Know anyone in the Dayton area looking for quality ballet instruction?

Classes now forming! 

Sara Shayeson will be teaching classes at the Beavercreek YMCA beginning Monday, February 6th and continuing 15 weeks through Friday, May 18th!

Class Schedule:

Mondays

Fridays

Pricing for the 15 week session:

Pre-Ballet or Mommie & Me (30 minute sessions)

Beginner or Young Adults (60 or 90 minute sessions)

To Register for classes contact the Beavercreek YMCA at (937) 426-9622!

For information on classes contact the School of Ballet at 513 481-0092 or Laura Hughes at 513 410-0277

 I have been watching the TV show, “Dance Moms”, and am so glad I do NOT deal with any of those mothers.   I do not think dance moms are a problem, but the manner of the education of the children.  The teacher and the idea of how she feels children learn is neither healthy nor progressive for the child.  I am amazed at the mothers that continue to be brow-beaten and allow their children to be treated in abusive ways for the sake of winning trophies and championships.  They are winning by fear.  How long will they continue to win?  I wonder.

They are subjected to a weekly pyramid, where each student is on top, or on the bottom according to the teacher’s opinion, and it seems to be usual that a “star” is always on top, since she always wins the competitions.  The teacher might bump someone from the top, if their mother was not behaving or talked out of turn.

I am the ballet teacher of a group of students that also perform about 20 times a year, not in competitions, but throughout our area, in libraries, theaters, and museums.  Our  nature is to improve on stage, make no mistakes, “DO YOUR BEST!”  The students in our group are of all ages, all abilities, all levels, so comparisons between students make no sense.  Each student should be aware of their own goals, and work hard to better themselves.  My job, as teacher, mentor, and guide, is to give them challenging work, correct their mistakes, and keep them improving.  Encouraging the students to work together, we ask them to help each other remember steps, practice and improve their technique.  As they get older, they become assistants, and even teachers in our school.
 Parents are encouraged to stay away from regular class time, and allow the child to take responsibility for their learning, their dances, and their progress.  Private instruction is used for new students that come from systems without correcting mistakes, or where a student has been away for a while and returns to join a level and need a refresher course.  Private instruction is not to push one student ahead, or to buy their approval for the next competition.

When we begin a new program, and start to plan the music, scenery, costuming, we begin with a fresh set of students in January  or September of each year.  We have an open try out, and try to accept all students.    We expect students from our classes, but will accept others.  The auditions are not just to bring students into the group, but to find out which parts they will take, with which other dancers they will dance.  We allow them to dance in a group, then ask them to act out characters from the story we have chosen.  It is very important for us to see students in many roles before we make our decisions. While we do not consider this a competition, one dancer against the next, we do consider how much progress your child has made, how to challenge her this session, and what dances would best suit her in which group.
 We will do “Snow White” this spring.  We therefore, have also thought about the height of the 7 “little people” and how little they will be.  We have thought about how tall the main characters should be- and then we talked about which roles we will give to whom.  The dances will be choreographed by the 5 teachers in the studio, but the movements of the students will determine their individual unique contributions to the parts.  That is what makes dance so wonderful, that the individual adds their soul to the character, and makes it their “own”.  It is the teacher’s job to polish the steps, and inspire the student to reach for that creative part inside of them to finish the character they portray to the music and in their costumes.

Competition is not new to dance, and years ago our founder, Anneliese von Oettingen, made a choice not to follow the path of cut throat competition and the revealing costumes required.  Instead she insisted upon  fostering co-operation among company members.    We encourage teaching performance arts and not making the child grow up too soon.  Come to one of our performances and see the difference!

We are so proud of our Dance Mothers, Fathers and Extras, who are the soul of our Dance group.  They drive the company member to all the rehearsals, make sure they have their practice clothes and make up, get them to the performances on time, help lay down the floor, transport the scenery, move scenery, act in the performances when needed, take videos, help sew costumes, hand out flyers, send out information, and support our students.  No “stars” here, because, they are “ALL STARS!”

Tuesday, December 20th

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

No cost for this class.  We hope you can come!

Monday, January 2^nd: 3:00 – 5:00 pm

Wednesday, January 4^th: 3:00 – 5:00 pm

Friday, January 6^th:  1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

If you are in the area join us for some free class demonstrations, treats, raffles and more!

The instructor will be Sara Shayeson.  Sara has been a longtime friend to AVO: student, dancer, Kinderballet member, soloist, instructor, choreographer, coach…  She has been living in the Dayton area a little over a year now with husband Dave and baby ballerinas Megan and Sofia.  So it only makes sense she should be teaching and sharing her wonderful talents! 

