To the Pointe!

Volume IX Issue 1 The Louisville Academy of Dance celebrates the Dancing During a Pandemic art of dance. We offer the finest in dance in- struction for , jazz, tap and modern. The By: Kristen Wenrick Louisville Academy of Dance is the home of River City Ballet, a 501c(3) pre-professional dance company that provides training and It was surreal when I said good-bye to my Academy E/F class that Tuesday performance opportunities for young dancers. night as we received the news that we would have to quarantine in our homes for an Address: unknown period of time. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was 9:15 and they Louisville Academy of Dance were sitting on the floor after finishing 3600 Chamberlain Ln Suite #354 the Stretch and Strengthen segment of Louisville, KY 40241 their Tuesday routine. After I told Contact: them, no one made a motion to gather LAD: [email protected] RCB: [email protected] their things, as if to affirm that if they didn’t, they could stay and we could Online: continue to dance at the studio. Four LAD: http://ladballet.com RCB: http://www.rivercityballet-ky.org days later we were looking at each other Phone: 502.425.7454 through a computer screen going about our class exercises amidst glitches, fro- zen screens and sound checks. Yet we In This Issue: persevered despite the frustration, dis- Dancing During a Pandemic 1 appointment and isolation. Coming to- Performances in Review 3 2018 and 19 Nutcracker gether with the students and seeing 2018 and 19 Nutcracker Tea 2018 Spring Showcase their smiling faces was the highlight of my days during quarantine and I never took Announcements 6 that time for granted, being so grateful to have this technology that could bring us The 2020 Nutcracker and Cinderella Donations and Thank you. together. Had this happened when I was their age, we would have had nothing. My Senior Spotlights 8 gratitude to our dedicated faculty took on new perspectives, not only for the won- Iliana Rich Bethany Roup derful teaching which they continued to impart during this time, but also for lifting Charlotte Wright the spirits of the dancers and giving them something positive to focus on, even Dancer Q & A 14 though we were all feeling the discouragement of the quarantine. Building a Home Studio Floor 19 Meet the New Faculty 21 Deana Hall Annie Honebrink Trusting your Ballet Teacher 25 Alumni News 27 Our Students 29

Editor: Steven Jent Volume IX 2 Issue I 2020

It is a testament to the human spirit (which we all have) to persevere against the odds and limitations imposed on us and progress to find the good and the positive. The Summer Olympics were to be held in Tokyo this past summer. Did the athletes shake their heads and throw up their hands in defeat and disap- pointment when they went into quarantine? No! They developed unique and inventive training ideas that helped them to stay in shape to compete, not only physically, but mentally. From Austria to New Zealand (where it was 3 a.m.) there were the 300 synchronized swimmers at work, sustaining contorted posi- tions on their mats while encouraging one another. There was the slalom canoeist who trained in his swimming pool by teth- ering his canoe with a long rubber strap made from bicycle tires to a palm tree and paddling in the pool against the resistance. From fencers who parried with a tennis ball hanging from a string in their garage to javelin throwers who threw a metal pipe (repurposed from a wedding cake stand) up a cable in their backyard, these athletes, along with so many others, gave us inspira- tion and a sense of camaraderie during these trying times. Back at Louisville Academy of Dance, we walked into the studio for in- person classes at the beginning of June. It felt so good to be together again, even with the restrictions of wearing masks and maintaining six feet between each other. The students quickly learned how to breath and dance in a mask and soon were about their usual business of danc- ing normally, but with face coverings. The progress in their dancing during the summer was a joy to behold. Never before had I seen dancers so committed and focused and hungry to improve. Never before had I seen dancers so grateful for what they never thought in their wildest dreams could ever be taken from them. Volume IX 3 Issue I 2020

Performance in review 2018 & 2019

Artistic Director: Kristen Wenrick The Clifton Center December 9, 2018 December 8, 2019 Volume IX 4 Issue I 2020

Performance in review

2018 & 2019 Nutcracker Tea Volume IX 5 Issue I 2020

Performance in review

2019 “Spring Showcase” River City Ballet

Artistic Director: Kristen Wenrick

Volume IX 6 Issue I 2020

River City Ballet Presents

River City Ballet is excited to be presenting our annual Nutcracker performance, “The Gift of the Nut- cracker”. River City Ballet will be performing this holiday classic on Sunday, December 6, at 3:00 at the Clifton Center. Our shortened version will feature the dancers of River City Ballet, the youth performing company of Louisville Academy of Dance and guest dancers from our younger divisions.

