reporter once asked if I was proud of a particular student Creative Therapy Champaign Urbana Ballet who had gone on to dance professionally. I found it a Michelle Ziegler literally grew up at in to the Athletico office for treatment. (When That first year back in Chicago, she didn’t Ballet. “I was in shock when I got that role,” she A perform. “The running joke in Champaign was strange question, and difficult to answer because it implied that CU Ballet. There from the company’s very we spoke, she was going to be backstage for remembers. “It was my first time ever really beginning, she started at age 13 and worked opening night!) that every show was going to be my last,” she partnering and I was so scared to do the lifts!” I was not equally proud of my other students. I wanted to tell the her way through her high school and college Of course, she works too with non-dancers recalls. “This is my last Nutcracker. This is my last reporter about all of the wonderful children I have taught over years from the corps to her last hurrah as a of different patient ages. “I enjoy working with spring show…and it just kept going.” Ironically, Common Truths the years, and how each of them is fulfilling their potential in Sugar Plum Fairy with an independent streak the older population,” she says. One of her older in the last few years she has performed with the Even in their variety of careers, these women The different fields. (she didn’t need a cavalier!) and a job as Ballet clients is a former dancer, so Ziegler incorporated North Shore School of Dance, Ballet North and is all have two things in common. “All three were Well, that wasn’t the time to have that discussion, Mistress. a ballet floor barre into the therapy. That flexibility rehearsing now to perform in the Civic Ballet of very hard workers,” says Doty. The other is Doty Chicago’s The Nutcracker. but now it is! “I loved starting with the company. It was and intuitiveness she credits to CU Ballet. herself. Each claims her as a positive influence this brand new thing and no one knew where Heatter looks back on her time with CU I’m pleased to present this issue of Nouvelles du Ballet and keeps in touch with her as much as their it was going to go,” says Ziegler, 26. Ballet fondly. Starting out with smaller parts highlighting a few of our former students. Whether they have busy lives allow. “We were all there and just excited in the corps, she worked on her technique “It’s really cool that I get to see them as they leeping chosen ballet as a career, a hobby, or as an inspiration, each has to do whatever we got to do. It’s and ended up with lead soloist roles like S move through their lives,” Doty says. “They learn used their ballet training to achieve their goals. CU Ballet alumni fascinating to see how far it has Rose Queen and the Marie Taglioni part how to teach classes, to coach…they’re not are talented dancers and doctors, thespians and therapists, come in 12 years.” in Pas de Quatre, but her favorite roles learning just how to dance, but how to be a included Rat Queen in The Nutcracker and graduate students and working professionals. When Ziegler started college, professional worker, good citizens and to give she stopped dancing to focus on Carabosse in The Sleeping Beauty. It is a great joy in my life to see our children thrive, and I am back to their community. her studies. She quickly found “I liked the more comedic parts…funny Sometimes people are under the impression proud of each and every one of them. she was bored with the lab work or evil parts,” says Heatter. “There’s more to Beauty that I want all of these kids to be dancers, but do with those parts.” Deanna Doty related to a biology degree and at nothing could be further from the truth. I hope artistic director a crossroad in her life. After taking The thing she remembers most is how all of my students find happiness in what they an anatomy class, something everyone in the company was supportive May 7-8, 2011 are doing.” Virginia Theatre clicked. “I thought it would be of one another and that it felt like a family. These three alumnae, in particular, have interesting to be able to fix some of no complaints. When asked what they learned the problems I had when I danced,” Big Influences from Doty’s tutelage, the dancers couldn’t say Tickets available she says. Recurring problems (shin Devon Teuscher, the youngest of the enough. beginning March 1 splints, stress fractures and plantar trio, only danced with the company for a “I was formed by her,” says Ziegler. Heatter fasciitis) had her going to physical short time before moving back to the east agrees. “It’s impressive…the quality of the therapy, but it was frustrating. coast, but its impact on her was great. At dancers coming through the company and “You’d have some guy that was age nine, though rough around the edges, the patience she has to actually train everyone a former football player trying to she already showed great promise and an from the beginning,” she says. “She taught us treat a dance injury,” she recalls. insatiable willingness to learn. that hard work and persistence will pay off in “They have no idea