Our Winter Concert Performance

"It’s my first time to dance in such a big stage in front of so many people. I even haven’t danced in front of my parents. I am really proud of myself, but also I felt something more than that".

"When I was dancing, I could put my emotion into it and I felt that passion fulfilled my heart".

 "Being part of the concert was a really good experience. Not only am I able to perform, I’m able to understand everything the performers of the past have experienced. Being backstage at rehearsals was a lot of fun because while we waited, we were either practicing to correct certain movements, stretching, or taking a TON of pictures of everyone at their best. I really loved actually being a part of something that mattered to a lot of people, including myself. Being a performer and not a spectator is a huge difference, but after the nervous feelings and worries of messing up on stage passed, it was more fun performing than watching others perform. After the concert, when my family and friends applauded me for doing a good job, I felt accomplished, like I satisfied everybody in every way possible. Being a part of the dance program made me realize that dance could become something I can be passionate about".

"From the words of my friends, I knew that they love that dance, they think Neuf looked wonderful"! 

"I personally felt that this was the most challenging Winter Concert I've been in, not only because the stage was different, but because the dances were particularly challenging.  But, I really enjoyed the challenge and feel that I've improved because of this.  I'm already looking forward to the Spring Concert"!

"I have never tried to dance before, and it is the first time to dance in front of people after kindergarten.  It is like a kind of chance for me to try different kind of thing.  I will never regret doing this".

"Before taking this dance class, I can never imagine to dance, even my parents can't imagine me dancing..."

"At the concert I began to realize how much closer I've become to some of my peers. I've built foundations of friendships I never would have before".

A Glimpse from Backstage

On Saturday, December 10, 2011, The MacDuffie Dancers took part in the Winter Concert.  When you watch the show from backstage you see the dancers in the wings before they go on- stretching and shaking out their nerves, taking their places on stage and going through all of the motions that they have done hundreds of times in rehearsals.  They know that this is the moment they had practiced for three months to get to.  I was so proud of all of our dancers tonight and can't wait for the professional video to be ready!

B Block "Ghost Tracks"

Nikai Fondon "Blazing Fury"

The River Styx Videos...Choreography by Grade Six

This week the sixth grade dance class has been finding connections between Greek Mythology and dance. Today we split into two groups and created dances about the story of The River Styx. 

 Each group contained six students.  Within each group students were paired up and asked to choreograph one segment of the story. When they were done they had to teach their choreography to the other group members.  We hope you will enjoy these short movement studies!

Winter Concert Choreography

What has your class been working on for the winter concert?

Written By: Jessica Schwartz & Alexandra Webb

Our class has been working on two dances for the winter concert.  In the first dance our class is portraying a group of sisters who are supposed to be on a very long car trip.  We are not quite finished with this dance, but there is already so much put into it and we are looking forward to seeing the concluding product!  The second dance we are working on is about the Congo.  The movement is strong and animal like.  We start out as a group but quickly break off into sections, expressing that although you may start as one, it is easy to fall out of the pack.  The first piece of music for this dance is Lost: Main Theme by Knightsbridge.  As soon as that song is over it happens to feel like we are all in fact lost in a jungle. 

We hope you will attend the winter concert on Saturday, December 10 at 7:00 PM! 

What Dance Classes We've Taken Before

What Dance Classes We've Taken Before

Written By: Natalie Pappas & Elizabeth Ramah

Natalie

I've taken three different kinds of dance classes before.  When I was very young (5-8) I took ballet and when I was 8-11 I took hip hop.  In 5th grade I took ballroom dancing lessons and competed in a contest.  I've never taken modern, jazz or tap.  I liked ballet because it taught me basic poses that were fluid and graceful.  Hip hop was harder for me because everything was so quick and sharp.  I'm re-learning ballet here at MacDuffie, which is fun.  Like I said, I've never taken modern, but it's becoming one of my favorite dance styles.

Elizabeth 

Since I was 3 I have taken ballet, jazz and a little bit of tap.  Over the years I've tried modern, jazz and pointe at The New England Dance Conservatory.  I've taken Irish Step dancing lessons formally, and also work on it every summer through the Irish Cultural Center.  I've always enjoyed modern and Irish dance the most.  I love modern because there are so many interesting and fluid movements.  I love the fast, complicated steps in Irish dancing are think they are very fun to perform.  I stopped taking dance when I came to MacDuffie in seventh grade because of scheduling conflicts, but I still love it and it's really fun being able to study it again now that I am in the upper school.

The Making of a Dance Studio

After much anticipation our dance studio is finally ready! With new flooring, professional barres and beautiful light it was so nice to finally be able to dance in this new space for the first time last week.

We are grateful to have a beautiful new sprung floor from the Stagestep Company.  Stagestep states that "when you jump, even if it is only a couple of inches, when you land on an immovable object the impact is equivalent to three times your body weight.  Over time, fatigue, stress fractures and permanent damage to ligaments, tissue and bone can occur....a good floating wood subfloor reduces that shock to the body by half.  Sprung flooring converts some of the impact energy to resilient energy (think diving board) and safely returns it to the dancer.  The subfloor absorbs the excess energy thus helping to create a safe working environment."

All of the dancers would like to send a special thank you to our wonderful maintenance staff for all of their hard work and effort creating this space.  We would also like to thank Ms. Bielizna for all of her help ordering products and arranging for deliveries.

Below you will see the progression of a regular classroom to our wonderful studio!

The sprung floor is delivered!

The mirrors are installed!

The floor is started!

and completed! 

And our studio is finished!

Why Do We Need to Dress Properly for Dance Class?

