Our Holiday Gift Guide

Photo: BFan dancer Caitlin Christopher and Troupe Carnivale in “Seller of Dreams.” (Harvest Moon Photography; see more here)

It’s BFan Events Coordinator intern Kristen here.  Not sure what to get your loved one for the holidays this season? Look no further than your local contemporary ballet company, Ballet Fantastique for a gift that’s unique, fun, local, and a double-whammy…you get to give it now, and enjoy it later.  :)

Here are my top five gift ideas to put a smile on pretty much anyone’s face:

1. Tickets to The Misadventures of Casanova! Come see this new contemporary ballet premiere with lush costumes, decadent music, romance and intrigue making the way to the stage at the Hult center this coming February 2 and 3, 2013!  It’s two-in-one: holiday gift and Valentine’s event wrapped up in one.
2. While you’re at it, you might want to consider making a bigger bang for your buck with a Ballet Fantastique Season Subscription for the rest of our 2012-2013: VENTURE lineup (The Misadventures of Casanova and Pride & Prejudice: A Parisian Jazz Ballet with live jazz!). Your pro-rated (read: discounted) season subscription will include tickets to the remaining two contemporary ballet premieres at the Hult Center, free Open Barre pass (for preview rehearsal/wine tasting reception at the City Center for Dance), additional savings from the community, and more VIP treatment!  BFan’s last three productions sold out, so a season subscription also guarantees that you’ll get seats.  These start at just $50 each, for all these goodies (and $24 for kids).  Read more about the perks and get ‘em now here.
3. Know someone who has always wanted to try something new—or who loved ballet and been wanting to get back into it?  Or been talking about whipping into shape as a new year’s resolution?  How about a Class Card for Ballet Fantastique’s hoppin’ Adult Drop-In Program?  Class times are convenient, class cards don’t expire for a whole year, and teacher Leanne Mizzoni from Washington, DC is rumored to be absolutely incredible.  Get a class card online for one, 10, or 20 classes and get the dance party started.
4. Do you have a little one pulling on your heart strings? A daughter/son or niece/nephew? Try a gift certificate to our Young Dancer Program (ages 4+) or our Training Division (ages 7-preprofessional) as a gift.  Fill out this little form and Hannah or Emily will get back to you right away to get you outfitted with a pretty gift certificate to wrap up.
5. Adopt a Dancer—give the gift of a scholarship to a young dancer giving him or her the opportunity to study professional dance right alongside his or her more privileged peers.  A certificate for your lucky recipient will outline the difference being made in the life of a youngster, thanks to you!

But above all, remember to enjoy this holiday season with the ones you love!  Happy holidays from our BFan family to yours.

—Kristen

It’s Almost Show Time!

And we’re down to the single digits, only FIVE days left until show time!  This will probably be the last “top five” before the world premiere of Cinderella: A Rock Opera Ballet Set in 1964, seeing as how the dancers, choreographers and band will be hard at work all week working on final preparations before the big show.  Fred (who will be dancing the role of Prince Charming) from the Dance Theatre of Harlem is here learning all his choreography, costumes are being put together, props are being assembled and all the while, everyone is dancin’ around the studio to sixties music that we can’t get out of our head.  This week we’re hearing from Ashley Bontrager, who is dancing the role of a stepsister, on her top five reasons why if you haven’t already, you need to buy a ticket for this show!  But like always, let’s get to know a little more about Ashley before you hear her top five’s…

Ashley, who is from Eugene, Oregon, has studied classical ballet since she was four years old!  She has trained at Buffalo City Ballet, the Conservatory of Classical Dance, Ballet Fantastique and the University of Oregon, where she also graduated with a BA in Journalism-Broadcasting.  Ashley has been with BFan since 2000 and has danced numerous roles during that time.  Her favorite however, was when she danced the role of Wanda, the floozy in Love at the Cafe Terrace.  Some of her favorite things are cheese, cabernet sauvignon and BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, and here are her top five reasons why you NEED to see Cinderella this weekend…

5.  This is a show you can watch with your parent’s generation, as well as targeting the younger crowd.  It has the top hits from the 60s (i.e. your mom will dance her socks off to it, if you give her the gift of a ticket for mom’s day) and you won’t be bored watching it, because we’ve made it fresh and new!!

