Ballet company Puns

Hello! I have been taking beginner adult ballet classes at a studio in Ann Arbor, which I love! However, I am interested in getting involved in performances which my studio does not have many opportunities open for adults. Are there any groups, companies, etc. in Michigan (southeast preferably!) that could open the door to performing for me? Thanks!

Hi! I recently got accepted into UvA and and I’d really like to go, but before deciding anything I thought to ask about dancing opportunities in Amsterdam. I’m finishing a ballet school this year, but I have no hopes (or ambition) to go professional. I don’t like much I see right now in the professional dance world, but I like to dance and I’m not willing to give up, just because I’ m going to uni. I’d like something more intense than an adult ballet class, so maybe some of you are from Amsterdam and can give me some advice. An ideal would be an amateur company or dance theatre, but I googled it and didn’t find much (I don’t speak Dutch :(), so a dance school/studio with variation classes and performance opportunities would also be great.

Ballet Company M, UMD's only student run performing ballet club, has recorded a socially-distanced Spring Showcase. Throughout the semester, our club has met solely on Zoom to rehearse the pieces. The dancers would like to share our dances with the UMD community to celebrate our 15th anniversary as a student organization! There's also a special guest at the end of the show 👀
Date: 5/16/21 at 3pm
Location: https://youtu.be/3rsO6Q3LQus

"Stop! Everyone back to first positions," the orc said with a heavy rumble. "Now do it again, this time with more feeling! I'm not losing this year's pageant to those wizards... not again."

A collective groan rippled through the company scattered on the stage. Twelve orcs crossed the expanse and reorganized themselves into their starting position. The soloist, a tall, lithe female orc by the name of Hilda, positioned herself at center-stage with the other eleven in a semi-circle behind her. She sighed heavily and reached up to pull the thick mass of hair piled atop her head tighter.

Grumwald, the director, ran a hand across his dark brown eyes and rubbed tiredly. "Hilda, keep your toes pointed sharply. You're coming off flat. And Gaea, soften your arms, you look as stiff as a board up there."

The director scanned the company and was met with faces full of apathy. "Come on, guys," he told them, "just get it perfect once. Do it one time, and we can all go home for the night. That's all I'm asking," he pleaded earnestly.

One of the company members, a shorter, stocky male named Brokk, stepped out of the line and shook his head at the director. "Grumwald," he complained, "we've been at this for six hours. My feet are killing me. My head is pounding. This practice has been worse than the goliath ambush in the Bloodrock Mountains two years ago."

Brokk glanced at Hilda, his voice dropping apologetically. "No matter how 'perfect' we get it, Grum" — he gestured towards the rest of the group — "we're never going to beat the Chroma Collective."

"That's right, you're not," a deep, sonorous voice rang out from the back of the auditorium.

Grumwald turned in his seat to see who had interrupted their practice. A pale half-elf dressed in cobalt robes stepped out of the darkness and meandered down the aisle. He regarded the company of orcs on the stage and settled his gaze on Grumwald, who was seated on the first row.

A smirk appeared on the visitor's face, and a low growl rumbled in Grumwald's throat. "Get out of here, Aziah. This is a closed practice," the director warned.

"This is a practice?" the half-elf responded. "Oh, my apologies. I was under the impression that I was at a fish market, what with the way your dancers were flopping about," he taunted.

Grumwald rose from his seat, burning with anger. "I said to get out, half-elf. Or do those pointy ears not work anymore?" he asked menacingly.

Aziah laughed quietly. "Calm down, orc. I'm not here for a fight. I

Hi friends I started dancing at 12, but started exploring ballet when I was 13. I’m 15 now which leaves two years of ballet experience and I only got on pointe a few months ago. As I’m moving to Seattle soon I looked at the possibility of auditioning for PNB’s summer programs. In all honesty though I am not that experienced. Would love to know your honest opinions on how hard it is to join a company, and any advice for a young dancer.

