| Western Ballet Newsletter |
| Winter 2010 | Volume 1, Issue 1 |
Sarah Anzia. Photo by Brian Hamilton. |
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:- From the Artistic Director - A Reflection on the 2009 Nutcracker - Student Spotlight - Faculty Spotlight - The Nutcracker is a 'Family Affair' - Calendar of Upcoming Events - $25,000 Matching Grant |
SAVE THE DATESFeb. 7: Fonnegra Workshop Feb. 27: Town Meeting Apr. 24: BANDW 2010 May 2: Children's Recital May 12: Mafre Master Class May 16: Spring Gala Jun. 5-29: Summer Intensive PROGRAM LINKSSPECIAL LINKS
Danielle Fisher, Kaitlin Finch and Lieza Chan. Photo by Brian Hamilton. |
From the Artistic DirectorA Clean Well-Lighted Place
Emily Dietz and Eric Bourman. Photo by Simon Gerraty. Western Ballet experienced great success throughout 2009, in many respects paving the way for an even greater 2010. During the productions of the spring, summer and December, our students performed beyond expectations, demonstrating exemplary artistic maturity and professional conduct during both rehearsals and performances. Since I became Artistic Director in 2007 at Western Ballet, the school has grown dramatically, becoming now even stronger and finer. Together we have built “a clean well-lighted place to dance.” Culturally diverse, and institutionally stable, Western Ballet is where children and adults can learn about and develop the fine art of classical ballet. By sustaining a welcoming and caring environment, where our faculty of current and former professional dancers teach the fullest calendar of classes in the area, we can ensure that, for years to come, Western Ballet will provide a sanctuary of dance to our local community. For more than three decades, Western Ballet grew out of the sacrifices, tears and passion of many people – individuals who were parents, students, friends and alumni. Similarly, the institution will grow in the future from the people who support it now. Western Ballet is “from everyone to everyone.” If you have the desire to foster Western Ballet, we ask for your participation. By offering youth and adult programs of the highest caliber, and producing outstanding shows that bring ballet to the public at large, we will present the greatest gift that we can to our families and friends, to the community of Western Ballet, and to Mountain View and the surrounding communities in the Peninsula and South Bay. 2010 GoalsI personally invite you to our Town Meeting on Saturday, February 27 at 3:30 p.m. in Studio 1, where we will announce multiple major initiatives that will lay a foundation for our future. These initiatives include: - Doubling Our Enrollments - Founding Scholarships for Underprivileged Youth - Establishing a New Performing Company - Fundraising for a State-of-the-Art Building Finally, I would like to thank two individuals for their dedication and support: first, the newest member of our board, Camilla Kao, who, with unwavering enthusiasm for the mission and work of Western Ballet, has given freely of her time and energy, seeking ways to allow our institution to continue to thrive. Second, I want to recognize Florence Palmer, our school receptionist. It is wonderful to know that one can step inside the doors of Western Ballet to be greeted by her warm smile and engaging conversation. Along with many others, these two individuals help to create the welcoming and caring environment that Western Ballet has come to be known for. Alexi Zubiría, Artistic Director
Photo by Simon Gerraty. |
A Reflection on the 2009 NutcrackerFrom the School AdministratorThe lights dim, and the pluck of violins alerts the audience into a collective hush, their faces turned towards the curtains soon to unfurl. Behind this scene, a stagehand takes his final pass with the broom, scattering the remaining dancers who test the stage with a final pirouette. Performers wait in the wings, lost in introspect, while others take advantage of the upgrade in flexibility their nervous energy provides. We all have our rituals. Places are taken, curtains rise, and for the evening we are united by the task at hand. Does the show go off without a hitch? An apt phrase by the painter Bob Ross supplies an answer; "We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents." On a more serious note, I have had many recent opportunities to reflect upon the mission of Western Ballet, and to consider the ways in which we might deepen and expand it through programs that serve our community, providing a sanctuary where young and old alike can pursue their passion for dance. Our recent production of The Nutcracker shows that we are off to a fine start in the pursuit of our endeavors. Hundreds of hours of planning and work volunteered by parents and Western Ballet students, time freely given by our teachers to train and coach their dancers, and the positive environment maintained by our students, staff, and parents conspired to provide yet another opportunity for Western Ballet to thrive. I am proud of the work that we accomplished together, and I look forward to all of the ways we will continue to honor our mission!
