Ballet North in Kansas City

A Full Circle of Human Races United

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:41:00 +0000

A unified humanity is the most beautiful thing on earth - what higher purpose for ballet and the arts could there be?

Interracial IS Beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:37:00 +0000

The highest purpose of the art of ballet is to celebrate the beautiful aspects and nature of a united humanity in motion. Encore!

35th Anniversary!

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:36:00 +0000

January 16, 2012
Kansas City Missouri

Now celebrating 35 years of offering ballet classes to all ages and presenting rarely seen full-length classical ballets to the public, Ballet North was founded in February of 1977 by Artistic Director Laura Reinschmidt.

Begun as a part of the Park Hill Continuing Education program, the ballet classes taught by Mrs Reinschmidt (then Laura Luzicka) quickly out grew the capacity of the CE program at the time, necessitating the opening of the first studio location in downtown Parkville Missouri in 1978. Progressing in size from there, a location on Highway 45 (which survived a direct hit by a tornado in 1985!) and then a location on 72nd street in Gladstone Missouri were successively outgrown. In 2000 with her husband Matthew Reinschmidt a permanent home was constructed for Ballet North at it's current location of 6308 N Prospect Avenue in Gladstone Missouri.

Encompassing 11,000 square feet of studio spaces Ballet North now has the largest ballet facility in the Northland region of Kansas City and one of the largest studio spaces anywhere in Kansas City.

Ballet North currently offers ballet classes of the highest caliber to hundreds of students of all ages; performs over a dozen Nutcracker events to over 5,000 children each Winter, and performs major events such as Sleeping Beauty, Carmina Burana or Alice in Wonderland in the Spring.

On June 15 and 16, 2012 7:00 pm at the Excelsior Springs Performing Arts Center Ballet North will present the Spring Festival of Dance 2012 featuring Dr Coppelius' Fantastic Workshop; Giselle 2nd Act Pas de Deux; Paquita and excerpts from Carmina Burana. Tickets will go on sale April 30.

Ballet North - How To Make A Perfect Arabesque

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 05:36:00 +0000

Ballet North company member Kristin Smith in a first arabesque pique en pointe after private coaching with Artistic Director Laura Reinschmidt.

The secret is to first of all take the appropriate ballet technique classes which lay the foundation for controlling the ankles, hips, and most of all spine. Follow that with introductory pointe work and the absolute necessity of learning how to correctly break-in pointe shoes because they do form to the foot as they are worn. A good diet high in proteins and fiber/complex carbohydrates and fluids but low in "junk" calories - this type of "green" or better yet organic diet greatly helps the body develop and retain muscle conditioning without unnecessary weight gain OR loss (A more thorough description can be found here). Is there a magic bullet? Yes - correct training over an extended period of time along with expert private coaching as needed. Is there one thing you can do to leap-frog your progress? No, just like with academics ballet really only works with regular study that develops good habits and not with a "cliff's notes" or cramming-for-the-test approach.

Hip hop, Tap, Tumbling, Gymnastics - none of these play any role in achieving movements like what is shown above. Kristin is 15 years old and for a side-by-side reference there is the alternative brought to you by any and all combo-class or competition schools...also know that the average participant in competition dance spends $3,000 per year or more on the competition fees, team fees, various entrance and dance fees and so forth outside of whatever tuition for classes you pay that teach your daughter to look like these girls do:

The great thing about Ballet is that when it is done correctly no one needs to tell you how good it is or neat it was, you can plainly see it for your self.

A Victory for Cultural Arts in Schools

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0000

December 29th, 2011

Ballet North in Kansas City

A victory for cultural arts in public schools has been won this November and December by way of the Nutcracker School Tour presented by Ballet North performing at 6 area schools despite the challenging economic environment. Kellybrook Elementary, Warren Hills Elementary and Alexander Doniphan Elementary in the Liberty Missouri School District; Bell Prairie in the North Kansas City School District; Chinn Elementary in the Park Hill School District and Orrick Elementary located in Orrick Missouri all participated in this year's tour. Ballet North wishes to thank these public schools and teachers for their involvement and willingness to bring cultural arts to thousands of students, many of whom will never attend performing arts events, despite very trying circumstances that all school districts face. All told some 3,500 elementary students participated in the Nutcracker School Tour 2011.

