Perfect Holiday Gift Ideas for Friends & Family

Yes, the holiday season has officially arrived and we bet you are searching for the perfect gift for your friends and family. From the gift cards to electronics, the holiday gift giving list can be endless! So to make your search a bit easier, we gathered some unique gift ideas to delight those you care about this holiday season.

#1 Tickets to Central Florida Ballet's The Nutcracker
The Central Florida Ballet brings The Nutcracker to life each year at the Orange County Convention Center. This unique production offers mini-pyrotechnic explosions, aerial acrobatics, and fiber optic special effects, unlike any other in the area. Bring awe and delight to every member of your family with this Nutcracker production which has been nationally featured by CNN, USA Today, and ABC News.

Price: Tickets range from $10-80.  
How to Buy: Buy online at http://www.centralfloridaballet.com/ or call the Box Office at 407.849.9948. Performances will be held Saturday, December 22 at 7:30pm or Sunday, December 23 at 2pm.
Best part: Wonderful memories to remember for years to come! An experience at the Central Florida Ballet's Nutcracker is unlike anything else.


#2 Nutcracker Holiday Brunch at the Peabody Hotel
The Peabody Orlando and Central Florida Ballet present an interactive brunch experience, on Sunday, December 23 from 11:30am-1:30pm, featuring the cast from the acclaimed performance of The Nutcracker. Brunch guests will have the opportunity to meet the cast and take photos while experiencing the hotel’s renowned cuisine before attending the Central Florida Ballet's The Nutcracker. Brunch guests will receive 25 percent off matinee tickets to The Nutcracker performance on Saturday, December 23.

Brunch Pricing: $35 Adults, $18 children under the age of 12 (Reservations are required)
How to Buy: Call 407.849.9948 for brunch and performance tickets. For Brunch only, please call 407.345.4570. 
Best part: Delicious food, catching up with friends & family, and meeting characters from the Central Florida Ballet's The Nutcracker up-close! 


# 3 Nutcracker Boutique Gift Shop

The Nutcracker Boutique is held in the lobby right beside the Linda Chapin Theater and is open 45 minutes before each performance, during intermission, and directly after the performance. The search is on for your most-wanted item, which makes a great souvenir from the show.

Price: $5-40 an assortment of items will be offered 
How to buy: The Nutcracker boutique will be held in the lobby right beside the Linda Chapin Theater before, during, and after the performances on Saturday, December 22 and Sunday, December 23.  
Best part: From wooden Nutcrackers to delicate ornaments to exquisite jewelry, the Nutcracker boutique is sure to bring great stocking stuffers!


#4 Nutcracker Silent Auction
Discover and battle Nutcracker style for the best gifts - vacation getaways, massages, jewelry, paintings, and much more. Your generosity benefits the Central Florida Ballet's 2012/13 Season and the unique gift will bring sheer delight to your recipient.

Price: $10-1,500
How to buy: The Silent Auction will be held in the lobby right beside the Linda Chapin Theater on Saturday, December 22 from 6:30-7:30pm and Sunday, December 23 from 1-2pm. 
Best part: Finding the perfect gift for your loved one and generously supporting the Central Florida Ballet's 2012/13 Season at the same time! It's a win-win!


#5 Adult Class Card to the Central Florida Ballet's Academy
Ballet is not just for The Nutcracker. Share the joy of dance with your friends after the holiday season with an adult class card to the Central Florida Ballet's Academy. Adult classes are offered for Beginners to Advanced.

Price: $36 for 4 classes, $48 for 6 classes, or $90 for 12 classes (Each class card is valid for one month from the date issued)
How to buy: Please call the Central Florida Ballet Academy at 407.849.9942. Click here for the Adult class schedule.
Best part: Keep ballet coming all year long. 


For more information on the Central Florida Ballet, please visit http://www.centralfloridaballet.com or call 407.849.9948.

CFB Teacher Competes on Jeopardy! (Airing Nov 12)

The Central Florida Ballet is pleased to announce our very own Tina Baybay-Bykov will compete on the national game show: JEOPARDY! (airing November 12).

About Mrs. Tina Baybay-Bykov: A guest instructor of the Central Florida Ballet, she most recently taught Advanced Ballet and Dance History during the Academy's 2012 Summer Program. She currently teaches advanced placement European history and world history at Boone High School in Orlando, Florida and is also the wife of CFB's Artistic Director, Vladimir Bykov. 

