Tag Archives: poetry

Dance

The beauty of dance is beautiful as the universe, as the sun and shines every morning upon awakening, the dance is all passion and love for her, where you express your feelings, is that I’ve been in my soul. I encouraged at all time, if you concentrate and elevate your thought got here away let yourself go for the music and movements, the dancers are what make and give joy, is what the heart expresses do not let go live with her dance, live dance, enjoy it more and more , love dance.

Maria Alejandra Mendez from Bogota, Columbia age 14

I’ve Been Dancing for All My Life

by Abby Hardin

I’ve been dancing for all my life and what do I have to show:

some battered feet, a vulnerable heart, and an unassured ego.

You look in the mirror

and cringe in fear

of the image reflected back.

You make a mistake,

and your insides quake,

embarrassed of the skills that you lack.

As you stand in row,

your envy grows,

as everyone else seems to put on a show.

You think that you are progressing too slow,

and every critique feels like a final blow.

What am I doing?

Why am I here?

My heart is renewing

all my old fears.

Why do I do this day after day?

What has it brought me but stress and decay?

I should just leave without any delay.

But no matter what, I always will stay,

time after time, day after day.

I shrug on the leotard, pull on the tights,

and tell myself that it will turn out all right.

My own insecurities made me lose sight

of why I dance each and every night.

For when this first started,

when my first dance class began,

I had a dream of being the best dancer I can.

Visions of elegance and beauty swept through my head,

and I twirled ‘round my room instead of going to bed.

And now I’ve seen glimpses, a fleeting glance,

of how I’ve always wished I that could dance.

And every new day, I get the chance

to see how far that I can advance.

I’ve come a long way since I first began,

but I’m only beginning to understand

that dance may be hard and scary and tough.

It will beat you down before it builds you back up.

The journey is difficult, the road long.

But it’s worth every minute because it’s where I belong.

I’ve been dancing for all my life and what do I have to show:

some iron feet, a hopeful heart, and the boundless ability to grow.

Gary Flannery will be joining IBT Summer Intensive next week so get your Fosse on!

DANCE

Dance to the waves of the sea

Dance with the wind in the sky

Dance to be all you can be

Dance for who knows why

Dance with the leaves in the breeze

Dance to the water in a brook

Dance let your mind be at ease

Dance close your eyes, don’t look

Dance with the light from the sun

Dance with the stars in the dark

Dance and spin until you’ve spun

Dance through the city and the park

Dance to the whistle of the weeds

Dance in the puddles of reflection

Dance to fill your needs

Dance to strive for perfection

Dance to the drops of rain

Dance with the birds in the trees

Dance because there’s something to gain

Dance just dance, please

By Danielle Lee Dreis

“Performance”

By: McKayla Woods

Air filled with voices and the sound of shoes.

Up next the dance will be to a song of the blues.

The dancers look perfect their hair is just so.

They get in position, the music starts low.

Dancers move smoothly, lovely and grand.

The dance ends beautifully and the crowd cheer and stands.

Dance

Dancing is like a dream

where you can be anything.

From a swan, to Giselle

even a King!

So many aspects of dance

and just to name a few;

There’s modern, ballet, jazz and more

just make sure not to miss your cue!

By: Sierra Miles

Costume Designs by Oswaldo Muniz, who is also here staging Pas De Quatre and First Regiment from Stars and Stripes.

He is also teaching for IBT Summer Intensive. The costumes will be on display August 2, 2013 along with a program that starts at 7:00 pm featuring Costume Designs and Dance cost $5.00 as part of the Ogden First Friday Art Stroll.

Blog

Imagine Ballet Theatre’s 10th Summer Intensive 2012

July 11, 2012 Ray 2 Comments

Week 5

Yi Qi Cheng with some crazy dancers!!!!!!!!!!!

Gary Flannery is here teaching the dancers some Fosse. This is Gary at the New York Public Library showing of the Great American Revue dancing Mr. Bo Jangles by Bob Fosse.

Also preparing for the show this Friday night at 7:00 pm at Peery’s Egyptain Theater. For tickets call 801-689-8700. $7.50 till Thursday tickets go up on August 10 to $10.00.

My muscles quiver and my mind is plagued with doubt. We are ever fighting, fighting gravity; a fight we will never win. And yet we jump and spin and leap…we fly, always to return to the earth. My pulse matches the beat of the music, I take strength from the unity. I am reminded why I fight with all that is in me, for unattainable perfection. Because perfection is not perfect; perfection is a vulnerable heart and an open soul.

Written by Emma Chase

Week 4

The week ends today. . . I had a wonderful time teaching the girls (and a boy here and there too!) at Imagine Ballet!! The work ethic here is phenomenal, and the girls are so open to receiving and APPLYING corrections! A sure sign of a great dancer indeed . . . It’s been such a fun experience for me, coming back to teach at IBT every summer. I have known some of these girls for years, and seeing them grow up in not only age but also ability has been a true joy! Well done ladies! And well done with a beautiful school Ray! xoxo~ Allynne Noelle

We begin week 4 of our Summer Intensive with Allynne Noelle; a Principal Dancer with Los Angeles Ballet, and Former Soloist of Miami City Ballet.