4.  You can tell the band and the dancers vibe off one another, and we’ve made a show that is only stronger because we have each other onstage!

3.  For those of you who love to laugh, there’s no reason you won’t be during the show

2.  Although we are a ballet company, known for our classical technique, our choreography for this show is definitely contemporary-imagine the mashed potato on pointe shoes!!

1.  We’ve done our best to stay true to the 60s hairdos, perhaps we’ll bring back bouffants!!

Once again, I’m convinced.  Thanks Ashley!  This definitely isn’t going to be your average ballet.  Cinderella: A Rock Opera Ballet Set in 1964 will make you laugh, keep you dancing in your seat, show you moves that you’ve never seen on pointe shoes and take you back to the 60s all at once!  Tickets are going fast so make sure you get them soon! http://www.balletfantastique.org/company/events.php

The Countdown to Cinderella: A Rock Opera Ballet

Only 23 days left until the curtain raises on the very first performance (and last show of the Daring Season,) Cinderella: A Rock Opera Ballet Set in 1964!  The dancers and choreographers have been hard at work, making sure this will be a performance not to be forgotten.  And as the clock winds down to opening night, we thought it’d be fun to share with you some of the dancer’s top five reasons to see this one-of-a-kind production.  This week Cinderella herself, Alanna Fisher, has shared her top five reasons why you need to see this show!  But first, let’s get to know a little bit about Alanna…

Alanna, who is from Willow Creek, California, graduated from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City with a BFA in ballet in 2011.  She participated in the University’s Character Dance Ensemble for three years and travelled to Costa Rica and Greece, as well as to Germany to train and learn choreography at the Berlin State Ballet School.  Her favorite TV show is Friends and she loves Harry Potter.  And now, here are her top five reasons to come out and see Cinderella in May:

5) The band will be onstage with the dancers and they’re dressing in 60s theme too.  Plus, they sound awesome!

4) Our Prince Charming is from Dance Theatre of Harlem.

3) You can sing along, we all have been.  We promise not to actually be singing during the show though, or we will at least be quiet while doing so.

2) We have a show on Mother’s Day…hint hint!!!

1) It’s going to be amazing!!!

Thanks so much, Alanna!

Check out our website for ticketing information, they’re going FAST!  And stay tuned next week, we’ll have more top five’s!

http://www.balletfantastique.org/company/events.php

The more the merrier, right?

This past weekend, I attended Ballet Fantastique’s second performance of Incendio. Instead of just going with one or two friends, I thought it would be fun to get a group together. We ended up going with six girls and had a great time.

It was such a fun experience, and we took up almost an entire side row at the Hult Center‘s Soreng theater. We had a group of past dancers, non-dancers and even someone who had never been to a ballet before. Maddie (pictured below with executive director and company dancer, Hannah) said she had an amazing time and was so pleased that this was the first ballet she saw. “I also loved that the band played on stage with the dancers — they were awesome.”

“Incendio was the perfect mix of passionate music and exquisite dance; I was entranced by a show that was truly fantastique!” -Amanda Knutsen, Freshman at the UO

Ballet Fantastique has a great group ticket ticket discount, which was perfect for us since the college budget tends to get a little tight. We are already planning on getting a group together to go see Arabian Nights in January, especially since there will be a $6 “Mango Magic Carpet” cocktail special in the lobby during intermission!

–Maggie, BFan Intern

Incendio frenzy!

The weather may be cold outside, but inside the City Center for Dance things couldn’t be hotter! As Incendio draws closer, the BFan ballerinas commit to practically living at the studio, spending long hours perfecting timing and choreography.

(There are also, of course, discussions over the benefits of white over black gloves, and talk of beautiful bejeweled corsets to come )

So, in the spirit of Incendio… here’s a tapas recipe!!

