms Meg, thankfully, agreed!

When my son had his first Cavalier role during Nutcracker 2010, I cried on Ms Meg's shoulder and she recalled my son's attempt to quit rehearsing for his first ballet performance.

Apparently, he thought because he knew the dance, that practice was over; Ms Meg said that he could refuse to participate, but he would not be going on stage- my son promptly got up and joined the class.

While practicing on stage before their first performance, Ms Meg explained that they would not be able to see their parents during the performance due to the bright lights.

When asked after the performance if he could see the audience, my son's matter-of-fact reply, "Mom, you know Ms Meg said we wouldn't be able to see the audience because of the bright lights."

Ms Meg had also told the parents to get a base make-up that was a shade darker than their children's skin tone so that they would not be washed out by the stage lights.
And, yes, boys had to wear it too.

My son decided that he was not wearing make-up; Ms Meg suggested putting it on him at the last minute.

So, at the last minute before leaving the green room, my son allowed me to apply some base; and, as he was standing in line to go on stage, some blush was sneakily applied.

And, Ms Meg had a wipe to remove the make-up afterward.

Of course, the number of flower head pieces made for her budding ballerinas, extra details put on costumes and special costumes created for my son, and her handmade props- including a fire-breathing Chinese dragon that my son used for one of Ms Meg's beautiful choreographed "Chinese" pieces for Nutcracker- makes Ms Meg an artist extraordinaire.

First Class Pre-Excitement

When my son was around a year old and I was pregnant with my daughter, I began helping my friend's children with homework and carpooling from school and to their after-school activities- which, for the girls, included ballet and dance.

My son would sit and play with his toys in the waiting room of the dance studio and would occasionally watch the classes.

After awhile, however, he refused to watch any dance class that was not ballet.

When attending the dance recitals, unless a ballet piece was being performed, my son would take a small toy and play quietly in his seat.

Around the age of two, my son began asking about taking ballet. Whenever he was asked if he wanted to take any other dance classes, he politely said, "no, just ballet."

Upon researching ballet classes for boys, it was discovered that a few dance studios might take boys at two or three years, but there were no ballet classes.

At the gymnastics center my son attended, his coach said that she taught ballet at a ballet studio, but that they did not take anyone until age four.

Due to the fact that my son's birthday is in December, he was unable to start classes in the fall before he turned four.

In the spring, we signed him up for t-ball; and, a few weeks later, for summer ballet classes.

One of the happiest memories of that spring: my son hit the ball off the tee, made it to third base, and then proceeded to jump up and down on third base while excitedly telling his coach that he had gotten to sign up for ballet.

The coach got so tickled at my son that he almost forgot to send him to home plate.

Even years later, his coach liked to tell the story about him jumping up and down on third base because of his excitement for signing up for ballet.

About Behind the Ballet Barre

The intention of this blog is to share my memories and things learned through and about ballet since my son began taking ballet at the age of 4 1/2 in 1999 and my 2 1/2 year old daughter tagged along and begged to be included in the class too.

A few years later, I began taking beginning adult ballet classes.


As the children became more involved in more ballet and dance classes, our time at the dance studio increases and other activities slowly decrease.

After the first several Nutcrackers, I finally convinced my husband that watching from backstage was so much more enjoyable, especially if one is helping; and, now, being at the ballet studio is a family affair- including building props and helping with costumes.

While my son and daughter love performing and helping behind the scenes, my husband and I have no desire to be on stage when the curtain is up.

As my son pursues a career in classical ballet and my daughter applies what she learns in dance to other aspects of her life, my goal is to make sure that we have more than a few memorable "Behind the Ballet Barre" memories.