In addition to , River City Ballet will be presenting select pieces from the ballet Cinderella, with the music of Sergei Prokofiev.

Come join us for a day of theater and fun. Ticket information was emailed to all LAD students. DATE: Sunday, December 6th The advanced ticket sales deadline is Tuesday, November 24. TIME: 3:00 PM PLEASE MAKE OUT ALL CHECKS TO "RIVER CITY BALLET". We look for- LOCATION: The Clifton Center ward to seeing you at the show! Volume IX 7 Issue I 2020

Announcements

The year 2020 came with many difficulties and we at the Louisville Academy of Dance would like to thank the many donors that contributed to our scholarship fund. This fund helped to ensure that several of our hard working dancers could continue to take part in the instruction that we provide. During this time we received donations John & Lexi Eagles as well as seven anonymous donations.

If anyone is interested in contributing to the fund to make scholarships available for Session 2, please reach out to Kristen.

Many of the recipients reached out to us wishing to thank all of those that contributed.

Fellow Ballet Parents, We would like to thank all of those who contributed to the summer ballet scholarship. This scholarship al- lowed our daughter to continue her dancing which she truly loves. Without this, she would not have had the op- portunity to participate in her most important extracurricular activity. We are very grateful for your generosity. Sincerely, Very Thankful Parents

Thanks to everyone for helping to fund the dance scholarship. Our daughter was extremely thankful to have this opportunity and experience. Our family was very happy to see the dance community rally during this very unfortunate pandemic. We look forward to the opportunity to give back in the future. Thank you! A Happy Dancer's Mom & Dad

Kristen,

We want you to know how much we appreciate your efforts and that of Louisville Academy of Dance in making excellent ballet instruction available to our daughter. We feel certain that her enjoyment of ballet comes from being under your particular direction and at- tention. Your care in helping us to access scholarship money so that she may participate in classes was wonderful for us and gave her a great opportunity to grow in her confidence with dance.

With affection, Appreciative Parents

Volume IX 8 Issue I 2020

Compiled By: Pam Lundquist

Senior Spotlight: 10 Questions with Iliana Rich

Iliana is 17 years old, has been dancing since she was 3, and has not stopped since! She started dancing with Louisville Academy of Dance/River City Ballet when she was 15 and has danced with them for the last 3 years. Iliana is currently a senior at Spencer County High School.

At what age did you go on pointe?

I was 11 years old.

How many pointe shoes do you go through in a month?

I go through 3-4 pairs per month.

How many days per week do you dance?

I dance 6 days per week. Volume IX 9 Issue I 2020

What Summer Intensives (SI) have you attend- ed?

I have attended SI for 3 years, Kentucky Governors School for the Arts, and Cecchetti Council of America’s SI

What is/are your favorite dance Instagram ac- count(s) to follow?

@skylarbrandt, @marachok, @dailydancermemes, @balleddanseur, @ballet.addiction

Have you danced competitively?

I have danced competitively for 7 years. My favorite style was Jazz, and I even had multiple solos.

Have you every been injured in a practice or in a performance, how did it affect you?

I had extensor tendinitis this past Nutcracker 2019 season. I sat out for about 8 weeks and wasn’t able to perform.

What do you think is the key to success in dancing?

The key to success is your own little victories and goals set for yourself to achieve the big picture (whatever that may be).

Do you have any advice for your fellow LAD dancers?

You’re not going to be perfect, and you’re going to have those bad days. Success is landing that triple pirouette you’ve worked hard for. Success is enjoyment of your craft and accomplishing goals along the way.

What are your future plans?

I plan on attending college and double majoring in dance - ballet focus and finance. After that, I hope to dance with a company, hopefully Cincinnati Ballet. Volume IX 10 Issue I 2020

Senior Spotlight: 10 Questions with Bethany Roup

Bethany is 18 years old, has been dancing since she was 5, and continues to do so! She started dancing with Louisville Academy of Dance/River City Ballet when she was 16 years old and danced with them until she graduated from Oldham County High School last year. Bethany currently attends Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.

At what age did you go on pointe?

I was 12 years old.

How many pointe shoes do you go through in a month?

I wear Freed of London pointe shoes and go through 2 pairs per month.

How many days per week do you dance?