Recently, I came across a Hopi Indian wisdom saying that, like all great truths, captivates its listener through simplicity: "To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak." So, our hearts have the chance to speak every time we take the stage, every time we take class, and when we watch an artist we are invited to listen! Just as important, when we support organizations like Western Ballet, we give others the opportunity to allow their hearts to speak. Thank you to our dedicated teachers, parents, and students for sharing your gifts and talents with us - together, we create a welcoming environment that supports the artistic growth of many! Robin Zeleznik, School Administrator |
Student SpotlightElise FiloI was four years old when I started ballet at New Orleans Dance Academy. In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, so we evacuated out to the Bay Area to be with family. We decided to stay in the Bay Area because New Orleans was in ruins; my parents had lost their jobs and my school was under water. I enrolled in seventh grade at Menlo School, and then started my search for a ballet school. I joined a studio in Redwood City called AAB where they were holding auditions for The Nutcracker. I was welcomed and learned a lot during my time there. But after one and a half years I wanted to find a larger studio with a pre-professional ballet track. I did some drop-in classes at various studios in the Bay Area and chose Western Ballet. I was in eighth grade when I joined Western, and since then I have been with Western for three years. I am currently sixteen years old and a junior at Menlo School.
My goal is to become a professional dancer with a company; Western has really helped me in working towards this goal. One of the qualities of Western that I appreciate is the individual attention and encouragement we receive in classes and rehearsals. Western's focus on performances has also made a large impact on the improvement of my dancing. Everything I have performed with Western has pushed me technically and mentally, allowing me to improve at greater lengths during the year. One of the unique qualities of Western is the chance to work on partnering. Another unique quality of Western is its nurturing environment. I feel that we are pushed to do our best and work our hardest, but having the atmosphere that everyone cares for the all-around well-being of each other is a really important quality of Western. Western continues to help me grow towards achieving my goals while enjoying my passion for dance. |
Faculty SpotlightAlejandro Gomez
Alejandro took a break after teaching Sunday morning class at WB to talk about joining Western Ballet, how he got involved in ballet and some of the challenges and rewards of teaching. WB: How did you become involved with teaching? AG: Around 15 – 16 years, ago, the director of the Institute Superior de Danza, where I had trained, asked me to substitute for a teacher, because he said it was a good way to encourage people. WB: When did you first begin teaching at WB? AG: In May, 2008. WB: What classes do you teach? AG: I teach beginning, intermediate, advanced and pointe for adults. For the youth students I teach advanced/point and pas de deux. WB: Describe a typical day of teaching. AG: I usually prepare an hour before class begins according to the level and the type of students that I have. WB: What do you mean by type of students you have? AG: It depends on the age of the student. Young children you have to entertain them, play with them and teach at the same time. Adults don’t need to be entertained. Youth students you have to adjust to the different personalities because they all have individual needs. You have to know them personally and adapt the class to their needs.
WB: What are some of the challenges and rewards of teaching? AG: The main challenge is inspiring people and motivating them. WB: How do you do that? AG: I try to make exercises that are challenging and fun for the students. Also, I try to make everyone feel comfortable in the class so they can give their best. I also try to set personal goals for each student, track their progress and continue to adjust the goal based on their progress. As for rewards, for me to see that people are satisfied when the class is over, that they learned something and they feel happy with what they just accomplished, is very rewarding. Obviously, compliments that the students give me after class are very nice to hear! WB: Describe some memorable experience teaching at WB. AG: One person said to me when the class was over that she was never able to turn except when she is taking my classes. There was also a very memorable experience where I was teaching a class of children, and in the middle of the class one of the kids came to me and hugged me.