In addition, the Kearney School District and Lakewood Elementary and Oakwood Manor Elementary in the North Kansas City School District all wanted performances as well but due to logistics and time constraints it was not possible for Ballet North to present to them this year; such wide demand does signal a strong resolve among public school educators to bring cultural arts to students under almost any circumstances.

Ballet North commends all the volunteers who made this extremely successful Nutcracker School Tour possible: (in random order) Mark Hawkins, Jeaneen Cover, Kathy Smith, Jennifer McIntire, Jack Crouch, Regina Petrosova, Dana Adams, Mary Lee, Ty Ho, Christine Crouch, Sherry Samples, Kerry Smith, Angela Langford, Carmelo Blazekovic and Heidi Luebbert.

Photos from Nutcracker Children's Party 2011!

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:32:00 +0000

Taken during the Nutcracker Children's Party Saturday December 7, 2011 at the Ballet North studios. Thank you to Michelle McPherson for her photography!

Ballet North on the "Mozart Effect" of Classical Ballet

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 04:11:00 +0000

From Ballet North Coppelia Dress Rehearse 2

Ballet North in Kansas City - December 27, 2011

Many parents suspect that Classical Ballet is a very beneficial activity for their child to do, but are not quite sure exactly why that is or what makes Classical Ballet beneficial as opposed to other activities or especially other "dance" forms.

To start, Classical Ballet is done to Classical Music where the Mozart Effect is well documented: the complexities of the music require mental development just to follow and understand. Quite literally, by listening to classical music a child's mind will improve and develop more robustly than otherwise would happen.

Next, Classical Ballet adds on a second major element by way of requiring not only the mind to listen to and understand the melody, but for the body to move on tempo with the melody doing specific, clean steps with a technique of movement just as complex as Classical Music.

In other words, Classical Ballet will challenge the mind and body simultaneously in a complex, energizing way the benefits of which are built directly on the Mozart Effect for the mind and the muscles.

At first, Classical Ballet does not look as "high energy" as gymnastics or karate and this is partly true: the technique of movement can't be learned quickly any more than complete musical structures can be. Students have to start with the basic pieces of the technique: with music this is knowing where the keys or strings are followed by basic chords, reading the notes, and on up to eventually knowing the theory of how the music works; Classical Ballet is just the same adding in a physical technique that one has to learn from the basics of where your body is, how to turn out your feet and hold your arms, and at the same time move on the tempo. The energetic nature of Ballet builds fairly quickly however and by the age of 11 students should be on Pointe if female, beginning basic Men's class work if male, and able to dance about 4.5 hours per week in 3 classes -- which will make you sweat to be sure! By the time of adolescence, Classical Ballet will be at least as energetic if not more so than any activity out there including gymnastics or any martial art.

A super-critical benefit to Classical Ballet is that since students do spend a few years learning exactly how to move each piece of the body correctly, when it comes time to do more aggressive dancing and "cut loose" starting at around 11 years of age, they will know instinctively how to do just about any movement and NOT hurt their knees, ankles, back, or any part of the body. THAT'S the benefit of having a technical, theoretical movement foundation - enhanced mind, enhanced body, and very enhanced mind-body partnership.

The real magic to Classical Ballet is that for those children who are good at sports ballet will challenge them in a different direction; sports are very linear - you run down the field, you run from one base to another, you launch a ball to score points - ballet is totally non-linear - you are constantly changing tempo, direction, and the shape your body is making resulting in extremely beneficial cross-training. The absence of the Mozart Effect in sports is supplemented and covered by training in Classical Ballet.