I dance 6 days per week (excluding Saturdays).

What Summer Intensives (SI) have you attended?

I have attended Cincinnati Ballet SI three times, as well as the Cecchetti Council of America’s SI, and the Indiana University Ballet Theater SI.

What is/are your favorite dance Instagram account(s) to follow?

@al.longe. They mostly post vintage videos, which I love to see. Volume IX 11 Issue I 2020

Have you danced competitively?

I did jazz competitions for seven years, and I competed at YAGP last year.

Have you every been injured in a practice or in a performance, how did it affect you?

I have been injured lots of times. The one that has affected me the most is my chronic achilles and soles tendinitis. I’ve dealt with it for over two years now. Having an injury has definitely made me take care of my body better. Now I’m always mindful of how I can keep my body healthy, in and out of class.

What do you think is the key to success in dancing?

I truly believe that the key to success is hard work.

Do you have any advice for your fellow LAD dancers?

There will be days when dancing doesn’t feel good and you don’t want to do it. But the mark of a good dancer is someone who gives 100% of their effort everyday, no matter what.

What are your future plans?

Over the next few years, I plan on getting my career started and joining a , as I complete my degree. Volume IX 12 Issue I 2020

Senior Spotlight: 10 Questions with Charlotte Wright

Charlotte is 19 years old and has been dancing since she was 7. She started dancing with Louisville Academy of Dance/River City Ballet when she was 15. She danced with them until she graduated from Highlands Latin School last May.

At what age did you go on pointe?

I was 11 years old.

How many pointe shoes do you go through in a month?

I went through 1-2 pairs per month.

How many days per week do you dance?

I danced every day of the week except for Sunday.

What Summer Intensives (SI) have you attended?

I’ve attended Indiana University SI, UofL Dance Academy SI and LAD SI

What is/are your favorite dance Instagram account(s) to follow?

@worldwide ballet Volume IX 13 Issue I 2020

Have you danced competitively?

I have never danced competitively.

Have you every been injured in a practice or in a performance, how did it affect you?

I haven’t had any major injuries, but I did struggle with ankle pain which kept me from practicing.

What do you think is the key to success in dancing?

I think the key to success in dancing is not comparing yourself to others.

Do you have any advice for your fellow LAD dancers?

Focus on your own personal growth and improvement, and try to enjoy yourself more than worrying about if you’re better than other dancers.

What are your future plans?

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with dance as of right now, but I know I want to keep it in my life as much as I can. Volume IX 14 Issue I 2020

Ella Brown Dancer Q & A How long have you been dancing? Compiled By: Susanna Westerfield 12 years. What inspires you to dance? Lexi Brown Being able to express myself through movement and the challenge of dancing. How long have you been dancing? What is your favorite style of dance? 13 years. Ballet. What inspires you to dance? What do you find most challenging in class? I love the skills that it gives me. Remembering to keep my shoulders back. What is your favorite style of dance? Do you have a favorite professional dancer? If so, who? Ballet. Tyler Peck. What do you find most challenging in class? Outside of dance, what do you enjoy doing? Adagio. Hanging out with family and friends. Do you have a favorite professional dancer? If so, who? What are your future goals for dance? Misty Copeland. Dance in college and dance professionally. Outside of dance, what do you enjoy doing? What do you like most about Louisville Academy of Dance? Being with my friends. The teachers and other dancers and the challenging classes. What are your future goals for dance?

What advice would you give to a new dance student starting I hope to dance in college. at LAD? What do you like most about Louisville Academy of Dance? Make sure you apply It’s given me a good sense of technique. corrections and don’t get What advice would you give to a new dance student starting frustrated with yourself. at LAD? Take advantage of the opportunities you’ll be given. Volume IX 15 Issue I 2020

Sophia Brown Claire Dennison

How long have you been dancing? How long have you been dancing? 10 years. 8 years. What inspires you to dance? What inspires you to dance? The other dancers. My mom. What is your favorite style of dance? What is your favorite style of Ballet. dance? What do you find most challenging in class? Ballet. Adagio. What do you find most chal- lenging in class? Do you have a favorite professional dancer? If so, who? Adage. Misty Copeland. Do you have a favorite pro- Outside of dance, what do you enjoy doing? fessional dancer? If so, who? Going outside. No. What are your future goals for dance? Outside of dance, what do To keep dancing until college. you enjoy doing?

