The Wilmington School of Ballet

3834 Oleander Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 794-9590 www.wilmingtonschoolofballet.com

Life Lessons Through The Art Of Dance

September 2012 Newsletter
2012-2013 Calendar
September 4 1st Day of Classes September 8 Nutcracker Auditions-All non pointe dancers September 8 Dance Blast 8 pm @Community Arts Center ! ! October 8-13 Bring a Friend Week-1 Free Friend per class/family October 20 Kids At Cam Performance October 29-November 3 ! Costume Week in class November 20-24 Thanksgiving Break-School Closed November 26 Classes resume November 24-December 2 Festival of Trees December 1 & 2 The Nutcracker Performances December 10-15 Parent Observation Week-Holiday Class Parties December 17-January 1 Christmas Beak-School Closed January 2 Classes Resume

Letter From The Director

Dear Dance Families: Welcome Back! I am so excited to be starting Wilmington School of Ballets 13th season providing quality dance education in the lower Cape Fear region. In our last issue I promised to elaborate further on our many exciting performance opportunities this year. I am looking forward to our best performance season yet. " Our performance plan has evolved in such a lovely way. In working with the Wilmington Ballet Company we have offered a variety of performance options over the past decade. Last year we believe we found the best rhythm for our performance season. We will of course be performing our full-length production of The Nutcracker December 1-2 at Minnie Evans Center For The Performing Arts. We will also have our school Spring Concert recital at Kenan Auditorium in June. In the early spring we will present a performance at the Community Arts Center focused on presenting choreography set on our dancers by both our faculty and by guest choreographers. The bulk of choreography will come straight out of the classroom thus minimizing the amount of outside rehearsal time. A classical repertoire piece will be set on the Monday Advanced block. Variations and work from the syllabus will all serve as a source of rehearsed material. We will also participate in community performances throughout the school year as the opportunities arise. Dancers will be ecstatic with the many choices in performances and parents can simply attend and enjoy. " I am delighted to be able to pour myself back in to my rst lovethe ballet school and look forward to connecting again with all of you and your children. Sincerely, Ms. Elizabeth Hester

SEPTEMBER SPECIAL Register Now Before September 30th and Receive $5 Off Your *Merchandise* Purchase
*Excludes Merchandise made by Jana Moore. Must Present Coupon.

Faculty Spotlight
Jeneen Cleare was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and began dancing at the age of seven at the Brooklyn Music School. At age ten Jeneen was accepted in to an arts magnet program at Intermediate School 293. The Ballet Hispanico of New York offered Ms. Cleare a full scholarship to study Flamenco, Modern and Ballet. Simultaneously Ms. Cleare was also offered a scholarship to Dance Theater of Harlem to study ballet. Ms. Cleare was then invited to join Ballet Hispanicos junior company. As a freshman, Jeneen was accepted to the High School of the Performing Arts. While in high school Ms. Cleare studied ballet and Graham technique and was a scholarship student at the Martha Graham Conservatory. Upon graduating high school, Ms. Cleare attended New York Universitys Tisch School for the Arts on scholarship and received her B.F.A. in Dance. While there she studied at the American Dance Festival and won the Grand Prize Award at the Saraband Dance Competition. After graduating Ms. Cleare apprenticed with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and later with the African dance company MZawa. Ms. Cleares first teaching position was at Brooklyns PS 167 as their dance teacher. After moving to Wilmington she has taught at Burgaw Elementary and Snipes Academy School. Ms. Cleare is currently on faculty at The Wilmington School of Ballet and at the Dreams Center for Arts Education. Jeneen is still performing with Forward Motion Dance Company and beginning the 2012 academic year she will be teaching full time at East Columbus High School as their dance instructor.

TEACHER FORUM
Concerns For The Adolescent Dancer:Part 2 By: Lesa Broadhead
Last month we were discussing the expectations and stresses placed on the adolescent dancer and the need to emphasize PROCESS over PRODUCT. We also talked about the need to develop core control in the adolescent dancer. By focusing on core control, the increase in lordotic posture can be addressed. This inward curve of the lumbar vertebrae produces tight hamstrings, tight iliopsoas and weak abdominals. OVER-STRETCHING AT THIS TIME IS NOT ENCOURAGED! Focus needs to be on core control and proper alignment instead of the height of the battement. It is important to note that 90% peak adult skeletal mass does not occur until age 18. Common bone injuries include epiphyseal plate injury, apophysitis, tendonitis and stress fractures. With the discussion of bone health amenorrhea must also be discussed. During amenorrhea 3-5% of bone mass is lost. Most injuries occur with a delayed menarche. What ties it all together, though, is ENERGY INTAKE. Females should consume 2500 calories/day and males should consume 3500 calories/day. It should also be noted that the 4 Cs of diet should be avoided:COFFEE, CHOCOLATE, CIGARETTES & COLA. Smoking, in particular, causes a loss in density in the bone minerals and is often a coping mechanism for disorders in eating. As your childs teacher I will continue to focus on the process and not the product; focus on their effort and not their appearance; observe their growth and nutrition; and encourage responsibility beyond their physical ability.

