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There’s a new dance reality TV show in the works, one that will take viewers behind the scenes of the America’s top ballet companies and showcase dancers both on and off the stage. En Pointe will showcase Miami City Ballet during its premiere episode this fall.
To learn more about En Pointe and to stay informed about upcoming air dates/times, visit their Facebook page . (While you’re there, be sure to check out the neat behind the scenes photos while on the set at Miami City Ballet!)
Check out this awesome video, courtesy of CBS news! They recently interviewed four young dancers competing in the Youth American Grand Prix finals in New York. And, at approximately 2:57 seconds into the segment, you’ll notice one of the dancers wearing our Vamp leotard! 
This is truly an inspiring video segment, one that is sure to delight both competitive – and non competitive – dancers alike!
Re-create Natalie Portman’s Black Swan look at home with the help of this incredible video tutorial! Videographer, Michelle Phan offers valuable tips and suggestions {along with a list of preferred cosmetics} to transform yourself from a fresh-faced Odette to an Oscar-worthy Odile in minutes!
This is hands-down, one of the coolest things we’ve ever seen! Check out this amazing video footage of a ballet flash mob that took place in Berlin last week as a promotion for “Oz–The Wonderful Wizard”! (Can you spot anyone in particular?)
As we first mentioned back in June, the former Beatle was tapped to score an “unnamed” ballet for an “unnamed” ballet company. Well, the cat’s been let out of the bag!
The name of the ballet is “Ocean’s Kingdom” and it’s created especially for New York City Ballet. “Sir Paul has been working closely with Peter Martins, the company’s ballet master-in-chief, who will choreograph the show. Martins said the idea of a collaboration struck him when he bumped in to the Beatle at a fund-raiser for the School of American Ballet (the training ground for the NYCB) last year: “I knew, of course, about his foray into classical music and his interest in it. I said to him, ‘Maybe we could do something together,’” McCartney took him up on the idea, and the stage was set for a unique collaboration.”
You can read more about this legendary pas de deux in the making here.
Check out the lovely and talented Miss Madison Abeo!
The young dancer recently attended a Coastal Dance Rage convention where she was asked to assist choreographer, Francisco Gella during his master class! {How fabulous is that?!} In the video, Madison is wearing Vala Dancewear’s “Triumph”. Below the video clip are photos of Madison wearing “Siren”. Doesn’t she look darling?! We especially enjoy the bold splash of hot pink! Excellent choice! 
{Video/Photos courtesy, Mariangela Abeo}
As you (may) already know, Lindsi Dec – soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet – is one of our stunning Vala models. We’re pleased to announce she’s PNB’s latest featured dancer on YouTube. Check out her ‘Dancer Profile’ video here. (PS: Check out her awesome developpes! Oh…my…goodness!)
Behind the scenes at the Vala Shoot: Laura Getting Into Position wearing Vala's "Enchant" Leotard
Pacific Northwest Ballet soloist and Vala model, Laura Gilbreath is–in a word–breathtaking. Her fabulous extensions, incredible technique and striking beauty make for a rather bewitching combination! We adored her in “3 By Dove”, wept over her haunting interpretation in “Afternoon Ball”, and were mesmerized by her peacock variation in “Nutcracker”. But what we find most intriguing however, is her stunning work ethic! This young woman’s been busting her chops since she was a teenager–an attribute which led to her success with Pacific Northwest Ballet!
We recently caught up with the talented dancer and asked her some of our–and your–burning questions. Here are her answers…
Please share with our readers about how you got started in ballet.
I guess you could say I started dancing because my mother always had such a love and appreciation for it. She danced (ballet) up until she was in high school, and so when she had two little girls, it was only natural that she expose us to this beautiful art form. My sister is two years older than I am, and she began lessons when she was about 4. When Mama and I would go pick her up (I was 2 1/2 at the time), I would constantly be dancing around in the waiting room wanting to join the class. The teacher and my mother must have gotten sick of seeing me jump around because they let me join the creative movement class early.
In a recent interview, you mentioned that you’d attended School of American Ballet when you were younger. Can you tell us how old you were when you accepted into their program? Was this your “dream” school at the time?
I started going to SAB for the summer course when I was 11, and then I began attending as a year-around student when I was 15. I would definitely say this was my dream school when I was younger. Aubrey Morgan (used to dance with NYCB) and Janie Taylor (currently dances with NYCB) are from my studio and they both attended SAB. I wanted to do exactly what they did. It all sounded so amazingly wonderful and exciting. I prepared my mother early on that I would be leaving home at an early age.
How did your family feel about such a big move?
As I said, my mother was somewhat prepared that I would leave home early, but that did not make it any easier. Not to mention the fact that she had already let one daughter go at the age of fifteen to train in ballet as well. My sister, Elizabeth, trained at the Harid Conservatory for 2 years and then ended up attending Indiana University. Before that, she did some trainee work with Ballet Austin. She still does some dancing occasionally around New Orleans. She is a beautiful dancer. So I guess all in all everyone was very supportive of the move and happy that I was fulfilling my dreams. Daddy just wanted his little girl to be safe and to be able to visit me when he could!