What do you like most about Louisville Academy of Dance? Piano and reading. The life skills it has given me. What are your future goals for dance? What advice would you give to a Being Clara in the Nutcracker. new dance student starting at What do you like most about Louisville Academy of Dance? LAD? I like the teachers and the other dancers. Push through the hard things in dance because What advice would you give to a new dance student starting it’s worth it. at LAD? Try your best and it is okay to make mistakes. Volume IX 16 Issue I 2020

Lexis Hall Elizabeth Jent

How long have you been dancing? How long have you been dancing? I have been dancing for nine years at LAD. I began dancing What inspires you to dance? when I was 3 years Dance makes me happy more than almost anything. old, so 9 years now. Listening to the music and moving to it takes away the What inspires you to dance? stress. What inspires me to What is your favorite style of dance? dance is the artistic Ballet is my favorite style of dance. expression. When What do you find most challenging in class? I am dancing I feel confident and happy.

I find Adagio the hardest in class because it is slow and What is your favorite style of dance? controlled. I enjoy all the styles of dance but if I had to choose one to Do you have a favorite professional dancer? If so, who? be my favorite it would be ballet.

My favorite professional dancer is Misty Copeland. What do you find most challenging in class?

Outside of dance, what do you enjoy doing? What I find most difficult in class is turns. I find pirouettes especially challenging due to the amount of I don't do a whole lot out of dance but I do love to draw, balance and concentration required. play outside and read books. Do you have a favorite professional dancer? If so, who? What are your future goals for dance? I don't have a favorite professional dancer. They are all My future goal is to go to a dance school/ college and inspiring and it’s hard to choose just one. pursue my dreams. Outside of dance, what do you enjoy doing? What do you like most about Louisville Academy of Dance? Besides dance I enjoy drawing and painting. I really love the community! All of the What are your future goals for dance? students are One of my goals is to perform at the Youth America encouraging and Grand Prix. caring. What do you like most about Louisville Academy of Dance? What advice would you give to a I like the teachers and the community and the friends I've new dance student starting at made. They make the classes fun and enjoyable as well as LAD? challenging. To all new students: LAD is a fun and caring What advice would you give to a new dance student starting at community! Everyone LAD? enjoys LAD and we hope I would tell them: Don't regret your mistakes, learn from you do too! We would them. love it if you joined us! Volume IX 17 Issue I 2020

Ella Lundquist Iliana Rich How long have you been dancing? Around 11 years.

What inspires you to dance? How long have you been dancing? How insanely hard it is. The fact that pushing myself Since I was 3, so 14 years. physically and mentally makes me not only a strong dancer, What inspires you to dance? but a strong person. It’s just a lot of fun! There’s What is your favorite style of dance? always something to work on Ballet. However, over the years my interest in ballet and performing is such a choreography, incorporating modern and contemporary, reward. has increased. What is your favorite style of dance? What do you find most challenging in class? Definitely turning. Ballet/Pointe then Jazz.

Do you have a favorite professional dancer? If so, who? What do you find most challenging in class? Yes, Sara Mearns because she has a similar body type as me Adage most definitely because I’m more of an allegro ( which is more athletically shaped compared to the image dancer, I need to work on my control and extensions. of the classical ballerina). Do you have a favorite professional dancer? If so, who? Outside of dance, what do you enjoy doing? I enjoy clubs at my school and hanging out with all the Natalia Osipova. wonderful people in my life. Outside of dance, what do you enjoy doing?

What are your future goals for dance? I like to hang out with my friends from school or relax at I hope to attend Indiana University after I graduate and home watching Netflix. then land a contract at either Miami City or . What are your future goals for dance? What do you like most about Louisville Academy of Dance? The fact that it is hands down the best training in Louisville I’ll be going to college for dance but after that I plan on and how over the years it has not just become a safe place going into a company! My dream company is Cincinnati but a second home. Ballet.

