Spring 2011

HARID Holiday Performances a Treat

The Harid Conservatory served up a special holiday treat on December 11 and 12. Classical Divertissements opened the program and featured variations (solo dances) taken from a number of ballets: The Fairy Doll, Don Quixote, and Grand Pas Classique. Faculty member Svetlana Osiyeva created a simple yet arresting concert ballet by choreographing an opening adagio and a finale around the established variations. Classical Divertissements featured seven of HARID’s advanced female dancers.

Nancy © Loch Local artist and choreographer, Tara Catao, created the second piece on the program. Steps, Color, and Lines offered a “tropical dabble into interlocking planes of color and the geometric shapes created by lines”. The work was loosely inspired by the Srb © Alex Photo work of the Dutch painter Mondrian. Brightly colored panels Cavan Conley and Alexandre Barros in Hopak suspended above the stage provided a three-dimensional framework for the dancers’ movement.

Character dance teacher Bertha Valentin presented another exciting and challenging dance for the students. Hopak, a Ukrainian folk dance, gave the dancers ample opportunity to show off their abilities. Quick footwork, spinning turns, daring jumps, and beautiful costumes made this piece an audience favorite.

Following intermission, the curtain was raised for HARID’s holiday tradition, Divertissements from The Nutcracker, Act II. Many new faces appeared in Spanish Chocolates, Arabian Coffee, Chinese Tea, Dance of the Mirlitons,

Nancy © Loch Waltz of the Flowers, and the magnificent Grand Pas de Deux.

HARID extends its gratitude to everyone who attended the Holiday Dance Performances! Srb © Alex

In This Issue

1 HARID Holiday Srb © Alex Photo HARID students in Classical Divertissements Performances 2 Student-Outreach a Success 2 Year-End Features Florida Dance Teachers’ Week the real Black Swan 3 HARID Students In February, HARID welcomed many of South Florida’s talented and dedicated dance teachers to its Need Your Help campus during the school’s bi-annual Florida Dance Teachers’ Week. Thirty-six dance teachers from Palm Beach, Broward, and Dade Counties attended a series of luncheons hosted by HARID director 3 Ballet Body Fitness Gordon Wright. During lunch, he spoke about the school’s history, current activities, and the students’ 3 HARID Dancers accomplishments. The teachers then spent the afternoon observing ballet, point, and partnering classes Compete in NYC before enjoying coffee, pastries, and discussion with Mr. Wright and faculty members Victoria Schneider, 4 Alumni Update Svetlana Osiyeva, and Olivier Pardina. Student Outreach Program “Sells Out” Despite Added Performance

Attendance at HARID’s Student Outreach Performances, held this past December 8 and 9, increased fifty percent over the previous year. To meet the demand for seating, a fourth performance was added. In total, more than 3,200 fourth- and fifth-grade students enjoyed the forty-five minute presentations ofThe Nutcracker, Act II.

Initiated in 2009, the Student Outreach Performances offer elementary-school-age children an engaging cultural experience at the Countess de Hoernle Theater in Boca Raton. HARID underwrites Srb © Alex Photo the entire cost of the program, including bus transportation to and Alef De Sousa in Arabian Coffee from The Nutcracker, Act II from the theater for public-school students and their teachers.

“For most of my students, this was their first experience with theater and ballet. We are a Title 1 school, which means that (the majority) of our students are on free or reduced lunch. We try to expose our children to as many new ideas, experiences, and creative methods of expression, etc. as possible so they may become aware of all the opportunities life has to offer. Unfortunately, many field trips are not possible for us because we cannot afford them. Our fourth graders were able to see this ballet performance because HARID funded our tickets and transportation.

I would love to continue taking my students to the ballet to expose them to this wonderful art form. I never know which of my students will be affected for life by such an experience. Thank you!”

– Received from a fourth-grade teacher

Year-End Dance Performances to Feature the real Black Swan!

HARID’s faculty and dancers are preparing an exciting new program of classical and contemporary ballets for the Year-End Performances on May 27, 28, and 29.

The Pas de Trois from Paquita will open the program. Faculty member Victoria Schneider is staging this technical showpiece for a male and two female dancers. The original choreography is by Marius Petipa with music by Ludwig Minkus.

Another new work by principal guest choreographer Mark Godden will be premiered in May. Godden’s contemporary ballets are always intriguing for audience members and challenging for the dancers.

In recent months, there has been much media focus on the psychological thriller Black Swan, starring Academy-Award-winner Natalie Portman. HARID feels that the real Black Swan now deserves a little attention. Therefore, as part of its Year-End Performances, the school will present Swan Lake, Act III which includes the now-infamous Black Swan pas de deux!

The Year-End Performances will be held at the Countess de Hoernle Theater at Spanish River Community High School (5100 Jog Road at Yamato Road) on Friday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 28 at 3:00 p.m.; and Sunday, May 29 at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets are just $28 and $22. Please visit our ticket office at 2285 Potomac Road in Boca Raton (Monday—Friday, 9:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.) or call 561-998-8038 to reserve your seats.

Page 2 | Spring 2011 | The Harid Conservatory | 561.997.2677 | www.harid.edu Our Students Need Your Help

HARID remains North America’s only tuition-free professional-training school for dancers. Nevertheless, the families of many students cannot afford the fees for housing and food. The funds used to provide financial assistance for such families are raised each year through HARID’s Annual-Fund Campaign.

