teachers AAB 2017 American Academy of Ballet Mignon furMan, founding director seMinar & Mignon furMan’s PerforMance awards certification course July 17–29 at Purchase college, state university of new york Purchase, new york a note rePrinted froM a Previous teachers’ seMinar froM our founding director Mignon furMan Mignon furman founder of the aaB, teacher, choreographer, educationist. believe that teaching is a practical art that ith only her talents, courage, and needs a practical approach — whether to Wdetermination to give definition to “Ia new class of five-year olds, or to teenagers her vision for ballet education, Mignon Furman started the American Academy with stars in their eyes who have other options of Ballet: It soon became the premier for their energy. Summer School in America. he composed the Performance Awards Swhich are taught all over America, and Very often, teachers need to be inspired. are an international phenomenon, praised by teachers in America and in 10 other Ask yourself: countries. The success of the Performance Awards is due to Mignon’s choreography: • Has my teacHing gotten stale? She was a superb choreographer. Her many compositions are free of cliché. They • WHat neW ideas can i incorporate in my teacHing? have logic, harmony, style, and ultimately, beauty. • do my classes Have entHusiasm and energy? • are my dancers up to standard? argot Fonteyn, with whom she was Mfriendly, gave her invaluable advice, • are tHeir parents satisfied WitH tHeir progress? during several discussions about the technical, and artistic aspects of classical ballet. Mignon had the good fortune to he Teachers’ Seminar will provide the answers. benefit from the wisdom, and unique experience of the most famous ballerina of the 20th century. Included is the marvelous Performance Awards program. Teachers, dancers, ignon also composed seven instructional DVDs for the teaching of classical ballet. She was andT parents love it. Ma remarkable teacher. Her prodigious knowledge, and classical style gave her dancers the his note cannot describe the feeling of “being there,” the self- confidence that recognizable “Furman” look. She was also qualified to teach ballroom and Victorian dance. knowledge brings; and the inspiration that the Teachers’ Seminar infuses into all oupled with Mignon’s ballet skills, was a tireless energy in organizing. She was a planner and T ” those who attend. Cadministrator par excellence. efore coming to New York, Mignon was the Director of the University of Cape Town Ballet School, Bwith special responsibility for teacher-training. She formulated the program for the 80 trainee lAst yeAr, the seminAr AnD certificAtion course were AttenDeD by teachers, and 400 students at the Ballet School. She was nominated for the Distinguished Teacher Award from amongst the entire university’s academic staff of professors, and lecturers. She also teAchers from JApAn, spAin, ArgentinA, isrAel, south AfricA - AnD AmericA. formulated the syllabus for ballet in the public schools; was the head-examiner for many years; and Do not miss out on these mArvelous progrAms. was president of the dance section of the city’s performing arts program. “All of bAllet is A chAllenge. We all at the AAB have the honor of keeping DAncers must chAllenge themselves.” Mignon’s flags proudly flying. — mignon furmAn 2 American Academy of Ballet Teachers’ Seminar 2017 3 Mignon furMan’s Mignon furMan’s PerforMan ce awards “stePs” PrograMs will organize your teaching. • increase enrollments! “excellence in bAllet is AchieveD • enHance tecHnique & performance! by repitition: this is not boring if • loved By parents, dancers – & teacHers! the ultimAte goAl is preDominAnt.” • include every feature of classical Ballet! —AgrippinA VagAnovA, • ready-made program of comBinations & music! “bAsic principles of clAssicAl bAllet” (1934) • dancer- & teacHer-friendly! first steps Are you seArching for A progrAm thAt will rom her many years of teaching children; students and energize your school trainee teachers at university level; and teachers at level 3 F improve your DAncers Summer School, Mignon Furman devised a system of pleAse their pArents teaching that gives you a program: age by age, class ? by class. your seArch is over! no need to select music the performance awards were devised by It has been arranged by Mignon’s music collaborator. mignon furman, the founder of the american academy Don’t think “what shall i teach today?” of Ballet. she was a superb choreographer. “Steps” are gradated programs that organize your now i am a teen teaching. Her charming choreography makes the program level 1 a delight to teach; first steps (ages 5 - 8) BetWeen tot and teen (ages 8 - 10) a joy to dance; second steps (ages 6 - 9) noW i am a teen (ages 11 - 13) a pleasure to watch. tHird steps (ages 7 - 10) pointe to pointe (Beginning & intermediate) teAchers, DAncers AnD pArents love it! Junior steps (ages 8 - 12) the program is in schools across america and in Below is an extract of the DVD contents. 