What advice would you give to a new What do you like most about Louisville Academy of Dance? dance student starting at LAD? I love the teachers and the dancers! The teachers are so Stick with it. Over the years my amazing. They’ve helped me improve so much. The dancers ups and downs and love of are my best friends, we have so many memories and we are dance has shifted, but thanks like family! to the discipline that LAD has What advice would you give to a new dance student starting at given me I continue to dance LAD? and grow as an artist and athlete. Although you may You’re going to have an amazing experience here, be want to give up because of the prepared to work extremely hard every day/class. physical demands of ballet, it is worth the long haul. Volume IX 18 Issue I 2020

Sarah Skarbo Astrid Westerfield

How long have you been dancing? How long have you been dancing? Since I was 4 years old. Since I was four What inspires you to dance? (11 years). I am inspired by Kathleen Meyer ( A former LAD dancer) What inspires you to and the way it makes me feel. dance? What is your favorite style of dance? My passion for it Contemporary and Ballet. and the people What do you find most challenging in class? around me who push me to achieve Trying not to be hard on myself. my goals. Do you have a favorite professional dancer? If so, who? What is your favorite style Naia Parker. of dance?

Outside of dance, what do you Ballet and enjoy doing? Contemporary.

I enjoy jumping on my What do you find most trampoline and hanging challenging in class? out with friends. Catching up on pointe work or petite allegro. What are your future goals for Do you have a favorite professional dancer? If so, who? dance? Maria Khoreva, first soloist with Mariinsky Theatre. My future goals are to go on pointe and to Outside of dance, what do you enjoy doing? compete. I don’t have much free time but I like hanging out with What do you like most about friends or reading a good book. Louisville Academy of Dance? What are your future goals for dance?

How it is small and fun. To become a professional dancer.

What do you like most about Louisville Academy of Dance? What advice would you give to a new dance student starting at I have amazing, talented teachers who inspire me and help LAD? me grow along with some friends who I also learn from.

What advice would you give to a new dance student starting at To learn from your LAD? mistakes and try hard. Try your best and everyone here is excited to have you as a part of our family. Volume IX 19 Issue I 2020

That home studio floor your dancer wants is easier than you think. By: Steven Jent

When the pandemic hit and the decision to close down life as we all knew it followed, I found that we as a family were in a position where both of the activities that my children participate in were in jeopardy. The Louisville Academy of Dance had already gone virtual by hosting classes via Zoom and my other daughter’s activity, jiu-jitsu, was heading down the same road after completely closing temporarily. To be honest we did not have a floor padded enough that would prove safe for martial arts beyond stretching or stationary kata. For my dancer the space solution needed was not as difficult to throw together. However, it soon become obvious that it was not ideal. Practicing pointe on a slab of plywood proved not only quickly destructive for her expensive shoes but I worried about the longer-term effects that it would have on her feet. With no guarantee that the situation would end quickly I began researching the possibility of installing something a bit more permanent that would address both of my children’s needs. At first the idea of installing a dual-purpose dance and do-jo floor in our home was an interesting distraction at best. It soon became apparent that not only was it feasible, but it was not as insanely expensive to accomplish as one would expect. Installing a true sprung floor is not a cheap venture but there proved to be adequate alternatives. The requirements were fairly straightforward. For dancing the floor needed to have spring for jumps but be both firm and forgiving enough to allow pointe work. This all came down to the sub floor. We first laid down a layer of interlocking half inch thick foam mats which gives cushioning. On top of this we laid snap together plastic court tiles which provided stiff- ness and spring. Finally, over top of this subfloor we stretched out a roll of Rosco Adagio Marley stretched and se- cured with Marley tape.

Volume IX 20 Issue I 2020

I will admit that we were extremely lucky on the dimensions of the space we had availa- ble for the floor. The room was 11 feet across and as the rolls of Marley have a width of 5.25 feet, we ordered a 16ft length. When cut in half it gave us a perfect fit of 10.5 feet across with a depth of 8 feet. The foam and tiles are a foot square so with 88 each of those ordered for our 11 x 8 space we were ready to go. All told the components for the 88 sq. ft dance floor came out to under $800.00 with shipping. To convert the space for jiu-jitsu practice we ordered two 10 ft. x 4 ft. x 2 in. gymnastics mats which we simply lay down over the Marley and then fold up and move out of the way for dance.

The last item was a barre. Here things can get a bit pricey. A proper 10-foot custom cut ballet barre with mounts can run you as much as the entire floor did depending on the material. Home Depot to the rescue! One smooth 8-foot-long pine stair rail and some solid mounts cost us less then a tank of gas and we were in business.

Once everything arrived it all snaps togethers quickly. Working by myself the sub floor was laid in 30 minutes and the kids helped me stretch and secure the Marley. The whole floor was completed in under an hour. Add 20 minutes to that to level and hang the barre.