About her Experience: She was selected to compete after taking an online test, followed by in-person auditions, another test, a mock game and an interview. She had been trying to land a spot on the show for three years. After learning she was selected, she practiced daily by watching Jeopardy (using a pen as a clicker) and was also quizzed by family and friends.

Baybay-Bykov traveled to Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California to tape the tournament on October 1st and 2nd. She is one of 15 educators nationwide selected to compete in the 3rd annual Teacher Tournament episodes.

 

What was her reaction when she found out she was selected?  “I got the phone call inviting me to compete on the first day of OCPS pre-planning and was overjoyed."”

What happens if she wins the $100,000 prize? 
“My students are asking if I win if I’ll quit,” she said. “Why would I do that? I love teaching, I like working with teenagers.” 

"Jeopardy!” airs at 7 weeknights on WFTV-Channel 9. 

Tune in on November 12th to see Baybay-Bykov compete.

Nutcracker Countdown: Days to Go!

The countdown is officially underway for The Central Florida Ballet's Nutcracker, one of the most popular nationwide, and taking center stage in the greater Orlando area!

COUNTDOWN FOR WEBSITE

About CFB's The Nutcracker

Saturday, Dec. 22 at 7:30pm | Sunday, Dec. 23 at 2pm

Linda Chapin Theater in the OCCC

The Central Florida Ballet's Nutcracker production has become known as one of the “most entertaining” nationwide. Taking a hint from area theme parks, the Central Florida Ballet uses unique aerial acrobatics, thrilling pyrotechnics, and special effect fiber optics to delight audience-goers. This internationally acclaimed production has taken the national spotlight with attention from ABC Nightline News, USA Today, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal. Be sure to join us for this must-see event! Watch a Video Preview.

Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.centralfloridaballet.com/ or by calling the Box Office at 407.849.9948. 

Blog Special Offer: Save 10% off your order when you mention the "CFB Blog". Offer valid by phone only until November 8, 2012.

 

Behind the Curtain: Costume Style

From party girl dresses to the elaborate design of Chinese costumes, months of preparation go into readying the countless costumes of the Central Florida Ballet's annual Nutcracker.  We invite you to discover what goes on behind the curtain with - Mrs. Debby Williams. She takes the role of CFB's Wardrobe Coordinator every year for this beloved-holiday tradition. 

In our first edition of "Behind the Curtain - Costume Style", Mrs. Williams discusses how she prepares for The Nutcracker and reveals her favorite costume.

1. How far in advance do you start preparing for The Nutcracker? 

I actually begin thinking about next year's Nutcracker during this year's production. As I watch the rehearsals and see the dancers in their costumes, I notice what costumes are beginning to look tired and worn. Then I already have an idea what we need for next year. In the summer, I start gearing up for the mad rush toward Nutcracker season.

2. How many costumes do you have in storage? 

Oh, my!  I’m not sure, but there are hundreds!

A sneak peek into the Central Florida Ballet's costume room...lambs, bon-bons, and soldiers costumes are ready to be tried on new Nutcracker cast members. 

3. What is the process of fitting dancers for costumes? (From measurements to the stage..)

During Nutcracker auditions, all the dancers who come to try out are measured.   After casting, I try the costumes on each of the dancers and then make alterations as necessary.  If a brand new costume is made for someone, then there will be several fittings to make sure the size is correct and the costume is comfortable for dancing.  The costumes must be durable and well-made in order for them to withstand all the turning, stretching, lifting, and movement from the dancers.  We also want to be able to use the costumes for several years, so it is important that they aren’t flimsy.   

4. Do you have a favorite costume? 

That’s a hard question because so many of them are gorgeous, but I guess I am partial to the Spanish because they are bold and bright and beautiful.

5. Are you working on revamping or creating any new costumes this year?

Right now I am working on sprucing up the Waltz costumes to make them last a little longer and look a little more colorful on stage.   

Mrs. Debby Williams concentrates as she sews and adjusts a tutu for the Waltz of the Flowers dance. 

