December happenings...

Costume orders will be due before Dec. 15, and please remember that you must mail them in, DO NOT drop them off at the studio, if you do this we must mail it in for you, only delaying your order. Orders received from Dec. 16th forward will be a full 25.00 higher...Yikes! Don't let this happen to you...:(

The Nutcracker Ballet will be performed in Spokane on Dec. 18- 20, we hope you are able to attend...What a fun weekend seeing our Inland Northwest Ballet dancers on stage with Ballet Memphis.

We will be closed for Christmas vacation from Dec. 21st through Jan. 3rd. In the future, remember that this info, along with all vacation day info, is also located in your student packet sent home this fall (the packet you had to sign for).

Miss Janine, Miss Kaiti, Miss Karen, Miss Lynne, Susie, and Cheryl all wish you the happiest of holidays!

Ballet Channel

Ballet Channel

ABT Star Irina Dvorovenko discusses "Becoming Juliet"

Inland Northwest Ballet Studio Director Janine Fraser is a huge fan of Irina's, and wants to pass this interview with Irina along to our Spokane ballet dancers...Just close out the ad at the bottom, click on the full screen button and enjoy!

Hooray! Nutcracker on TV...On Tues. 12-1 at 10:30 pm on PBS (Spokane and Cd'A)...A behind-the-scenes glimpse at Anthony Williams' remake of Tchaikovsky's classic "Nutcracker" ballet as a multicultural production featuring traditional ballet, hip-hop, tap, swing and flamenco...Also, on Wed. 12-2 at 10:30 pm...The history of Tchaikovsky..."Nutcracker" ballet....A couple of great programs for our Inland Northwest Ballet dancers! :) Miss Janine says these are a "must watch"...:)

Though not announced yet, PBS usually shows America Ballet Theatre's production of the Nutcracker" starring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland...Details regarding this showing will be posted here when available! :)

We love Empire Dance!

A huge thank you to Empire Dance for treating our Spokane ballet dancers so well at their first pointe shoe fitting last weekend. The girls learned so much about the fit and care of pointe shoes, and had lots of fun as well! The first week of pointe classes went well, due to your excellent fitting...:) Inland Northwest ballet loves Empire Dance!

PS Though you may be able to find less expensive dancewear online, you will NOT get the availability and care of Philip Broadbent and his staff at Empire Dance. If you have to return what you purchase because it does not fit, or it was not quite what you wanted, than it may cost you much more in the long run. Need another reason? Empire Dance supports local arts programs. That means they are putting their money back into the community where it benefits our dancers...They are worth every penny! :)

First Pointe Shoes!

Above: Jemima, Madi Maude, and Emily releve in 5th position...very pretty!

Below: Mackenzie, Ciara, Jemima, Madi Maude, and Emily show off their new pointe shoes, and are joined by Sarah and Shannon, who have been dancing on pointe for awhile...All smiles!


Finally! A group of our level 7 Inland Northwest Ballet students from Spokane made a much anticipated trip...Miss Janine, along with parents, took the girls to get fitted for their very first pointe shoes!

Empire Dance, located in downtown Spokane, is THE place to go for the best fit. The owner Philip Broadbent, along with his wife Sally, both danced professionally in Europe for many years, and truly know ballet. It can be a long process to get the correct fit, but so important to asssure the health of the dancer's feet, lower back, and hips. After the fitting, Philip gives the girls a talk about the care of pointe shoes, along with ribbons and elastics and what to do with both, and answers any questions they may have.

At Inland Northwest Ballet, we are very cautious about whom we allow to dance on pointe, some of these girls have been dancing for 12 years! They had their first class on Saturday, and said it felt "amazing" to go on pointe. What fun!

It's that time of year again! Performance packets have been sent home so that our dance families may begin to make preparations for our June performances. Costume order forms are enclosed, and are due before December 15th, or your costume fee will be a full 25.00 higher. Yikes! Don't let this happen...order on time...:)

Also, dates and times of your performance are enclosed as well. This way, no one should be wondering when and where to be come springtime! Save this packet until the end of June for a no stress performance seaso

Our little ones at Inland Northwest Ballet...:)

When Miss Kaiti opened the door to let her little ones last week, she found them out in the hallway...they had started without her...:)

Happy Monday Spokane dancers!

Happy Monday Spokane!

We'll start the week off with one of Miss Janine's favorite quotes by Carlos Castoneda...

"The trick is in what one emphasizes, we can make ourselves miserable or make ourselves strong, the work is the same" ...In other words, it's all about ATTITUDE! We hope you start your week off with a fantastic attitude! :)

We thoroughly enjoyed our evening with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet during their visit to the Martin Woldson Theatre in Spokane. Miss Janine chose "Red Sweet" as her favorite, while Susie and most of the girls chose "Blanc Noir", a Moses Pendleton piece.