I was very pleased with the outcome and the floor got extensive use during the months of virtual classes and I hope that even though classes are no longer virtual that it can be a space that my dancer and martial artist will continue to use and enjoy for years to come.

*For reference all materials for our build were purchased from: http://www.greatmats.com. When it comes to shipping; contact whoever you order from directly. I found that the majority of the companies that deal in these products assume much larger orders and they typically quote bulk over land or rail which is quite expensive. By working with an associate you can get a more accurate shipping quote. Volume IX 21 Issue I 2020

Interviews Conducted by: Sarah Jent

Meet Deana Hall A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Deana Hall began her ballet training at the early age of 3 under Pat Gano of the Lyndon Ballet School. En- chanted by the lights, costumes, music and strength, she continued dancing and studying ballet in college, attending the University of Louisville Dance Academy where she performed in the Louisville Civic Ballet Company under Director Cher Carnell. She would go on to spend 15 years dancing with the Company under the direction and guidance of Alun Jones and Helen Starr. This year she is teaching BB1 and Academy A at LAD.

When did you start dancing, and what led you to dance?

I started dancing when I was three years old. My mom took me to see a play called The Red Shoes. It wasn’t even a ballet; it was a play. The part in the performance that drew my attention was that the young girls had on these beautiful red shoes and that she danced and danced until she was completely worn out. I can still remember that moment in the play like it was yesterday. My mom showed me a picture of some ballet shoes and asked me if I would like a pair and if I would like to try to take ballet. Of course I said yes and that was it. I loved it from the very beginning. The pink tights, the leotards and the buns. Hansel and Gretel was the first ballet that I danced in; I was a Lemon Drop. From an early age my mother led me towards the arts. She always en- couraged me in ballet. I owe it all to Mom!

Which dance role or performance was your favorite and why?

That’s a really hard question because I was never in a leading role. I did a lot of corps de ballet work and there are so many favorites for different reasons. The one that comes to mind always is Nutcracker because the Nutcracker was just so special and so big. It just meant Christmas to me. Another favorite is because of the challenge of that work. Getting the complicated technique coupled with the artistry of actually being a swan and making that look easy was always difficult and challenging. Romeo and Juliet, because the music is so beautiful from start to finish, and The Sleeping Beauty, I remember the freedom and grace I felt when dancing in a flowing gown, then putting on a tutu and finding strength. I have so many wonderful memories. The first would have to be performing in Nutcracker with the Louisville Ballet at age eight. I was in awe! Volume IX 22 Issue I 2020

Meet Deana Hall (cont.)

What do you think is the best thing about teaching dance?

Absolutely the students are the best thing. It’s just so rewarding to be able to give something to a child. As a teacher a lot of times I feel like I have a lot of expectations on myself, when really the students can teach me so much. It’s just such a joy to give them an art form that you love and know and then watch them develop. The students are definitely the highlight of being a teacher because it’s certainly not about me, it’s about them. I always walk out of here smiling.

If you could describe your dance classes in three words what would they be?

Structured, energetic, and encouraging.

What advice do you have for young dancers?

Follow your heart. Follow your dream. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t. For a young dancer I would say to always just let your light shine and do your best wherever you go. Don’t ever give up. Don’t be afraid to make mis- takes. Finding a balance between family, friends, school and the commitment of dance can be very tough, and also very rewarding. That’s important. Take something from every teacher whether it be in class or from watching someone perform. Encourage each other and have fun.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’m really grateful to be here teaching and I’m excited about LAD. I’ve always been impressed by the training and the discipline that the students here rise up with and how they love each other. I’m so grateful to my daughter for bringing me full circle and she’s probably the reason that I’m teaching today. I feel blessed with this opportunity! Volume IX 23 Issue I 2020

Meet Annie Honebrink

Annie Honebrink grew up in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky and trained with Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy. She danced with the Cincinnati Ballet company’s corps de bal- let as a CBII her junior and senior years of high school. Annie joined Louisville Ballet in 2010 as a Trainee and was promoted to Company Artist in 2012. She retired from pro- fessional dance in 2019. This year she is teaching Academy F at LAD.

When did you start dancing and what led you to dance? I was two, itty-bitty, and my mom’s good friend ran a dance school in her basement. It was a super-small, wonderful, little studio. I started dancing at her place and I always loved it when I was little. I always had on a tutu and ballet slippers wherever we went. I started dancing in a more pre- professional track when I was nine at the Otto M. Budig Academy of Cin- cinnati Ballet.