6. What do you think is the most important part of your job?

I see my job as making every single person, from the Treat Carriers to the Sugar Plum Fairy, feel comfortable and confident in their costumes so they can concentrate on dancing and doing a great job on stage.  I want all the dancers to be dressed beautifully and appropriately for their particular part, and for each of them to feel like they are important to the production, because they are!

7. Where do you find your fabric and what inspires you when creating new costumes? 

I love looking at fabric, and I go out of my way to browse fabric shops whenever I can.  I also watch other productions of the Nutcracker or look at pictures on the internet to get ideas.   It’s fun to go see other Nutcracker productions and see what their costumes are like.  

8. Was there a time when you thought a costume would not be ready or some other mishap that happened right before a show?

Every year I think I am not going to get everything done.  The closer it gets to Nutcracker time, the less sleep I get.  My friends bring me coffee and then hang out and help me sew, mend, glue, and iron.  I definitely could not do it by myself.  I am very grateful for the many willing and efficient volunteers who do whatever I ask, and do it with a smile!   As far as mishaps, one year during a show, Drosselmeyer’s eye patch broke and I had about 30 seconds to take a few stiches to repair it before he had to rush back on stage.  Another year, the zipper broke on a dancer’s Chinese costume and I had to whip-stitch it closed as she quickly dashed off to go on stage.  Ultimately, it seems like everything works out, and I try to learn from experience how to make the next year better.

It can't be work all the time! Mrs. Debby Williams chats with friends and the CFB School Director while discussing changes for the Waltz of the Flowers tutus.

Discover which costume you love the most and see them in all their glory when the Central Florida Ballet takes center stage at the Orange County Convention Center on Saturday, Dec. 22 and Sunday, Dec, 23. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.centralfloridaballet.com/.

Be sure to check back soon for an update from Mrs. Williams!

Taking a hint from area theme parks, CFB's Nutcracker Returns to OCCC

Orlando, Florida, USA - Taking a hint from area theme parks, the Central Florida Ballet is gearing up for one of its ‘most entertaining’ performances of the year: The Nutcracker taking center stage in Linda Chapin Theater at the Orange County Convention Center on December 22^nd at 7:30pm and December 23^rd at 2pm. 

Photo by: Virginia Trudeau & Deedee Sherman

Using thrilling pyrotechnics, unique aerial acrobatics, and special effect fiber optics in its production; the Central Florida Ballet (CFB) has garnered attention from ABC Nightline News who filmed CFB’s Nutcracker for a national feature in 2011 and earned recognition from the Wall Street Journal for “delivering aerial acrobatics and mini-explosions”. Becoming accustomed to the national spotlight, the production is also labeled “The Pyrotechnic Nutcracker” in the USA Today and recognized as “one of five outstanding productions in the entire nation” by CNN Headline News. 

These unique touches make The Nutcracker ‘come to life’ for audience-goers says the Central Florida Ballet’s founder & executive director, Vasile Petrutiu. “By adding such thrilling elements ballet audiences do not normally see, you become truly immersed in the story. Making it a crossover between the best of ballet and an entertainment show combined.”

Amongst glowing national recognition, this full-length, professional production will feature Dragos Milhacea of the Royal Swedish Ballet among Anna Dorosh of Kiev Ballet in Ukraine. This year will mark Dorosh’s debut in Orlando while Mihalcea will make a much-anticipated return having previously performed with the Central Florida Ballet in The Nutcracker and Giselle.

Above all the glitz and glamour, Petrutiu’s production of the Nutcracker is about having a good time. Two popular events complementing the ‘Nutcracker experience’ are: The Nutcracker Holiday Brunch held in partnership with the Peabody Hotel. This event hosted before the Sunday Matinee will offer families the opportunity to enjoy a Meet & Greet with characters from the Nutcracker while delighting in the Peabody’s delicious brunch favorites and warm hospitality. The second event, the Nutcracker Silent Auction, will return for two days this year to raise funds for the 2012/13 season and offering unique, last-minute holiday gift opportunities for family and friends.

“It’s about not just watching the dancing; it’s becoming a part of the fun. Not everyone is born with the ability and coordination to dance,” Petrutiu explains. “But everyone can certainly enjoy it and pass on this fantastic holiday experience to each generation”.