Click on our Facebook page for a sampling of Aspen Santa Fe's work...:)

Nutcracker Audition Info...

Important notice regarding Ballet Memphis Nutcracker Auditions...For pointe dancers, you may wish to attend a pointe class held on Fri. afternoon at Ballet Arts, just prior to auditions. E-mail School Director Janine Fraser for more info, or call Ballet Arts at 838-5705.

It's that time of year again...:)

...when parents come to Studio Director Janine Fraser, seeing that their may be some new children in the class this year, and want to move their child up up up up up to the higher levels...:) Please read Miss Janine's thoughts on advancement in class levels, and how we promote children by ability, rather than simply desire. Don't get us wrong, we LOVE desire, but that won't get you through a "glissade pas de chat entrechat quatre, entrechat sinq, pas de bourree pas de bourree, couru grande jete" unless you have actual training and ability to perform...:)
Copies of the notes below are also in the parent letter file near our inner studio door if you would like a copy.


Miss Janine’s note regarding class advancement…
Specifically, a parent/dancer wanting to move up to a level that she does not truly belong in…and yes, this applies regardless of how badly the parent or child wants to move up, as advancement is based upon physical ability, not desire…

Imagine a house. A messy house, things out of place, things that don’t belong there. If you have a messy house and want it to look better, you don’t just go out and buy a bunch of “fancy” furniture to make it look nice. That doesn’t solve your messy house problem, it’s still a mess. You have to clean it up FIRST. You put things where they are supposed to be. You get rid of things that don’t belong there.
Now liken dance technique to a messy house. Examine the dancer that thinks she should move up to a harder class. Visualize how she looks when doing a simple “retire tombee pas de bourree, grande jete grande jete grande jete”. Is it clean and precise, or messy, just like the house? If it’s messy, regardless of the reason, whether that be due to recreational training (only one or two classes a week, or classes without focus on true ballet technique), too
few years of training, insufficient training, lack of discipline, lack of focus, or many other reasons, what should she do to improve her dancing? Does she go out and ask to be taught a bunch of new “fancier” steps, to make her appear better onstage? No, because just like placing stylish new furniture into a messy house does not make the house beautiful, moving a child up into a class to do new, harder steps will not make her dance better. In fact, because the steps are harder, she will probably dance even more poorly, and more insecurely, because it is beyond her ability. The answer is to stay and clean up the house, or the dance technique. Get rid of the bent knees, or sickled feet, the poor posture, or whatever is “messy” in her technique. Just like the house, you put things in the right place (tummy/ribs in, not out for example) and get rid of the things that don’t belong (is that hand supposed to fly up in the air like a claw when you saute?).

Often a parent feels it will be better for the child’s self esteem to be moved up, when in fact it can do exactly the opposite. The child is now expected to perform skills they have not even been taught yet, and at a higher level, and when they cannot, a once secure and confident child can become very insecure in his or her dancing. I have moved a child up a time or two that this has happened and felt very badly when the child became frustrated and quit altogether. I am now cautious about any child moving up too quickly, as continuing their natural love of dance is my first and foremost goal!

I know it’s hard as a parent when you want so badly for your child to move up, and I know that every parent wants their child to be with the “big girls”, but please realize that some dancers have to be the “big girls”. Realize that when you tell me the other girls in her class are below her level, that you may be asking me to place your child in a too high level, where guess what happens…
Other parents then call me complaining about the girl (your child) who is below her daughter’s level, who doesn’t really belong there, so can they move up to the next level?

My last note, and perhaps the most important, is this…Before you ask to advance your daughter, please ask yourself this…Is she obviously THE MOST ADVANCED CHILD IN THE CLASS? If so, then you may well have reason to seek advancement, and I welcome your questions about possible advancement. If not, then I will need to know why you feel that we should move her up ahead of the girls who are more advanced than her (since of course, promotions in level are first offered to the most advanced child). If you have any questions, please see me,
Studio Director Janine Fraser…

Hooray! Nutcracker Auditions with a new company!

For many years we have had Alberta Ballet visit Spokane to present the Nutcracker Ballet. However, this year, we have a new company, Memphis Ballet, bringing us this holiday classic, and we are thrilled! Memphis Ballet is a nationally aclaimed company known for their kindness and professionalism in working with the local instructors and dancers, and for their unique choreography.

Cut and paste this link for a video of the company dancing...http://www.balletmemphis.org/box_office/box_office_detail.php?content=Video&navone=Video

Memphis Ballet will be holding Nutcracker Auditions on Friday, September 25th this year. Memphis Ballet has different requirements than the Alberta Ballet, and will be offering roles to slightly younger and smaller children this year, as well as pointe roles for upper level students in Spokane.

