A Look Behind the Curtain

I have a confession to make, I enjoy spending my pastime watching reality based shows! However, I am very particular about the reality shows I watch. I prefer reality shows that give a glimpse of life behind the scenes, after the camera stops rolling, and you leave the character at work or on stage. It is always intriguing to be able to get a glimpse into the life of a celebrity, or performer, you may adore. So, yes reality t.v. can be my guilty pleasure.

Last year I came across a reality show that gave viewers a behind the scenes glimpse into the world of ballet. The reality show titled 'Breaking Pointe' follows dancers and artistic director, Adam Sklute, of the Ballet West Academy, as they prepare for the upcoming dance season. Viewers are given a chance to see what happens behind the scenes in preparation of dance season. As well, viewers are able to follow the dancers into their personal lives and watch as stereotypes of bulimia and anorexia are broken, how dancers release stress with mini vacations and parties (too much partying at times), and partake in the drama on and off stage. Breaking Pointe is  now in its second season and is continuing to draw notable attention. 

Breaking Pointe of The CW is breaking barriers, as this is the first reality show to allow cameras to follow the dancers behind the curtain. Yes, there have many documentaries on schools such as Julliard and life as a student at such a prestigious academy, but no camera has gone where Breaking Pointe has gone, and is going, in the coming weeks. Through the reality show Ballet West has allowed not only its current audience, who attend their shows, but all dance enthusiast, such as myself, to gleam even closer and more intimately into seeing just what happens before and after the curtain falls. Despite some of the over-the-top drama, which there is quite a bit, it becomes overshadowed once dancers enter the academy doors and practices/rehearsals begin. We get to watch as dancers sweat on the outside and inside, as they spin, leap, jump, and fly for the chance to win the coveted roles of the upcoming shows. Who will win the lead? Who will be invited to return for another season? Will the artistic director make the right decisions when casting for his biggest selling productions? These questions and more are asked, and answered, as we follow along with the dancers and instructors of Ballet West. 

Ballet West may have did well in allowing audiences to take a look behind the curtain. But don't take my word, decide for yourself in this clip from season 2:

What are your thoughts?

Thanks for reading,

LaKesha xo

Cross Training

Hello readers, it has been a while since my last post. A lot has been keeping me busy, making it difficult to maintain a consistent regime of post. However, I have not neglected my business and the work needed to launch the nonprofit. In my time away I have been doing research to understand my industry and take note of the trends that is making movement in the performing arts culture. Part of launching a successful business is in knowing your market, your audience, and being able to provide a quality, and innovative, service. Recently, I came across an article on a site I subscribe to Philadelphia Dance Journal, which detailed the benefits of cross training dance. After reading the article I realized there is an opportunity to create new programs within my performing arts center, which embody cross training and will better prepare my students to be more marketable in the industry when they go professional. 

Typically, a dancer may tend to train, or specialize, in one particular art form of dance such as classical ballet, contemporary, or hip-hop. The article highlights three benefits a dancer can achieve from cross training in other dance genres while still specializing in one, which are marketability, creative freedom, and injury prevention. I believe the most important benefit is marketability. As a dancer you are a product/brand, which provides a service. Being cross-trained to dance in any style or genre allows a dancer to expand his/her brand and chances of employment. Cross-trained dancers became more popular when television show 'So You Think You Can Dance' hit the air ways showing the best dancer was the cross trained dancer. I, myself, started in classical ballet, jazz and tap, and then eventually expanded into contemporary and hip-hop. Although I primarily gravitated towards lyrical jazz, I continued to study the other dance genres for diversity and range in my skill level. At the time I did not realize I was actually making myself more marketable, as during my time very few dancers studied more than one or two genres at a time.

After reading the article, and thinking about the program structure of my performing arts I begin thinking as to how can I best serve and manage my students talent to aid in their success as artists. Part of the performing arts programs that will be offered is a pre-professional program for students who exhibit an innate sense of skill and gifted talent, and want to take their work to a professional level. The pre-professional program will require the students to chose a specialty however, the student must also chose two other genres to study as minors in their field. By offering a program that teaches, and promotes, cross training I believe I will be assisting in breeding a new line of innovative dancers, choreographers, and teachers.

Thanks for reading, and more consistent post to come so stay tuned.

xo,

LaKesha

Ballet Legends of Tomorrow

Ballet has always been regarded as a respectful art form that requires a high level of self-discipline and respect for the art. Ballet is also synonymous with great legends such as Anna Pavlova, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Margot Fonteyn, and Marie Camargo. Such legends have helped to shape the history of ballet, as well pave the way for future greats to come after. Today, the great ballet dancers push the envelope beyond the classical or traditional expressions of ballet, and dare to bring ballet into a new art form known as contemporary or modern dance. Contemporary, or modern, dance allows the dancer to express their movement more freely and expressively to the audience, while still paying respect to the classical art of ballet. Today, new legends are beginning to rise and setting a new course for the art of ballet. Legends such as Sylvie Guillem, who at the age of 48 is still producing spell binding work as a ballerina turned contemporary dancer; Edward Watson, who is setting new trends in classical ballet with modern twists; and Sergei Polunin, who at the tender of 23 is constantly pushing the barriers to break the traditional confines and mindset of how ballet should be viewed. However, despite the boldness of a few to push ballet to new limits, there are those who still hold the classical form of ballet in high regard and continually work to preserve the beauty and wonder of a dance that few are able to achieve. And without these types of dancers the history, and foundation, of a beautiful art might be lost.

As I read about the past dancers of yesterday and the impact they have had on ballet; and the present dancers, who are becoming the legends of today, I think about whom could the next dancer be that will push dance to the next level and cause them to become the legend of tomorrow. My desire with A. Quinn Performing Arts center is to give a child, who might not have otherwise, the opportunity to discover the great dancer, actor, or musician within, that could be the next legend of their time.

10 Best Ballet Stars 

Brief History