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Arts-In-Education Programs
FOR A LIFE-LONG ADVENTURE IN DANCE
| OUR MISSION |
The Albany Berkshire Ballet seeks:
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| OUR DANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| Today's youngsters are tomorrow's adult audiences. To stimulate an interest in and an appreciation of dance, the Albany Berkshire Ballet offers a variety of young people's performances including complete, short ballets and excerpts crafted specially for young children. Included with each performance is a brief introductory demonstration which features some audience participation and a question and answer period. A syllabus can also be made available to teachers at participating schools beforehand.
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| YOUNG PEOPLE'S PERFORMANCES |
| Today's youngsters are tomorrow's adult audiences. To stimulate an interest in and an appreciation of dance, the Albany Berkshire Ballet offers a variety of young people's performances including complete, short ballets and excerpts crafted specially for young children. Included with each performance is a brief introductory demonstration which features some audience participation and a question and answer period. A syllabus can also be made available to teachers at participating schools beforehand.
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| Aesop's Fables Grades K- 4 Recommended With original music by Christopher Culpo and choreography by Karen Corey-Malik, this ballet brings five of Aesop's best known fables to life. "The Tortoise and the Hare", "The Crow in Borrowed Plumes", "The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs", " The North Wind and the Sun" and "The Lion and the Shepherd". Aesop's Fables also features narration to guide the children through the storylines, and also provides instructive information about the morals, the make-up of the fables, and Aesop himself. [Photo]
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| Mother Goose Suite Grades K- 4 Recommended Mother Goose Suite is a collection of dances based on characters from the nursery rhymes of Mother Goose. Created to introduce young people to the marvels of dance, this ballet translates such favorites as "Little Miss Muffet", "Three Little Kittens", "Three Blind Mice", Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary", "Old King Cole" and "The Cat and the Fiddle" from the page to the stage. With costumes by Rita B. Watson and choreography by Madeline Cantarella Culpo and Nancy Ropelewski-Pierce, this ballet is set to an original score by composer Christopher Culpo.
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| Nutcracker
Excerpts Grades K-6 recommended The world's most famous ballet, The Nutcracker, is the anchor of the Albany Berkshire Ballet's annual performance season. Excerpts of this professional production, choreographed by Madeline Cantarella Culpo with music by Tchaikovsky; are available for performance to young audiences. Discussion, demonstration and performance of the Kissy and Soldier Doll solos, the Spanish, Arabian, and Russian Divertissements and the Grand Pas de Deux provide children with an introduction to the world of dance and the beauty of this classic ballet. Available in November and December only. [The Nutcracker Page]
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| Peter and
the Wolf Grades K-6 recommended In Peter and the Wolf; composer Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky createda symphonic fairy tale to introduce young people to the musical instruments of the orchestra. Through its staging of this charming Russian folk tale, with choreography by Nancy Ropelewski Pierce, the Albany Berkshire Ballet brings to life the exuberant Peter and the animal friends who help him triumph over the danger in his own backyard. [Photo]
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| LECTURE - DEMONSTRATIONS |
| Grades
K-12 recommended Presented by professional company dancers and a lecturer, the Albany Berkshire Ballet's lecture-demonstrations are designed for those who mayor may not be familiar with dance. Beginning with a dancer's daily routine, the strenuous physical fitness regimen and athleticism required of a dancer is demonstrated. The company then performs some of the more familiar styles of theatrical dance emphasizing the elegance of ballet, the pizzazz of jazz and the contemporary look of modern dance. In a discussion of various dance styles, other topics such as partnering, costumes, choreography and the history of dance are addressed. Audience members will have opportunities to ask questions and participate in aspects of the program throughout. The program concludes with the Albany Berkshire Ballet's performance of excerpts from its current repertoire. |
| WORKSHOPS |
| Grades
4-12 recommended The Albany Berkshire Ballet conducts dance workshops for students and teachers. These group participation programs are tailored to the age level and experience of the students and the needs and desires of the participating school. Workshops for children include dance movement classes, choreography and demonstrations by company members. Workshops for teachers can explore areas such as the use of creative movement to enhance learning skills, production, choreography and how to integrate dance into the school curriculum. |
| MASTER CLASSES |
| Grades
5-12 recommended For those already familiar with dance, the Albany Berkshire Ballet can provide master classes for dance technique instruction in ballet, jazz, or modern. For best effectiveness, a maximum of 40 participants is preferred. |
| BASIC TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS |
| A demonstration area
with a wood floor (preferably not over concrete or cement), such as a stage or gymnasium,
is needed. Ideally, this space should be at least 25 feet wide and 20 feet deep.
The performance area should be clean, clear and available at least one hour before
the program. Two dressing rooms with easy access to the performance space are also needed.
If available, a public address system is also helpful. The Albany Berkshire Ballet
travels with its own cassette-ready sound equipment and roll-out dance floor (if
necessary). |
| More Information On Our Educational Programs |
| To
The Pointe - The Official Newsletter
Of The Albany Berkshire Ballet Our Education Partnership Initiative Grant
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| How To Contact The Albany Berkshire Ballet |
#116 Fenn Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 (413) 445-5382 |
25 Monroe Street Albany, NY 12210 (518) 426-0660 |
| E-Mail - postmaster@berkshireballet.org | Web Site - http://www.berkshireballet.org |
