Music: phobos.apple.com Anaheim Ballet: More Than Dance… A ballet video from the weekly ballet video series.
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Learn techniques on how to stretch before dancing ballet and performing combinations in this free dancing video. Expert: Leandra Ryan Bio: Leandra Ryan has been dancing since age four. She has trained and performed as a company member at Dallas Metropolitan Ballet and Tuzer Ballet. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan
Stretch for a leg split in ballet by warming up the hamstrings and hips with all of the plies, and do a hamstring stretch starting with the knees on the floor and moving in to a split stretch. Stretch the hamstring forward and keep the hips warm and open for the splits with help from an experienced dance instructor in this free video ballet lesson. Expert: Lauri Gregoire Contact: www.bellevuedancecenter.com Bio: Lauri Gregoire is the owner and director of the Bellevue Dance Center. Filmmaker: Dimitri labarge
A video profile of Anaheim Ballet apprentice, Alyssa Springer.
I’ve been dancing ballet for fourteen years, and I want to continue into college. I’ve looked at many programs but they are mostly Modern. Does anyone know of some schools that have great ballet programs?
I want to start ballet, but I want my legs to be really strong before I take them. What are some good excersises I could do to achieve that?
My Daughter’s Ballet Watch
I am moving again. Another failed marriage. Don’t feel sad for me – it’s for the best. I mean, of course I am sad about the unfulfilled dreams and the way it’s affecting our son, but I am also excited to be free again. Free to like myself and live my life as I see fit – without anger and mutual disrespect. Free to be the best mother I can be without depleting my energy on things that can’t be changed. Honestly, I am questioning the soundness of our revered institution of marriage. It’s starting to appear pretty oppressive and obsolete in the eyes of independent, self-actualized female professional of the 21st century. Serial monogamy is more my style anyway, it seems.
My train of thought is interrupted as I open yet another box filled with bittersweet memories. I thumb through my older children’s arts and crafts projects carefully preserved from the time they were very young, autographed with the artists’ pledges of love for me. They are now 22 and 15, my son and daughter from previous marital blunders, and they are the reason I have no regrets. All three of my kids are wonderful! I am now making a glamorous new contribution to the family archive – the best works of their five-year old brother from the past three years. This is my retirement nest egg; these will be priceless when he is a famous artist. I’m not kidding.
Loads of family photographs, full of their adorable faces and antics; priceless little relics collected over many Birthdays and Mother’s days. Oh, here’s my daughter’s old little ballet watch! I gave it to her when she was five and ensnared by her all-consuming passion for ballet. It was a present to commemorate that year’s graduation concert: so pretty and delicate, all pink and lavender and sparkly, complete with miniature ballet shoes and her name. She used to want to wear her ballet watch to bed, wouldn’t part with it.
How can I describe the beauty of her graceful tiny body caught up in the whirlwind of movement and deep emotion as she performed her free-style compositions in the middle of the living room?! You had to be there! Oh, and she loved to pop in the video of the Bolshoy performance of Swan Lake from the 60’s I got for her, and dance along, trying to mimic the movements. As was her custom, she wore some improvised outfit inspired by her current mood, always complete with the cherished ballet watch.
I don’t have to convince other mothers reading this that quantitatively most of us love all our children equally. Yet we also know that each child is a different individual, which colors the quality of his/her connection with the parent. I adore my boys; they are remarkable in so many ways. Yet, sometimes it’s only natural that they have more in common with their fathers than with me; regretfully, I am not into gross stuff, mechanical stuff, or rough-n-tumble pastimes. I am more suited for hugs and kisses, flowers they pick for me, and the old songs and stories I share with them.
A mother’s relationship with a daughter can’t help but be different due to the unspoken female bond. Regardless of circumstances, we share a universally visceral connection as women, intuitively understanding and supporting each other. Not to mention the rewards of enjoying all the girly stuff together: clothes and shoes, kitties and bunnies, music and dance, tutus and ballet watches…
My daughter hasn’t lived with me for four years. Then newly remarried, I was determined to move to Seattle with my husband and infant son. As many kids her age, she was really attached to her social life – friends, school – and change scared her. Besides, she appeared to still need to deal with her emotional entanglements with her dad – she felt guilty about leaving him.
I may not be an expert on intimate relationships, but I pride myself on always trying to be the emotional backbone for my children during their periods of struggle. I respect their individuality and don’t try to control, but rather guide them. It’s been tough as hell only seeing my little girl on school breaks but we managed to gradually establish a long-distance relationship that was growing ever-stronger just as her ties with her controlling, temperamental father were weakening.
During the moments of weakness, I would rummage through the sacred box, find her old ballet watch, and hold it close to my heart. As hard as it was, I was steadfast in my knowing that children must be allowed to follow their heart and explore who they are and what they want. Had I insisted on dragging my daughter with me to Seattle against her will, she would have resented me. This way, I gave her an opportunity to learn on her own what I’ve known all along.
My daughter called me today, asking if my offer to move here still stands. Silly girl! Why would I rent an apartment a walking distance from the performing arts-oriented high school, if not because I knew the long-awaited day was nearing?! I realize I am still holding and fingering the old ballet watch, wondering why the symbols of past happy experiences have a tendency to resurface, signaling the exciting new beginnings.
It is time my beautiful gifted girl started dancing again. Maybe I’ll get her a new ballet watch as an encouragement to follow her passions. Or maybe this time the watch should reflect her new interest in punk-rock: all black, with a cool guitar replacing the pointes… She is growing and delving into new areas of self-discovery, and I must march with the times. But nothing can replace the beautiful memories of my joyful little ballerina twirling around, proudly wearing her pretty ballet watch.
Anaheim Ballet: More Than Dance… Rehearsal footage of our upcoming performances of the Nutcracker ballet. Tickets: www.goldstar.com
If I taught a ballet class…. If you like it PLEASE SUBSCRIBE THE ORIGINAL VIDEO. Choreographed and arranged by Tierney Maniaci. Nevermind the other copycats on YouTube. Featured on Soulja Boy’s own YouTube Channel. Note: This video got way popular overnight. Just a heads up, the kids are listening to the clean (radio) version of the song. Also, if you like it, please comment! Thanks! Featured on TMZ! #25 – Most Discussed (This Week) – Comedy #28 – Top Favorites (This Week) #6 – Top …