SNEAK PREVIEW of "An Evening of Dance"

Enjoy an exclusive SNEAK PREVIEW of 'Tea Time', an excerpt that will be performed at the Central Florida Ballet's upcoming performance "An Evening of Dance". "Tea Time" pokes fun at formal tea parties and the proper etiquette of guests during the 1900's. For tickets, call 407.849.9948 or visit http://www.CentralFloridaBallet.com.

 

"Tea Time" is choreographed Viktor Plotnikov. Read our recent blog post on his creation here.

Evening of Dance Combines Classical Tradition with Gala Flair

Pictured: “Tea Time” performed by the 
Central Florida Ballet - Studio Company

Photo By: Virginia Trudeau & Deedee Sherman

The Central Florida Ballet has announced its new two-part Spring performance, “An Evening of Dance”, which offers a great balance for the entire family. The first act will offer gala flair with a variety of short numbers; each ranging from classical to comedy to modern & contemporary styles. Such pieces will include “Tea Time” which pokes fun at formal tea parties and the proper etiquette of guests in the 1900’s as well as traditional classical excerpts of the delightfully fun “Tarantella” and romantic style “La Vivandiere”.

In contrast, the second act will showcase one traditional story ballet, “Act III: The Enchanted Garden” from Le Corsaire a full-length story ballet. Set in King Pasha's palace, beautiful women dance and play tricks on the king. The ballet transitions into a dream sequence where "Medora, Gulnare, and the women of the harem join together to dance a fantastical Grand Ballabile in which they celebrate beauty, grace, and harmony in a garden filled with flowers and magic fountains". Diane Withee, Studio Company Rehearsal Master says, “We wanted to shake up the traditional performance format of either seeing a story ballet or numbers in a gala. We definitely achieved that and know our audience will benefit from the diversity of this evening’s repertoire”.

Tickets are limited for “An Evening of Dance”, a one-night only performance held at the Trinity Preparatory School on Saturday, March 24 at 7pm. General Admission is $10 (Children 10 & Under) and/or $25 (Adults 11 & Up) available by calling 407.849.9948.

A Mini Silent Auction will be held before the performance where you can bid on items from Euro Day Spa, Avon, Yoga lessons, and more. All proceeds will benefit the Central Florida Ballet, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.

For more information, visit http://www.CentralFloridaBallet.com or call 407.849.9948.

CFB March eNews: Child-Friendly Performance, Alumni Feature, & More

Are you subscribed to the Central Florida Ballet's monthly e-newsletter? If not, check out the March issue below. This month's exciting issue includes:

• A superb review of CFB Alumni, Sasha De Sola, who recently performed her first principal role with the San Francisco Ballet, one of the top ballet companies in the world.
• Fun facts on the Central Florida Ballet's upcoming Spring performance. Hint: Tea. Etiquette. Bite Size Sandwiches. Scones.
• Announcement of summer programs at the Central Florida Ballet Academy - with programs for all levels!

Link to the CFB Monthly Newsletter:

  http://hosted-p0.vresp.com/1112039/2bab329275/ARCHIVE

Pictured: CFB Academy Student- Ashton Gordon

To subscribe to the Central Florida Ballet's Monthly eNewsletter, email kklopfenstein@centralfloridaballet.com with "Subscribe to eNews" in the subject line.

Beginner Ballet Causes Nerves, Excitement, & Thrill

Every Monday, adult students walk through the doors of Central Florida Ballet's Studios fifteen minutes before the class begins. Some are regulars and others are trying something brand new. Yes, we are talking about the dare devils who decide they want to try a ballet class. From those who took ballet when they were young - to - those who never danced before they are all thinking the same things.... 1) I don't want to embarrass myself. 2) What if there are advanced dancers in the class? 3) Will I be able to follow along? 4) Will I want to come back?

Well we are here to tell you the answers...and give you the real insider's scoop in what actually happens at Beginner Ballet at the Central Florida Ballet.

Vasile Petrutiu teaches a ballet class at the Central Florida Ballet Academy. 

Photo By: Morgan H. Lee

 I don't want to embarrass myself. Most often everyone in the Beginner Ballet class is just that - Beginner! Everyone is in the same boat and learning just like you. They are unsure of where to put their arms or how to do a "tendu" or "jete". So no worries. You won't embarrass yourself. If anything you will proud of what you learn and your accomplishments after attending several classes. You will also make new friends and help each other during the class too.

What if there are advanced dancers in the class? Rarely this happens. But if there are Advanced dancers trust us - they are so focused on their own technique they will not notice anything else. Plus most often they really like to help out new students and enjoy teaching to others. They are just normal people and understand the difficulty of starting from scratch.

Will I be able to follow along? Its all a learning process. The Beginner Ballet class goes slowly to teach each of the students the basics of ballet. From the position of your arms to your feet the instructor covers it all. So, if you don't remember a step its completely normal and all a part of the learning process! It would actually be just unusual if you picked up everything right away.

Will I want to come back? Most often the answer is yes, but it really depends on you. Many students enjoy trying something new and shaking up their regular routine. Others enjoy how good you feel after the class - hello endorphins. Some enjoy the challenge of learning. Or many just enjoy revisiting their dance memories from the past and simply enjoy the arts.

Is Beginner Ballet looking less intimidating now? We certainly hope so because it truly is a great way to get in shape and actually have FUN exercising! If you are up to the challenge try next week's class held from Noon-1pm every Monday at Central Florida Ballet. No pre-registration required. Simply show up and its $10 a class! Or $8 with valid student I.D. or employees of Disney, Universal, or SeaWorld.