For those students who are gifted academically and in no need of a Mozart Effect for their minds, Classical Ballet will challenge and train their area of weakness: physical coordination and agility. These students normally aren't interested in sports as such but are in need of physical activity to develop the body along with the mind and Classical Ballet will do that in spades.

Ballet North is now on Google+

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:27:00 +0000

December 22, 2011

We are very pleased to announce our official Google+ page! Check it out here:

https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/115302597823851414131/115302597823851414131/about

Open House and New Students

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:38:00 +0000

Ballet North will host it's annual Open House from Thursday December 15 until Wednesday December 21 during normal hours. Parents, Grandparents, relatives, friends, all are welcome to come and watch classes being given at all levels.

Also, for any prospective or new students if you enroll before Saturday January 14 you are able to order costumes for Dr Coppelius' Fantastic Workshop which presents Friday June 15 and Saturday June 16, 2012 - so now is a great time to begin your ballet experience at Ballet North!

Holiday break runs from Friday December 23rd, 2011 to Sunday January 1st, 2012; classes resume Monday January 2nd, 2012 on their regular schedule.

Nutcracker Children's Party!

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Use the Google Checkout right next to this post to get your reservations! Featuring the famous dances of the Nutcracker Suite - Russian, Chinese, Candycanes, Spanish, Sugar Plum, Waltz of the Flowers and Grand pas de Deux - this event is 50 minutes long and includes refreshments and cookie decorating so it is an excellent family entertainment value!

Classical Ballet and Natural Foods vs. Hip Hop and Processed Foods

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:43:00 +0000

November 3, 2011
by Ballet North

It may seem a stretch - no pun intended - but there is an increasingly clear, strong association between successful or limited child development and the consumption of a natural foods based diet or a processed, artificial or "junk" food diet. Conditions such as allergies, sinus problems, hyper-activity and even Attention Deficit Disorder are all strongly linked to consuming too much processed or junk-type foods by children which are very high in sugars, saturated fats, and low in fiber, vitamins, and good quality proteins. One of the directors of Ballet North had severe allergies as a child which required weekly allergy shots and was also hyper-active until being placed on a natural foods diet very low in sugar and based on what is today called "organic" foods. This dietary change eliminated the need for the allergy shots and stopped the hyper-active and nearly ADD symptoms.

The similarity between these two diets - one of processed foods with loads of sugar but no real nutritional value, and the other of natural foods full of nutrients which result in much improved health - is being reflected now in the world of dance by the stark contrast between the study of classical ballet and the taking of "hip hop" type dance classes. In classical dance, the basis of it is a fundamental question: what is a beautiful line? And, once you get an idea of what a beautiful line is, how do you go about making it with the human body? In the pursuit of these questions the body must be enhanced and trained to stretch and control it's movements far beyond what normal day-to-day activities ever ask it to do. In children this leads directly to a much improved posture, a much better awareness of the body, and greatly enhanced movement of joints like hips, shoulders, and the spine. The music of classical dance is also on the same quest, the attempt to find what is a beautiful harmony and melody and then playing that in a reliable way for others to listen to. As young students study this process and learn the subtleties of it, they become able to present epic, grand, beautiful works on stage that can challenge the body and enthrall the audience and tell almost any story, something that is extremely remarkable coming from the very same human body that also has to go the grocery store, mow the grass, or clean the car.