10 other countries. Notice the attention to detail in the training process. level 3 t is backed by CDs, DVDs, and notes. You will be amazed at Ithe results. Technique and performance improve immensely; tHird steps dancers are more enthusiastic; and parents are thrilled. Barre Exercises Center 1. Exercise for the feet and for Demi Pointe 9. Walking on Demi Pointe 2. Exercise for Demi Plies tarting at age 5, the program develops over 12 Levels of short 10. Exercise for Galops Sideways 3. Exercise for Battement Tendu compositions of increasing complexity that will inspire your 11. Exercise for Petit Jetes 4. Exercise for Battement Tendu a la Seconde S 12. Step and Hop from Side to Side dancers to perform their personal best. 5. Exersice for the placing of the foot at the 13. Little Runs into the 4 Corners and back, a preparation for Petit Jetes ach level has port de bras, allegro and a solo dance. The higher lev- Spring Points “Like a Bird” 6. Exercise for Petit Jetes els include adage, pirouettes, batterie, and codas. Choices through- 14. Polka Step Eout the program result in a total of 115 choreographic compositions. Floor Work 15. End Story - “The Injured Bird” 7. Exercise for the Legs and Back 16. Reverence he dancers dance before an audience of parents and jurors. The 8. Exercise for Turn-Out awarding of medals and certificates to EACH dancer after the per- Tformance does wonders for their self-esteem. 4 American Academy of Ballet level 12 Teachers’ Seminar 2017 5 faculty Vladimir stadnik Gil isoart Mignon Furman’s Performance Awards Graduate of the Vaganova Academy in Was a Principal Dancer with the Paris Opera Russia. Danced as a soloist in Russia, Ballet. Winner of numerous prizes, and Achieve a Teaching Qualification! W. Europe, and the USA. Now Professor of awards. Now teaches, and is rehearsal Dance at Ball State University, Indiana. coach at the Paris Opera Ballet and at the Bolshoi Ballet, Moscow. Q: what is the performance Awards certification? keVin durwael Gina ChiaVelli You will learn the choreography for the 12 Levels of the program, and Mignon Furman’s 7 introductory A graduate of the Artesis University of An- twerp. Danced with Nederlands Dans The- Was Adjunct Professor of Dance at Fordham “Steps” training programs. A certificate will be awarded. ater. Soloist with the Royal Ballet of Flan- University, and SUNY New Paltz. Now ders. Now Assistant Director of the Royal Director of Pinewood School of Dance, and Ballet School of Antwerp. a judge for Performance Awards. Q: i already have my own curriculum. diana Cuni manCini toVa tsoubery The beauty of the Performance Awards is that they form part of your regular classes. The choreography Graduated from the school of the Royal A graduate of the Jerusalem Academy. of Mignon Furman is charming; her choice of music is delightful; - a composite teaching system Also trained at the Bat Dor, with a teacher Danish Ballet, to become a Principal Danc- that is loved by teachers, dancers, and their parents. er. Now a teacher of the company, and oth- who was trained by Mignon Furman. Is a er companies world-wide. Performance Awards judge. CraiG salstein riCardo santiaGo Q: why should i attend this course? Soloist with American Ballet Theater, and A graduate of Purchase College. Has A diploma on the wall instills confidence in parents. Teachers in America and in other countries have danced in the USA, and other countries. Artistic Director of the Intermezzo Dance been teaching the Performance Awards for 10 years. You will have a ready-made and progressive Company. Now teaches, and dances in New York. program that will infuse new enthusiasm into your school. debbie roshe mCCree o’kelley For the fee, see the enrollment forms. Danced with the Atlanta Ballet and Danced in several Broadway shows. Now Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Toured interna- teaches in New York. tionally in the Broadway production of Cats. Now, Professor of Dance at Kennesaw State University. analiese umana alison bramwell BFA graduate of Purchase College SUNY. schedule for certification and the seMinar Trained by Mignon Furman. Danced Ada- Rehearsal assistant to Mignon Furman. gio in many countries. Now a Performance Now teaches in New York. A judge for Awards judge, and ballet mistress to a Juil- Performance Awards. lard-affiliated school. daily instruction in mignon furman’s observe, or participate in a class 1. Wonderful performance awards. 4. Given by a faculty teacher. (you may choose the teacher.) * levels 1-6 (ages 5-12) July 17 - 22 * levels 7-12 (ages 13-18) July 24-29 (you may choose the days of attendance.) 5. five dances to teach in your school. daily instruction By one of our * authentic spanish dance for the nutcracker 2. superb faculty teachers. * authentic russian dance for the nutcracker Jazz dance in the teaching of of the following * (a different topic each day).