Allynne as “Odette” in Swan Lake at Los Angeles Ballet.

Week 3 Is coming to an end we have seen the first drafts of the dancers Choreography. There are several piece with power and emotion embodied in the work. Some that need work and some in the middle. Now two weeks to the show and things will shift and become. I hope that you will join us for an exciting evening of dance on August 10th, at 7:00 pm at Peery’s Egyptian Theater cost is only $7.50 before August 9th to help cover the theater costs. Day of Show the cost will be $10.00. So get in and get your tickets now.

Christie Freebairn Perry former Ballet West Dancer has been teaching this week along with Yi Qi Cheng a former dancer National Ballet of China and Former Ballet West Company teacher.

Christie as Lily in The Secret Garden

Dancing

Dancing is like a poem

Where each movement is a word

Put together beautifully,

Dancing can almost be heard

Dancing is like a ribbon,

Fluttering in the breeze

Twirling in the grass,

Waving with ease

Dancing is like singing,

Only dancing to the song

Even if you’re on pointe,

Sometimes you’ll get the dance wrong

Dancing is pushing yourself,

Trying to win

After every single dance,

I end up with a grin.

Sierra Leigh Miles

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Forever Dance

Dance is not a movement

Dance is not a thought

It’s more like an emotion

Something that is taught

Years and years of practice

Weeks and weeks of pain

But in the end it’s true

We all forget the strain

The stage is where is happens

It’s where we all belong

After so much practice

We are forever strong

We all know the truth

Of every little girl

They dream and wish upon a star

To let their hearts unfurl

To us it is amazing

That dance we seem to do

It is almost a religion

As we try our first pointe shoe

Down the supermart isle

And up the brightened street

Dance is in our bodies

Our hearts, they keep the beat

By Danielle Dreis

Week 2

Laurie Sefton comes this week to work on a piece of Choreography. She is one of the winners of the Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival and will be working with the dancers in the Summer intensive on a piece about “Bullying”.

: Laurie Sefton 2012 People’s Choice Winner for her Choreography

Performance Day

By Abby Hardin

Inhale slow,

eyes closed.

Jittery sweat fills the air,

and I’m greeted by the aroma,

the smell of work,

of determination.

For years my body has suffered,

achieving perfection;

Enduring blisters,

bruises,

aches,

and pain.

Broken body wrapped in a glittering costume.

Nervous face caked with a deceiving smile.

Exhale slow,

eyes open.

One,

two,

three steps out.

Instantly,

I am transformed.

Convincing even myself I am not what I was.

A creature glides across the stage,

floating,

turning,

dancing,

filled with an unspeakable joy only then attained

yet never forgotten.

One,

two,

three steps back.

Broken body aches,

sweat steeped air is torn through the lungs,

but deceiving smiles now ring with truth,

for I am human again

but forever changed.

Week 2 comes to an end the dancers have focused, danced, ached and thought about dance on many levels. Now time to thank Laurie Sefton and have a donut.

Week 1 has begun, as always we all have a few sore muscles, which is pretty normal when you try new things. Ballet, Pointe, Pilates, Yoga, Modern and Choreography all flying around in our heads. Here are two poems written by Phoebe Rust:

Different sizes,
Different shoes.
Different races,
Different moves.
Differences don’t matter
Upon the stage.
Our minds connect
Despite our age.
United, we dance.
Same hopes,
Same vision.
Same dreams,
Same decision.
Similarities bind us
Under the blinding lights.
We speak the same language,
We see the same sights.
United, we dance.

Now my heart is bewildered,
My mind a melted mess.
Now my body aches,
I welcome the feeling.
Now my eyes are alive,
Yet my soul is lost.
Now my ears are open,
But I hear nothing.
Now I am truly me.

I have asked the dancers participating in this years summer intensive to determine their top 5 choices for University programs that offer dance programs along with other fields of study that they are interested in. Here are their Top 5 Picks.

Number 1: University of Utah: For Many of the dancers it is because it is close to home, They offer both Ballet and Modern degrees, Emphasis on performing

Web: http://www.ballet.utah.edu/

Number 2: Julliard: Located in New York City the Heart of the Dance world, Excellent training

http://www.juilliard.edu

Number 3: Duke University: They offer programs that travel with the dance program, They also have a first class Science department.

http://danceprogram.duke.edu/

Number 4: Florida State University: They offer a fall semester in New York City and travel abroad to Spain and France.

dance.fsu.edu/Academic-Programs/BFA

Number 5: Brigham Young University: They offer a wide variety of dance with a focus on Ballet, Close to home, and for Religious reasons.

http://cfacweb.byu.edu/departments/dance

Imagineballet.org

Tag Archives: poetry

Imagine Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive 2013 in full swing!

Imagine Ballet Theatre’s 10th Summer Intensive 2012

ImagineBalletTheatre