With the modern dance types like hip-hop, the movements are not interested in finding a beautiful line, but rather in gyrating at the same rhythm as the computer-synthesized music being played, heavily amplified, that is itself only designed to generate essentially a hyper-active state. Such music is great to listen to in the background while working on something monotonous for adults, but for children a constant diet of this speed rhythm music and gyrating dance goes right back to where a sugary diet leads - a hyper-active mental state where focus, clarity and endurance are not to be found. This is a harmful state for a child to be placed in because the very development of a child is deeply connected to the mastering of the wild energy swings we all have as kids, not the deliberate amplification of them. What is even more disagreeable is the stark parallel between the fast-food/junk food industry selling their products to children who crave a hyperactive rush for the sole sake of profit (despite the cost to child development) and the exact same strategy by all those who sell hip hop music and hip hop dance to kids simply because they know that kids are easily addicted to a hyper-active rush and therefore are a sure bet for making profits. The costs incurred by the child's development being compromised and the parent's worry that their child seems to have ongoing hyper-active, ADD or other systemic health issues are of course completely ignored or worse, spun as being some sort of "un-cool" or "square" behavior by those who "...just don't get it". What we think is that conning parents by way of their children into activities deliberately designed to addict them to their tendency towards hyper-active behavior especially when spiked by sugary food or speed rhythm music and then disguising what you are doing in the cloak of "coolness" or some sort of cultural statement pretending to make you in the know about things is a total scam worthy of Bernie Madoff.

Ballet North Nutcracker School Tour 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:30:00 +0000

August 11, 2011

Ballet North announces the Nutcracker School Tour and Children's Party performances for 2011!

School Tour features a complete traveling set of backdrop, lighting, sound, portable floor, full costumes, props - the complete works for a genuine live performing arts event...ALL brought directly into your school's gymnasium or assembly area! On average a Ballet North Nutcracker tour delivers a legitimate, authentic and immersive performance experience for about $1.75 or less per student, LESS than the average cup of coffee!

Included at no extra cost - pending schedule availability - is a complete ballet workshop for all students from 3rd to 5th grade guaranteed to teach them about the epic history of ballet and as an added bonus, cause lots of sore muscles! Workshops must be given on a day prior to the performance event.

School Tour dates are as follows:

Friday, November 18th 2011

Friday, December 2nd 2011

Friday, December 9th 2011

The Nutcracker Children's Party features the complete Act 2 of the Nutcracker Suite along with complimentary refreshments and cookie decorating. An excellent, family friendly event completely suitable for all ages. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children.

Nutcracker Children's Party date:

Saturday December 3rd, 2011
Performance 1: 2:00 pm
Performance 2: 4:00 pm

Ballet North presents Dr Coppelius and His Fantastic Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:15:00 +0000

August 10, 2011

Ballet North is very pleased to announce the June 2012 performance event!

"Dr Coppelius and His Fantastic Workshop"

Join in the fun as Swanilda, Franz and their village friends try to sort out what that mischievous old Dr Coppelius is up to amidst a series of mistakes, misunderstandings, and a spectacular workshop that makes it hard to pick the people from the puppets and automatons!

Presented at the Excelsior Springs Performing Arts Center Friday and Saturday June 15 and 16, 2012, 7:30 pm.

Tickets will be available beginning April 10, 2012 by calling the Ballet North Box Office and will be reserve seating.

Ballet North 2011-2012 Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0000

End of Summer Break

Monday August 29 – Monday September 5 2011
NO CLASSES

Fall Classes Begin

Tuesday September 6^th

Ballet North Contract Signing

& First Day of Rehearsal

Saturday, September 10^th 2011

Bring a Friend to Class Week!!!

Monday September 12^th – Saturday September 17^th

NOTE: your friend MUST be more or less the

same age as you are!!!

Wear a Costume to Class Week!

Monday October 24^th – Saturday October 29^th

(This is also choreography and improvisation week!!!)

Mom AND Dad Try a Class Week

Monday, November 14^th – Saturday November 19^th

...if you come you MUST take the class NOT watch it!!!

Ballet North Nutcracker School Tour

Friday November 18

Friday December 2

Friday December 9

contact Matt Reinschmidt to schedule or find out more.

