Mount Dora School of Ballet

 

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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / 2012 Summer News

2012 Summer News

Posted on July 31, 2012

Orlando Sentinel, July 31, 2012

MOUNT DORA – After a winter of balancing school with learning precise ballet technique, summer brings smiles to dance students.

The girls and boys learn about music, dance history, Pilates, performance make-up, and costuming, between Classical Ballet, Character Dance, Modern and Jazz technique classes with their Artistic Director, Kathryn Wheeler, and guest instructors flown in by the Mount Dora School of Ballet.

“The students learn about the components that create an artist,” said Kathryn Wheeler, studio owner and director.  “They have so much fun – it reinforces their love for the whole art form.  Dancers come back in the fall very inspired.”

Pilates trains your body to develop long, lean muscles and engage core muscles.  Character Dance is an integral part of Classical Ballet.  Its base is from the national and folkloric dance traditions.  It helps dancers develop artistry and show personality and mood in their performances.

Bringing in guest instructors is one of Wheeler’s strengths.  From her career as a dancer and a teacher, she can invite a high level guest teacher.

Earlier this month, Amy Earnest taught Classical Ballet to students from 10 through 13.  Earnest, who studied at The Atlanta Ballet, School of American Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet, performed as a principal dancer with the Hartford Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, was a student of Wheeler’s in Atlanta.

Amy Earnest
Amy Earnest
Amy in performance.
Amy in performance.
Amy teaching a Level B Ballet Class.
Amy teaching Level B Ballet Class.

Peter Pawlyshyn, who was the school director at the Kansas City Ballet School and was a principal guest artist with the Boston Ballet, taught Character Dance and Classical Ballet.  He said, “ a school focusing on dance education, rather than competitions, can offer students a chance for an exciting future.”

Peter Pawlyshyn
Peter Pawlyshyn
Peter Teaching Level A Character Class
Peter Teaching Level A Character Class.

“This has afforded us careers around the world,” Pawlyshyn said.  He also said that students who pursue their studies can also follow university programs in dance, or can use their knowledge of body mechanics as doctors or physiotherapists.

Students Carolyn Bakich, 13; Madison Yates, 13;  and Hannah Wells, 11; demonstrated the pirouette and talked about how ballet makes them feel.  Carolyn said her dance studies have made her feel more independent.  Madison said ballet has made her stronger, more flexible, and taught her gracefulness.  “People think we just go around in tutus,” she said.  “But we’re athletes, too.”

Mount Dora School of Ballet, at 4280 North Highway, 19A is accepting registration for its upcoming season.  MDSB will have an Open House on Saturday, August 18th from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. or call 352-357-5536 for information.  Fall classes begin September 4.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: MDSB, Mount Dora School of Ballet

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Ballet technique is the foundation of our curriculum. Our faculty follows a syllabus steeped in the Russian tradition. The school has three distinct divisions. Our Children’s Division is for girls and boys ages 3 to 7 and our Classical Ballet Division is for girls and boys 8 to 19. We also have an Open Division for students 8 and up with classes in Character Dance, and Contemporary. Performing is a crucial component of the overall dance education. The … Read More

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Placement InformtaionChildren's Division: Students in the Children’s Division, ages 3 through 7, are placed by age as of September 1.Classical Ballet Division: Students new to Mount Dora School of Ballet wishing to register for the Classical Ballet Division, ages 8 through 18, are placed properly through a placement class. For class placement inquiries or for additional information, contact us at: 4280 N Hwy 19A Suite 4, Mount Dora, FL 32757 (352) 357-5536Open … Continue to Registration

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