101 Reasons to Study Ballet - #34 Joy

Reason # 34  - Joy

We have all heard the expression "Jump for Joy" in ballet we get the opportunity to do it. Ballet can be a fulfilling form of exercise for everyone, regardless of their age or experience. Physical activity is known to exert a powerful "feel-good" effect. A feeling of joy. Ballet is a great form of exercise.  Brightening mood and enhancing mental health, in fact some people believe, regular exercise may be as effective as medication for some people with depression.The joy of movement will make you feel good. A growing body of evidence supports this boost to psychological well being. Endorphins are morphine-like brain chemicals that can trigger feelings of euphoria, relaxation and joy.  Add some joy to your life join a ballet class.
http://www.theballetcenter.org/

101 Reasons to Study Ballet - #33 Jump

Reason #33 - Jump

Once you are warmed up and have completed barre you get to jump in ballet class. Jumping is fun, it burns calories and helps give you strong legs. Ballet Jumps are an essential part of ballet class. There are small jumps and big jumps. You will see professional dancers leap across the stage looking light and effortless. Sometimes it looks like they float on air.
From small jumps to big jumps, there are many tips and techniques that you can learn to enhance your ability to jump. Your plie is important to your jump for both the landing and the take off. Without your plie you simply can not jump as high. Without the right use of the plie you can not give full value to each jump. Plie also works as a cushion to the landing of the jump. Some of the names of steps are jete, grand jete, assemble, sissone, tour jete, pas de chat , saute and there are many more.  No matter whether you have a natural jump or not, it can be improved with the help of a good ballet teacher. Join a ballet class today.
http://www.theballetcenter.org/

Meet The Teachers - Natasa Trifan

Natasa Trifan is an international choreographer and teacher who was raised in Romania where she studied ballet for nine years at "Floria Capsali", the premier Romanian Ballet School. She graduated from the "Academy of Theater and Film" in Bucharest with a major in choreography and modern dance. During her major in dance she got involved in numerous student theater and film projects. "My absolute passion for image, any kind of image (cinematic, theatrical, photographic or emotional) came from these film and theater projects and from studying and seeing the same segments of film repeatedly. I have learned to compose from the outside, contrary to my usual dancer's approach of  building from inside-out... I think it's important to master both." 1999 she moved to United States of America and graduated from SUNY Brockport with an MA in Dance and Somatics. In 2001 she studied at the East -West Movement Therapy Program, the Alexander Technique and the Feldenkrais Method, that later will be integrated in her movement and aesthetic approaches. In 2002 she studied intensely physical theater with the international director Rene Migliaccio. Natasa founded Natasa Trifan Performance Group in 1999.

Work Methods - Collaboration

Collaboration is the core of her creative process, Natasa has worked with composers: Lucian Ban, Sylvia Mincewicz, Petre Radu Scafaru, Erol Israfil; costume designer Oana Botez Ban; filmmakers/ video artists: Chiaki Watanabe , Giles Hendrix, Martin Burga; writers/director: Saviana Stanescu and Rene Migliaccio, sculptor Rina Peleg and set designer Catalin Nastasoiu. She has created original works on students from  SUNY Brockport, and for the Minus Company, the Black Moon company and the Sudden Enlightenment Theater. Natasa Trifan has taught dance and movement awareness  at SUNY Brockport for one year.

Performance History

Natasa's work has been seen in Romania, Germany, Portugal, Russia, Chile, England at Chipping Norton Theater and the Bath Theater and in New York City at the Citicorp Theater at Alvin Ailey Studios , the HERE Theater, The Harlem Stages, the Dance New Amsterdam, the Theater for The New City, the Merkin Hall at Kaufman Center, the Construction Company, the Dance Theater Workshop, the Joyce Soho theater,  the Merce Cunningham Studio and at many others venues in Brooklyn.

Awards

Natasa Trifan's performance group received federal grants from Queens Council for the Arts, and grants from the Trust for Mutual Understanding foundation,  92y and from the USAInternatinonal from Mid Atlantic Foundation. 

