Many dancers will starve themselves in order to get the perfect "ballet body"
In actual fact, this is not necessary. All that is required is a balanced diet!
A starvation diet will always backfire on you and make you gain weight instead of losing it because it will come right back on plus some as soon as you eat again.
It comes down to food choices. Choose a piece of fruit instead of a candy bar. When you are hungry, choose protein and a vegetable, or nuts and fruit instead of high fat cookies, candy or ice cream.
Feed your body. A ballerina needs energy, and choosing healthy foods will provide that energy and keep your body trim and fit.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Just for Fun
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES - During the last week in October, students are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to ballet class. A costume they can dance in is preferable. No masks or weapons.
DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER all ballet classes will spend some time learning and studying ballet variations and repertoire. Dancers will learn fun variations from The Nutcracker.
CHRISTMAS PARTIES/ PARENT WEEK - This fun week is held the last week of classes before Christmas Break. It is a great time to see how your children are progressing and to learn what they are being taught. Refreshments will be served. Class moms will be needed to help with this party.
NATIONAL DANCE WEEK CELEBRATION -
April 22nd- May 1st 2011
During National Dance Week, all students are encouraged to bring a friend to dance class to participate.
DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER all ballet classes will spend some time learning and studying ballet variations and repertoire. Dancers will learn fun variations from The Nutcracker.
CHRISTMAS PARTIES/ PARENT WEEK - This fun week is held the last week of classes before Christmas Break. It is a great time to see how your children are progressing and to learn what they are being taught. Refreshments will be served. Class moms will be needed to help with this party.
NATIONAL DANCE WEEK CELEBRATION -
April 22nd- May 1st 2011
During National Dance Week, all students are encouraged to bring a friend to dance class to participate.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
STUDENT AWARDS
Annual Certificates - Each student will receive a certificate each year stating the number of years they have been a student at En Pointe School of Ballet.
Perfect Attendance - A Perfect Attendance Certificate will be awarded to students who attend every regularly scheduled lesson.
Exceptional Attendance - Students who attend a makeup class for each absence will receive an Exceptional Attendance Certificate.
Perfect Attendance - A Perfect Attendance Certificate will be awarded to students who attend every regularly scheduled lesson.
Exceptional Attendance - Students who attend a makeup class for each absence will receive an Exceptional Attendance Certificate.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Pointe Shoes
Our Focus is preparing students to dance En Pointe when they are of the proper age and strength.
En Pointe is an advanced form of ballet presented on the tips of the toes, made possible by specialized pointe shoes. There are different varieties of ballet en pointe, but for the most part they focus on grace and specific technique.
Dancers must have sufficient strength in the feet, ankle, leg, knee, and abdomen, as well as strong technical skills, before beginning pointe work. This work can take anywhere from six months to two or three years.
Students usually must be at least 12 years of age before going en pointe. This is because bones and growth plates in the feet are not yet fully hardened and developed prior to this age, and they can be injured by pointe work, even if the student is otherwise strong and skillful.
It is my goal to help all students who would like to dance en pointe shoes to reach their goal. A minimum of 2 ballet classes per week is required. Students MUST meet the technical requirements and be invited by to take Pointe classes.
En Pointe is an advanced form of ballet presented on the tips of the toes, made possible by specialized pointe shoes. There are different varieties of ballet en pointe, but for the most part they focus on grace and specific technique.
Dancers must have sufficient strength in the feet, ankle, leg, knee, and abdomen, as well as strong technical skills, before beginning pointe work. This work can take anywhere from six months to two or three years.
Students usually must be at least 12 years of age before going en pointe. This is because bones and growth plates in the feet are not yet fully hardened and developed prior to this age, and they can be injured by pointe work, even if the student is otherwise strong and skillful.
It is my goal to help all students who would like to dance en pointe shoes to reach their goal. A minimum of 2 ballet classes per week is required. Students MUST meet the technical requirements and be invited by to take Pointe classes.
