Directors Note

 

 

As we all settle into our Fall schedule, I would like to express my appreciation to all the new students and returning students as well as their families for supporting Patricia Brosnihan Dance Centers.  Our continual goal as we begin our 23rd season is to bring the best possible dance training to all of the students.  

 

My faculty and I see dance as an art form.  Just like learning piano, violin, or any other instrument, dance students must start their training by learning the fundamentals of dance.  This is why we include ballet in our combination classes for the young students.  Ballet gives students the skills to build upon so they can go on to master other forms of dance.  It is just like learning scales on a piano or guitar and playing classics before ripping out a rock and roll tune.

 

Often young children see Hip Hop or other contemporary dance on TV and want to dance just like these dancers.  They do not understand that most of these well-trained dancers began their tranining with ballet classes.  I remember seeing Go-Go dancers on the TV show Laughing when I was a little girl.  I wanted to dance like those ladies.  I am glad that Go-Go dance classes were not offered to 4 and 5 year old girls.  I am also grateful that WGBH showed classical ballet performances.  I spent many days dancing in my room to rock and roll and shook and wiggled like those Go-G0 dancers.  However, I am truly grateful I began my dance training with classical ballet. 

 

Jazz, Hip Hop, and other forms of contemporary dancing are all part of the dance world.  However, it is hard to teach these techniques to very young dancers.  Just like the 3 year old who wants to learn a pirouette on their very first day in class, their bodies and minds are not ready for the true technique of these dance styles.  To keep the interest of these very young dancers, we play some of the comtemporary music that they enjoy listening to i.e. Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, or Kids Bop music in their classes.  They can still learn some of the ballet basics like plies and tendus to contemporary music.  It is also important though to have classical music as part of their class and their dance training.

 

Hope you all enjoy the dance season!  With having two dance centers, it is sometimes hard to catch me at the dance center during your child's class time.  If you do wish to speak with me regarding your child's class I am always happy to return a call.  You can also reach me by email at pbdancecenter @yahoo.com.

 

Sincerely, Miss Patty

 

Dance Center Welcomes Mariama Congo

   Mariama Congo began and received the majority of her ballet training as a scholorship student in the pre-professional division ot the Boston Ballet School.  This training was supplemented with classes across dance disciplines, both locally and at summer dance programs.  Sidelined with an injury for several years, she earned her collegiate and professional degrees and worked as an American Sign Language/ English interpreter and transliterator.  Having returned to the world of dance, Mariama has graduated summa cum laude from the Hartford Conservatory, where she completed a double major in Dance Pedagogy and Dance Performance.  In 2007, she choreographed her first ballet ballet Overheard on a Salt Marsh, a modern story ballet combining poetry and contemporary music with classical ballet.  Mariama has had the privilege of dancing in ballet, modern, jazz, opera, and musical theatre performances.  She has particularly enjoyed having choreography set on her by Broadway choreographers Pat Birch and Leni Williams, for The Opera Company of Boston's Aida, and by Bruce Marks for Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker.  She has relished appearing as Cygnet in Ballet Workshop's Swan Lake. and as a principle dancer in Darcie Froman's Amantes and The Jazz Nutcracker and in Sonia Plum's Searching for a Moment and Something Unsaid.  Mariama teaches the advanced ballet classes on Fridays at the Hopkinton studio and will work with our upcoming competition team. 

 

Cancellations Due to Inclement Weather

 

Cancellations due to snow or ice will be announced on the dance center's answering machines.  Please call up to one half  hour prior to your class time during snow/ice storms or the prediction of snow/ice.  Please note that we do not always follow the same decisions as the Hopkinton or Grafton school systems.  Classes cancelled due to the weather may be made up anytime during the week at convenience fo the student.  Hopkinton phone number is 508-435-5312

Grafton phone number is 508-839-3696 

 

St. Jude Fundraiser Set For December 10th

 

Our annual benefit performance and bake sale for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will be held on Saturday December 10th at the Grafton Senior Center.  All are welcome to attend this free performance.  This is a great opportunity for the young dancers to see the older students perform.  A donation is not required but is appreciated.  100% of all the proceeds collected will go directly to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 

We invite most of the classes to perform from Ballet & Tap I through the level 4 classes.  However, a few classes have students that are very new to dance.  Therefore, we hold off on having these classes perform in this holiday performance.  This allows these new students the needed time to get comfortable in class and learn enough technique to be able to perform in the spring recital.  Students do not need to purchase a costume for this performance.  More information and invitations to participate will be handed out very soon.  To help us plan for this day, we need to know how many students and classes will be participating.  Please be sure to return the invitaion form even if your child will not be able to perform. 

 

Dance Center to Begin Competition Teams

 

We will be holding auditions for competition teams in November.  Students 10 years old as of September 1 2011 and older are welcome to audition.  Complete information on the requirements and commitments of these dance teams will be posted at the dance centers.  We will shortly be sending out another email with more details. 

 

Parent Observation Week

 

Parents are invited to come into the classroom to observe during the week of December 12th- 16th.

 

Calendar 2011- 2012

 

October 10th-  No classes Columbus Day

October 31st-  1/2 day Halloween Dance Centers close @ 3pm

November 23rd - 26th -  No classes Thanksgiving Holiday

December 10th- St. Judes performance/ bake sale

December 12th- 17th-  Parent Observation Week

December 23rd- Last day of first semester

December 24th- January 1st -  No classes winter break

January 2nd - Second semester begins

February 20th - 25th-  No Classes School vacation week

April 16th- 21st-  No Classes School vacation week

May 26th- 28th-  No Classes Memorial Day weekend

June 11th - Last day of second semester

June 13th & 14th- Dress Rehearsals

June 15th & 16th- Recital Dates