On March 13, 2010, our Advanced and Pre-Pro ballet dancers will represent us at Ballet Fest Atlanta. This educational and performance experience presents a wonderful opportunity for our staff and dancers to meet, connect and share knowledge with other dancers and staff in the region.

Along with other regional dance groups, we will perform two dance pieces in the 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm performances. In addition to performing, our dancers will also take master classes with well known regional ballet teachers.

Tickets for the Ballet Fest performances are available starting January 2^nd, at www.dancefestinc.com .

We hope some of you will come and join us on March 13, 2010 to enjoy a varied program of dance.

Classes resume August 10, 2009

March 29 to April 3 

Parent Observation Week - Please join us for a peak into your children’s classes.  It’s fun!

April 3 to April 11

Spring Holiday

May 5 to May  7

Recital - Tech, Dress rehearsals and Performance at Toup High School Performing Arts Center.

May 10 to May 15

Fall Registration

May 15, 2010

Company Auditions for 2010 - 2011 season.

• Open to Int/ Adv Ballet through Pre-Pro levels.
• Dancers in Int. Ballet 3 are invited to take the audition for “experience”. 

June 14 to June 18

Summer Dance Camp from 9:00 am to noon for ages 3 - 9.

Registration opens on March 15, 2010 and closes  on May 15, 2010.

Brochures coming soon.  Check the Downloads tab.

July 13 - 18                 GSPAC - Georgia Summer Performing Arts Conservatory

Full day 9:00am to 5:00 for ages 10 and up (Int Bal 2 through Pre-Pro levels) or

½ day 9:00 am to Noon (Int Bal 2 and 3 only)

Registration opens March 15, and ends on May 15, 2010

Brochures coming soon. Check the Downloads tab.

Office Phone: (706) 882 – 9085

E-mail: nancy@musicinmotion.com

Sleeping Beauty Ballet performances:

• March 20, 2009 at 7:00pm - Troup Auditorium
• March 21, 2009 at 7:00pm - Troup Auditorium
• March 22, 2009 at 2:00pm - Troup Auditorium

Tickets :

• Reserved $15 Adult, $12 Student
• General Admission $12 Adult, $8 Student

Phone: 706-882-9909 for tickets and information!

See you there - you don’t wanna miss this!!!

Gell doesn’t take this task lightly.

“My goal each year is to take a new look and a different approach in order to offer our community a production that is fresh and interesting,” she said. “Sometimes this comes with small visual changes and rearrangement of the dance patterns, but often the result is a major restaging in order to tell the story from a different perspective.”

This year, she decided to look at the “back story” of the familiar tale, to discover what happens before the ballet begins, in an effort to better portray the story through dance. (See box for the story.)

Some of her biggest challenges were the transitions from the scene in Clara’s living room where she falls asleep, to the battle under the tree to the snow scene.

“I’ve always wanted to make clear to the audience that Clara gets smaller rather than the tree magically grows, and to create some kind of logical visual connection from the battle to the snow scene,” she said.

So this year, she added more “magical” devices, including the doll box that is so pivotal in the opening party number.

“This year, 20 new young dancers, ages 6 and 7, have been added as little rats and little soldiers,” she said. “They have been great to work with. We had so much fun creating this together. These small dancers have boundless imagination and enthusiasm for their roles. I can’t wait to see them onstage.”

She’s added rhythmic gymnastic ribbons and wands to the Marzipan candy number.

“This is three girls dancing with 9 feet of ribbon,” she said. “The ribbons make beautiful patterns around the dancers as they move. I was inspired by the Olympic gymnasts I saw on TV from China.”

Gell also had to deal with some drama backstage when the original guest artist from Miami broke two bones in his foot a couple of weeks before he was scheduled to leave for LaGrange. The dancer scheduled to perform the role of the Cavalier had a family emergency come up and cancelled.

“It was a few days for major stress, but our booking agent and past Cavalier, Todd Fox, was able to find and secure the services of Justin Peck, currently with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, for us,” Gell said. “He will be dancing the snow pas de deux with Claire Mallory and the sugar plum pas de deux with Anna Lanier. They are really beautiful.”

The Lafayette Ballet Company presents “The Nutcracker” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday in the fine arts auditorium at Troup High School. Reserved tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students, and general admission tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children. They are available at Lafayette Society for Performing Arts Center, 214 Bull St., Hill Street House and Artists in Residence. For information, call (706) 882-9909.

Dear Friends,

As the Director, my goal each year is to take a new look and a different “approach” in order to offer our community a production that is fresh and interesting.

Sometimes this comes about through small visual changes and rearrangement of the dance patterns, but often the result is a major restaging in order to tell the story from a different perspective.  To do this, I’ve often found that the best approach is to ask myself questions about the story.  As the questions are answered, a main thematic direction comes forward and takes on a life of its own.

This year I wanted to bring out a stronger sense of magic, to make the visuals more interesting and to create a more dramatic production.

So, I began by wondering:

Who put the “spell” on the Nutcracker and why?

What is the Nutcracker doing with Drosselmyer?

Why do Clara and the Nutcracker go through the Kingdom of Snow?

What is the “River of Roses” there for?

The answers to those questions prompted the development of a back story and the addition of 20 more dancers to the production.

So, here is the back story that evolved and takes place before the ballet begins…..

The Kingdom of Sweets is under attack from the Rat Kingdom.  The borders of the land are being eaten by the Rats!  In desperation, the Sugar Plum Fairy, ruler of the Kingdom of Sweets, sends an envoy to the human magician Drosselmyer to try to stop the incursions.

The envoy travels down the River of Roses, through the Snow Kingdom and at last arrives in the mortal world.  Drosselmyer tells the envoy that the lair of the Rat Queen is in the home of his niece Clara.   They decide that Drosselmyer can best sneak the envoy into the house by casting a spell to turn him into a Nutcracker and taking him to the party as a gift for Clara.  When the clock strikes midnight, the spell will be released and the envoy will be free to do battle with the Rat Queen.

The ballet begins with Drosselmyer on his way to the party and the story continues………..

It is that time again to get the “headshot board” ready for the upcoming performances!

We are taking new pictures of all company members.

We will be taking photos this year at the studio. Pictures will be taken on Saturday, October 4th.

Your rehearsal will end at 12:30pm on the 4th.  Please bring your make- up bag, hair supplies and a lunch that day to the studio. Hair will be worn down for the picture and you will need light make-up.

Ms Nancy Gell will be available to assist with make-up tips and posing for anyone needing help from 12:30-1:30PM. She will have rehearsals for younger performers beginning at 1:30pm. If you think you may need advice, please be available.  Ms Kim Bass and Ms Lisa Ellen both have knowledge of the process and will also be there to help.

Remember that you will want to make sure your make- up and hair supplies are at the studio on that day.  Mr George has been so gracious to do our headshots for us and we will only be doing it on this day. We must have time to prepare the board.

We will be set up in the room next to the LaGrange Young Singers Room.  The pictures will start at 1:30 pm.  If you have any questions please email me at janemauldin3@charter.net.

Thank you
Jane Mauldin