SPRING 2009
BALLET Fantastique Newsletter Inside this issue: Performance with Trio Voronezh recap, Q & A with Amelia Unsicker, ways to get involved, and more!
PARENT OBSERVATION DAYS Come celebrate your dancer’s accomplishments and growth during Parent Observation Days. It’s your chance as a family member to see the happenings of a dancer’s everyday class. Join us during your dancer’s regular class time and share in his or her progress and hard work. Parents and immediate family members are invited to these informal and informative dance sessions, which are also open to families curious about Ballet Fantastique (simply give us a call to set up a time!). Parent Observation Days are: Professional Division May 29th and 30th Children’s Division (Saturday classes) on June 6th.
Ballet Fantastique is delighted to kick off the summer performance season with an upcoming performance tour to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival on Saturday, June 13th starting at 7:15 pm! The world-renowned Ashland festival has invited the troupe to perform pieces from the ballet Don Quixote and other excerpts from our critically-acclaimed Danse en Rouge: Variations in Red on the opening night of the OSF Don Quixote theatrical production run. Ballet Fantastique looks forward to a great opening of the Don Quixote show with classical guitarist John Jarvie. BFan dancers also can’t wait to catch an OSF show while visiting.
The rest of Ballet Fantastique’s 2009-2010 season will include exciting new collaborations and Hult Center concerts with performance opportunities for all of our “Fantastique” dancers. Stay tuned…the concert calendar will be officially unveiled at our launch party late this summer, where invitees will also meet and mingle with new and returning professional Ballet Fantastique company dancers (we’re currently receiving auditions from across the country!).
Summer Dreamworks Program (ages 4–professional):
Become the Dancer You Want to Be—The Focus Is You!
Photo by Michael Brinkernoff
Photo by Anne Nunn
Shakespeare Festival Tour!
“I love dancing at Ballet Fantastique because the class sizes are limited, so I get lots of personal attention from amazing teachers that encourage me to do my best. I really feel that at Ballet Fantastique, I’m getting the training I need to be the best dancer I can be.” -Dancer: Julia Hakes, age 19
Are you looking for a summer full of learning, inspiration, and top-notch dance? Our camps and workshops attract attention from across the country for their unique blend of smaller class sizes, top-notch Vaganova instruction, specially-crafted performance experiences, and great value. These workshops are registering now, and space is very limited. Please contact us today for more info and early registration discounts!
Applause for Ballet Fantastique In February, Ballet Fantastique performed an encore collaborative concert with the world-renowned Trio Voronezh at the Soreng Concert Hall in the Hult Center. We hope you were one of the many that helped fill the theater for the one-night-only performance. The evening was lovely, filled with spectacular dancing, beautiful music and stunning artwork.
Unsicker burned up the stage.” The paper exclaimed to their readership: “Do not miss Ballet Fantastique’s next concert.” Read the whole article go to www. balletfantastique.org. Ballet Fantastique gives a huge thank-you to everyone who helped make this incredible performance happen. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Ballet Fantastique’s dancers received rave reviews for their performance. The Register Guard wrote that “Ashley Bontrager, Hannah Bontrager, Ya Xi Fu, and
To watch and share clips from the performance, visit Ballet Fantastique’s YouTube channel at www.youtube. com/balletfantastique.
Coming Up (Mark Your Calendar) May & June Saturday-Monday, May 23-25: NO CLASSES for Memorial Day Friday-Saturday, May 29-30: Professional Division Parent Observation Days (observe your dancer’s class during his or her normal class time)
Photo by Anne Nunn
Photo by Anne Nunn
Photo by Michael Brinkernoff
Q & A with Ballet Fantastique Dancer Amelia Unsicker
Photo by Michael Brinkernoff
Amelia Unsicker began her intensive ballet training at the age of eight at Pacific Festival Ballet, now the Portland Festival Ballet. At age eleven, she was accepted into the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre, where she trained for seven years in a very professional and motivating environment.
Now, in her first year with Ballet Fantastique, Amelia balances her obligations as a full-time student at the University of Oregon, majoring in biology and minoring in dance, with her training at BFan. Q: When did you start dancing? A: I began dancing when I was about four years old. My mother was a ballet dancer and she taught me the basics at a very young age.
Q: What is your proudest dance accomplishment? A: My proudest accomplishment in dance is merely the outcome of performing. Performing is the greatest accomplishment for me because dancers put in so much time and effort for a performance and when the audience applauds at the end, that is what keeps me alive! Q: What are you studying at UO and what plans do you
have for the future? A: I’m studying biology and dance at the UO. After graduating, I hope to attend grad school and go into the medical field. Whether or not I dance professionally after earning my undergraduate degree, dance will always be an enormous part of my life. It’s helped shape the person I am today. Q: What was the last book you read? A: The last book I read was Flowers for Algernon. I tend to enjoy a good science fiction novel that involves some odd medical aspects. Q: If you could have a superpower for 1 day, what would you choose and how would you use it? A: I would choose to have the ability to fly. When I was little, I thought that I could fly and I would continually try flying off the couch. I would hope that along with my flying capabilities came a sixth sense so that I knew when people were in trouble and I could swoop down and save them! Q: What advice can you give student dancers? A: The goal of a dancer is to make their dancing appear effortless. Achieving that goal takes years of practice, dedication, motivation and absolute love and passion for dance. It’s no easy task, but if you carry that passion and drive in your heart, then your feet will carry you the rest of the way.
