Ballet and Friends Presents The Nutcracker

For the fifth year in a row, B&F presents Slawomir Wozniak’s The Nutcracker, this time at the Orpheum Theater, in Downtown Phoenix.
The old fairy tale is presented in our show in a way that attracts children of today, brought up on cartoons. The battles between mice and toy soldiers, as well as Drosselmeyer’s mysterious transformation into the nine-foot tall Mouse King is fascinating even for the x-box generation. Ballet lovers will delight in the professional level dances of the snow flakes, flowers as well as soloist culminating in the Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier’s dance. The fast-paced and fun production is sure to delight audiences of all ages. The show will keep you hooked from the first minute of it till the end. We owe this staging of the 19th century classic to an original storyline, as well as modern choreography by Ballet and Friends’ Artistic Director, Slawomir Wozniak.
The Principal Dancer at the National Opera in Warsaw has originally choreographed this show for Theatr Wielki from Poznan, Poland, in 2006. The production was a huge success from the very beginning and it stayed in the company’s repertoire, being played often at Christmas time to this day. Phoenix audiences are fortunate to experience this unique production this year at one of our most beautiful venues, the Orpheum Theater in Downtown Phoenix. Our cast includes renowned professional dancers and entertainers from the US and abroad, as well as some of the most talented ballet students from the Valley. The professional level costumes reflect the era perfectly in the first act, and are unique for the second act. They are made by Oso Rojo Costumes based on designs by Irena Wozniak and Claudia Folts of tutu.com.
Ballet and Friends, the organization behind this production, is dedicated to help children in our community. Our dancers have presented an abridged version of the show at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, as well as at the Children’s Center of Maricopa Integrated Health System for children whose illness prevent them from leaving the hospital. This year we are also partnered with AZ Dance’s Movement E-Motion, organization that provides instruction and performance opportunities for young adults with Down Syndrome, Autism or other physical challenges. We are continuing our long-standing relationship with the Marine Corps through their Toys for Tots program, by providing both toys and monetary donations.
By purchasing their tickets, audiences will be delighted by the show as well as assisting us in giving back to the community, supporting Toys for Tots, and contributing to numerous organizations dedicated to helping children.

Our Dancers Touch Lives

After having a mini-show of the Nutcracker at the Phoenix Childrens' Hospital, some od our dancers led by our artistic director and our ballet mistress, Slawomir and Irena Wozniak, brought the same show to the Maricopa Children's Center. They really touched a few lives of the burn patients there, here is a letter that Ms LeSueur sent out after the performance:

"I just wanted to relay to you all how much I personally appreciated today’s Nutcracker performance.
The troupe was amazing, and I was able to bring three of my pediatric burn patients and families, as well as one adult burn patient down to enjoy for the venue. It made for a much brighter start to the day for our burn patients, much different than the typical therapy/bandage change regimes that start their days – for that I wholeheartedly thank you. The wealth of talent shared by the young performers was truly a sight to behold as well.
I just wanted to share one brief story with regards to today’s event that truly touched my heart, and perhaps will yours as well.
Our adult burn patient whom was able to attend was mesmerized by the ballet talents of the performers, and actually went to congratulate and talk with the troupe after the performance. She had been looking for dance classes for her young daughter, but due to costs/locations of classes she had searched out thus far, she had been unable to find anything. I am elated to say that not only did this troupe hear out her request, but they have arranged for dance classes for this adult burn patient’s daughter, at greatly reduced costs! This patient was discharged today a much happier and brighter self in healing and heart.
Thank you for bringing this venue here – not only did it affect our pediatric patients in attendance, but it was effective in touching the adult hearts and lives as well!
Sincerely,
Lori LeSueur, MSW, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
Arizona Burn Center at Maricopa Medical Center"

This is what dance is all about: making others happy, touching lives through artistry. I am proud to be part of this as the mom of one of these dancers.

Just life... at MBA

I thought I'd share more photos taken by Jennifer Blackman during ballet classes, privates, stretch classes at our studio. This is what a Saturday morning looks like at MBA

Nutcracker rehearsals

here are some photos taken by Jennifer Blackman during some of our rehearsals: Enjoy!

news...

We were busy during the summer, though had no time to post. Our five week summer intensive was a great success, and after a short break we started back fresh. We have a few new teachers and lots of new students. It's been taking a while to adjust to the growth of the studio.
And now Nutcracker season is upon us again. We've seen lots of wonderful dancers during the auditions and we have a cast now and already have started rehearsals this past weekend. Tonight will be the third rehearsal of the season, everything is going great!
Kathleen Rojas of Oso Rojo Costumes is making us brand new waltz Corps costumes and tutus for the Walts of Flowers Queen.
Marking Ballet & Friends' 30th anniversary and the 5th under the direction of Slawomir Wozniak, this season's shows promise to be the best ones yet.
I'll try to keep everyone updated with the progress.

World Ballet Competition

We took four of our students to the World Ballet Competition held in Orlando, Florida, after they all have passed the video audition.

Tessa DesRoche, Leanne Fromm, Esther Huszar and Jade Jacoby all did an outstanding job dancing at the competition.

Leanne Fromm brought home the bronze medal along with a cash prize and three scholarship offers. Great Job, Leanne!

Esther Huszar also received a scholarship offer to the Orlando School of Ballet.
Congratulations to them all!

Spring Show - Carmen

The show was a success. This is what one of our spectators wrote about it:

Master Ballet Academy's Annual Spring Show
by Karly Williams


I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon at Master Ballet Academy's Annual Spring Show. I attended with my husband, and several dear friends, and we were all deeply impressed by the quality of the production. Our community is fortunate to have such an outstanding dance academy for our young people. It is a rare privilege to have world class dancers, brilliant, experienced, and passionate, to instruct, encourage, and mentor our children. The cast of performers was well taught and well rehearsed, and danced with energy and joy. The audience was rewarded by a caliber of entertainment that far exceeded in value the price of our tickets.

Following the show, my group went out to dinner. Our conversation around the table was peppered with enthusiastic gushings about our wonderful experience at the ballet! Of course we raved about the choreography, the costumes, the music, the lighting, the sets, the venue: but above all else, we expressed our delight with the amazing dancing! The enactment of the tragic story of Carmen and Don Jose was fresh and powerful, vigorous and intense. The characterizations portrayed by the performers were subtle, finely nuanced, and surprisingly mature. Each dancer, whether soloist or member of the corps, added grace and dimension to the over-all impact and success of this incredible rendition of "Carmen."

The second portion of the show, The Best of MBA, was thrilling. It was fun to see the contemporary and jazz numbers, together with the classical ballet. The talent of the participants in these complex numbers was clearly evidenced in their brilliant technique. It will be soul satisfying to watch these up-and-coming performers as they continue to grow and develop. The "Power to Wow" will make true stars of those dancers willing to "give it their all." But more important still, will be their sense of satisfaction in being a part of something as wonderful as the "World of Dance!"

Karly Williams
June 26, 2011