What was it like for you to live so far from home for the first time? How did you handle homesickness? (I think I’d personally have a panic attack..LOL)
It was hard being away that young. I think I talked to Mama on the phone probably 5 times a day! At the time I felt so grown up and sophisticated, but 15 is a baby looking back on it. Mama would try to visit at least every few months and Daddy would come as often as his work schedule would allow. The good thing about being at a place like SAB is that everything is in that one building: cafeteria, dorms, studios, and there were plenty of things to do in a 10 block radius, so my mom never had to worry about me galavanting around the city. My friends and I had plenty of good, clean fun in the dorms!
So what prompted your move to Pacific Northwest Ballet?
I moved to Seattle after attending 2 summer courses at PNB. When you are at SAB for the winter, they encourage you to go somewhere else for the summer to experience different places. I chose PNB. My last year at SAB, I started to see that NYCB was not looking like it was going to work out for me, and, where I didn’t know a lot about PNB, what I had heard and knew about the company I liked. So I became a Professional Division student in August, 2002, then I got my apprenticeship in the spring of 2003. And I’ve been here ever since!
And we’re so happy about that, too! So what’s a typical “day in the life” like for you?
A typical day in the life of me? Well, since we usually work until 7 pm, we don’t have to start our morning warm-up ballet class until 10:15. Seems crazy to people with “normal” jobs but that extra sleep can really help when the days are long and exhausting. I get up at 8 am when we have class at 10:15. I immediately go to my dog Bonnie and let her outside to play, eat, etc. My boyfriend, Jerome (Tisserand), and I like to eat outside in the mornings if it’s nice. We will usually throw the ball to Bonnie before we leave too. Then it’s off to work. Class goes until 11:45 and rehearsals start at 12:05. Our lunch break is 3-4 and then rehearsals start back from 4-7. Now everyday is not this full. Some days you might have 12-1 then 4-5 and be done. It just depends on what we’re working on. Right now on Tuesday and Wednesday nights I have Spanish class through Seattle University. It’s spanish 1 and they will also be offering spanish 2 and 3 consecutively. These Seattle U classes are great, and I try to take all that I can in order to slowly chip away at getting my degree one day. If I don’t have some SU class (they last until 9:30), I love to come home and make dinner. Then usually a bath is in order and then it’s bedtime for me by 11:00. Not too exciting, huh?!
I think it sounds very exciting, actually! {Grins} Okay, next question. With it being the holiday season, would you mind sharing your favorite “Nutcracker” experience with us?
I guess my favorite Nutcracker experience/memory would have to be getting to do Clara as a young girl in New Orleans. That was such a special time for me. It was my first real dancing part in point shoes, and I remember feeling so beautiful. Now, that has carried over into adulthood as I get to take on the role of Clara with PNB. Last year was my first year doing the part, and I have fallen in love with it! I love that it is not only beautiful dancing, but a wonderful chance to act as well. Clara is by far my favorite role.
I think the same can be said for a number of “baby ballerinas”! Speaking of which, what advice would you like to share with young dancers?
My advice would be work hard each and everyday if you have the dream and desire to dance professionally as I did, but don’t miss out on your childhood. I remember afternoons when I would go over to my friend’s house to jump on her trampoline after school. Somedays I would be having so much fun that I didn’t want to go to ballet class. My mom would always say that was just fine and let me keep playing (until I had to come inside to do homework, of course!). But the point is, if you’re serious about it definitely pursue it, but always do it because you want to and because it makes you happy. I never missed a sleepover, I just arrived really late and left really early for my Saturday morning ballet class!
Thank you so much, Laura for taking time away from your busy schedule for us. We really appreciate it and cannot wait to see you on stage again very soon!
To check out Laura in action, please purchase your tickets to Pacific Northwest Ballet’s “Nutcracker”. Visit PNB.org for more information.
Gelsey Kirkland, the former American Ballet Theater star, puts her pupils through their paces at her new school in TriBeCa. Photo Credit: Andrea Mohin/The New York Times
Last month, Gelsey Kirkland – one of the world’s most beloved ballerinas of all time – and her husband, Michael Chernov, opened The Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet.
The New York Times recently picked up the story and I must say, it’s fabulous! Here’s my favorite quote:
“Ms. Kirkland’s classes usually run long: creating an expressive, sensitive instrument that is also healthy is painstaking. “Instead of running away from something,” Ms. Kirkland said, “you have to be able to hang in there and work through it, and that develops an ability to tolerate hardship. This element of suffering through is what gives a dancer that translucent quality onstage. It creates a sense of eternity.” ~ Quote: The New York Times
Ah…spoken like a true artist! You can read the rest of the inspiring interview with Ms. Kirkland here.
Oregon Ballet Academy student Nathan Rowell and his classmates. AP Photo/The Register-Guard, Paul Carter
The Oregon Ballet Academy is working hard to turn the common misconception that ballet is strictly a ”girlie form of art” on its head. By providing free weekly classes, young men of all ages have the opportunity to learn and experience the beauty, discipline and power of dance. “In the two years since they began their boys-only program, husband-and-wife OBA owners John Grensback and Megan Murphy have seen their male enrollment grow from a handful to several dozen, ranging in age from 9 years to college age. “We really wanted to do a program for boys, but we knew it would be hard to get them to come because ballet isn’t something most boys think about doing,” Murphy said. “But we were able to get some grants, and John does the teaching. It’s great to see what these boys have accomplished.”
You can read the rest of this inspiring article here.
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