Sara will be forming classes Mondays between the hours of 3:00 and 5:00 and Friday afternoons starting around 1:00 p.m. with a Mommie and Me class for toddlers and Moms (or Aunties, Grandmoms, Dads, or any other caregiver!)  Sara hopes to form additional classes for interested members of the home schooled community who typically like to exercise Friday afternoons.  Of course Preballet and Children’s ballet will be offered as well!

Here is Sara performing with the Kinderballet at the Taft Museum.  She is at the top of the stairs on the left!

For more information on the ballet classes forming contact us at 513 481-0092, or write to Laura at laura@avoballet.org.  For information about the Beavercreek YMCA or other YMCA programs, please contact the Y at 937 426 9622 or visit them at ymcaonline.org

Be sure to pick up a poster and help us spread the word!  Here are our upcoming performance dates!

This fall AvO Ballet is pleased to offer students a special study assist.  A student workbook will be available as reference for the many dance exercises, ballet vocabulary, and combinations studied in class.  The workbook is designed to encourage students to practice steps introduced in class and includes progress charts for warm up exercises, physical challeges, ballet barre, center work, traveling steps, ballet stories, and more!  Come to the open house to register and get your copy September 7th!

 Open House

Wednesday September 7^th, 4:00- 8:00pm

We are inviting parents and students to stop by the studio to meet instructors, get advice on class placement or pointe shoe qualifications, and participate in free dance activities!

We are encouraging ALL students to register before this date by mailing in their registration forms. A $15 registration fee will be waived for all those registering by September 7^th.

Harvest Home Parade

This year we will be marching in the Harvest Home Parade on

Thursday, September 8^th starting @ 6:00pm. The route starts at Bridgetown and Harrison Ave, proceeds up Harrison to North Bend Rd, then proceeds up North Bend Rd. to Harvest Home Park.

Any AVO student may participate as long as they can walk the entire route.

Anyone who wants to march with us must email Michele Frey at amafrey@fuse.net by September 1^st.  I will email final instructions, i.e. where to meet, what to wear, etc. after the 1^st.

We are looking forward to seeing you this Fall!!

 Michele Frey

Studio Manager

Wake up!  Summer is officially here!  It is almost time for our summer class session for 2011!  Classes begin next Monday, June 27th and continue 8 weeks through Friday, August 19th! 

Enjoy a lovely ballet story with Anna Frey or Elizabeth Brock (who is also at Southeastern Indiana YMCA for the summer sessions!)… 

Get ahead and improve your chances for pointe shoes with a two hour workshop work out Mondays and ballet training Tuesdays with that Dynamic DUO– Conni Berns and Laura Baresel! 

Special Guest Instructors for the summer include Jonnie-Lynn Jacobs Percer and Steve Bierens PLUS a chance to form a weeklong intensive with Tomas Bell and Tricia Sundbeck July 18th trough the 22nd! 

There is still time– we all understand if you are in vacation mode… Write or call 513 481-0092 or 513 410-0277 with any questions!  Click here to download registration form…

 Summer 2011 Registration Form

Baby Swans performed at the College of Mount St. Joe Auditorium. Photo by Rene Micheo.

When

Dress Rehearsal: Friday, May 20th, 5:00-9:00pm (Rehearsal schedule to be handed out at a later date)
Guennadi Maslov will be available for photos at dress rehearsal.
Recital: Saturday, May 21st: 7:00-9:00pm

Where

College of Mt. St. Joseph Auditorium, 5701 Delhi Rd. Cincinnati, OH

Who

We strongly encourage all students to take advantage of this wonderful performing opportunity.
However, PARTICIPATION for each student enrolled at the AVO School of Ballet is OPTIONAL.
Each student who chooses to participate will dance in one dance for each class in which they are registered.

Cost

$55.00 per student production fee, not to exceed $110 per family
All tickets must be purchased separately.   Additionally, costume fees will be billed: approx. $30-$50 (actual cost TBD)  We expect to be able to keep costume costs low with each student not needing to purchase more than one costume, even if they are in more than one dance.

Costumes Samples (leos) will be available at the studio for fittings Feb. 28th-Mar. 5th.

Tickets

Tickets will be on sale at the main studio (3744 Glenmore Avenue) on Saturday, April 30th, 9:00am-12:00 noon.
All seats are reserved and are sold on a first come, first serve basis.

Ticket Costs: $8.00 adults $5.00 Children 10 & under
( Dancers not required to have ticket )

For Batesville students: Tickets can be purchased in person at Glenmore studio or phone orders will be taken at (513)481-0092 on April 30th also from 9-12 noon.  For phone orders: Payment will be required at time of pick-up

What to do

Each student who wishes to participate must fill out a Recital Registration Card.  Non-refundable $55 Production fee must be submitted with Recital Registration Card. In order to allow time for costume ordering, all Recital Registration Cards must be turned in by Friday, March 4th.

Questions

Call Michele Frey at (513) 481-0092 or home (513) 353-1433.