Essay on My First Semester of College

In “Showing What Is Possible,” Jacques D’Amboise reflects on an experience when a teacher helped him discover ballet. Madame Seda helped D’Amboise fulfill his talent. With ballet, he overcame the pressure to join a gang like his friends. D’Amboise was able to become a well-known ballet dancer with help from his teachers. When it was time to retire from dancing, he started the National Dance Institute. This project enabled D’Amboise to influence his own students around the world. An influential teacher can affect one’s future by challenging pupils to move past their comfort zones, teaching them to actively control their future, and setting up an environment where they can improve together.

The first experience of watching a ballet, for me or any little girl, can be fascinating and exhilarating. Wondering how a dancer can be so steady on her toes as she spins in circles and leaps through the air. Watching a ballet, there is a feeling of wanting to be graceful, as well as the warm sensation felt by a little girl as she slips into dream land. My mom had taken me to my first ballet when I was 11 years old. When we returned home home, she signed me up for classes at the local dance center. The expectations to become a prima ballerina would involve much hard work and concentration. I knew when I started it would take years of steady practice and commitment. Learning the history of ballet and the famous

Ballet is a beautiful and romantic type of performance art. It originated in the Italian court systems in the 15th century (Jonas). Since its origination, ballet has undergone many changes and gained worldwide recognition. Filled with elaborate costumes, cheering audiences, lights, weightless movements and beauty; ballet is admired by many. On the magical stage ballerinas can become whoever they wan to be, and perform in a world of fantasy. For these reasons, children, especially little girls, all over the world dream of becoming ballerinas when they grow up. However, becoming a professional ballerina is an extremely difficult accomplishment, in which few will achieve (Kelso 1). The world of ballet may seem to be filled with glitz and

Another one of the main differences between Russian ballets and Balanchine ballets are the people or items of importance that might inspire a ballet to be created. There are so many ballets that have been inspired by things like old folklores or ancient fairy-tales. These ballets are likely to be of Russian origin. Many ballets such as Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, or even The Nutcracker are just few of the many examples of Russian originated ballets based on fairy-tales. “Petipa’s later works showed the way to much of the innovation of the future, and the choreography and pedagogy of Balanchine (though carried on primarily in the United States) represent the most important creative response to the legacy of Petipa’s nineteenth-century ballet academy - and the most significant twentieth-century development of Russian ballet traditions.” (Scholl 2) However, Balanchine was not so quick to rely on thing such as old stories or folkloric tales. Many of Balanchine’s ballets rely on the things that were around

The result of his commission was the first real modern ballet. It set the example of the composer consulting both with the choreographer and the stage/costuming artist during the composition.

Holding Onto the Air an autobiography by Suzanne Farrell takes the reader backstage in the dramatic life of the world-renowned Balanchine ballerina. From her childhood in Cincinnati to her retirement from ballet in 1989, Farrell's story is truly a remarkable one. The book describes at length her time with the New York City Ballet as well as her complex relationship with the legendary Balanchine. Although Mrs. Farrell goes a bit too far into the ballet descriptions, her beautiful imagery allows reader to experience the joy of performing on stage.

When I entered my first ballet class, at the age of three, I doubt my mother had thought that I would become as passionate about it, as I did. Now, fourteen years later, that passion has not dwindled. I have spent countless hours in and outside of the dance studio training with some of the most acclaimed professional ballet dancers, in an attempt to further develop a skill that can never be perfected. I have performed and competed, on International stages, in countries like Italy, Panama and the United States and have earned multiple scholarships to attend world renowned dance schools such as Alvin Ailey, the Ecole Supérieure de Danse de Cannes and the Berlin State Ballet. At the age of eleven, I started competing at the Youth America

‘It takes much strength to be a ballet dancer,’ said the teacher. ‘Now we must practice for our

Since the early age of four, I have been mesmerized by classical ballet. Every week, I watched my dance teacher display her beautiful skills during class, and I hoped that I could dance as well as her someday. As my love for ballet continued to grow, my opportunities widened. In the fall of 2013, I became a member of the dance ensemble at the dance studio I attend. When I joined the Pointe Academy Dance Ensemble, my position at the dance studio shifted from being a student dancing in the back of the room, to a dancer who learned how to teach others and set a good example for younger students. To me, being a role model and using acquired experience to inspire and guide others is leadership. My dance ensemble has been my most meaningful leadership experience because it is the source of where I have become a leader.