She has been honored with the best dance critic prize from the Romanian Union of Choreographers and Composers and received full scholarship from the Academy of Theater and Film Bucharest and from SUNY, Brockport. In 2007 she was honored by the Romanian National Journal with the award entitled "The person of the day".

Art Residencies

She had art residencies at the White Oak, Florida and at the Romanian National Dance Center, Bucharest.

Published

Natasa Trifan is a dance scholar and a co writer of the textbook named "The art of choreography for actors" (published in Romania.) She published dance reviews for "Cotidianul", "Romania Literara" and other dance magazines. 

Memberships  

She is a current member of the International Dance Council under the UNESCO, the Field, a non profit organization for artists in NYC and Dance Theater Workshop.

For more information visit -www.theballetcenter.org

101 Reasons to Study Ballet - #32 Beats

Reason # 32 - Beats

I am not talking about those cool headphones or a DJ adding sounds to music - I am talking ballet.  Beats or batterie in ballet is a brilliant display of virtuosity in which the dancer's legs open and close rapidly while in the air added to petite or grand allegro. When beats are added to steps it gives the illusion of striking together and rebounding. Also known as battu. This is an advanced technique for students that have mastered steps and are now performing them at a higher level. Adding beats to steps is a goal to work towards. Have fun and learn ballet.
http://www.theballetcenter.org/

101 reasons to Study Ballet - #31 Pirouette

Reason # 31 Pirouette

Turning on one leg is both fun and a challenge. A pirouette is a rapid whirling or turning on the toe or ball of one foot in ballet. Most children love that feeling of spinning. Many people go to amusement parks and go on rides that spin and spin. Ballet dancers experience the enjoyment of spinning by trying to perfect the pirouette. When it is performed correctly it is a thing of pure beauty. Correct body placement is essential in all kinds of pirouettes. While repeatedly practicing the turn may improve performance, strengthening the muscles involved in your pirouette is also important. Exercises that improve balance, strengthen ankles, calves and turn out muscles are all important to help learn pirouettes. There are many kinds of pirouettes to learn. Choreographers create wonderful combinations of pirouettes for dancers to perform. Learn to turn today -- take a ballet class.

http://www.theballetcenter.org/

Modern Dance Classes

                   Modern Dance is an evolution from Classical Ballet. It breaks the rules of Classical Ballet and creates new ones of its own. Modern dance was an early 20th century dance form that emerged as expression of rebellion against classical ballet. The dancers who developed modern dance of this period include Loie Fuller, Isadora Duncan and Ruth St Denis who thought ballet was ugly and meaningless gymnastics. Later on, Martha Graham saw it as European, Imperialistic, and un-American. It therefore has fewer restrictions, and can be seen as a fusion of many dances. So, in one single Modern Contemporary Dance class, you may get to try out lots of different dances. You could find yourself dancing a routine that has elements of African dance, Tango, Salsa, Jazz, Ballet and so on. You name it, you’ll probably find it in a Modern Dance class. In its sophistication it has developed many styles and techniques. The beauty of it is that it allows a freer dance, which can be initiated by music or by an internal theme or inspiration.

http://www.theballetcenter.org/

Preschool Dance Classes

Preschool Dance Classes
If your child is interested in taking dance lessons, spend some time searching for the perfect dance studio. Classes for child ages 2 - 5 are very different then classes for older children. What should you look for? The school should have classes that are designed for preschool age students. Look for small class size. Some sort of physical play helping children develop gross motor skills. Proper dance technique, proper names of steps all introduced to the young child. You want a balance between learning and creative movement. The music used in class should be age appropriate. Ask about annual dance recitals - are costumes age appropriate and it the theme of the recital age appropriate?  Note that very young children cannot follow the strict nature of Classical Ballet class, so often they are often enrolled in "Baby Ballet" classes. These are designed to introduce the child to learning to following instructions, sit and stand quietly, leaving other students alone, creative movement and listening to the music. Above all, introductory classes should be fun for the very young child.

http://www.theballetcenter.org/