We are excited about this opportunity for our Inland Northwest Ballet students to work with a new company, and see what they have to offer! For more info on the auditions, either speak with School Director Janine Fraser, or e-mail her at inlandnwballet@aol.com. She will be happy to give you details on audition times, as well as height and age requirements. Happy Dancing!

Fall Orientation this week!

We are so excited to meet our new dancers, and are looking forward to New Student Orientation, scheduled for Thurs., September 3rd at 7:00 pm at our Spokane Studio. This is a great time for our younger (ages 11 and below) students to meet the instructors, become familiar with the studio, and learn how our dance year unfolds. We can't wait to see you! :)

Happy Wednesday Spokane!

Here's a quote we love to live by, we hope you do as well...



"I am always doing things I can't do, that's how I get to do them"

Pablo Picasso

Meeting for class leaders (student teachers)

For those Inland Northwest Ballet Upper Level students who will be assisting our instructors with Spokane classes for the coming year, your required meeting will take place on Wed., August 5th from 5:30 - 7:00 pm at the studio. This meeting will review the requirements and responsibilities of assisting with classes. Remember, each class leader is on a one month trial basis as a class leader. At the end of the first month, your performance will be assessed, and evaluated by Studio Director Janine Fraser, and if your review is positive, you may continue as a class leader throughout the year. Tuition credits may be received for some Creative Dance classes. Please wear dance attire as if you were actually assisting a class. Happy dancing! :)

Open house for fall classes!

Hooray!
On August 4, 5, and 6, we welcome you to come join our open house for fall class registration. Open house week is a great time come visit us at the studio, meet our instructors, ask questions, and allow your child to become familiar with the studio before his or her first day of class.
E-mail us ahead of time (inlandnwballet@aol.com), and tell us you will be visiting, that you read about the open house on our blog, web site, or facebook, and you will receive one 15.00 registration fee free of charge! Our hours of open house are 10:00 am - 2:00 pm on Tues., Wed., and Thurs, and on Wed. evening from 5:00 - 7:00

Summer Dance Camp for our Spokane Inland Northwest Ballet upper level students (those who have completed one or more years of level 5, 6, or 7)...

Summer is a great time to round out our ballet study, as we have a little more time for trying new, more complicated exercises, partnering, the study of ballet history, French terms, stretching games, and just plain fun!

July 7-9

1:30 – 3:30 for levels 5 – 7 - class, snack games, and projects

3:30 – 4:30 for levels 6 and 7 only – a more intense class/ballet study

Each day, we will have ballet barre and center class, work on a little partnering, enjoy a snack, watch a short dance video, study our ballet history and play our French terms and stretching games. In addition, we will do our own fun project, such as creatively painting pointe shoes or butterfly wings (you can paint your own pointe shoes and take them home, or paint an old pair of Miss Janine’s and hang them in the studio…plan must be drawn out ahead of time for this). For level 5, this will be a challenging class, which will help you prepare for the additional Sat. barre class that you may participate in next year. Expect fun and progress in your ballet study!

Levels 5-7 $45

Levels 6-7 $70

Price includes instruction, art supplies, fun prizes for games, and snacks.

Must be pre-registered by July 2nd to participate!

Spokane performance season 2009!

Above: Miss Janine with Beck and Allisen ...


Above: Make-up artist May Hafkamp applying make-up base, a wonderful swiss skin care product supplied by Gerda Spillmann...http://gerdaspillmann.stores.yahoo.net

Above: Emily preparing applying the finishing touch...

Above: Emily and Nora backstage..


Above: Ballet I onstage and ready to perform...



Above: Creative Dance smiles!


Above: Ballet I dancers relax and color pretty pictures while they wait to be taken onstage..


Above: Leaving the Black Box Theatre, to the "real backstage"...

Above: Smiles from the Hip Hop dancers...:)

More photos to come soon!

Above: Miss Kaiti's girls smiling for the camera, everyone is excited to finally perform for an audience...

Performance season is upon us! We had our first two Inland Northwest Ballet Performances last weekend, with our Spokane students dancing to very full audiences in both the matinee and the evening shows. What wonderful support we enjoyed! We presented "A Celebration of Mozart", and other dances, and were fortunate to have make up artist May Hafkamp and her assistant Randi Hafkamp on hand to do make up for all our upper level girls. More photos and info on our make up session after next weekend!


Above: Miss Janine's little ones sit and color while they wait to be taken backstage...

Above: Abby helps keep the tiny dancers occupied while they wait...

Above: Sweet smiles from excited dancers!

We have another full weekend ahead of us, and we promise photos of the upper level girls!