You do not need to be a member --or be fond-- of the nineteenth century Russian landed aristocracy to grasp any of this. Nor do you have to be an expert in Russian socio-economic history, a Westerner, a One Percenter in the United States of 2016 .... And you don't really need to know all that much about choreography and music either. Deep down this is why people of all kinds flock to see this ballet. Its themes and messages are universal and have the potential to resonate within every one of us. It will continue to be so for as long as we retain our humanity. This is an example of an artwork that transcends the time that produced it.

In my childhood, I used to dream about wearing an exquisite pink tutu that shone with glitter, a jeweled tiara, and, most importantly, beautiful satin shoes that seemed to always remain flawless. As a child, my perception of ballet was limited, but now that I have experienced a dancer’s life, I realized that this is what I am meant to do. I have sacrificed my normal teenage life to dedicate myself to this profession, and I cannot imagine any of those sacrifices going to waste. One thing I want to accomplish in the future is becoming a professional ballet dancer because I love the pure, captivating art of dance, dancing makes me feel complete, and I truly love performing. I have always had a special connection with music whether it be musicality, or the way I am consumed and mesmerized by it.

Thinking about such a Great Ballets like “The Firebird”, “Petrushka”, “The rite of spring” and “Apollo” I feel a confusion when I

For the past twelve years, I have trained in the beautiful, disciplined, and often grueling art of ballet. During my years as a student, I learned the technique, musicality, and artistry needed to become a ballerina, but, more importantly, I discovered the strong character traits that are necessary for success. Every aspect of my ballet training has provided me with unique, essential qualities. Focus, respect, and meticulousness were emphasized and learned in every class, cooperation and trust were mastered during partnering, and fearlessness was acquired after numerous performances. Though all of these characteristics have shaped me as an individual, I am most proud of the hard work ethic that I have achieved.

It is thus indisputable that Balanchine’s revolutionary choreography is still revered to this day. In addition, Symons personally recognizes Balanchine as historically, the most influential figure who contributed to modern dance. In a recent questionnaire she wrote of how ‘He transformed dance into unconventional classical lines, turned in (parallel) shapes and revolutionised costume design away from the traditionalism of the classical tutu’ (Symons, 2017). His choreography was considered unorthodox as Balanchine took traditional classical steps and experimented with them in a way that people hadn’t seen before (Kisselgoff, 1983). After failing at many attempts to open a modern classical school, an opportunity to co-fund a strictly regimented and traditional ballet society was offered to him, he gladly accepted and eventually incorporated his neo-classical style into the traditional performances. Soon his work became famous amongst ballet associates around the world (Kisselgoff, 1983). When Balanchine’s choreography is compared to that of typical romantic ballet, there is clearly a difference between the unyielding fundamentals of ballet and the constant changing details in Balanchine’s work. The main element that set Balanchine apart from other contemporary choreographers at the time was his use of music (NYCB, 2002). Balanchine grew up with a composer as a father, when he began devising routines he used music to set the tone of the performance (NYCB, 2002). Balanchine

Studying with the company for the past weeks has given me better strengths of what intentions that I second guessed myself having. Having the opportunity to take three ballet classes throughout the residency, as well being able to their earlier works entitled Speaking Ill of the Dead and Never Be a World of Peace, gives me insights on what their company focuses on. From viewing the performance and taking classes with them, I got a broader understanding of how their technique is simplistic and continues moving in various ways. Having the chance of seeing their movement being executed from the studio to being performed on stage allows me to see how everyone has the chance to perform as one. The Robert Moses’ Kin residency helped me to clarify my primary goals to work on in ballet this semester.