Necessity is the mother of invention?

This has been an overwhelming year to say the least – new baby, new facility, first Nutcracker, hosting the MSRBA festival, etc., etc., etc.

I saw the following story on one of my favorite blogs.  You never know what amazing things may come from just doing what needs to be done!

The story of how the movie, The Godfather, was produced.  It had:

A writer who didn’t want to write it. Mario Puzo was broke and needed to pen something commercial in order to write the kind of books he really cared about.

A studio that didn’t want to produce it. The box-office failure of previous gangster movies made Paramount Pictures reluctant to pick up their option, but with the novel a runaway success, and other studios showing interest, they couldn’t let it slip away.

A film no director would touch. Twelve directors turned it down, including, at first, Francis Ford Coppola.  But, Coppola, too, was broke, and needed a job directing a Hollywood production in order to make the kind of personal films he really cared about.

A cast of unknowns. Except for one renowned actor, Marlon Brando, who was considered box-office poison by studio executives.

A community against it. Before filming even began, Italian-American groups protested what they perceived was to be the movie’s characterization of their culture, and amassed a war chest to stop the production.

And, yet, The Godfather succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest imagination, to become one of the greatest cinematic masterpieces in history

A big move for NAYB…

Dear Students, Staff, Family, Friends, and Alumni,

We hope you are all having a wonderful summer and trying to keep cool. The NAYB staff and faculty have been very busy planning and preparing for the fall. We have many exciting things taking place at NAYB this year and we would like to take this opportunity to share with you the most important news “hot off the press”.

Over the course of the past few years it had become apparent to our board, staff and faculty that our current facility on Coldwater Road was not meeting the needs of our school. First, the building is a high end commercial property with lease rates that continue to strap our finances. Second, the building has a limited amount of square footage with little potential for expansion. These two problems compounded together put us in a situation where we had to function at maximum enrollment capacity to be able to make our rent – yet at the same time maximum enrollment made it feel as if the walls were closing in on us with no room for growth.

Earlier this summer we set a course to begin a search for a new building with hopes to move in summer 2013 when our lease expired. However, God had different plans for NAYB and during the past two weeks a building was made available to us that was an ideal fit for our school. It is 40% bigger than our current facility, with the potential to more than double it’s size in the future. It is in a desirable, centralized location – and it has a very favorable lease rate. As if these factors were not convincing enough, we also were given the opportunity by our current landlord to be dismissed early from our lease. As the pieces all fell into place, it convinced us that the time was upon us to make the move.

As a result, we are very happy to announce that NAYB will be moving into our new facility in time for the first day of school. We will be moving to a location behind Northcrest Shopping Center. Directly behind the center are two office buildings. We will be located in one of these buildings, occupying most of the space, with potential to expand into the whole building in the future. As we mentioned earlier, the new facility is 40% larger than our current space. There is ample free parking and it will be very easy for students to safely enter the building. While located behind a major commercial center, this small office park is nicely landscaped, surprisingly quiet, and has a very safe and serene feel.

We signed our new lease just this morning. Over the course of the next four weeks the floor plan will be modified to suit our needs, including new carpet and paint throughout. We are excited that the new space will boast ample windows and skylights, larger dance studios with higher ceilings, increased classroom square footage, a comfortable waiting area for parents, separate locker and lounge areas for academics and ballet, and more storage space. The contractors estimate their work will be completed by the middle of August. While that is very close to the start of school, we are confident that the deadline will be met. We plan to unveil the new facility to our Training Program and Conservatory families at orientation, and to have an open house for the general public to show off our new home sometime in September.

Until we move in our offices will remain at the Coldwater location. We will be holding optional August ballet classes at Elite Dance Center (corner of Lima Rd. and Dupont Rd.) during the move. More information will be sent home about August classes next week. We will also be sending home a newsletter next month that will fill you in on some of the other exciting projects and events planned for this coming school year. Until then, we just could not wait to share the news of our new home. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to give us a call or send us an e-mail. Thank you for your support during this transition.

Sincerely,

Beth McLeish and Mark Bly, Deans

Parent Feedback

A NAYB parent recently submitted the following review of our organization. It was a humbling read for me and I thought you might enjoy reading it too.  Thank you for the kind words Mrs. H!

New American Youth Ballet is a professional ballet training program for children ages 6-18. My three children ages 10, 11 & 14, truly enjoy learning at NAYB and appreciate the excellent education they are receiving. The improvements they have made in the 9 months they have been at NAYB have been astounding, to them and to me. They joined NAYB in the summer of 2011 year after several years at various dance studios. Every studio has its strengths and special focus. NAYB’s program produces very graceful, technically accurate, physically strong dancers who possess a precise knowledge of anatomy, placement & nutrition in relationship to ballet. Those gifted in ballet who desire to become the very best ballet dancer they can be will find excellent training at NAYB.

 Graded evaluations (shared first with parents at a parent/teacher conference) ensure that dancers have obtained the necessary level of skills to move up through the program. I appreciate the experienced adult faculty; most dancers take class from a variety of teachers on a weekly basis, greatly enlarging their scope of understanding and ability. While the exclusive syllabus used by NAYB is taught consistently by each teacher, naturally every instructor explains and corrects in an individual way. Such nuances undoubtedly help certain steps “click” with students faster than if they always had the same teacher.

