BALLET FOREVER - YOUR BALLET MAGAZINE

Grand Rapids Ballet Junior Company performs delightful 'Beauty and the Beast'

When the curtain rose at the beginning of the “Beauty of the Beast” ballet, children in the audience were already happily sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the start of a beloved fairy tale. Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company performed “Beauty and the Beast” on March 15-17, and will hold two more performances this weekend, March 23-24. The ballet lived up to the magic of the classic story with the inventive choreography of Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company Director Attila Mosoylgo and the lovely dancing of the student dancers in the year's production.
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Grand Rapids Ballet Junior Company performs delightful 'Beauty and the Beast'
Review: Grand Rapids Ballet's 'Movemedia: Handmade' shines

The art of dance and the magic of creativity come together each year when Grand Rapids Ballet holds their annual contemporary dance series, “Movemedia.” It is a unique window into the visionary art that encompasses dance. This year’s series, “Movemedia: Handmade,” held at the Peter Martin Wege Theatre on Feb. 8-10, featured seven world premieres, and five of them were choreographed by current Grand Rapids Ballet company dancers as well as a stirring number by their Choreographer-in-Residence Penny Saunders. The show demonstrated that Grand Rapids Ballet Artistic Director James Sofranko is dedicated to showcasing the depth of talent of his dancers for both performance and choreography. It is exciting for West Michigan dance fans to witness their local dance company continue to grow, enjoy world class shows, and see their favorite dancers grow as performers and choreographers.
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Review: Grand Rapids Ballet's 'Movemedia: Handmade' shines
Choreographer Spotlight: Val Caniparoli

There are some choreographers who have a special way of creating ballets that touch the emotions and bring out the unique beauty of dance. Val Caniparoli is one such choreographer. Few choreographers can boast of a repertoire that includes a mix of ballets based on literary classics and cutting-edge dance themes than Val Caniparoli. The San Francisco Ballet-based choreographer has been dancing and choreographing for over 40 years, with several long-running shows that are continuously performed. A choreographer and principal character dancer at San Francisco Ballet, Caniparoli has created works for the repertoire of more than 50 dance companies all over the world. He has a gift for creating beautiful works of classical ballet as well as fusing it with other styles of dance to create thought-provoking and artful masterpieces. Find out about Val Caniparoli’s dance journey, his inspirations for dance, and learn why he is one of one of the most highly sought-after choreographers in the field of dance today.
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Choreographer Spotlight: Val Caniparoli
Choosing ballet slipper for dance class

Choosing the right ballet slippers for class is important to prevent injury and learning proper technique. Many dance studios only specify that a ballet slipper should be made of leather or canvas. There are a variety of ballet slipper styles available from many different brands, but not all are created equal and some are not a good choice for a beginner. You want to find the ballet slipper that meets the needs of your dance level and fit you well.
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Choosing ballet slipper for dance class

Why boys should enroll in dance class

Dance class benefits growing boys and may be one of the secrets to successful athletic performance in many sports. All children can get valuable exercise, flexibility, endurance and motor skill growth from dancing. Boys also need the lessons in fitness and discipline that are a part of dance. Discover how dancing can help young boys grow into strong young men.

Help your child overcome stage fright

Stage fright or performance anxiety is common among children, especially young children who must perform in front of an audience of strangers for the first time. Performing can be scary for young children. Learn how to ease your child's anxiety and get her more comfortable with performance situations.

Ballet improves limited flexibility

Can you learn ballet if you are an adult with limited flexibility? Yes, you can learn ballet at any age and any level of flexibility. Ballet is a physically demanding art that requires a lot of athleticism and strength. However, you can learn ballet at any fitness level, and the ballet exercises will make you more flexible and stronger over time. It is also a physical activity that you can do for your entire life, even well into old age.

How to choose the right type of ballet class for your child

When you are searching for a ballet class for your young child between the ages of 3 and 7 years old, you will find that many studios offer opportunities to learn ballet through a ballet creative movement class or a combination ballet and tap class. All of these classes introduce dance in a way that helps develop motor skills, coordination and rhythm in fun combinations developed for younger children. Choosing between a combination ballet and tap dance class or a ballet class often depends on your child's individual interests and the classes available in your area.