PATATAS BRAVAS:
Roasted potatoes complemented by a spicy red sauce
( Serves 8 )

From Martha Stewart's "Whole Living"

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium yellow onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• One 14-ounce can low-sodium chicken stock, or homemade, skimmed of fat
• One 15-ounce can tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 pounds fingerling potatoes
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano, for garnish

Directions

1. Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle with flour, and stir to coat. Add chicken stock, tomato sauce, vinegar, paprika, and red-pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Let cook until slightly thickened and aromatic, about 30 minutes. Set aside, and keep warm.
2. Meanwhile, cook the potatoes: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise. Toss in a bowl with remaining teaspoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
3. Place the coated potatoes cut side down in a single layer on a large cookie sheet, and bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven, and serve with reserved warm tomato sauce, garnished with chopped oregano.
4. Enjoy!

And don’t forget: Purchase your Incendio tickets early and receive a free tapas plate! Advance buyers receive a coupon for a free tapas plate at Red Agave.

To receive the coupon, you must purchase tickets before 10/20 in person at the Hult Center Box Office (you can also receive the coupon if you have your tickets mailed to you, e.g., as a season subscriber).

What Makes a Dancer?

Practice. Strength. Artistry.

What does it take to be a GREAT dancer?

At BFan, we believe it takes:

• Passion – You have to want to do it, because it’s not always going to be easy — loving the music, the history, and the art form.
• Dedication – You may not always want to come to dance class, but being a dancer is 90% dedication and 10% talent — we promise once you’re at the class, you’ll be glad you came.
• Professional attitude – Even our youngest dancers partake in this — respect the beautiful art from, respect the teachers, respect your fellow dancers, but most importantly — respect yourself!!
• Communication – Communication is key — among parents, teachers, and dancers — all are equal partners in ensuring the best possible training experience!

So, you think YOU can dance?

Enroll your young ballerina in our young dancer and academy classes

OR

Try out our adult ballet classes! Never danced before? Don’t be intimidated — there’s beginner and intermediate classes offered! Our Adult Ballet Program is taught by BFan company dancer Leanne Mizzoni and features our beautiful dance studios, learning at your own pace, and a fun and motivated atmosphere! Some general info:

• What do I wear? Come comfortable with a relaxed dress code! CCD also provides a spacious dressing room for your convenience!
• Locations/Parking: CCD is the City Center for Dance Studio, located at 960 Oak. Annex is the Annex Studio, 60 E. 10th Avenue. Both are beautiful studios in downtown Eugene with parking available nearby! Parking is free on evenings and weekends, and for the first hour!
• Drop-Ins: Drop ins are welcome, but get a class card for the best deals!

We look forward to seeing new faces in our many different ballet classes this fall!!!

Making the most of your child’s dance training

“To dance is to be out of yourself, larger, more powerful, more beautiful. This is power. It is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking.”
–Agnes de Mille

Enrolling your budding dance star in one of our classes, or just looking for more insight into our program? Let this list of tips guide you!

WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER!
From The Intensive Dancer Handbook by Rhee Gold, 2007
Parents and teachers may look at a child’s learning from different perspectives, but we share a common goal: to assure that every child receives the best possible training, both physically and mentally. Mutual respect between our faculty and our dancers’ parents provides children with the ultimate care and education.

HELPING YOUR CHILD GET THE MOST OUT OF DANCE TRAINING:
1. All the time: Encourage your child and express your pride in their efforts and accomplishments.

2. Before class: Make sure your child arrives several minutes prior to the start of his/her class, attends all scheduled classes and rehearsals, and comes prepared according to the dress code. Missing class can be discouraging when a child returns to class; often students have a hard time catching up, especially with choreography. They can become frustrated or anxious when they can’t catch up.

3. During class: We know that it can be tempting to want to watch your child during his or her regular classes. You want to see how they are doing! However, just as in school or with music lessons, it truly is in the dancer’s best interest for parents not to watch—
dancers truly focus better and learn more quickly when they know you’re not there! It can also create tension or confusion for children when some parents do and others do not respect the Academy of Ballet Fantastique’s policy that parents not watch—please help us keep the kids and their learning as our top priority and respect this policy.

4. After class: Talk to your child about what they learned at dance class!

5. Throughout the year: Special Parent Observation Days, exams (for older students),
and performance opportunities give dancers an opportunity to show their pride and
accomplishment in learning. You should definitely be there for these!