The four stages of training involve students of various ages and slightly different levels of ability taking class together. I think it’s great to link students together like this, allowing the somewhat less advanced to learn by watching those who are a little ahead of them, and giving more advanced students the opportunity to use their skills as a way of “teaching” those aspiring to be like them.

The high level of training requires several hours of class each week, but the schedule is such that it does not infringe upon the evening hours.  This was one of the biggest initial draws for me. Class is always done by 5:50 at the latest Monday-Friday, and occasionally as early as 3:00 for upper level dancers. I love having everyone home in the evening rather than spending many evenings a week out late. Additionally, students involved at other studios may continue classes there in the evenings. It’s a wonderful, open relationship Mrs. McLeish has chosen to maintain with other studios. Rather than a sense of competition, it feels like NAYB is working with other local studios to help produce the best dancers possible.

At the higher levels, ballet classes start in the early afternoon, requiring academic work to be done in the morning. Having home schooled my kids all of their lives, I had not seriously considered the academic conservatory until I went to the parent meeting. My husband and I were very impressed with Mr. Bly and the academic course he has set in place. The small class sizes (there are 3 students in my daughter’s 8^th grade class), high female population & proven academic track record of the school’s 7 years of existence were very attractive. The ability to graduate as a junior is a great option too. I love that high school is spread over 5 years, thus lightening the student’s load by allowing less classes to be taken each semester. Science, and perhaps a couple of other classes, are taught to the entire Lower School (5^th-7^th) or Upper School (8^th-12^th) at once, much like many homeschoolers teach their multi-age students together.  I like having my kids in classes with students older and younger than them. It really helps eliminate the superiority kids tend to exude over being, for example, a “6^th Grader” as opposed to a lowly 5^th Grader.  The shortened school year (Labor Day-April) were extremely attractive to my oldest daughter as she weighed her choice between home school and the Conservatory.  During the month of May, students travel to area schools to perform at convocations. Though not technically in school, some of the academic teachers travel with the group and maintain a friendly competition between teams in which they answer academic trivia questions on their down time.  Obviously, learning still occurs every time a student travels to a performance in May. Not only are the students honing their performance skills and ballet technique, they are continuously reviewing the information they learned over the school year.

Finally, I appreciate the Community Classes NAYB offers as 10 week sessions in the fall and winter.  The level of training is the same as that given to the training program students. Dancers ages 6-18 can get a taste of what it is like to be professionally trained without committing up front to the rigorous training program. Children ages 2-5 and teens and adults can greatly benefit from these community classes as well. I have participated in one 10 week class for teens & adults so far, and plan to continue.  It’s a great way to improve personally and get an excellent work out at the same time.

If all of these reasons weren’t enough to give New American Youth Ballet a 5 star review, there is one other factor I have discovered since being involved here for the last several months. Many of the student’s parents are current or former dancers and/or teachers themselves. I have had all of my kids in classes I have taught or assisted in at one time or another over the years. As a dance teacher, I recognize and appreciate the existence of an excellent program when I see one. Many other NAYB parents who have dance backgrounds have recognized the same thing, and this is where we choose to send our children.  

 

New Challenges

I love seeing our NAYB dancers take on a new challenge.  This past week it was master classes with Michael Vernon.

Mr. Vernon is one of my favorite master teachers to bring in to NAYB.  His point of view is so clear and so dynamic.  From the first exercise of class he knows exactly what he wants to get from the dancers.  He focuses on a few important and specific points and within a 90 minute class I can start to see the kids minds and muscles opening up.  NAYB is challenged to grow every time we have the privilege of studying with Mr. Vernon.

In case you don’t know: Michael Vernon is the Chair of Indiana University’s ballet department.  This is not your typical university dance program.  IU’s program is widely regarded as the most prestigious ballet department in the country.  Attending their performances is akin to watching a high caliber professional troupe.  Their graduates have an almost 100% professional placement record.  It’s a phenomenal institution of ballet.

Our rookie NAYB parents are thrilled when they first find out that a resource like IU’s ballet department exists in our own “backyard”.  They start dreaming of in-state tuition and Hoosier basketball games.  Of course, since IU is such a fantastic ballet program it is also nearly impossible to gain acceptance into.  Normally the freshman class has around 20 kids.  That’s a tougher acceptance rate than SAB!

Last spring NAYB had two of our graduates accepted into the IU ballet department: Chelsea Dumas and Morgan Stillman.  I should mention (brag) that both received not only acceptances, but merit scholarships.  To add to the excitement this fall Morgan was selected as one of only two men in the department to dance the sole male role in Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco.  He was also cast in Paul Taylor’s Company B and a piece by Complexion’s Dwight Roden.  Chelsea performed in Barocco’s corps of eight women, while also learning and rehearing the first violin role as the third cast principal girl.

Chelsea and Morgan are an overwhleming testimony to NAYB’s training.  We are so proud of them.  About 30 of our students, parents and staff went down to IU to see the show two weeks ago.  What an inspiration Chelsea and Morgan are to the next generation of NAYB dancers.

Thank you Mr. Vernon for visting NAYB and for giving us such an amazing resource down in Bloomington.  Go Hoosiers!