Check out our new button...and click to help save John, a local firefighter who is battling a fatal disease...

Check out our new button to the right, and help a local hero! :)

Spring Break!

Remember that we are closed March 29 - April 3rd for spring break...Enjoy this fun time of year! :)

"I don't want people who want to dance, I want people to have to dance"

George Balanchine
(1904 - 1983)

The Wizard of Oz...

Make plans now to see Wizard of Oz, a fun-filled musical starring Spokane children, including some of our very own Inland Northwest Ballet students. This musical is presented by CYT - Spokane, performed on stage at The Bing Crosby Theater, Feb. 26th through March 7th. Call the CYT office at 487-6540 or go to www.cytspokane.com to reserve tickets.

Twelve-15 Costume will be closing for the season on Feb. 15. All loose ends regarding costumes should be tied up by that time, and no costumes will be ordered after that date (remember, the deadline was Dec. 15). Happy Dancing! :)

Presidents' Day...

As always, we DO have class on President's Day. If unsure in the future, check your annual calendar that was sent home in September...:)

La Danse playing here in Spokane next week!

LA DANSE
Documentary master Frederick Wiseman’s 38th film in a career that has spanned more than that number of years, turns his attention to one of the world’s greatest ballet companies, the Paris Opera Ballet. John Davey’s camera roams the vast Palais Garnier, an opulent 19th century pile of a building: from its crystal chandelier-laden corridors to its labyrinthine underground chambers, from its light-filled rehearsal studios to its luxurious theater replete with 2,200 scarlet velvet seats and Marc Chagall ceiling. LA DANSE devotes most of its time to watching impossibly beautiful young men and women — among them Nicolas Le Riche, Marie-Agnès Gillot, and Agnès Letestu — rehearsing the choreography of Mats Ek, Wayne McGregor, Rudolf Nureyev and Pina Bausch. For balletomanes and the curious alike, LA DANSE serves up a scrumptious meal of delectable moments, one more glorious than the next, made even more precious by their ephemeral nature.

This film will play in downtown Spokane on Thurs. Feb. 4th, as part of the Spokane International Film Festival, at River Park Cinemas at 7 pm. See Studio Director Janine Fraser for more details...This is not to be missed for any ballet lover! :)

Student teachers or class leaders...How we choose!

We have been recently asked by a parent how we choose our Inland Northwest Ballet student teachers/class leader, and thought our answer would make a great blog post...:)

First, let us explain that at our Spokane studio, a student teacher simply means an assistant to the adult teacher, we never hire children to teach our classes, all our teachers are full grown adults...:)

We choose student teachers in a couple of ways. Usually a student makes a request, and if she is someone that could be a help (a good role model, a good leader, and someone that will say the words for the instructor), then Miss Janine or Miss Kaiti tries to find a suitable Creative Dance class for her to help with. She must attend a training session in the summer, where we go through a normal class, and discuss all of the important issues regarding student teaching.

At first the position is volunteer, but once the student proves to be a leader (knowing what exercises are performed in what manner and saying all the words while dancing with the students) then they are credited a small amount of tuition. A student teacher that does not say the words is actually a liability rather than an asset, as the instructor is then constantly trying to recruit help from the student teacher/class leader. In this case the class leader may be removed until she grows a little more responsible and is actually able to help.

Class leaders usually lead two classes in a row, and to get tuition credit, they must be Creative Dance classes, since this is where we need the assistance. Often you may see girls helping with older class, but the girls are doing this simply to enhance their own dance education, and for fun!

Important: If the student teacher is going to miss a class, she MUST find a replacement. This teaches them about the real world of teaching, that an instructor cannot just call in sick/busy etc. If we have problems with a student teacher missing without finding replacements, she will be removed. With little ones, consistency is vital.

On occasion, the class leader performs with them onstage, however this is only on occasion, and is in no way guaranteed, despite what may have bee done the prior year. Their is usually a soloist dancing with the ballet Creative Dance classes (to give them cues for their own choreography), but it is often an older soloist.

Also, please note that we also have a different kind of "class leader" Sometimes have "little class leaders" which are usually about age 5, and are chosen because they perform excellently in their own class, and are a good example for younger students who may be having trouble following. Sometimes little ones need to see how a peer follows the instructor in order to learn themselves. These students are given tuition credit for 100% of that class, and must take that class in addition to their own class. They learn leadership skills, and often increase their own confidence at the same time...:) They dance as a student, not up front with the instructor, and sometimes but not always perform with the class.

We hope this helps all student teacher hopefuls to understand what is required of this leadership position...:)

Pretty costumes...

Below are a few photos of some of our beautiful costumes for our upcoming ballet performances to be held in Spokane in June...


This classical tutu will be worn by our level 7 soloist, but in a shade of pink...



This tutu will be worn by our level 5Bs, 6s and 7s, but in a romantic style, and in both pink and periwinkle...




This periwinkle dress will be worn by our little dancers in Ballet I...


This beautiful costume will be worn in pink by our Ballet 3s and 4s...


This pretty pink dress will be worn by some of our Ballet 2 and 3s...



The eggplant and pink costume will be worn by some of our little ones in our Creative Dance Tap class...


...and this darling coral costume will be also worn by our little tap dancers...:)

We love this quote...:)

"There was simply from this quite early age the awareness that the only thing I wanted to do was dance"

Rudolph Nureyev (1939-1993)

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!