Saturday, June 6: Children's Division Parent Observation Days (observe your dancer’s class during his or her normal class time) Saturday, June 13 @ 7:15 pm: Ballet Fantastique Chamber Company performs at Shakespeare Festival (Ashland, OR)—Professional Division students guest perform by invitation
July & August
July 6-10 FAIRYTALE DANCE CAMP (ages 4-9) Monday-Friday (9:30-12 noon) July 6- August 13 BALLET CONCERTO: ADVANCED Technique: Mondays-Thursdays 4–6 pm (Tuesdays and Thursdays, entire class will be held on pointe) Apprentice/Company Rehearsal & Variations: 6–7 pm Company on call: 7–7:30 pm July 6- August 13 BALLET BRAVO: INTERMEDIATE Technique: Mondays–Thursdays, 1–3 pm Pointe/Variations: Mondays–Thursdays, 3–4 pm Strength & Conditioning Class Required
Friday, June 12-Monday, June 15: NO REGULAR PROFESSIONAL DIVISION classes for Ashland tour. Children’s Division Saturday classes will be held, as usual! Dancers participating in the OSF performance should be prepared for a long rehearsal day on Friday. Details and performance packet coming soon! Thursday, June 18: Professional Division Exams (as scheduled) Saturday, June 20: Last day of regular classes at Ballet Fantastique At the studio from 3-5 pm: Second Annual Ballet Fantastique Fiesta (certificates, medals, evaluations, treats, and celebration!)
July 6- August 23 BALLET BRAVO: INTERMEDIATE Technique/Performance: Mondays– Thursdays, 1–3 pm Pointe/Variations: Mondays–Thursdays, 3–4 pm July 13-23 Session I: BALLET BRILLIANTE: INTENSIVE BEGINNING (BALLET “BOOT CAMP”) Mondays-Thursdays (10- 12 noon) August 3-13 Session II: BALLET BRILLIANTE: INTENSIVE BEGINNING (BALLET “BOOT CAMP”) Mondays-Thursdays (10- 12 noon)
Support Ballet Fantastique
Three Ways to Get Involved
Photo by Michael Brinkernoff
Sign up for Escrip! By taking just a minute to sign up, you’ll be helping Ballet Fantastique every time you make purchases at hundreds of stores across the country (including Eddie Bauer and Market of Choice). Simply by swiping your club card, debit card or credit card, participating businesses automatically makes a contribution to us. It's free for you and you can un-enroll at any time. The money we raise supports dance scholarships for underprivileged kids. To sign up go to http://www.escrip.com/" http://www.escrip.com/, click on "Sign Up," and then type in "Ballet Fantastique." It’s as easy as that! And the donations really make a difference. Since Escrip is a national program, grandparents, aunts, and uncles everywhere can be involved. Donate to dancer scholarships! Support students at Ballet Fantastique by making a tax-deductible contribution to the organization. Contributions can be made through an easy one-time or monthly direct or check. Gifts of stock and in-kind donations of goods and services as also accepted. Before donating, check with your employer about their making gift policy as you may be able to increase the impact of your donation. Visit http://balletfantastique.org/arts/ arts.php" http://balletfantastique.org/arts/arts.php to get more information or find out how to give to Ballet Fantastique today!
Volunteer opportunity! Ballet Fantastique is looking for an Administrative Assistant to the aid the Secretary in general business and organizational tasks. The task requires a multiyear contract and would be perfect for someone who has lots of free time and wants to stay busy. Contact Dianna Bressler at secretaryballetfantastique@gmail.com for more information.
Thank You To Ballet Fantastique
Friends and Donors
Cash and in-kind donors: Sam Allen, Lisa Andrews, Anne Nunn Photography, Rebecca Aust, Candy Baron, Caitriona Bolster, Donna Marisa Bontrager, Hannah Bontrager, Michael Brinkerhoff Photography, Dianna CampbellBressler, Cardae Flowers and Gifts, Karin Clarke Gallery, Randy Clays, Leonor Colbert, Judy Collins, Comcast, Gwen Curran, Christy Desermeaux, Escape Lodging, Eugene Symphony, Euphoria, Flux Magazine, Freudian Slip, Patty Gwartney and George Goldthwaite, Laurie Hamilton, Arnold Ismach, Mary Jans and Stan Gibbs, John Jarvie, Bob Keefer, Samantha Ketcherside, Latitude Ten Café, Maryhill Winery, McCallums’s Custom Catering, Sue McClellend, Alice Moffitt and Paul Newman, Vicki Morgan and Mike Dura, John Murphy, Jean Names and Gary Cross, Newman’s at 988, Nuit en Rouge Volunteer Food Donations, Nancy Oft Rose and Mike Rose, Onsen Spas, Pacific Office Automation, Rebecca Purice, R Stuart Winery, Vanessa Salvia, Karen Schell, Carlotta Sinkey, Deborah and James Speer, Bonnita Stahlberg, Supercuts, Sweet Life Patisserie, Eve and Mike Takahashi, Emily Tormey, Trader Joes, Susan Turnblom, Ellen Urrutia, Valley River Inn, Margie Van Dorn, The Vintage Restaurant, Wendlyn and AM Rempel, Donovan Werts, and Woden Photography. Board and advisory board: Heidi Blaine, Hannah Bontrager, Dianna Bressler, Christy Desermeaux, Arikka Hall, Elizabeth Mondulick, Courtney Smith, Darcy Tucker, Kaleigh Young
We appreciate your support!
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