Central Florida Ballet's Official Website: http://www.CentralFloridaBallet.com or Call 407.849.9948

Family-Friendly Sunday Afternoon

Want to spend a great Sunday afternoon with your family, but not sure what to do? Take a seat at the Central Florida Ballet's next FREE performance of "The Enchanted Garden". 

 Photo By: Virginia Trudeau & Deedee Sherman

This show features Act III and additional excerpts from Le Corsaire (a full-length ballet). The performance begins with beautiful dancing in the King Pasha's palace upon which King Pasha retires for a nap. The ballet transitions into a dream sequence of "The Enchanted Garden" where "Medora, Gulnare, and the woman of the harem join together to dance a fantastical Grand Ballabile in which they celebrate beauty, grace, and harmony in a garden filled with flowers and magic fountains". After their great celebration, the King awakens and... well you will just have to see the show for yourself to find out the conclusion!

Mark your Calendar, iPhone, Blackberry, etc for Sunday, February 19 at 2:00pm held at the Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park. Simply arrive early to ensure seating (tickets and reservations are not issued). This year's performance is sponsored by ArtsFest of United Arts of Central Florida. For complete event information click here.  

About Central Florida Ballet: The Central Florida Ballet is a 501 (c) Non-Profit Organization. Central Florida Ballet's mission is to entertain, educate, and inspire through the universal art form of dance. With a diverse repertoire of dance productions and programs from classical to contemporary and beyond, each attendee is to be culturally enriched while developing an appreciation for the arts.

Your support keeps us moving! For information, on how to make a tax-deductible donation to support a performance, educational program, or dancer.. please call the Central Florida Ballet at 407.849.9942 or visit http://www.CentralFloridaBallet.com

Top 5 Dances to Watch

So many of us dance enthusiasts watch an incredible amount of videos on YouTube. We have seen all the varieties out there...from the fun, clever, oddly unique or the always popular "oh my gosh they are incredible" videos. So we gathered some of our favorites just for you...ENJOY!

"Boogie Shoes"

We love this dance because its just plain fun and urges you to get up and dance; that is if you haven't already started. The dance starts near the 0:45 minute mark.

"Yanis Pikieris - Moscow Gold Medal"

Yes, this video definitely brings you back many years or actually decades. All we can say however is the dancing is purely magical! Don't miss the second half of the video which showcases Pikieris's stunning Don Quixote variation and coda - talk about endless attitude turns!

"Diana Vishneva in Firebird Pas de Deux"

This video caught our eye for several reasons. Number One - "Firebird" is a ballet not performed in Orlando very often or actually even a time we can remember.  Number Two: Vishneva is a true star of the ballet world; from her artistry to her impeccable technique she simply captures your attention for this six minute pas de deux!

 "Good Morning, Good Morning"

We picked this video because its a timeless classic and who knew you could stand on furniture in that time or that there are so many ways to use coats...watch the video to see what we are talking about! Don't miss the ballet "bar" at the 2:40 minute mark.

"Wedding Entrance"

We picked this video because it proves dance is for anyone and that you never know what can happen when the music begins...enjoy!

We hope you enjoyed these! Remember there is dance all around you - get involved in the movement or as we say at the Central Florida Ballet: "Move. Be Moved. Be More"! For information on dance classes and upcoming performances visit http://www.CentralFloridaBallet.com or call 407.849.9942.

Before you leave...do you have another video you want to share with us? Tell us in a comment below (you don't have to be a registered user to comment so please share with us). We can't wait to see!

CFB Selects Students for Summer Intensive

This Saturday, January 14 marks the annual audition for the Central Florida Ballet's Summer Intensive Dance Program. This intensive ballet-focused program provides formal Russian classical ballet training for local and out-of-town students. "We find our dancers improve their classical technique significantly over the duration of this program for several reasons." says Diane Withee, the CFB School Director.

Photo By: Virginia Trudeau & Deedee Sherman

For one, our Russian style of training is known as one of the most difficult, but rewarding in the dance world. The Central Florida Ballet's Founder & Executive Director, Vasile Petrutiu, and Artistic Director, Vladimir Bykov, are primary instructors of the Summer Intensive and both were trained in national elite ballet schools under the Vaganova (Russian) style.  Furthermore, students are able to focus their whole day on just dance during the summer term. Meaning they have ample time and energy to perfect their dance vocabulary while learning new steps. The Advanced level students have a full day of classes Monday-Friday.

A typical day begins at 9:00am with ballet technique followed by pointe and variations. Then after a one hour lunch break students continue with classes in complimenting dance styles such as modern, jazz, character, lyrical, yoga or repertoire where they learn a ballet presented in a final performance for family and friends at the end of the session. Plus each week different workshops are given discussing dance-related topics including dance history, acting, stage make-up and hair, and nutrition. Since opening in 2000, the CFBA's exemplary training method is shining brighter than ever..Recent Alumni of the Central Florida Ballet Academy and Summer Intensive include:

• Sasha De Sola, Corps de Ballet with San Francisco Ballet
• Joanna Schmidt, Graduate Program at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater
• Meredith Harrill, Trainee with Joffrey Ballet
• Kristin Mitchell, Pre-Professional Program at Boston Ballet
  
• Arielle Martin, Professional Division at the School of Pacific Northwest Ballet
• Hunter Finnegan, Student at the School of Pittsburgh Ballet Theater 

For more information on the CFB Summer Intensive Dance Program visit the official website page here or call 407.849.9942.