Hi Everyone,
This week has been all about preparations in the danceSpace this week. First of all, auditions for the department's spring show, the ballet Cinderella, we held yesterday. Rehearsals are scheduled to start next week so casting will go up soon. Everyone is buzzing with anticipation to get started.
The girls that are traveling to Youth America Grand Prix are making their final preparations for the competition. They have had costume fittings and are going to their last rehearsals to make sure their variations and group pieces are perfect. We wish them much luck in Chicago this weekend!
The other two major events happening in the dance department, the Erie Festival of Dance and our Winter show, Raw Edges XIII are still in preparation and we will keep you updated on them the closer they are.
“Dance first. Think later. It's the natural order.” - Samuel Beckett
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
YAGP Week
Hello All!
The week for the YAGP competition has finally arrived! The girls that are going are all very excited and have perfected their variations and group pieces to do the best that they can. Accompanied by faculty member Michael Gleason and alumni Noelle Lelakus, the group will be traveling to Chicago this coming Friday.
In other news, the Erie Dance Consortium is in full planning mode for the Erie Festival of Dance that will take place next weekend. The festival will feature all types of dance from the Erie area as well as will host Lehrer Dance, a contemporary company from Buffalo, NY.
Other than that, everyone is just focusing on finishing up their midterm tests and essays. Anticipation for Raw Edges XIII is building and the choreographers are finishing up their pieces for adjudication in a couple weeks.
“A star danced, and under that was I born.” - William Shakespeare
The week for the YAGP competition has finally arrived! The girls that are going are all very excited and have perfected their variations and group pieces to do the best that they can. Accompanied by faculty member Michael Gleason and alumni Noelle Lelakus, the group will be traveling to Chicago this coming Friday.
In other news, the Erie Dance Consortium is in full planning mode for the Erie Festival of Dance that will take place next weekend. The festival will feature all types of dance from the Erie area as well as will host Lehrer Dance, a contemporary company from Buffalo, NY.
Other than that, everyone is just focusing on finishing up their midterm tests and essays. Anticipation for Raw Edges XIII is building and the choreographers are finishing up their pieces for adjudication in a couple weeks.
“A star danced, and under that was I born.” - William Shakespeare
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Midterms week!
Hello Everyone!
Its another busy week here in the Mercyhurst Dance Department. Not only is it midterms week but several of our students are getting ready for the Youth America Grand Prix competition this weekend in Chicago. Midterms in the dance department vary depending on the teacher of the class. They range from learning a combination and videotaping it for evaluation, writing a paper,or having a conference with your teacher.
The Youth America Grand Prix competition is the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition that awards over $250,000 annually in scholarships to leading dance schools worldwide. The competition is held annually around the world and in New York City, and is open to dance students of all nationalities 9-19 years old. Launched in 1999 by two former dancers of the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet, Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev, YAGP is also a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization created with a mission to provide extraordinary educational and professional opportunities to young dancers, acting as a stepping stone to a professional dance career. Now in its 12th Season, YAGP has awarded over 2 million in scholarships to the leading dance schools worldwide. Over 25,000 dancers worldwide have participated in YAGP’s international workshops, competitions, and audition classes. Over 200 YAGP alumni are now dancing with 50 companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, among others.
In other news, Lehrer Dance taught a master class here on Sunday. About 25 students attended the master class and had an amazing time learning and performing the contemporary dance combinations. The Lehrer style focused on using your entire body to dance and reaching past your boundaries in your movement. It was an amazing experience for all those involved and the good news is they will be returning to Mercyhurst for the Erie Festival of Dance next weekend where they will both perform and teach a master class!
“I get up, I walk, I fall down. Meanwhile I keep on dancing.” - Author Unknown
Its another busy week here in the Mercyhurst Dance Department. Not only is it midterms week but several of our students are getting ready for the Youth America Grand Prix competition this weekend in Chicago. Midterms in the dance department vary depending on the teacher of the class. They range from learning a combination and videotaping it for evaluation, writing a paper,or having a conference with your teacher.
The Youth America Grand Prix competition is the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition that awards over $250,000 annually in scholarships to leading dance schools worldwide. The competition is held annually around the world and in New York City, and is open to dance students of all nationalities 9-19 years old. Launched in 1999 by two former dancers of the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet, Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev, YAGP is also a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization created with a mission to provide extraordinary educational and professional opportunities to young dancers, acting as a stepping stone to a professional dance career. Now in its 12th Season, YAGP has awarded over 2 million in scholarships to the leading dance schools worldwide. Over 25,000 dancers worldwide have participated in YAGP’s international workshops, competitions, and audition classes. Over 200 YAGP alumni are now dancing with 50 companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, among others.
In other news, Lehrer Dance taught a master class here on Sunday. About 25 students attended the master class and had an amazing time learning and performing the contemporary dance combinations. The Lehrer style focused on using your entire body to dance and reaching past your boundaries in your movement. It was an amazing experience for all those involved and the good news is they will be returning to Mercyhurst for the Erie Festival of Dance next weekend where they will both perform and teach a master class!
“I get up, I walk, I fall down. Meanwhile I keep on dancing.” - Author Unknown
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Hello Everyone,
Its been a quiet week so far here in Erie. Everyone is focused on getting back into shape after the holiday break as well as working hard in their academic classes. However, tomorrow will be an exciting day as it is our first audition day of the new year! We have six girls coming to take class and possibly be a part of the freshman class next year. It is always fun to see new faces in the department.
In other news, we also have a number of students attending the Youth America Grand Prix on the weekend of January 21st. They will be performing various classical solos as well as a group piece in Chicago. We wish them the best of luck in the competition!
"Dance- an art form. The body- an instrument. Learn to play the instrument and master the art form." -Debbie Dee
Its been a quiet week so far here in Erie. Everyone is focused on getting back into shape after the holiday break as well as working hard in their academic classes. However, tomorrow will be an exciting day as it is our first audition day of the new year! We have six girls coming to take class and possibly be a part of the freshman class next year. It is always fun to see new faces in the department.
In other news, we also have a number of students attending the Youth America Grand Prix on the weekend of January 21st. They will be performing various classical solos as well as a group piece in Chicago. We wish them the best of luck in the competition!
"Dance- an art form. The body- an instrument. Learn to play the instrument and master the art form." -Debbie Dee
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Happy New Year!!!
Hello Everyone!
2011 has officially kicked off here in the danceSpace and everyone is back and ready to work. Academics as well as dance classes are in full swing and everyone has jumped right back into life here on campus.
In exciting department news we will be taking part in the Erie Festival of Dance on the 29th of January. The purpose of the festival is to showcase the talent and recognize the achievements of local dancers, past and present. It is presented by the Erie Dance Consortium produces the bi-annually. This year the Consortium is honored to join Stairways Behavioral Heath of Erie in their 50th Anniversary Celebration, bringing awareness to mental health and wellness by embracing the theme Wellness in Body, Mind and Spirit. The festival gives local dance companies, seasoned professionals and children the opportunity to join together as performers and audience members. While exposing audiences to dance in its many forms we are reflecting our cultural and ethnic diversity and demonstrating the interrelations of the arts through collaboration with other art forms.
In other exciting news, alumni Trevor Sones will be returning to the department this week to teach several master classes! Mr. Sones is currently a cast member with the national broadway tour of CATS and we are extremely honored to be able to host him for a week.
"Dance Is Life" - Trevor Sones
2011 has officially kicked off here in the danceSpace and everyone is back and ready to work. Academics as well as dance classes are in full swing and everyone has jumped right back into life here on campus.
In exciting department news we will be taking part in the Erie Festival of Dance on the 29th of January. The purpose of the festival is to showcase the talent and recognize the achievements of local dancers, past and present. It is presented by the Erie Dance Consortium produces the bi-annually. This year the Consortium is honored to join Stairways Behavioral Heath of Erie in their 50th Anniversary Celebration, bringing awareness to mental health and wellness by embracing the theme Wellness in Body, Mind and Spirit. The festival gives local dance companies, seasoned professionals and children the opportunity to join together as performers and audience members. While exposing audiences to dance in its many forms we are reflecting our cultural and ethnic diversity and demonstrating the interrelations of the arts through collaboration with other art forms.
In other exciting news, alumni Trevor Sones will be returning to the department this week to teach several master classes! Mr. Sones is currently a cast member with the national broadway tour of CATS and we are extremely honored to be able to host him for a week.
"Dance Is Life" - Trevor Sones
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!!!
Hello All,
It is officially winter here in Erie, we are supposed to have 2-3 feet of the white stuff by the end of the day today. Everyone has been walking into the danceSpace looking like snow men :)
In other news, Raw Edges rehearsals have started this week and everyone is really excited to find out what the pieces they are in are like. It is always interesting and fun to see what your fellow students come up with and what talented student choreographers we have in the department.
It is also Christmas season here at Mercyhurst and the dance department is keeping the christmas joy going. The whole danceSpace has been decorated with trees, lights and snowflakes. We also do a department wide secret santa so every friday until christmas break we will be trading clues and gifts until the department Christmas party when our santa is revealed!
“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you are.” - Author Unknown
It is officially winter here in Erie, we are supposed to have 2-3 feet of the white stuff by the end of the day today. Everyone has been walking into the danceSpace looking like snow men :)
In other news, Raw Edges rehearsals have started this week and everyone is really excited to find out what the pieces they are in are like. It is always interesting and fun to see what your fellow students come up with and what talented student choreographers we have in the department.
It is also Christmas season here at Mercyhurst and the dance department is keeping the christmas joy going. The whole danceSpace has been decorated with trees, lights and snowflakes. We also do a department wide secret santa so every friday until christmas break we will be trading clues and gifts until the department Christmas party when our santa is revealed!
“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you are.” - Author Unknown
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Heaven Has A New Ballerina
Hi Everyone,
"Jenni, I want to start off by saying how amazingly beautiful you are and always will be...no one can take away our memories that I will hold nearest and dearest to my heart forever. You are the best big sister anyone can ask for and know that I'm not alone, not only do I have you forever in my heart but I have so much support so I do not want you to worry about me, I know that you are always here when I need you. I love you more than anything in the world.
It is with deepest sadness that I have to inform you that our dance department lost a beautiful and kind dancer over break. Junior dance major Jenni-Lynn Watson, a joy in our department, was violently taken from us. She is truly missed by everyone and will always be remembered as a shining light that brought happiness and love to everyone she came in contact with. We are supporting each other through this difficult time and send our support to her family and friends.
Mercyhurst has set up a memorial scholarship fund in honor of Jenni-Lyn, anyone that would like to make a contribution please go to http://mercyhurst.edu/news/news-releases/article/?article_id=2326
At this time I would just like to share with you some of the special sentiments felt for Jenni by her friends and family......
"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. Rest in Peace Jenni-Lyn Watson." - Bryan Parker
"I really miss you ballet buddy. Thought about you all day. Praying for your family constantly. "Love is stronger than death. Though it cannot stop death from happening, no matter how hard death tries, it cannot separate people from love. It cannot take away our memories either. In the end, love is stronger than death.” ♥" - Michaela Barta
"Jenni u would have enjoyed tonight so much, we all had a good drink in ur memory and as it was karaoke there were a few beatles song sung, including let it be and hey jude. We may have ruined them a little bit and not done them complete justice but we tried our best and hey jude was sung with a lot of people. I hope ur happy now and still smiling and always dancing, ur gona be forever missed." - Billy Colton
"Jenni, I miss you so much. I want you back in our lives so bad, it's not fair. I miss my roomie and I'm not sure how to go on with out you..." - Constance Ashley
"Jenn-ayyy. "When I see you again....i will make this face :O!!" And i hope you are falling the bathtub and making the sound of a water buffalo for everyone in heaven. Remember the alphabet, especially f-ing L. I even hope that the yankees win when they play the red sox in heaven. Love you so much unrelated sister ♥" - Tori Scott
"Jenni, I want to start off by saying how amazingly beautiful you are and always will be...no one can take away our memories that I will hold nearest and dearest to my heart forever. You are the best big sister anyone can ask for and know that I'm not alone, not only do I have you forever in my heart but I have so much support so I do not want you to worry about me, I know that you are always here when I need you. I love you more than anything in the world.
P.s I'm going to watch white christmas everyday before christmas because I know thats youre favorite. I love you♥" - Lauren Watson
"I hope wherever you are there is a furry wall and russel brand, lots of pandas and huskies, dave and beatles playing on a constant loop, all the grape soda you can drink, a closet full of ed hardy, a tv to watch the pens and yankees, a beautiful stage with a standing room only every night just to see you dance, a mustang for every day..." - Rachel Torgesen
"I hope you dance love! I will never forget you, you have been taken away from us but now can watch over us! I love you rest in peace!" - Alexa Bradley
"Jenni you were a beautiful woman, a talented ballerina and choreographer, and a great friend. I will miss your sweet smile and laugh around the dancespace and in class. I feel honored to have known you and been friends with you for the time that you were given to us. Rest in God's arms." - Heather Gorres
"i love you so much jenni. i cannot put into words how badly i am taking this news. and i cannot express how badly you will be missed. you are a beautiful girl and will be rememered as such. i will think about you everyday and remember the fun spirit that you have always been. this isn't "goodbye", it's "until next time" until i see you again ♥" - Carrington Lorenz
"may angels lead you in ♥ JMW" - Amy Deer
"guess God needed some good angels up in heaven. jenni-lyn you will be in my heart forever! i love you so much! ♥ RIP JLW! only the good die young." - Hailey Glover
We Love you Jenni-Lyn, forever and always! <3
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