New class to be added in January!

Because our current Creative Dance I classes are all full, and we still have many Spokane children wanting lessons, we will add a new Creative Dance I class beginning in January...The tap and ballet class will begin on Friday, Jan. 16th at 3:00 pm for new dancers age 3-5. Tuition is $80 for the eight week session. The class will be taught by Miss Kaiti, and will include two young leaders (little ones with two+ years dance training, that help lead the class by example).

To enroll, you must turn in your registration form and your tuition (non-refundable) before the class fills. Once the class is full, no more students will be enrolled (please do not show up the first day unregistered, as the class will be full, and we really dislike disappointing a little dancer).

You can get this form via e-mail (click the link on the right) or at the studio when we re-open on Monday, Jan. 5. Once your spot is confirmed, you will receive information regarding the dress code for this class. For more information on our classes, click the link on the right that will take you to our main web site!

For more info, e-mail us at inlandnwballet@aol.com...We will be happy to answer!

We also may add a class Tues. mornings at 11:00 AM, please e-mail Studio Director Janine Fraser if interested!

Inland Northwest Ballet Fudge Recipe...Yummy!

Okay, we give up...We had planned to try to reschedule our fudge party for this coming Wed., but with the incredible amount of snow outside now, the terrible road conditions, and the expectation of at least 3-6 inches Tuesday evening, with 1-3 more on Wed. morning...we are giving up thoughts of rescheduling this season.

Some of you have asked for the recipe we use to make our yummy fudge, so here it is....Keep in mind this is not a low cal, low fat fudge...A couple of years ago Kraft changed their recipe to include only half the sugar, and less butter...:( We had to go searching all over north Spokane to find the original recipe that is so yummy! Healthy eating is important for a dancer/athlete, but burning it off in with a bazillion entrechats in ballet class helps to balance out the high calorie indulgence! Enjoy!

Inland Northwest Ballet’s Fantasy Fudge recipe…This is a double batch…yummy!

You will need 3 sticks of butter (the good stuff, not margarine)

6 cups of sugar

2 cans of evaporated milk (but you won’t use all, you must measure)

24 oz. chocolate chips

One 14 oz. jar of marshmallow crème

2 tps. Vanilla


Begin with the butter, of sugar, and evaporated milk…Mix, and boil on high for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Gradually stir in 24. oz Chocolate Chips

Then add in one 14. 0z. jar of marshmallow crème (we microwave for a few seconds first to soften…but only a few seconds or you will think Mt. St. Helens blew in your microwave!)

Add 2 tsp. of vanilla. Stir all together.

Pour into two lightly greased 13 x 9 inch, or 9 x 9 inch pans…cool and eat. Be certain to scrape all bowls, pans, and lick all spoons…you do not want to waste any of this yummy fudge!

Take in the Nutcracker Ballet on television this week...

The Waltz of the Flowers in San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker...

We know that many of you in the Spokane area took the opportunity to see Alberta Ballet's production of the Nutcracker earlier this month, and enjoyed it very much. Now, just days before Christmas 2008, PBS will be presenting two versions of the Nutcracker Ballet on TV, and Studio Director Janine Fraser wants our Inland Northwest Ballet dancers to know about them...Record the ballets (there are two different versions) so your child can watch whenever he or she wants, or sit as a family and watch them together, either way, don't miss them...:)

Here are the viewing times for both the San Francisco Ballet and the Royal Ballet productions...

San Francisco Ballet's `Nutcracker'...Monday, Dec. 22nd at 4:00 am pst (yes, that is a.m...best to record!), on PBS, our local channel 7.
Kristi Yamaguchi , who grew up in the bay area, introduces the San Francisco Ballet production of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" that is set in 1915 San Francisco during the Panama Pacific International Exhibition. Clara is portrayed by the beautiful Maria Kochetkova. The Nutcracker Prince is danced by Davit Karapetyan. See links below.

Click here to learn more about Maria...
http://www.sfballet.org/about/company/dancers/view.asp?id=12340121
or here to learn more about Davit...
http://www.sfballet.org/about/company/dancers/view.asp?id=12340011


The Royal Ballet of London...Thursday, Dec. 25th (Christmas day!) at 2:00 pm, on PBS, our local channel 7, KSPS...Dancing to music of Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky, the Royal Ballet performs the holiday tale about Clara (danced by Alina Cojocaru) who falls in love with a toy. Anthony Dowell also stars as the toymaker Drosselmeyer.

Pay tuition online...