what we do.” “Teach me,” Doty recalls Teuscher saying, the end, whether working your way up from the Act Four Ziegler took the prerequisite and likens her thirst for knowledge to a corps to soloist or going for that extra turn or coursework for a physical therapy sponge. getting into vet school.” degree, but wasn’t sure she was Her natural talent for turning had her Ziegler adds, “Deanna was very logical After the final bow, the curtain comes ready. Re-enter CU Ballet and whipping off 32 consecutive fouettes by and straightforward with her teaching and Artistic Director Deanna Doty, the age of 12, a feat some dancers still corrections. It just made sense.” who offered her the Ballet Mistress Susan Heatter, a veterinarian and freelance ballerina strive to accomplish. “I find turning to be Teuscher also looked up to Ziegler and down amidst applause. Some moments holds a favorite patient, Nacho Papa. position which had her dancing, teaching, one of my favorite things to do when I dance,” Heatter as teachers. “I attribute almost all of my coaching and choreographing. Under this she says. basic training to Deanna and the dancers there from the performance stick with you: new partnership, Ziegler honed her analytical Taking Her Bow(-wow) Now 21, she is a member of the corps de at the time. Had it not been for their knowledge, teaching skills by learning from Doty. Susan Heatter, 30, like Ziegler, took a scien- ballet for the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in time, and talent, I would not be where I am “She was always so gifted at knowing how an amazing pas de deux, a young girl tific route with her life. For nine years, she danced New York City. today.” She adds, “Deanna has always told me to to get the most out of each student even with CU Ballet while getting her undergrad “It is often daunting at how large and just stay true to myself…to first and foremost, though everyone was so different,” Ziegler says degree in Animal Sciences and her Doctorate of historic the company is, but that makes being remember who I am. That has and always will in the corps, an inspiring solo, or just an of Doty. “I think that has helped me a lot in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at the University of part of it that much more of an honor,” she says. stick with me.” physical therapy…knowing how to cater what Illinois. After graduating in 2007, she moved back “I feel so grateful to be able to take class and - Vicki Crain I’m doing to the needs of that person and the infectious smile. to her hometown of Chicago where she works at rehearse with some of the famous dancers who Vicki Crain is a freelance arts and culture writer in ability to educate and to teach. Even though it’s Clark-N-Oak Animal Health Center, a Gold Coast inspired me to dance when I was young.” Chicago, Illinois. Her work has appeared in numerous in a different way, it’s still teaching movement.” publications, including Dance Magazine and blogs at or whatever reason, you sense something Three alumni dancers have taken the animal hospital. And, she is still dancing. Currently, she’s busy with rehearsals for ABT’s Now at the end of her studies at http://rogueballerina.wordpress.com. “Right after I got back, I went to Ruth Page world premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s version of special in certain dancers and follow training, technique and discipline learned from Northwestern University (she will receive her F (School of Dance) and started taking adult class The Nutcracker. Teuscher will be dancing in the them from show to show, season to season. their time at Champaign Urbana Ballet and Doctorate of Physical Therapy, DPT), she finds with Birute (Barodicaite),” she says. [Interesting Snow Scene, Dance of the Mirlitons, Arabian Photos in this issues of Nouvelles du Ballet by Eventually, casts change; new blood is brought Champaign Ballet Academy and turned those herself once again in the world of dance. Her side note: Ms. Barodicaite, known as “Chicago’s variation and Waltz of the Flowers. A typical day Dan Merlo. into the ballet family, and familiar favorites qualities into creative professional careers. clinical rotation has her working with Athletico, ballet teacher,” has taught pretty much everyone. begins with company class at 10:15 a.m. and On the cover: Michelle Ziegler in front of the Joffrey decide to move on. Michelle Ziegler, Susan Heatter and Devon a Midwest therapeutic rehabilitation clinic If you dance in Chicago, you’ve taken a class from then rehearsals until 7:00 p.m. Ballet studios in Chicago, Illinois. Where do they go? What do they do? Teuscher took different paths, but dance is that is the official physical therapy provider for Birute. Former students include none other than She’s come a long way from getting her Left: Devon Teuscher of ABT in her 2004 return to the Joffrey Ballet. Ziegler works at the Joffrey What is their next act? still a major influence in their lives. Michelle Ziegler and Deanna Doty!] first big part as Clara in The Nutcracker at CU CU Ballet as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Tower studios twice a week and dancers come