Tuesday, April 10, 2012

California Dance Arts News for April

Lasting Memories Of Your Favorite Dancer!
Snow Queen Prints Available for Purchase!

Beautiful photos were taken during last year's production of The Snow Queen—performance shots, rehearsals, backstage shots—by Kathy Hanson Photography and are now available for purchase!

Hundreds of photos of the 2011 Snow Queen cast are available. You can order prints in various sizes and formats—small, large, glossy, matte, framed, canvas, etc. You can even get t-shirts, mugs, playing cards, etc with the images of your child or favorite Snow Queen cast members!

View the colorful, professional-quality photos at these links:

http://khanson.smugmug.com/Other/Performance/20893492_SGxNVP
http://khanson.smugmug.com/Other/Dress-Rehearsal-at-GCC/20874238_zCTj2X
http://khanson.smugmug.com/Other/Ballet-Portraits/20908732_kx8h7q
http://khanson.smugmug.com/Other/Dance-Class/20793684_gxjxJF

Add your choices to your cart and choose the format. Prices will vary depending on size, format, etc.

If you have any questions about ordering, contact California DanceArts at info@caldancearts.com or contact Kathy Hanson Photography at kathy@kathyhansonphotography.com

 

Summer Intensive Auditions - April 14, 2012

Auditions will be held again for California DanceArts:
Youth Ballet Intensive
Sat. April 14 at 9:30am
(Level 1 and Level 2 students may audition)

Los Angeles Int'l Ballet Intensive
Sat. April 14 at 12:00pm
(Level 3 and above may audition)

 

Ballet Basics: How To Make A Ballet Bun

It is part of good traditional ballet training to learn to create a proper ballet bun and to learn to do it quickly.

California DanceArts requires all students to have their hair fastened securely out of the face and off of the neck. Young ladies should have nice pretty ballet buns in class just as they must have for performances. It is a matter of creating good habits for performance and giving dancers the opportunity to work without the distraction of hair in the face and eyes. Some movements are thrown off by the weight of the hair when it is loose.

Although not acceptable for performances, occasionally when you are really in a bind-- running late to class or mom is away and dad is left to handle the bun making, for instance--there are handy “Bear Claw” clips that can be purchased at any drug store. By twisting the hair up as described above and securing it with the ‘Bear Claw,’ the bun is made fast and secure without bobby pins.

Here's how to make a good bun:

Brush your hair; make sure that there are no tangles.

Pull back into a ponytail using a comb or brush to remove the bumps. If necessary, spray the hair with a quick-drying hairspray (an inexpensive brand is okay). You have already used a comb or brush to remove the lumps, so now you can use hairspray (optional, depends on the style of your hair) to smooth with your hand all of those wisps up and into the bun.

Put an extra rubber band around your ponytail, just for extra security. It is important to have a strong foundation for your bun so it doesn't fall down.

Separate hair into 2 equal sections.

Take one half and twist the whole strand together, tightly.

Tightly wind the strand of hair around the ponytail holder, as if curling around it, not over it. You should probably use heavy-duty hairpins such as Scunci Bobby Pins to hold up your hair. They are about $2.00 for 18. Most people find that an actual hair pin versus a bobby pin can hold their hair better. You will want to get the thicker kind, especially if you have thick or curly hair, because the thin ones are easily bent out of shape.

Securely fasten the hair. You can do this by putting a bobby pin in like your bun like it was a clock. 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock. If the first half of your bun feels a little shaky, put more bobby pins in where desired.

Repeat these same steps for the second half of your ponytail.

For extra security, cover your bun with a hair net that matches your hair color. (Hint: If you have blonde hair, don't use the gray hair net because then your bun looks purple. If you're a brunette, don't use the blonde hair net because then you have a lighter bun than the rest of your hair and that gives you the air of being unprofessional and/or colorblind.)

If there are any wispies, or frizzies, lightly spray with hairspray, all over.

There are a lot of videos on the internet that show this process and additional tricks to help you. Just do an internet search for “Ballet Bun”.

Posted via email from California DanceArts's Posterous Blog

Friday, April 6, 2012

International Ballet Intensive Hosted Again By California DanceArts

Los Angeles Dance School To Host Intensives For Experienced And Youth Dancers

LOS ANGELES, CA: California DanceArts, (http://www.caldancearts.com) will be holding auditions for its Los Angeles International Ballet Intensive and its Youth Ballet Intensive on April 14th for the 2012 Intensives. Auditions will be held at the main studio in La Canada, located in the midst of Los Angeles. The intensive will take place in July, running from the 9th to the 28th, and attending students will get the chance to literally go global, by taking advantage of opportunities to attend foreign dance programs through the Global Ballet Workshops. Limited attendance only.

The advanced curriculum of the Los Angeles International Ballet Intensive has brought it much acclaim, including from such organizations as the Ostrava Ballet in Prague. It has also garnered an international teaching faculty with instructors hailing from such companies as the Laine Theatre Arts in England, the New York City Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet. The curriculum will include classical ballet, contemporary, pointe, special conditioning and placement classes and even aerial ballet, culminating in a performance by the students. In addition to the above international faculty, dancers will, of course, receive instruction from California DanceArts founder and artistic director, Ms. Erin Holt.

A Youth Ballet Intensive will be hosted as well in the Los Angeles studio of California DanceArts. Students at an intermediate level (the approximate age group is 9-12) will be able to hone their skills in such traditional fields as classical ballet, pointe preparation, and conditioning, but also in more varied themes such as modern, jazz, improve, and aerial. Unique in the program is a Choreography Workshop where young dancers can begin to learn to not follow choreography but create it themselves.

Ms. Holt stated: “As we draw closer to the beginning of our Intensives, we are very much looking forward to the opportunity to present dance in its most aesthetic form this summer. We believe that dancers need to stay in top condition the year round and nowhere is that more important than when young dancers are nearing a professional state. We hope to provide diverse new experiences to these dancers while bringing their skills in dance to entirely new levels.”

Since 1987, California DanceArts has been dedicated to the purpose of grooming and nurturing the talents of beginning to serious career dance students. Its current location in beautiful La Canada is among several schools and recreational facilities. More information on California DanceArts 2010 summer dance workshops can be seen at http://www.danceallsummerworkshops.com. The school’s blog can be seen at http://caldancearts.typepad.com. For more information about California DanceArts and the programs offered by the school, call 818-790-7924, or visit the school online at http://www.caldancearts.com.

Posted via email from California DanceArts's Posterous Blog