Email inquiries only:

balletnorthschooltours@gmail.com

Check here for more information:

http://wwwballetnorth.blogspot.com

Thanksgiving Break NO CLASSES

Thursday November 24^th – Saturday November 26^th

*** NUTCRACKER CHILDREN'S PARTY ***

Saturday December 3^rd 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm

$5 children / $10 adults / RESERVATION REQUIRED

Ms Angela's Classes Open House

Tuesday November 29^th AND Thursday December 1^st

OPEN HOUSE ALL CLASSES

Thursday December 15^th – Wednesday December 21^st

Costume Bills will be handed out during Open House

HOLIDAYS BREAK NO CLASSES

Thursday December 22^nd '11 – Sunday January 1^st '12

2012 / CLASSES RESUME Monday January 2^nd

Ballet North Company Rehearsals Resume

Saturday January 7^th 2012

COSTUME PAYMENT DEADLINE

Saturday January 14^th 2012

February, March and April:

All classes working on

“Dr Coppelius and His Fantastic Workshop”

PICTURE DAY

Tuesday May 22^nd 2012

MEMORIAL DAY NO CLASSES

Saturday May 26^th – Monday May 28^th 2012

DR COPPELIUS FANTASTIC WORKSHOP

First Stage Dress Rehearsal Day

Wednesday June 13^th 2012

DRESS REHEARSAL REQUIRED TO PERFORM

Second Stage Dress Rehearsal Day

Thursday June 14^th 2012

DRESS REHEARSAL REQUIRED TO PERFORM

PERFORMANCES

FRIDAY JUNE 15 & SATURDAY JUNE 16 7:30 PM

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS PAC

SCHOOL CLOSED JUNE 18 – JULY 4;

JULY 5 CLASSES RESUME ON NEW SCHEDULE

SUMMER DANCE CAMPS 2012!!!

DANCE CAMP INTENSIVE

Monday June 25^th – Friday June 29^th 9:30 am – 3:00 pm

$265

DANCE CAMP 1 FOR 4-5 YEAR OLDS

Monday July 9^th – Friday July 13^th 9:30 am – 11:00 am

$65

DANCE CAMP 2 FOR 6-7 YEAR OLDS

Monday July 16^th – Friday July 20^th 9:30 am – 11:30 am

$75

DANCE CAMP 3 FOR 8-10 YEAR OLDS

Monday July 23^rd – Friday July 27^th 9:30 am – 12:00 pm

$85

END OF SUMMER BREAK 2012

Monday August 27^th – Monday September 3^rd 2012

FALL CLASSES BEGIN Tuesday September 4^th 2012

Selling the Classical Arts and Ballet

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:59:00 +0000

August 5, 2011
Kansas City, Missouri

Underlying factors and basic analysis reveals the most compelling reason to buy into the classical arts and ballet is because they are not about money.

Over 500 years ago the art forms that have become known as the classical arts - operas, symphonies and ballets - had their origin among late middle age and early renaissance artists. This movement of innovation and creativity gained it's energy and inspiration from a study of the arts of the ancient world, where stunningly beautiful images of the human form as well as extremely compelling works of sculpture and painting had been done repeatedly by masterful artists. With the breakdown of the Dark Ages and the resulting collapse of education and learning amongst nearly all the population of Europe and North Africa, a nearly thousand year long drought of artistic innovation and creativity persisted until the early 1400's. But once the minimum economic and social stability needed for artistic progress began to take hold an absolute boom of innovation and creativity erupted throughout Europe. One of the places this "big bang" of art renewal took place with particular energy was 15th century Italy which saw the birth of both opera and ballet.