Which dance role or performance was your favorite and why? My overall favorite would probably have to be Marie from the Nutcracker. We do the Nutcracker every year but I still love it. I love the music, I love the magic and Christmas. I grew up watching a version that had the same choreogra- pher as Louisville Ballet and Marie was danced by a professional. I grew up watching that and wanting to do that. Getting to do that was like a childhood dream come true and just such a fun role.

What do you think is the best thing about teaching dance? I don’t know if there’s one best thing, but I love engaging with students. It’s fun because you get to see them grow, not just as dancers but also as people. You get to see how the artistry enhances them as humans. I love all ages of kids from the little ones to the older ones and there are different rewarding things about teaching all age groups. Also getting to see improvement in students. Seeing their hard work and seeing it pay off is really rewarding. I know I have- n’t been at LAD that long but in my experience so far I have seen a great work ethic, and I already see improvement. It’s so fun to get to see that. The short answer would be engaging with the students and getting to know them as peo- ple and as dancers. Volume IX 24 Issue I 2020

Meet Annie Honebrink (cont.)

If you could describe your dance classes in three words, what would they be? Fast, expressive, challenging.

What advice do you have for young dancers? I would say to use the art form to its fullest. Love every moment of it. So many young dancers put so much pressure on themselves. It’s great to dream big, but they should also live in the moment and learn all that they can. You should recognize that you can use dance in so many aspects of life, not just in the studio. Take the discipline and beauty of dance and let it make you a better person. Enjoy what you are doing.

Is there anything else you would like to add? One of the most important things for a dancer is to have a sup- portive environment, and I see that at LAD, just in the little bit that I teach. It’s important to have a supportive environment and a family feel in the studio. It’s important for dancers to encourage each other. That’s how we become our best, so I think keeping that is a priority. I love being a part of a studio that keeps these things as a priority. I think it’s good for students to recognize that and see the importance of it. It can be a family environment and I love that about the art form.

Volume IX 25 Issue I 2020

Trusting Your Ballet Teacher and The Process of Training

Hearing a correction differently or getting another ballet teacher's perspective can do many great things for a ballet dancer's understanding of technique. Whether at a summer program, a master class, or guest teacher at your school, consider an opportunity to occasionally take class with different teachers.

Corrections you hear the most and like the least are the most important corrections for you. The reason is simple: How you feel doing things is a world apart from how things work and look in reality. That is why many dancers have a diffi- cult time watching video footage of themselves. The only person that can give you realistic feedback, advice and cor- rections is the professional working with you. This may be a hard pill to swallow, but there is no way around it. Where is the fun in that?

Taking a ballet class means to have fun at failing! It means to have fun at falling down and getting up again. It means to have fun meeting a challenge and inching your way up the evolutionary ladder of progress one baby step at the time. Ballet training is a long process that only ends when you decide to stop dancing. There is no difference between a ten year old student working on a tendu and a seasoned principal dancer working on theirs. The fact of the matter is, every day is different, every day is like starting from scratch, every day the challenge is the same. Any good meal starts with growing or raising the ingredients, not with already eating it.

Ballet is an incredibly complex body of movement vocabulary that can only be mastered with discipline and unfailing consistency. There are no shortcuts, you cant just google pirouettes, everything you do can only be a result of your own work. That is what makes ballet such a great thing! I cant think of many other disciplines that are such great character builders and life coaches than ballet. Despite all the technological advances that steal already a large part of the pur- pose from our lives, ballet training is still only acquired like it has been since the seventeen hundreds. Volume IX 24 Issue I 2020

With very few exceptions, teachers spend their lives coming up with ways to make this complex and complicated art form accessible to their students. In most cases, its not a job but a vocation. While ballet technique is fairly scientific, the teaching of ballet technique is often very personal and personality driven. Trusting your teacher is the basis for learning. If you don’t trust your teacher, you might as well not take the class. If you don’t trust your doctor, why both- er? But its more complicated than that: Even trust takes work sometimes and it begins by trusting yourself, by having realistic expectations and before anything, being able to enjoy every moment just by itself and for itself.