Why Do We Need to Dress Properly for Dance Class?

Written By: Susie Zeng

In order to achieve all of our goals in dance class we need to dress properly.  Why is this?  For one thing, as a student in the class we will feel more comfortable being dressed like dancers.  We should be dressed appropriately for each class we attend.  We are allowed to wear leotards, tights, leggings, cami tops, tank tops, ballet skirts or boy cut dance shorts.  We need to wear our ballet shoes to ballet class.  Our hair should be tied back neatly for each class.

Dressing appropriately will also help the teacher see your actual figure and that will help her give you corrections, which will in turn help you improve as a dancer as you will be able to improve your skills.  If you are not dressed appropriately, the teacher may not see your weaknesses and as time passes your skills may not improve.  

Finally, being dressed appropriately will make you feel like a dancer.  You will feel like you belong to this dance company and are part of a group.  

In my opinion it's not good if you are not dressed appropriately.  Dancing is an honor and we need to respect it.  

Comfort, improvement and honor are the three reasons that I think we should dress properly and if we do it I think we will fall in love with dance!

Hey B Block...Why Do You Dance?!

Alex, Jessie, Shannon, Brett, Evelyn, Stefanie, Ranka, Lisa & Lucy

"I wanted to take dance because it always seemed really interesting and fun.  The first two weeks have been great! I have learned vocabulary words and new styles of dance.  The choreography we are learning is also lots of fun!" - Alex

"I began studying dance in China.  It keeps me in shape!" - Ranka

"I enjoy the class because I am trying different kinds of things.  I have never studied dance before.  This time dance makes me feel successful." - Evelyn

"I enjoy dance class because it's a nice break from the academic day.  I also love the performance aspect and the fact that it always gives me something to work towards.  I am always striving to improve my dancing and it is fulfilling when I realize that I am improving in an area that I may have struggled with before."
- Shannon

"I wanted to take dance so that I could experience new things and learn different forms of dance." - Brett

"I've always loved dancing, but quit after about 4 or 5 years.  I recently started dancing again last year.  I enjoyed the two dances my class performed so I wanted to join again.  The choreography we have begun working on is so much fun and so creative!" - Jessie

"To me, dance class is much more interesting than, say, running outside.  It is a way to relax myself by doing some specific poses." - Lisa

"I'm really enjoying dance.  I want to learn more and learn to utilize it to relax myself." - Stefanie

"I take dance because I enjoy working on something with my classmates and teacher and presenting it to a wide audience.  We are working on a dance that imitates animal motions and the music and movements are really cool! Loving it so far!" - Lucy

The Arts in Perspective Present Poems on La Sylphide

This past week the A Block Arts in Perspective students have been learning about the 1836 ballet, La Sylphide.  After viewing the ballet in class last Thursday they were asked to write poems about the plot.  The Arts in Perspective class is made up of students from America, Russia, South Korea and China.  Below please find a sampling of their work.

Effie or Sylph

Written By: Aqsa Ahmad & Claren Rong

Living room is where the wedding began

A sylph fairy steals James' heart

Sylph was whom James was searching for

Yet every time he thought he saw her, she would always run away

Listening was Gurn himself who saw the enchanting fairy with James

Potions and herbs were what Old Madge put in her brew

Her fortune telling was what declared that Effie was to marry Gurn

In the living room not everyone knew what was going to happen or if this was going to be true

Day of the wedding was the tragic time

Effie stood there shocked and surprised at what she had seen with her own eyes

The Love Affair

Written By: Kristina Smith & Soyeon Jung

The sylph kissed the groom

then disappeared from the room

he searched far and near

and suddenly she appeared

She snatched the ring from his hand

and put it on as her own wedding band

Then off into the forest she goes

and no one but James knows

James is approached by a witch

who is a big snitch

She tells Effie that her lover

is loved by another

Soon the sylph dies

then James cries

Shortly James is to learn

Effie married Gurn

Poor Man

Written By: Arkadiy Ayvazyan & Michael de Ubl

The poor man that lost his love

now will forever watch her graceful as a dove

While her sisters mourn what they lost

He must pay the cost

Effie and Gurn have gained the prize

James instead met his heart's demise

James was doomed by Old Madge

Now he has nothing but the scarf as his badge

The wedding guests have nothing to attest

But James will still try to protest

Wednesday & Thursday are Zumba Dance Fitness Days!

Every Wednesday & Thursday our dance students take part in  Zumba Fitness classes led by licensed Zumba Instructor Network member (and dance instructor) Aimee Dewar. 

Zumba Fitness is a Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that incorporates salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, rumba and merengue (along with many other dance styles) into an energetic work out.  Zumba Fitness is a fun work out and a great way for our students to improve their cardiovascular strength.

Below you will see some of our dancers in action!

 Stefanie, Ranka, Jessie, Shannon & Brett

Ranka, Stefanie & Lisa

Lisa

Evelyn

Ranka

Alex

 Stefanie, Evelyn & Shannon

Brett

Shannon & Jessie 

Stefanie & Ranka

Stefanie

Ranka, Stefanie & Lisa

Jessie & Evelyn

Shannon

Lisa

Our First Week

After many changes and much anticipation, we are finally on the Granby campus and so glad to be back together!  While we are waiting for our dance studio to be completed, we are holding our dance classes in the gymnasium.  We spent our first two weeks of school taking Zumba Fitness classes and learning some ballet vocabulary.   Last week we had our first ballet class and got to use the brand new portable ballet barres....aren't they fabulous?!   

Yoon & Li

Elizabeth & Natalie



Maggie