We now have an easier way to pay your Inland Northwest Ballet tuition...You can now pay online using Paypal or a credit card. Just scroll down our blog, look to the right and choose a menu. The upper menu is for those of you paying a simple standard tuition amount. Say for example, one child taking one class, or two sibling taking one class each. You simply select your tuition amount and click "buy", which will take you to the next window to complete your payment.

The second menu is for those of you with a child taking three ballet classes, one jazz class, two pointe classes, who also has a sibling taking a class as well. You must add various amounts to your cart, and then click "pay" to complete your payment.

A 2.00 fee is required to cover Paypal costs. Please note that any payment over 200.00 requires a 6.00 fee, since fees are calculated by percentages.

This feature will soon be available on our web site as well!

Note: If you don't already use PayPal, we recommend it, as only Paypal has your credit card or bank numbers, not each vendor you pay.

SNOW DAY!!!

Needless to say, due to the schools being closed, we are closed Dec. 18, 19, and 20th...stay home where it's safe and warm! :)

The level 6/7 fudge party has also been cancelled,and will be rescheduled for a later date.

Have a terrific break, we'll see you Jan. 5th!

In the meadow we can build a snowman...

Just a reminder, that if the Mead School District or Spokane School District #81 makes the decision to let school out early or to cancel school altogether, we DO NOT have class. For instance, today, Dec. 17th, we did have class because school was still is session. We will have classes tomorrow as long as Mead has school. However, if Mead or Spokane closes, we will not hold class.

You may check here...http://www.mead354.org/, or here...http://www.spokaneschools.org/

We will post any closure on this blog and our web site both, so check back if in doubt! Note: We usually only post closures, so if not notice is posted, assume we do have class. However, we respect your decision if you choose to stay home where you are warm, safe, and dry!

Fudge Party!!!

For level 6 and 7 Spokane dancers, your annual fudge party is this Friday at 7 pm...

For location, see your invite.

Please remember to RSVP to Inland Northwest Ballet by Wed. evening...

There is lots of fudge making (and even better, fudge eating!) to be done!

Alberta Ballet Nutcracker in Spokane...

As promised, here are a few photos from our afternoon at the ballet...Scroll down to see our original post about Alberta Ballet's new Nutcracker and how well we enjoyed attending this year! Also, some backstage/rehearsal photos coming soon!

Miss Janine and Inland Northwest Ballet dancers enjoying the Nutcracker...

Jemima and Shannon congratulate Malinda and Ciara on a terrific performance...

Miss Janine and dancers gather by the
Spokane Opera House Christmas Tree
before the Nutcracker Ballet begins...

I love my cousins! Miss Kaiti Bri's students pose for a photo during intermission...:)

Costume orders due this week...

Julie portrays Cinderella and Nicole dances the role of the Fairy Godmother, as Miss Janine watches from the wings...

Remember....costume orders must be postmarked by Wed., Dec. 10th to get the early order costume price, and to be guaranteed to arrive in time for our spring photo session and Inland Northwest Ballet Performances. If you have questions, please read over your costume paperwork, just about everything you will need to know is in there! :)

Spokane Nutcracker fun...

This weekend, we attended the Nutcracker Ballet, our city's wonderful holiday tradition in downtown Spokane, watching Alberta Ballet, along with several local dancers, perform Edmund Stripe's updated version of the Nutcracker.

We had a wonderful afternoon, with almost 150 of us from Inland Northwest Ballet seated together, watching our students dance, and enjoying the fabulous new sets and enchanting new costumes. In speaking with our dancers after the matinee, we found they are having a terrific weekend performing with the company members from Alberta Ballet. Dancing with and seeing how the backstage in a professional company works is both thrilling and educational for all of them!

Miss Janine's review: Between dancing in, and attending the Nutcracker Ballet, I have probably seen approximately 100 Nutcracker performances. I have found that I tend to prefer tradition when it comes to this ballet. I have seen companies try to be "different", and I have sometimes disliked the results, when "different" tampers too much with tradition.
With Edmund Stripes' new version, I was very pleased. Never before have I seen a company enjoy such success in combining tradition with uniqueness. I felt that the important aspects were kept traditional, while many details in the slightly new storyline were unique to this Nutcracker, keeping us interested, and sometimes amused.

Click below to learn more about Alberta Ballet, the professional company, the dancers, and the choreographer.

http://www.albertaballet.com/news/blog-buzz

As always, we enjoyed the music of the Spokane Symphony immensely...:) Click below to learn more about the Symphony and upcoming performances...

http://www.spokanesymphony.org/series,8,nutcracker

Photos of our dancers and our group photo in the lobby of the Opera House will be posted soon...:)