The Wilmington Ballet Company announces

AUDITIONS for THE NUTCRACKER
September 8 2:00-2:30 pm K-1st Grade 2:30-3:00 pm 2nd-3rd Grades 3:15-4:00 pm 4th-5th Grades 4:00-5:00 pm 6th Grade & Up
For more information please email us at wilballetcompany@yahoo.com

MY DANCE BAG Extra leotard and tights Hair Supplies-brush, bobby pins, hairnet, hair elastic and hairspray Shoes-All shoes used for your classes at all times i.e. ballet slippers, pointe shoes, jazz shoes, tap shoes, character shoes etc. Water Bottle & Healthy Snack Warm Ups & Wrap skirt Pointe Shoe Kit and/or First Aid Kit

?FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS?

What Should Be In My Dance Bag?
Every professional dancer knows how important it is to come to class prepared. An integral part of a dancer being prepared is a well-stocked dance bag. So what does this look like? The needs change as the dancer grows but the important thing is to have what you need when you need it. All dancers should keep an extra leotard and tights in their bag along with hair supplies. Our teachers are happy to help a young student get their hair up in a bun but cant do so without hair supplies. Older dancers should always keep some warm up attire in their bag for down time between class. Pointe dancers should always have their pointe shoe kit with them and well-stocked. Every dancer Level 5/6 & up should come with a water bottle. Healthy snacks should be packed for long days & ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT SHOES!

BODY & NUTRITION

The Importance of Healthy Eating
After going to school all day most students tend to crash sometime mid-afternoon just as dance classes are about to begin. A dancer will burn on average 400-500 calories for each 90 min class they take. This is why it is imperative that the dancer Fuel Up before class. Just like a car can not go without gas, so your body can not meet the physical demands placed on it in class without the proper fuel. Below are some suggestions of healthy snacks to keep on hand and a list of foods to avoid. Great Snacks For The Dancer Nuts and/or peanut butter-Good source of protein. Protein is needed to build muscle Fruits & Veggies-Vitamins, minerals and complex carbs Protein Bars- Look for all natural or organic varieties w/out a lot of sugar Protein Shakes-Low sugar varieties Water Foods To Avoid Soda-High levels of sugar and sodium spike blood sugar and actually dehydrate the body Candy & Chips-Little to no nutritional value Caffeine-Never a good substitute for nutrition Energy Drinks-High in sugar. Very bad!

Life Lessons In Dance

Respect
Respect-To honor, regard, reverence or esteem. Respectful behaviors learned in the ballet classroom are skills that will help the young dancer in all walks of life. The dancer learns to show respect for themselves by being punctual and dressed appropriately and always doing their very best. They learn respect for others by waiting their turn, being encouraging and not talking. They learn respect for their teacher by being prepared for class, being attentive, being prepared for their turn and applauding and thanking the teacher at the end of each class. Dancers show respect for the studio by leaving gum, food and drink outside the studio, never hanging on the barres, never running or doing gymnastics in the lobby or studio and throwing trash away where it belongs. Parents too can model respect for their children by having their children ready for class ahead of time, speaking with the teacher before or after class, asking the receptionist to get a child from class and not distracting dancers from the viewing window during class. When we all model respect for one another together everyone wins!

STUDENT ACTIVITY
Whats In My Dance Bag
Color the dance bag and dance bag items. Cut out dance bag items and glue on dance bag. Turn in to the ofce to get to pick a prize from our treasure box!

SYLLABUS FOCUS
This year we are implementing a more thorough syllabus in our upper school. Along with the 3 set exercises in each level for each month that all of the teachers will be studying in some capacity, each month will also have a focus theme. These themes are primarily based on Jean-George Nouverres 7 Basic Movements of Ballet. Septembers Theme: Plier Plier-To bend. Focus this month will be on the proper use of the plie. We will be working on not only increasing the plie but its proper application, particularly in jumps, and proper resistance in execution