It is in the reality of Renaissance thinking that the stark difference between the classical arts and what is known today as "pop art" or pop culture exists. Today, hip hop, rap, street funk, even basic rock-n-roll, is all about finding the next craze or fad or "slick" (or even "sick") sound so as to earn street credit or, more precisely, earn millions of dollars in record or track sales. This is reinforced by a pop culture that values above all else being in on the latest neat thing among social circles. Vanilla Ice walked away from his recording contract with $30,000,000 after "Ice Ice Baby". While this sounds like a great thing to wish for your child, consider that he also had death threats, got beat up, stabbed, sued, and endured all sorts of pain for this apparent pay off. That was also nearly 25 years ago - today, the outright vulgarity and grossness of the hip hop/rap scene is legendary and hard to imagine as something any conscientious parent would wish on their child, particularly given the obscene objectification of women now present in nearly all modern art.

500 years ago it was the ultimate high tech experience, much more akin to how we think about Star Trek or some epic action adventure, to be able to have the outright luxury of spare time or leisure time (what we think of today as our week-end) not taken up all day long with harvesting crops, making bread, tending the farm and fighting invading armies so as to stave off starvation; to have spare time and be able to use it in the pursuit of a description or depiction of the beautiful, the symmetry, the poetry in motion, of the human form. In a world still filled with daily challenges just to make the food you need, keep your clothes on your back, avoid catching a fatal sickness, and dealing with any encroaching army trying to steal what little you have managed to store up, an exploration of beauty in either music, sculpture, painting or ballet was an exquisite respite from a very grim reality. Ballet did not exist in the Dark Ages, but make no mistake the later Middle Ages and the early Rennaisance were still, by today's standards, extremely difficult, challenging, and deadly times. Only about 50 years prior to the first recorded use of the term "ballo" circa 1390 Italy, the Black Death or Plague had killed 50% of Europe's population.

So the classical arts and ballet are built on a type of hard, simple honesty: the need for the human spirit to explore and understand the concept of the beautiful. The human body itself is beautiful, and the body in motion when used in precise ways can create moving images and a type of living sculpture that aids the human spirit's quest to understand the beautiful symmetry or "golden ratio" that it is itself built on. This is the origin of the massive disconnect between most every modern art form created centuries after the forbidding, grim and mortal challenges left over from the Middle Ages had been eliminated by the rise of the industrial and modern eras and the classical arts which were forged together when the very spare time itself needed to make a creative process possible was extremely precious.

Today, there is a dichotomy between ballet and the classical arts and nearly all modern art forms. The modern art forms do a much better job at being loud, flashy, and yes even more accessible than the classical arts and ballet do. The modern art forms are much, much easier to make a lot of money with due to contemporary society being a balance between the regular drum beat of the work day and the modern state of getting regular pay for regular work - an idea completely alien to the Renaissance - and the need to have essentially a sound track for this regular, even reality that sparks on commonly shared experiences from love to bad work places to random silly business. Even during this recession the modern world is far, far more stable and less fatal than any time during the Renaissance. But these modern art forms and the reality of modern living are notorious for lacking the one thing money has never, ever been able to buy: meaning. Or, more specifically, understanding of the human condition. These are the things for which the classical arts and ballet were specifically created to explore. It is no accident that some of the most famous modern art works either reflect or at least echo the composition and balances of classical arts such as Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven, a large part of which sounds nothing like modern rock at all but more like a medieval minstrel tune.

With regard to education and cultural benefit, the classical arts and ballet are still irreplaceable. Consider that throughout Central and South America the Latin and Hispanic peoples have become world famous for generating world-class ballet dancers who can perform amazing feats on stage; China, Japan and of course Russia are also renown for having excellent classical arts from symphonies to ballet companies; there is even a ballet company in war-torn Iraq making ballet a truly world-wide dance form. Ballet is particularly well suited to be a global art form because of it's pursuit of the universal human quest - understanding beauty, balance, and form. It is perhaps no accident that in countries where economic conditions are hard and life tends to be challenging, ballet does especially well: Columbia (which is also war-torn), Venezuela, Cuba all regularly produce excellent ballet dancers as well as other classical artists. Dance Theater of Harlem and Alvin Ailey among numerous other American companies demonstrate that African American and Native American artists participate in a very profound way through classical ballet.