This year, we once again seek to raise $75,000 from individuals, private foundations, and corporations. While we are well on our way, we need your help to successfully achieve our fund-raising goal by June 30.

Please support HARID’s talented young students by contributing generously to our Annual-Fund Campaign. Each and every dollar will be used to offset the fees for student housing and food. The dancers and their families—along with the faculty and staff—will be grateful for your help.

Ensure the success of our Annual Fund Campaign by making a generous, tax-deductible contribution today.

New for Adults: Ballet Body Fitness, Available Exclusively at HARID

The first-ever program for adults is now up and running at HARID and the feedback from participants has been extremely positive!

Ballet Body Fitness offers ballet- and Pilates-derived workouts designed to lengthen and strengthen muscles, improve posture, increase flexibility, and develop coordination, concentration, and balance. Ballet Body Fitness promises to enhance one’s vitality, invigorate the mind, and elevate the spirit. No previous dance training is required.

Instructor Vicky Cole is a former ballet dancer, an experienced ballet teacher, and a certified Pilates instructor. She has developed the classes to provide a safe yet challenging workout, and to give participants a better understanding and appreciation of the art of ballet. Many exercises are accompanied by music… often from ballets that will be featured in upcoming HARID performances! Ballet Body Fitness instructor, Vicky Cole Ballet Body Fitness classes are held in HARID’s beautiful dance studios on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 9:30 a.m.—10:30 a.m. Private classes are also available upon request.

For more information or to register for a class, please contact Zoe at 561-997-2677. Become culturally inspired and physically fit… at the same time!

HARID Dancers Compete in New York City

Three HARID students recently participated in the national final of the Youth America Grand Prix in New York City. Jia Sun (a senior from China), Cavan Conley (a junior from Rhode Island), and Alexandre Barros (a senior from Brazil) performed contemporary solos choreographed for them by HARID’s principal guest choreographer Mark Godden, and classical variations taught by faculty members Svetlana Osiyeva and Olivier Pardina. The students danced very well and received much positive feedback from the international panel of judges.

Dancers from twenty-six countries participated in the week-long YAGP classes and on-stage performances. Generally, the caliber of dancing was very high. At the awards ceremony following the competition, both Jia and Alexandre were offered traineeships with the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago.

Classmate Asami Ihira (left) and faculty member Olivier Pardina with YAGP participants Alexandre Barros, Jia Sun, and Cavan Conley

www.harid.edu | 561.997.2677 | The Harid Conservatory | Spring 2011 | Page 3 Alumni Update ------HARID’s Class of 2010: • Dustine Geradine is an apprentice with Texas Ballet Theatre. • Daina Gingras is a freshman in the dance program at the University North Carolina School of the Arts. • Rachel Goldberg and Deanna Wiese are freshman in the University of Cincinnati’s dance program. • Caroline Herlong is a freshman in the dance program at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. Visiting alumni (left to right) Kathleen Lawrence Orlowski, Kathleen Breen • Dara Holmes is a trainee at the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. Combes, Marcelo Gomes, and Matthew Adamczyk • Ana Roberta Teixeira is dancing with Columbia Classical Ballet in South Carolina. • Mahallia Ward has been promoted from trainee to Distinguished Alumni company member at the Joffrey Ballet for next season. Pay a Visit!

Other updates: The faculty and staff were thrilled by an early March visit by • Kaya Aman (2009) will join Ballet West II in Salt Lake City four of HARID’s distinguished alumni. Katherine Lawrence next season. Orlowski has recently been promoted to principal dancer • José Pereira (2009) is dancing with Columbia Classical at Ballet West in Salt Lake City; Kathleen Breen Combes is Ballet in South Carolina. a principal dancer with Boston Ballet; Marcelo Gomes is • Koto Ishihara (2008) has been promoted from trainee to a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre in New the corps de ballet at San Francisco Ballet. York City; and Matthew Adamczyk is a leading dancer • Chelsea Adomaitis (2007) has been promoted from with the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. It was wonderful to see apprentice to the corps de ballet at Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. our former students again and learn about their most recent adventures and accomplishments. • Adam Still (2006) has left Ballet Idaho to join Colorado Ballet in Denver. • Megan Steffens (2005) has left Sacramento Ballet to join More recently, a number of other alumni also visited Company C Contemporary Ballet in San Francisco. the school. We enjoyed seeing Rachel Goldberg (2010), • Timothy Tompkins (2005) has left Goh Ballet in Vancouver a freshman at the University of Cincinnati; José Pereira to join the new Ballet Eddy Toussaint de Montreal company. (2009), who is dancing with Columbia Classical Ballet in • Erica Chipp (2004) has left Festival Ballet of Rhode Island to South Carolina; Jennifer Drake-Feltner (2003), a dancer join Smuin Ballet in San Francisco. with Dance Theatre of Tennessee; and Riolama Lorenzo- • Katherine Lawrence Orlowski (1998) has been promoted Lasa (1993), principal dancer with the Pennsylvania Ballet. to principal dancer for next season at Ballet West in Salt Lake We were happy to note that Riolama is pregnant with her City, Utah. second child! Congratulations, Katherine!

We hope you have enjoyed reading HARID’s Spring Newsletter. The next issue will be published in November.

HARID’s Spring Newsletter has been generously underwritten by A WARREN LLOYD HOLTZMAN SEED GRANT A component fund of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley