California
DanceArts Finds New iPhone Application An Important Tool for Student
La
Canada, CA: California DanceArts (http://www.caldancearts.com)
is urging dance students to understand the French terms, translations
and definitions of each ballet exercise as a top priority. The
ballet studio has found that grasping the meaning behind each term
assists the student dancer in properly executing the steps which
ultimately will be used in the variety of movements comprising the
choreography of classical technique.
Now
Carol Richmond, a Carmel, CA dance instructor, together with a
software engineer, have developed an iPhone application for teaching
more than 140 ballet terms. The application, called SayBallet,
is a way "to get to the students on their own (tech-savvy)
level," said Richmond, who has seen even the youngest of her
students using iPhones. Using this iPhone app will allow
students to learn terms in a fun way.
Half
of the ballet terms are accompanied by videos, activated by voice.
Say "plie” (pronounced “plee-ay”) and the iPhone will tell
a translation of the word as “Bend”, followed by a short video
display of a girl performing the deep bend. Each term can be selected
in French, the way ballet is generally taught. The app is also great
for hearing the proper pronunciation of these French terms. Fun
quizzes are included for students to test their knowledge which then
allows them to achieve higher and higher scores.
A
worthwhile investment for under $10, this iPhone application allows
young dancers to study their ballet terms during a car ride to the
studio or waiting for class to begin. California DanceArts
Director, Erin Holt, says “This application is a great supplement
to any dance education curriculum where students are expected to
understand ballet terminology. We hope that students use the app to
increase and improve upon the skills taught in their classes and to
improve their scores for upcoming ballet examinations.” California
DanceArts will be holding their ballet level examinations in May.
Since
1987, California DanceArts has been dedicated to the purpose of
grooming and nurturing the talents of beginning to serious career
dance students. The
school has established a reputation as a career preparatory studio
for dancers transitioning to the professional level. Its current
location in beautiful La Canada is nestled among several schools and
recreational facilities. The school provides three large studio
spaces featuring sprung floors designed to prevent injury, 20-foot
high ceilings geared for unobstructed jumping, wall mirrors and air
conditioning. Director Erin Holt also runs California Contemporary
Ballet, a dance troupe that puts on several original ballet
productions per year, including the Snow Queen
(www.snowqueenballet.com),
an original ballet with an original music score. This show is put on
every December and recently completed its 12th
season. California DanceArts is also offering several dance intensive
workshops for various levels in summer 2010, and more on these can be
seen at www.danceallsummerworkshops.com.
The school’s blog can be seen at http://caldancearts.typepad.com.
For more information about
California DanceArts and the programs offered by the school, call
818-790-7924, or visit the school online at www.caldancearts.com.
Erin
Holt
California
DanceArts
4490
Cornishon Ave
La
Canada, CA 91011
818-790-7924
caldance@realwebmarketing.net
http://www.caldancearts.com
http://www.ctyballet.org
Why Dance?
By Erin Holt
At some point dance becomes a way of life for your health and happiness. It becomes an expression of all that you are and all that you can become. Most of our great dance stars have confessed to a strong drive beginning at a very young age and it sustains them throughout their lifetime. It seems that once the dance bug has got ya, you are hooked for life.
Dance is a discipline. It requires many daily hours and often many years to become truly proficient. There is a standard and a technique which done correctly gives the dancer more tools of expression and even more ability to cause a response in his audience. As a result of such hard work, students gain a work ethic and self
discipline not commonly achieved by regular education alone.
Each level of technical expertise comes with its own rewards. As with any
skill, it can be very exciting as you see your self improving and getting closer
to the ideal. Learning a new step is fun and finally being able to perform that
trick and showing it off is very rewarding.
For these reasons and more, I became a specialist in dance education. Not everyone was born with choreography in his head like I was. Not everyone can be as dedicated or as committed to a single subject that demands such grueling physical strength or stress on the body. But I have also learned that it is human nature to rock and sway to the beat of a good tune. As long as man has been upon the earth he has also had two hands to clap together and two feet to stomp. Even the most reluctant eventually break into a smile while dancing. The freedom of the movement and the creating of time and space are why the young and old love to dance.
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