Cirque du Soleil : La Nouba

For those of you who live in Orlando or are planning on visiting Orlando, you should take a trip to Downtown Disney and check out the best show they have to offer! Cirque du Soleil: Nouba has go to be the best show I've seen by far! I got the tickets as a Christmas present two years ago and have been dying to go back ever since! This show has everything you could want in it, ballet dancers, a juggler (which was featured on the Ellen Degeneres show), high wire, diablos (which are little Asian girls playing with yoyos, as they call them, throwing them in the air, an amazing sight), bike riders (boy were they crazy, they were jumping over people, on stairs, wow something I would be caught dead before trying), arial ballet, etc.

The tickets however are very expensive, but it really is worth every penny, my boyfriend, who isn't a huge dance fan and was kind of dragging his feet to see this show, was even impressed by everything these artists could do.

Doing what they do takes a lot of skill and practice, so if you don't have respect for these performers than well, you're crazy!

According to the website, "A door opens and two worlds collide. Enter the attic of make-believe, where the mundane meets the marvellous. Dreams and nightmares intertwine. La Nouba which calls on both individual and collective memory, is an unforgettable journey into a world at once threatening and exhilarating, frightening and familiar. La Nouba beckons to us, challenges us to uncover passions we thought we had lost long ago; to frolic in our childhood dreams and enter a place where the extraordinary transforms and overcomes the ordinary. La Nouba is the meeting of two worlds poles apart: the fantastic world of the circus artists–the Cirques (circus people), sporting bright, fluorescent colours–and that of the Urbains (urbanites), who wear dark, monochromatic outfits. When these two worlds first make contact, the magic and amazing feats of the one set fire to the pale mundanity of the other."

If you read the reviews that audience members have given you will see that my boyfriend and I weren't the only ones impressed with the show!

Cirque du Soleil : Alegria

For those of you readers who aren't into sitting through a 2 plus hour long ballet show but still love to watch dancing, then I have something that intrigue you. Cirque Du Soleil is a mixture of dance and circus! I haven't yet had the chance to Alegria that will be arriving at the Bank Atlantic Center starting July 20, but I was giving the pleasure of seeing another Cirque performance! For those of you who have never heard of Cirque, then you really should go check it out, you will be on the edge of your seat the whole show! Tickets prices start out from $110.25 after taxes and go as low as $48.50 after taxes!

Attitude Dancewear

For those dancers who live in Coral Springs, Attitude Dancewear owned by Carlos is the best place to buy your dance needs! He is very personal and will answer any and all questions that you may have! I have known Carlos now for about 7 years and every time I go in there, even if it's just to say hey he has always been helpful and personal. This dance shop is different from Shape Shop, which I wrote about in my last blog because they have certain point shoes that the other one doesn't carry. Plus Carlos has a great relationship with the dance studios in that area, such as Magda's and International Ballet Academy.


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This plaza is located next to a movie theater and office depot among others! So why not get your shopping and movie going out of the way at the same time! So if you're willing to make the trip down, I know Carlos will make it the best trip for you! And if you're worried about the distance don't be because this dancewear shop is the best out there!

Shape Shop

For those of you dancers, joggers, yoga buff and work out junkies living in Boca Raton boy do I have the place for you. Shape Shop located just west of the Turnpike has all your needs! From praise dance outfits to point shoes they have you covered. This locally owned dance studio, which used to be located just south of Glades Road on the Turnpike, has the best offers in Boca. All dance wear is 10% off and workout is 20%. Plus personally knowing the owner this is the best service you can get! I grew up going to Shape Shop for all my dancing needs and I have always had quick and attentive service, and they were also personal with me. Right when I walked in the door I was greeted, "Hello Jenna, how are you today?" I would answer right back, "Hello [employees name], I'm fine and you?" Of course all the employees I knew are now gone and have families of their own, but the staff they have now is just as friendly as before! So put down your mouse, jump in your car and head down to Shape Shop for all of your dance and workout needs!


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Not only does it have everything you need for dance, but Jewels dance is right next door, along with a gym, shoe outlet store, home goods, plus plenty of yummy restaurants!

Enjoy!

Other studios

If hardcore, strict ballet teaching isn't your style, then there are other studios out there for you, especially in Boca Raton.