Any ballet class is teamwork, you have to put in at least the same amount of energy, focus and attention as the teacher does. But before anything, patience is key. Nothing happens overnight, nothing is instantaneous, because muscles that are usually not used have to be build over time. When a body grows and proportions change, so does its relationship with the ballet vocabulary. Arms, legs and torso feel and function differently and have to relearn everything they knew before.

It is like building a house: first a foundation has to be excavated and then poured. It needs to dry after that, before you can think of putting the walls up, then there are windows, doors and the roof. Only after all that can you think about furniture and decorations. Furniture and decorations in ballet terms are all the fun things that will eventually be the result of everything that came before. The only person that can guide you through this process is the professional in front of the class and your willingness and tenacity to fol- low through without compromise. Otherwise it would be like having some- body build you a house who has no idea what they are doing.

Many combinations on the barre and in the center are like medicine. You have to respect the dosage and follow the instructions, and yes, sometimes it doesn’t taste too good.

The only time a teacher should not be trusted is when he or she promises overnight success, stardom, fame and fortune. Like with many things in life, when it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.

Reprinted from BalletHub.com Author: Alex Ossadnik

Volume IX 27 Issue I 2020

Claire Donovan

“This past May I graduated from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with a Bachelor of Science in Ballet and an Outside Field in Psychology. I am excited to share that after graduation I received an offer to join 's second company. The second company is very small this year which has been very nice to have smaller classes. OBT has been trying to find innovative ways to safely perform for the community. We have begun learning and rehearsing pieces that we will hopefully be showing to the community in outdoor performance spaces. Although a lot is still unknown about when the performance world can go back to normal business, I am very happy to be able to continue training in person as well as enjoying living in Portland, Oregon."

Volume VIII 28 Issue I 2020

Alumni News (cont.) Brooke Jarm

Prior to the pandemic lockdown, Brooke shared this with Kristen: “I miss both you and LAD so much. During one of my first classes here at the School, the company member teaching the class told me to con- gratulate my teachers because he was so impressed with my technique. Everything I have achieved so far in my dance career can be credited to the amazing foundation you gave me for so many years. I am so thankful for all of the time and insight you’ve poured into me.” “After moving from Louisville to Cleveland, I have been able to perform with the Cleveland Ballet in several of the company’s performances, including the Nut- cracker, Carmen, Coppelia, and Alice in Wonderland. For the 2019-2020 season, I have been a trainee with the Cleveland Ballet, taking company class and performing even more with the company. Two days ago, I had an evaluation and a contract meeting, and I am so excited to say that I’ll be a paid apprentice with the company next season!” “Thank you for all of the solid training you gave me because without it, I would be nowhere near where I am today! “ This fall, she had this to share: "Right now, I am in my first season as a company artist with Cleveland Ballet. We are working on various and rep programs to tour across Ohio in smaller venues to accommodate for state regulations and safety. I’m thankful for the solid training LAD provided, so that now I can flourish as an artist!” Elizabeth Walton “I am currently starting the third year of my PhD in the field of Human-Computer Interaction at the Université Paris-Saclay in Paris, France. Previously, I completed my bachelor's degree in computer science at the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in Ubiquitous and Interactive Systems at an engineering university in Grenoble, France. During both, I took dance class when I could at studios like Koresh School of Dance in Philadelphia. My thesis, provisionally entitled Mind-Body Transitions in Dance, focuses on dancer self-reflection and retraining and the potential technological support tools. At the same time, I am able to complete workshops with contemporary dance choreographers such as Liz Santaro and Myriam Gourfink who integrate specific technological algorithms and dance notation software systems into their work. After I defend in December of 2021, I hope to collaborate with choreographers like these during their creation processes as a software developer and mover myself.” Volume IX 29 Issue I 2020

Academy A/BB3

From Left to Right: Lucie, Julianne, Carolina

Academy A/BB3 (cont.)

From Left to Right: Connor, Alexa Volume IX 30 Issue I 2020

Academy A/BB3 (cont.)

From Left to Right: Sofia, Rhiannon, Toryn

Academy B

From Left to Right: Sophia, Claire, Sarah Volume IX 31 Issue I 2020

Academy C

From Left to Right: Lela, Ava, Lexis

Academy D

From Left to Right: Noelia, Elizabeth, Sophia, Astrid Volume IX 32 Issue I 2020

Academy F

From Left to Right: Lexi, Iliana, Ella L., Ella B.

*Class Photo Credit: Kristen Wenrick