Tickets are priced at $80 for “VIP” package, $48 for “Gold Circle”, $36 for Section A, $24 for Section B and $10 for Section C and may be purchased by calling 407 849-9948 or at http://www.centralfloridaballet.com/ . 

Performances will be held only at the Linda Chapin Theater in the Orange County Convention Center.

For more information about the Central Florida Ballet please call 407-849-9948 or visit their web site at http://www.centralfloridaballet.com/

Sasha de Sola, CFB Alumna, Promoted to Soloist at San Francisco Ballet

Hansuke Yamamoto & Sasha de Sola in Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15.
© Dave Morgan and courtesy of San Francisco Ballet.  

Sasha de Sola recently had one of the greatest moments of her career with the San Francisco Ballet. During the second act of a performance on tour in London, SFB's Artistic Director, Heigl Tomasson, took the microphone to announce De Sola's promotion to Soloist! Sasha de Sola, who trained first at Southern Ballet Theater under direction of Vasile Petrutiu and then later at Central Florida Ballet, was featured as Maria in CFB's first and second Nutcracker productions in 2001 and 2002. She later trained at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. for two years. Upon graduating she became an apprentice with the San Francisco Ballet.  

Dance Review: "These dancers are, quite simply, a joy to watch. The most Mozartian performance in the Balanchine is that of Sasha De Sola, who dances as if dispensing fragments of some sublime, heart-locked secret." - The Guardian UK, September 2012

Dance Tabs Review and News Article on De Sola's Promotion

San Francisco News Article on De Sola's Promotion

Top 5 Nutrition Tips for Dancers

A dancer's diet is one of the most important to keep healthy and pirouetting through the day. To ensure your diet is helping you dance the best, we talked with our Central Florida Ballet Nutrition & Pilates Instructor, Lorraine Spack, on her Top 5 Nutrition Tips for a healthy dancer. Read below to discover the best food to eat to have energy during dance, without getting that too full feeling, and more of her expert tips!

1.     ALWAYS EAT BREAKFAST

Breakfast jump starts your metabolism and gives you energy for the day.  Even just a small breakfast of fruit and whole grain toast will energize you and keep you mentally focused throughout your morning activities.

2.     ALWAYS COMBINE A PROTEIN WITH A CARBOHYDRATE

              

Carbohydrates give you the energy needed to dance, while protein provides your body with the essential amino acids needed to build lean muscle.  They work as a team when eaten together by slowing the rate at which your blood sugar rises and falls. This will prevent you from becoming hungry to quickly and will help keep your energy level sustained for a longer period of time.

3.     EAT FREQUENT SMALL MEALS THROUGH OUT THE DAY OF “REAL FOOD”

This is the best way to maintain a consistent high energy level throughout the day, without getting that too full feeling while having to dance.  Avoid many snack foods that are  marketed as “healthy”.  They often contain much added sugar and fat. These do not provide the best nutrients for optimal performance energy and building lean muscle.  Real foods like vegetable sticks and hummus, fruit and yogurt, low fat cheese and brown rice, nuts, seeds and whole grain crackers are much better at fueling the body.

4.     ALWAYS EAT WITHIN 45 MINS. AFTER DANCE OR EXERCISE

Research shows that a window period of about 45 mins. exists after completion of exercise when the body is at its peak for absorption of nutrients. Getting food into the body during this time period allows for improving the recovery rate of muscles, replacing the stored energy in muscles, preventing muscle soreness and encouraging the growth of lean muscle tissue better.

5.     MAINTAIN ADEQUATE HYDRATION

Proper hydration will help fight off fatigue, muscle soreness and electrolyte imbalances. Do not wait to drink until you are thirsty—this is to late. A good rule of thumb is 1 ounce of water for every kilogram of body weight.(1 pound = 2.2 kilograms)

About Lorraine Spack: Fitness Professional

Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Registered Nurse CPR / First Aid / AED Certified

AFAA Certified Personal Trainer & Group Exercise Instructor Specialty Fitness Training & Certifications in Stott Pilates, Yoga, Spinning, Weight Training and Sports Nutrition

  

Lorraine currently teaches Pilates and Nutrition at the Central Florida Ballet Academy 

For more information on the Central Florida Ballet & Academy, please visit http://www.CentralFloridaBallet.com or call 407.849.9942. Fall classes have started! Call today and enroll now before classes fill up.