WB: Could you provide a brief description of your involvement with ballet, including early training, professional experience and how you became involved with teaching? AG: I was in college and was almost 19 years old when I started taking ballet. A friend of mine was taking class, and I went to observe. I wanted to take one class - just to try. The teacher gave me a big compliment after this class and I started taking more classes and noticed that ballet was cultivating me in a way that regular college classes did not. So I started taking more ballet classes and taking fewer academic classes. After two years I auditioned for a professional company in Venezuela and they accepted me as an apprentice. It was the moment when I decided to quit college and concentrate 100% on ballet. WB: What was your most memorable performing experience? AG: 12 years ago, I was scheduled to perform with Zhandra Rodriguez (the most renowned ballerina of Venezuela) at the most important festival in Brazil, where she was to receive recognition for her contribution to dance. Because she got sick at the festival, we could only rehearse two hours before the show - and we had to perform to a theatre that was filled to capacity with 5,000 people! WB: How was the performance? AG: Excellent! The audience was amazing! The reviews were wonderful and we had also a live interview after the show that was televised. WB: What was your most amusing performing experience? AG: Once when we were touring in America, we had to dance a piece where we had to run around the stage with our heads inclined toward the ceiling. One of the dancers was running with his head up and he disappeared! He had fallen into the pit. He wasn’t hurt. WB: Thank you very much for your time, Alejandro. AG: My pleasure! Rachel O'Ryan, Interviewer Yvonne Cheng, Photography |
The Nutcracker is a 'Family Affair'The Lee FamilyDiana Lee is no stranger to Western Ballet's production of The Nutcracker. She and her husband, Colin, have worked as parent-volunteers for the show since 2004. Lee made her performance debut as Mrs. Tannenbaum in the Party Scene of Act I. This year, she and her husband, along with their daughters, 10-year-old Helena and 6-year-old Sabrina, danced and assisted in the production as a family. Regarding her family's five years of participation in The Nutcracker, Lee reflects that in the beginning, "We understood how fortunate we were to be part of such a wonderful production and, not wanting to take this opportunity for granted, Colin and I were eager to volunteer. Little did I realize how rewarding it would be." The Nutcracker is about family. As children, many parents performed in The Nutcracker, and now their children are dancing in the ballet. Alexi Zubiría, Artistic Director of Western Ballet, states, "It is a joy to have entire families participate in our production. For the 2009 Nutcracker it was delightful to see Diana Lee dance the roles of Mrs. Tannenbaum and one of the Arabian princesses, to see Colin play Mother Ginger and their daughters Helena and Sabrina dance as a solder and a mouse in the Battle Scene. This was a family affair and will be a great memory for them. We love having families participate in our productions." While Lee enjoyed her experience performing in both acts, she remarks, "This last year when I was in the first and second acts and it was not realistic for me to chaperone, I found myself visiting the kids' dressing room. I really missed it!" Offering a bit of encouragement to newcomers, Colin muses, "I am not a ballet person. I cannot touch my toes, and graceful is not my middle name. Yet somehow I was convinced to do the role of Mother Ginger for some of this past year's show. It was more fun than I could have imagined. To be right in the middle of the production was a great way to experience and appreciate the hard work all the kids put into each show, and I really enjoyed being on stage with my daughter Helena (a Ginger 'Cookie'). Our younger daughter Sabrina had a very cute role in the Battle Scene, and I have to say it was more fun to give her high-fives backstage immediately following than to have watched it from the audience. Yep, you don't have to speak French to be in ballet, you just have to be willing to 'dress up' a little." Western Ballet is an institution where families are encouraged and welcomed to participate in a variety of aspects from performing to assisting with productions. As Mr. Zubiría states, "For decades, parents have helped us with the marley, lights and stage-crew activities. We thank them all." Robin Zeleznik, School Administrator |
Thank you to our wonderful 2009 Nutcracker Volunteers! Your service was an invaluable gift to Western Ballet! |
Calendar of Upcoming Events2/7: Adult Choreography Workshop Begins 2/15: Presidents Day Break; no Youth Program Classes 2/21-27: Observation Week 2/27: Western Ballet's Town Meeting 3/4: Spring Gala Participation Fees Due; Tuition Payment 4 Due 4/1-4/4: Spring Break; no Youth Program Classes 4/24: Western Ballet hosts BANDW performance at 2 p.m. 5/2: Children's Recital at Woodside High School 5/12: Muriel Mafre's Master Class 5/16: Spring Gala Performance at Foothill College 7/5-29: Summer Intensive Program |
$25,00 Matching Grant Funds Vital ProjectsSo, how is your gift utilized when you make a contribution to Western Ballet? Your support to the Matching Grant Fundraiser will allow us to continue our mission of service in the following ways: - Sponsor newly choreographed works for Youth and Open Program Students. - Share ballet with underserved members of our community through outreach programs, performances, and by providing scholarships to study. - Enhance the space in Studio 1 to serve as a venue for small productions and performances. |
Save the Date!YOU are invited to attend Western Ballet's Town Meeting on Saturday, February 27 at 3:30 p.m. in Studio 1. We will review goals, objectives, and plans for the growth and expansion of Western Ballet. Your thoughts, ideas, and opinions are important to us, so please take the opportunity to actively participate in making our dance community vibrant and strong! |
Quick Statistics:Goal = $25,000 Amount Raised = $6,900 Dates: December 2009 through May 2010 Western Ballet is a nonprofit organization, so your donation is tax deductible! |
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914 N. Rengstorff Ave., Unit A, Mountain View, CA 94043 Phone: (650) 968-4455 Email: info@westernballet.org |