Ballet Class 101- Valpo students
It has been an exciting week for me on local college campuses. On Tuesday, I went to Valparaiso University to be a judge for Valparaiso’s Theatre Department’s Ballet Class Final. (Thank you, Salena for this opportunity.) I loved walking into the studio, with the marley floors and portable barres. As the students walked in, it reminded me of my days at Duke University in the Dance Department. The Dance Department was my home away from home during college; taking dance classes every day; performance, history, composition and so forth, along side my other Economics major courses. Dance was my comfort zone, a way to stay active and to meet people with like interests.
After the Dance Final, I spoke to a graduating senior about her goals and plans. She admitted it’s not her goal is to be a professional dancer but rather a goal to continue what she enjoys and to stay active. Staying active is the best part. As students take this class for different reasons; perhaps to try something new or something to stay active, it is an important part of any education. It’s an education on movement of our bodies. We need movement. We need art. We need dance. It’s that part of the brain that makes us whole.
I was given 7 students to evaluate, each with different dance backgrounds. Although there were various levels of dance ability, I enjoyed watching all of them. They each had a spirit and passion about them that made me smile. It made me want to get up and move. I thank them for their passion and dedication to this Ballet Course and I truly hope that if they take anything away from this course, it would be to stay active in some fashion. For me, Barre was that perfect blend of staying fit and still having a touch of ballet in my life. Barre method that I created, Mind Over Matter Method, stems from ballet and gives me an opportunity to be in a big open space and move my body to music every day. It is important for all of us. Take that time out of your day to do something good for yourself. Students, I want to take this time to offer you a way to take a quick study break during finals week. I am offering a FREE class for students on Sunday, the 13th at 4pm for a Barre Express Class. Come and enjoy! All students welcome! Just email me at orlee@barreandbeyondstudio.com to RSVP. Limited number of spots. Email now!