There is certainly a place in life for both modern arts and classical arts. As you drive into work listening to the haunting symphony of Giselle through the drone of traffic noise is probably not all that practical. A constant diet of Eminem, Lady Gaga and Vitamin C is also very likely to leave the spirit in need of something more profound with which to gauge the process of life. The one area where there is a very distinct choice to make, however, is in your child's education.

The focus being on understanding and innovating based on beauty, balance, and harmony puts the classical arts and ballet in a very effective, very useful position to greatly assist in the education of children. This is because there is really something there. Ballet is itself a complete movement language for the human body with which almost any story can be told in a compelling, exciting way. This level of technique automatically stimulates the mind in terms of mathematics, memory, creative thinking, and communication. The repeated studies by universities from Harvard to Columbia and beyond over the last 30 years have repeatedly shown measurable impacts in childhood development from involvement in classical music and classical ballet. The deep satisfaction a student gets from mastering a difficult classical arts presentation is truly a wonderful gift to give and is perhaps the most fun and enjoyable activity of them all. Any classical artist will tell you that the reason they do their art is very much because of this deep satisfaction they get when doing it right. And that is something that money simply cannot buy.

Matthew Reinschmidt is the Executive Director of Ballet North; his wife Laura Reinschmidt is the Artistic Director of Ballet North and founded the company in 1977.

The Financial Perspective of the Arts

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:16:00 +0000

The approximate total budget in the USA for all arts organizations including all ballet companies:

$770,000,000. Per year.

The approximate daily interest on the Nat'l debt:

$1,200,000,000. Per day.

As a percent of the overall $14,600,000,000,000 economy, all arts organizations including all ballet companies total to 0.000053% of all activity. That's 5 hundred-thousandths of 1 percent.

For this .000053% of the economy, far more college scholarships, lifetime careers, and strong improvements in child development are leveraged than from any other part of the economy in real terms regardless of the huge discrepancy in funding between them. Any way you slice it, the arts are by far one of the best investments for anyone's money if future prosperity is valued.

These are truly historic times.

Sources:

National Endowment for the Arts, National Debt Clock, CIA Factbook

Summer Dance Camps coming up soon

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 03:00:00 +0000

June 27, 2011

The Summer Dance Camps presented by Ballet North will kick off in the first part of July with Dance Camp 1 for 4-5 year olds starting Monday, July 11 at 9:30 am to 11:00 am; Dance Camp 1 runs from Monday July 11 to Friday July 15.

Dance Camp 2 for 6-7 year olds runs Monday July 18 to Friday July 22, 9:30 am to 11:30 am;

Dance Camp 3 for 8-10 year olds runs Monday July 25 to Friday July 29, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm.

Use the Google Checkout located immediately to the right of this post to enroll for your Dance Camp!

Dance Camps feature daily ballet class, art projects, pantomime, ballet history, nutrition, study of how the bones and muscles work, and much more - a very well rounded "big picture" experience of the world of ballet!

Check out the MyFoxKC Phil Witt piece on Aimee Cover

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Thu, 19 May 2011 04:00:00 +0000

This is a very nice piece on Aimee Cover aired by WDAF-TV4, plus a good background is included. Enjoy!

http://www.fox4kc.com/news/education/wdaf-reaching-for-excellence-aimee-cover-20110518,0,6621408.story

WDAF-TV 4 and Phil Witt Spotlight Ballet North Member Aimee Cover

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Mon, 16 May 2011 09:30:00 +0000

May 14, 2011
For Immediate Release

Ballet North member to be featured on WDAF-TV4 as part of the Reaching for Excellence series.

On Wednesday May 18th WDAF-TV4 and Phil Witt will spotlight Ballet North company member Aimee Cover during the 9 pm broadcast and Thursday May 19 during the 8 am and 5 pm broadcasts!