6. At home: Encourage your child to think strategically about his/her training at home.
Older students can be encouraged to record corrections and goals in a special dance journal or notebook. Practicing difficult concepts or steps at home (including pointe work) is generally not a good idea without the supervision with a teacher, but reviewing positions, vocabulary, or poses is great! Check with your child’s instructor if you would like guidance on how he/she can most benefit from out-of-studio practice.

7. When you have a question or concern: Feel free to call the Academy at 541-342-4611 or email info@balletfantastique.org to schedule a parent-teacher meeting any time you have a question or concern. Ballet Fantastique faculty recognizes and appreciates the importance of communication every step of the way. Please show respect and support for your child’s dance teacher, especially when it comes to disciplinary action.

8. Behind the scenes: Avoid judgmental statements concerning other parents and students at the Academy. Be proud to be a non-gossiping parent; spreading gossip or rumors creates a downbeat atmosphere and is a negative influence on productivity, both in and out of the classroom.

9. When tuition and fees are due: Promptness with tuition, costume deposits, and other fees is essential; payments should be made on or prior to the due dates.

10. During your first month with us: Read all of the materials in this Academy of Ballet Fantastique New Dancer Folder and on the Academy Handbook Website for other important details that you are required to know! Review expectations with your dancer.
11. When your child will be absent: Please call in advance to leave a message with the studio line: 541-342-4611.

12. All the time: Be proud that your child has a healthy body and is focused on the greatest art forms of them all…the art of dance!

We are proud of what we do, and want your to child feel the same way!!

What is the Vaganova Method?

“A single style, a single dance ‘handwriting,’ which manifests itself most clearly in the harmonious plasticity of movement and the expressiveness of the arms, in the responsive suppleness and at the same time the iron aplomb of the body, in the noble and natural placement of the head—and these are the distinctive traits of the ‘Vaganova school’.”

–Natalia Dudinskaya, former Vaganova student

Ballet Fantastique’s Professional Division classes follow the eight levels of the internationally renowned Vaganova Syllabus a notated and progressive training program that has produced some of the best dancers in the world, including Anna Pavlova, Mikhail Baryshnikov, the legendary choreographer George Balanchine, and professional dancers in almost every company in the world. The Vaganova Method combined elements of the French romantic ballet’s lyricism and the Italian ballet’s athleticism to reform the old imperial method of teaching.

The Vaganova method is a method of teaching classical ballet that was developed by Agrippina Vaganova. Vaganova spent 30 years teaching ballet and throughout this time she developed a dance technique and a method of teaching this technique. There are various aspects that define the Vaganova method including the development of lower back strength and arm plasticity, and the requisite strength, flexibility and endurance for ballet. The Vaganova method of training focuses on the ability of the dancer to perform a classical pas de deux and concentrates on precision in a teacher’s instruction.

The Vaganova lessons are very well planned out because Vaganova did not believe in the improvisation of a teacher at a lesson. The method ensures that the dancers understand the reason behind every exercise. The Ballet Fantastique students don’t only learn how to master a step, but also how to perform it correctly and its purpose. Vaganova’s system strives to promote dancing with the whole body in order to acquire a combination of movement to widen the range of the dancer’s ability.

The Vaganova method is considered to be very clean, with precise movements that express clean lines yet softness underneath. Even though Ballet Fantastique’s Vaganova-trained dancers are very strong and clean, they are still able to perform softly and beautifully on stage without robotic stiffness. For more information about classes at Ballet Fantastique, click here!

14 Reasons to Take Ballet Lessons

Skills that last a lifetime—what you will gain from a strong ballet training program (no matter what your age, child to adult)

Physical

1. Body awareness—Dance lessons build strong balance, spatial and kinesthetic awareness.
2. Balance—Dance stabilizes muscles in the legs, ankles, and the abdominal core for healthier knees and ankles for a lifetime.  The Vaganova method used at BFan builds very progressively, so that students feel confident and successful as they grow their technique correctly and safely.  All BFan classes follow this deliberately progressive approach, even creative movement classes.
3. Flexibility—Dancers strive to achieve a full range of motion for all of the major muscle groups, building flexibility in tandem with strength.  BFan training also includes required Ballet Conditioning classes for Professional Training Division students to build flexibility in tandem with strength training for dancers.
4. Strength—Dancers build strength safely in a low-impact way, by forcing the muscles to resist against the dancer’s own body weight.
5. Endurance—Dance builds the ability of the muscles to work hard for increasingly longer periods of time without fatigue.  At Ballet Fantastique, small class sizes mean that dancers dance more, instead of waiting around for multiple groups to use the floor for each exercise.  BFan dancers have extra-strong endurance!