I was just thinking about how Frozen would make a great ballet - I mean, it's loosely based on the fairy tale The Snow Queen, which is already a ballet! And how Disney should fund ballet companies to produce it, because ballet companies are struggling - certainly in the US, I don't know about civilized countries that have federal funding for the arts.

I'm a former classical musician and classical music has been struggling for a decades, certainly for lack of interest but especially in competition with streaming as a source of cheap, convenient, mass-produced entertainment. The fact is that through most of Western music history, composers and orchestras were owned and funded by the institutions of power: the church and the ruling class. Now we have public funding and corporations. There isn't a whole lot of public funding for the arts in the US, and performing arts have relied more and more on private donors and corporate sponsors. Most symphony halls are named after private donors. At some orchestras I've played in, they trot the sponsoring family out on stage at the beginning of each concert. Conductors' primary jobs are to schmooze with donors and promote.

So maybe it makes sense for performing arts companies to just merge with their corporate sponsors.

This probably sounds like the definition of a corporate sellout, and it is, but I'm worried about the performing arts!

Any thoughts?

Wishing the best for all you hardworking dancers out there.

A ballet dancer whose work I really admired went from dancing as principal at Los Angeles Ballet to a corp member at Miami City Ballet.

Is LAB not as "prestigious" as MCB? I'm not sure how the ballet world works and if the change in titles is considered a "downgrade."

Any insight would be appreciated! Thanks!

I’m watching “On Pointe” on Disney+ and I all the sudden had a memory jog of another ballet series I saw a while ago that I’d like to see again!

I know it featured the 3 shows I mentioned in the title in that order, and I’m pretty sure it was a ballet house in Europe though I could be wrong.

I also can’t remember if this was just a 3 part documentary or if each show featured had 3 parts to it.

I distinctly remember that the choreographer for The Nutcracker was a male choreographer who kept making changes and stressing everyone out on the crew up to the premiere of the show.

I also remember Swan Lake being performed in a different theater that was like an arena.

But I cannot find this for the life of me even with all those details! Help!

From what I’ve seen, there are many Vaganova schools in the United States (most notably, the Kirov Academy of Washington, D.C.), but I haven’t seen an ballet companies that have dancers trained in the Vaganova method.

If you are in a position to do so, please consider donating $ to your local ballet company. Covid-related restrictions have made it tough for these non-profits to make ends meet this season, and we want them to be around post-pandemic to continue their missions. ❤️ [Full disclosure - I work for one and am hopeful our industry pulls through to keep supporting talented dancers, choreographers, lighting designers, wardrobe magicians, accountants, ushers, stage managers & crew, makeup artists, production managers, IT specialists, musicians, fundraisers, ballet masters, etc!]

I was discussing ballet with my non-dancing partner, and they asked me which company is the ‘best’. I know it isn’t as linear as that, and there are different styles etc, but I thought it would be interesting to find out which companies other people feel are best - whether that’s due to personal experience, a particular production, size, or whatever it may be.

Just thought it might be a fun discussion, and may open my eyes to some companies I’m less familiar with, too!

Hi all, I really need some help right now.

I'm a senior trying to decide where I want to attend college. I only started dancing seriously about a year ago, however when I attend college I want to dance very seriously, every day if possible. I'm only interested in ballet, however I'd take a contemporary class here or there if necessary.

I'm looking to major in Biology, and either double major in dance or dance in an affiliated company (I'd also just dance with a nearby company but I'm not sure how the schedules/fees would align?) Ideally I want to attend school in the Northeast or nearby. I'm from NYC (and I know, the best opportunities are here) but I dislike city life and want to attend a college with a real campus. If not the Northeast, I can branch out some in the U.S, or I'm willing to go to France, Belgium or maybe Canada (I'm an EU citizen).

Please let me know if you have any suggestions, I would appreciate it so much <3!! Thank you in advance!