Ballet Class Rules
o No gum, food or beverages are allowed in the Ballet Studio.
o Hydrate yourself before and after ballet class. Bottled water is welcomed in the studio, but should not be touched during class.
o Use the restroom before class.
o Always wear proper class attire, slippers and hairstyle.
o Do not lean, hang, swing, or sit on the ballet barres.
o Never touch the mirrors. Stay arms length away for safety.
o Talking during class is not appreciated unless a question concerning dance is being asked.
o Pay attention to all instruction given at all times
o Keep hands to yourself & stay in your own dancing space.
o Never stop dancing or sit down unless you have permission to do so.
o Ballet slippers are never to be worn outside.
o Pre-teen and teen dancers should wear clothes to cover dance attire entering and leaving the studio for modesty.
o Always be supportive and encouraging of other dancers
o Do your best and have a positive attitude.
o Hydrate yourself before and after ballet class. Bottled water is welcomed in the studio, but should not be touched during class.
o Use the restroom before class.
o Always wear proper class attire, slippers and hairstyle.
o Do not lean, hang, swing, or sit on the ballet barres.
o Never touch the mirrors. Stay arms length away for safety.
o Talking during class is not appreciated unless a question concerning dance is being asked.
o Pay attention to all instruction given at all times
o Keep hands to yourself & stay in your own dancing space.
o Never stop dancing or sit down unless you have permission to do so.
o Ballet slippers are never to be worn outside.
o Pre-teen and teen dancers should wear clothes to cover dance attire entering and leaving the studio for modesty.
o Always be supportive and encouraging of other dancers
o Do your best and have a positive attitude.
Our Adult Ballet Program
It’s Not Too Late To Learn Ballet.
Ballet can work magic on the mind and body as it imparts leanness, flexibility, and strength to muscles and limbs. Ballet exercises combine stretching with strengthening to improve body tone helping participants attain greater flexibility, cardiovascular stamina and enhanced grace and posture.
Ballet classes offer you a complete physical workout. Strength and flexibility is gained through the use of natural resistance with specific gains in the muscle tone of legs, hips and abdominals. The challenging combination of stretching and strengthening exercises keeps them coming back, and as they discover the rewards of their efforts in their improved body tone.
Adult Students experience the satisfaction of learning to execute basic ballet technique with the appearance of ease. Ballet is the ultimate exercise! Our goal is to create a fun relaxed environment in which you can re-energize your body, mind and soul through dancing.
If you've always loved ballet, but thought you couldn't do it or didn't have the time, now is the time to give it a try!
You don't stop dancing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop dancing.
Ballet can work magic on the mind and body as it imparts leanness, flexibility, and strength to muscles and limbs. Ballet exercises combine stretching with strengthening to improve body tone helping participants attain greater flexibility, cardiovascular stamina and enhanced grace and posture.
Ballet classes offer you a complete physical workout. Strength and flexibility is gained through the use of natural resistance with specific gains in the muscle tone of legs, hips and abdominals. The challenging combination of stretching and strengthening exercises keeps them coming back, and as they discover the rewards of their efforts in their improved body tone.
Adult Students experience the satisfaction of learning to execute basic ballet technique with the appearance of ease. Ballet is the ultimate exercise! Our goal is to create a fun relaxed environment in which you can re-energize your body, mind and soul through dancing.
If you've always loved ballet, but thought you couldn't do it or didn't have the time, now is the time to give it a try!
You don't stop dancing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop dancing.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
A Tribute to my Ballet Teacher
Leanna McCluskey Gomez was a Prima Ballerina with the Maine State Ballet and danced and studied with the Boston Ballet. She studied under Madame Maria Swaboda of Ballet Russe and also Madame Alexandra Danilova of The American Ballet Theater. Alexandra Danilova was a student of Maestro Enrico Cecchetti and starred in the movie, The Turning Pointe which was a story about her life.
Leanna appeared professionally in the theater and on television. She moved to Florida and began instructing myself and her children in 1976. It was a very small class of 3 or 4 students for the 11 years she taught me. The individual attention was wonderful. She passed her love of ballet on to me, as well as her excellent technique and teaching methods.
As I teach, memories of her instruction come to my mind. She was such a beautiful dancer and I hope I inspire my students as much as she inspired and continues to inspire me. I will forever be grateful for Ms. Leanna’s talent and for this wonderful gift of ballet that she shared with me. Dancing and teaching Ballet brings me so much joy.
As a tribute to the many years she taught me on scholarship, a Scholarship will be established in her honor, based on financial need, talent, and dedication to the Art of Ballet.
Leanna as a youth putting on her pointe shoes
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Summer Ballet Pictures 2010
Summer Pre-Ballet
Intermediate Ballet Students
Summer Ladies Ballet Class
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