Social

1. Make friends—Make friends, challenge and support each other, and build overall social skills in a positive ballet academy environment like the Academy of Ballet Fantastique, which we’ve been told “feels like a family!”

Cultural

1. Historical—Gain respect for and awareness about a beautiful, historical art form.
2. Musicality—Dance is unique among many sports in that it involves music!  In ballet class, learn about musicality, rhythm, and music appreciation.  BFan Artistic Director Donna is a classically-trained pianist and cares a LOT about music.  She makes sure that every student and teacher is musically passionate and knowledgeable.  Even 4-year old beginning dancers in our Twinkling Stars class learn the basics of rhythm, clapping in sync, and “adagio” versus “allegro.”  You can ask them what these mean! 
3. Creativity—Build a confident sense of improvisation and artistry.  Artistry is key at BFan!  Browse our media reviews to see how reporters see it in even our young student performers.

Overall Well-Being

1. Stress Release—Dance gives you a stress release and a proven mood elevation (physical activity reduces stress and tension, and can contribute to higher self-esteem and more positive outlook).
2. Discipline—Build a sense of discipline and accountability to your “team”—so that you’re more likely to achieve your goals.
3. Confidence in front of an audience—Build self-confidence, grace, and composure—both for yourself and in front of an audience.
4. Learn how you learn—Dance lessons teach you more about your own learning style, improving your learning ability.
5. Reach your goals—Dance lessons reward you with an increased sense of focus, effective goal-setting, and accomplishment. Plus, research has shown that students who participate in the arts have better achievement in academics and better social skills.  BFan dancers have a tangible sense of accomplishment, completing their annual level exams and earning well-earned medals of achievement.

What are you waiting for?!  Classes begin Sept. 10, and they fill quickly.

Register online now!

Contact us with questions

Ballet Fantastique Opens Season with LA-based Band: Incendio

Ballet Fantastique opens its 2011–2012 season with powerful bravura, when the LA-based band Incendio plays its Latin, Middle Eastern, jazz fusion live with ballet for the first time. The sounds of Incendio’s sweeping, passionate music meet the skill and daring of Ballet Fantastique dancers in a celebration of brilliant live music and dance.

So who is Incendio?

Incendio is a renowned Latin guitar world fusion group from LA that travels all over the country to intrigue audiences with their musical talent. The band is made up of five members: Bryan Brock, Nicole Falzone, Jean-Pierre Durand, Liza Carbe and Jim Stubblefield. These self-motivated musicians have grasped their own future and created their own success without the help of a record company.

The band started in 1999 and has made huge steps forward since. They have managed to take a music form that is fairly rare these days—instrumental Spanish guitar—to new and unexpected levels. Not only has the group had seven international CD releases and recorded an extremely well-known, live DVD, “Dia y Noche,” but they have also self-booked tours over 170 dates per year.

Ballet Fantastique is so excited to be partnering with this band because they offer so much in regards to musical diversity. Although they stick to the romantic playing of the traditional Spanish guitar, their concerts balance rock-style enthusiasm and energy with technical sophistication. Incendio’s music is truly an enticing fusion, which allows the band to stand out from others in its genre and will allow the ballerinas to provide visual pieces that are uncommon in traditional ballet.

The band’s newest CD, “Viheula,” has been getting awesome reviews and even some radio play in Europe and Scandinavia. Because the band is a self-booking and self-promoting small business that produces and records its own CD’s and manages its own tours, they are always in need of sponsors. Sponsors receive premiums such as unreleased video footage, advanced copies of new CD’s, signed posters, free tickets to concerts and much more. Independent music survives because of people like that support Incendio and other musicians like them.

Ballet Fantastique cannot wait to perform with this amazing band, and we know our audience will thoroughly enjoy and appreciate every second of Incendio’s music. We hope everyone is just as excited as we are!