The first studio is one that has many memories for me! When I moved to Boca when I was four I had to find a new studio in order to continue my love for dancing. My mom stumbled upon Dance Academy of Boca Raton. When I attended here it was run by Ms. Shirly, however several years ago it was bought by someone else. This dance school has some interesting history within Boca Raton. It was established in 1963 and is the oldest dance school in Boca. They are currently accepting applications for fall registration. Call (561) 395-4797

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The second dance studio is Jewles Dance. This company is where I got my start, at least for a year, in competition dance. This studio wasn't one of my favorites due to the fact that with my extensive training I felt like I wasn't going anywhere. This studio is a good starting place for those who want to learn to dance and don't want to make it their life. One good thing I did see on their website was that Billy Bell from So You Think You Can Dance and a friend of mine from Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts is a guest teacher there! I'm trying to get more information on when he will be back to teach a class. Once I obtain that information, I'll get it to you!

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Another studio in Boca that I'm not too familiar with is Mrs. P's Dance & Acrobatic. I do know that they are dance studio who competes are local compeitions, other than that the website has been helpful in telling me more about this studio.

This studio is different from the rest because they don't offer juts ballet. They offer:

• Ballet
• Pointe
• Jazz
• Tap
• Acrobatics
• Hip Hop
• Musical Theater
• Lyrical
• Voice
• Modern

As a dancer I don't know why a dance studio would offer voice lessons because you NEVER use your voice in dance, but okay then!

This dance studio, like all the others, has a dress code, but this dress code is something I have never seen. For jazz and tap you are only allowed to wear tan shoes. That seems strange to me. I guess if I were to go back to dancing, this studio wouldn't be the one for me.


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Best dance school in Fort Lauderdale

Magda Aunon School of Classical Ballet in Florida Lauderdale was one of the best experiences with dance that I have ever had. Granted it is also the place where my horrible injury happened when I was 12, but that's another story. I attended Magda's for four years and spent those years learning point and perfecting my technique.


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This school is hard to find, but once you do and take a class you will never want to leave.

Magda is an old school ballet teacher, but what she does really works. She kicks your butt and makes you work hard, but in the end you will love her for it.

At least when I was there the studio had no air conditioning, I don't know if it's the same today, but she does open the garage door so air gets let in.

Beg. for adults are Tuesday from 7P.M. to 8P.M.

I'm actually thinking of taking this class again, just so I could maybe get back into ballet! So hopefully if I come out, I'll see you guys there!

A different form of dance

Most of my blogs in the past have covered things about either ballet, jazz or modern. But I am leaving out a totally different form of dance all together. Most people wouldn't consider it dance due to the loud nature. But in my opinion both of these shows are a form of dance, just one in their own way. I had the privilege of seeing both these companies perform at the Kravis Center within the past 4 years.

The first show is STOMP. I know that this doesn't look very dancingish, but however, dance is defined as

1. To move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, esp. to the accompaniment of music.

Now you tell me if you think this is dancing or not?

Granted they aren't in costumes or dance shoes, but that doesn't make the dancer.

STOMP along with TAP DOGS use different items to make sounds and aren't very conventional.

In STOMP they use 30 brooms, 8 trash can lids, 1 tall bin (in the UK), 5 short bins (in the US), 10 6ft 6in poles, 15 pounds of sand, 4 blocks of athlete's chalk, 12 pairs of drumsticks, 200 Litres of water, 8 bananas, and 12 boxes of matches.

For those of you in FL who want to see STOMP it will be in Ft. Myeres, April 29 to May 1.

Now onto Tap Dogs which is different but yet similar to STOMP.


With Tap Dogs, they have a purpose. They are construction workers who are trying to build something, but yet have fun while doing it. They use so many different objects to make noises, including their tap shoes. They use water, beams, basketballs, those things that make sparks fly when touching metal among others.

Tap Dogs is based out of Australia and you can also attend school there and learn how to do what they do. Unfortunately, it is a male dominated company, but they do offer different classes, such as:

• Tap
• Hip Hop
• Boys Ballet
• Jazz
• Acrobatics

They also have the Newcastle Tap Pups.

They also have workshops conducted by Dein Perry who founded Tap Dogs.

The shoes that they wear are very unique and not normal tap shoes. While attending their performance at the Kravis Center we got to attend the lecture before the performance and got to hold the shoes that they wear. They are heavy and bulky, which is no wonder why you have to be a guy to wear these shoes!

If any of you out there have a chance to see either of these performances, I highly recommend you do. I wish they would come back down this way so I can see them again!

For the "modern" dancer

There are many non-traditional dancers out there, and by non-traditional I mean have a love for something other than ballet.