Background:

Aimee Cover is an accomplished flutist who regularly scores 1s at state competitions as well as being a very accomplished ballet dancer who has been accepted to study at the New York City Ballet Summer Intensive 2011, one of the most difficult ballet programs to gain acceptance to in North America. Aimee has a very high GPA in high school as well which earned her a sightseeing trip to Colorado through Plattsburg High School for academic performance.

For more information call 816-454-4859 or email ballet.north@gmail.com

Advanced Summer Intensive at Ballet North

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:18:00 +0000

Ballet North hosts the Advanced Summer Intensive Ballet program June 20 - June 24 at the Ballet North studios.

A full day of technique, choreography, pointe, variations and sessions on turns, leaps, pantomime - a comprehensive and exhiliarating session awaits all those who are a bit more serious about their ballet training and want to get ahead over the summer rather than getting out of shape!

The program runs Monday - Friday 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. Tuition is $265. Students MUST already be taking at least 2 ballet technique classes weekly and/or be 13 years of age and up.

Use our Google Checkout to the right of this posting to submit tuition and register for the program. Questions please email ballet.north@gmail.com

Advanced Summer Intensive instructors will be Artistic Director Laura Reinschmidt, Hannah Luzicka, Tara Skorupa and Matthew Reinschmidt. This instruction team has a proven history of training dancers who are accepted to world-renowned ballet programs like School of American Ballet/New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theater, The Kirov Academy, The Rock School, and Kansas City Ballet.

Ballet North studios are located at 6308 N Prospect Avenue, Gladstone MO 64119

Ballet North Sleeping Beauty tickets now on sale

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Thu, 05 May 2011 23:15:00 +0000

Ballet North is pleased to announce that tickets for the upcoming performances of Sleeping Beauty on June 10 and 11, 2011 7:00 pm at the Excelsior Springs Performing Arts Center are now on sale.

Tickets are available by calling the Ballet North Box Office at (816) 521-1185

Ballet North presents the full length original classic Sleeping Beauty with company dancers of Ballet North and extra cast members provided by the Ballet North School of Classical Ballet.

The Excelsior Springs Performing Arts Center is located at 612 Tiger Dr. Excelsior Springs, MO 64024

Excesior Springs Performing Arts Center Seating Chart

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 15:11:00 +0000

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Homeschool Daytime Class Update

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:54:00 +0000

The class time for the Homeschool / Daytime ballet class for 4-6 year olds has been changed to:

Tuesdays 1:30 - 2:30 pm

If you have been waiting for a good time to start, now's the time! Deadline to enroll is Tuesday April 5th. After this, the next sessions will begin in July with exact date and time to be announced.

Ballet North: Dark Snake Chariot of Evil Carabosse

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:42:00 +0000

Built by Mark Hawkins for Ballet North. Heidi Luebbert plays Carabosse. Ballet North presents The Sleeping Beauty June 10 & 11 7:30 pm at the Excelsior Springs Performing Arts Center. Tickets for the ballet go on sale April 20.

Prayer World Premiere UPDATE

noreply@blogger.com (Albert Matthews) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:02:00 +0000

UPDATE: Due to the winter storm the Winter Lights program and the premiere of Prayer - Adagio for Strings will be held Thursday March 3, 6:30 pm at the Plaza Library Truman Forum.

BALLET NORTH:
The Kansas City Interfaith Council presents the Winter Lights program Thursday February 24, 2011 at the Plaza Library/Truman Forum 4801 Main Street, Kansas City MO 64112 (816) 701-3481. Featured in this event is the world premiere of Artistic Director Laura Reinschmidt's "Prayer (Adagio for Strings)". Prayer will be performed by Ballet North dancers Hannah Luzicka, Aimee Cover and Kristin Smith. The event is FREE TO THE PUBLIC & all are welcome to attend this special event at this remarkable venue.

Please click here to see the dress rehearsal in HD:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le6bQ5LJm8k&hd=1