The definition of modern is: A form of contemporary theatrical and concert dance employing a special technique for developing the use of the entire body in movements expressive of abstract ideas.

A brief background on who Alvin Ailey is and why this company is named after him.
He was born Jan. 5, 1930 and was an American choreographer and activist. He founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York. He is creditited with popularizing modern dance and revolutionizing African- American participation in 20th century concert dance.

On March 20 at the Queen Elizabeth Theater in Canada the Alvin Alley American Dance Theater will be performing four different dances. The show starts at 2

• Anointed
• In/Side
• Dancing Spirit
• Revelations (This is the picture that I have at the top of the page)

Not only will they be performing but they will also be holding public and professional classes as well.

On Friday March 25, the company will be back performing in the United States with Ailey II
They will be performing in Ardmore, Oklahoma at 7pm. Tickets prices range from free to $20. If you are a membership box office: Tuesday, March 1 tickets are free, but it's open to the gemeral public, Tuesday, March 15 and are $10 for students and $20 for adults. I have never seen the Tuesday with the date next to it, but I'm assuming that means it's the date the tickets go on sale.

On March 25, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will be performing in Seattle, Washington at 8pm.

For those of us who live in Florida, it's very rare they actually do come down here, but if you want to see them perform at all, you can go to your public library and rent one of their performances on either VHS or DVD, or if you're willing to spend the money, go on their website find a show in a city you would like to visit and watch them live!

A summer/Fall-Spring Dance School

For all you dancers who want to become more serious about their dancing, then boy do I have the program for you. The Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida has one of the most acclaimed dance programs in Boca. They are a local high school that focuses solely on dance, for your academic classes you attend Spanish River High School.

Of course like most schools they have a criteria for attending their school.

For the summer:

• Must be in grades 8-11 (You can submit a DVD if you're an international student
• A physique possessing the various attributes that are generally required for professional accomplishment in ballet
• A reasonable level and quality of prior ballet training
• A significant level of talent
• Exempary work habits and deportment
• A history of consistent academic achievement at an average or above-average level
• Satisfactory medical history

Auditions for this past summer have already passed, but you can use the same information for next year. I don't know if they have different dates for the Academic Year, but according to how this looks, it seems like they do it in the winter as well.

It costs $20 for the audition fee. Plus you must bring a dance photo (tendue to second position and arms are in second as well). Registration begins 30 minutes prior to audition.

This is not only true for their school auditions, but for other summer intensive dance programs as well, which are held at the Harid as well during the winter!

I wish everyone good luck, and wish this could have been me, but with my injury, that wasn't going to happen!


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A new local performance

Starting April 14 to the 16 the Kravis Center Presents the Koresh Dance Company. Having never heard of this company, nor knowing what kind of dance they do I found it interesting to see what kind of dancing they do. According to the information on the Kravis Center's Website, "Under the dynamic wing of Israeli-born choreographer and artistic director Ronen Koresh, Philadelphia's Koresh Dance Company is among the most original forces in contemporary dance. Critically acclai,ed for its exuberant, athletic and eclectic repertoire, this high-energy company displays unparalleled versatility and virtuosity in performances that range from exlposive and passionate to intimate and restrained. 'A vibrant ensemble that offered non-stop dynamism throughout it
s performance." This game from the Denver Post.

If you, as an audience member want to learn more about the company and what they do, or ask them any questions. Feel free to go to their free discussion by Steven Caras on April 14 at 6:15.

This show will be on:

• Thursday, April 14 at 7:30 P.M.
• Friday, April 15 at 7:30 P.M.
• Saturday, April 16 at 2:00 P.M.
• Saturday, April 16 at 7:30 P.M.

For those of you in Phili and want to go check out this dance school go check it out and let me know:
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Let's go over seas for a bit

So for those of you who wish that they could go to Russia to experience their culture compared to ours pr for those of you who are in Russia and want to experience American culture and how their art forms differ from yours, especially the ballet styles. Well whatever your case is, fret no more, the American Ballet Theater will be heading over to Russia March 29 to perform 4 different dances. They will be performing at the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia in Moscow starting at 7.


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On March 29 and March 31 they dancers will be the same and on March 30 the second cast will be performing.

After this series is over they will be taking a break until May where they will be performing at the Metropolitan Opera House until July 9. July 14-17 they will be at the Los Angeles Music Center-Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The from July 21-28 they will be in Tokyo, Japan at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and on July 30 they will be in Nyogo, Japan at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center.

Our prayers will be with them when they travel to Japan with the recent crisis of the earthquakes.