We always encourage Parents to expose Students to ballet and dance outside of the classroom whenever they have a chance. Seeing professional ballet productions can be not only a great inspiration for Students, but can also show them how hard work in class can one day translate into a beautiful and memorable performance that really makes the audience feel something! We try to take our older Intensive Students to the Kennedy Center a few times per year to watch the working rehearsals of the great performances that come through this famous local venue. One of the frequent attendees of these events is Ivy, one of our Intensive Students. Ivy recently watched “Coppelia” at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House with her Parents, and has written a wonderful review of the performance that we would love to share with you!

Coppelia was performed in three acts by the Bolshoi Ballet. The first act was set in a town; the second in Coppelius’s workshop; and the third act was placed in a lawn in front of a castle.
In the first act, Swanilda and Frantz danced with their friends. I enjoyed watching the dancer’s precision when they performed as a group. Their costumes were elaborate; some of Swanilda’s friends danced in high-heeled boots. When Swanilda and her friends found the key to Coppelius’s house, their indecision about whether to enter was quite amusing.
During the second act, I enjoyed watching Coppelius’s puppets stiff, comical movements. My favorite part was when Swanilda pretended to be Coppelia. Her facial expressions were very amusing; my favorite was when she posed like a puppet. When Coppelius looked away she glanced at the audience and shrugged. When Coppelius turned his attention back to Coppelia, she posed again.
During the third and final act, I enjoyed watching the Morning Hours, Aurora, the Hours of Day, and the working girls and reapers, dance. Also, the newly-made couples performed along with Swanilda and Frantz. I enjoyed watching Swanilda pique turn around the circle of her friends. The tour jetes that the dancers performed were amazing; when they finished in arabesque their leg stayed up in the air for a second, and then was gracefully brought into fifth position. Another ballet step that the dancers performed was the ponche. When Swanilda was dancing with a leaf, Frantz held her and she did a ponche.
Swanilda performed several sets of backwards bourettés. I especially enjoyed watching that ballet step because it reminded me of the backwards bourettés that I performed in Water. Swanilda also danced a series of fouetté en tournants. This was my favorite ballet move to watch because she performed it very gracefully and effortlessly.
I enjoyed watching Coppelia because I have always loved the comical story. Since this ballet is my favorite so far, I am planning on watching Cinderella performed by the Mariinsky Ballet!

Great Job, Ivy!

During the School Year, we keep reminding our Students of the importance of stretching and proper stretching techniques…don’t forget to keep the habit up over the Summer months!

For dancers of all ages, proper stretching is the keystone to better technique and flexibility. Here are a few guidelines from your Teachers for proper stretching:
1. Hold a stretch for at least 30 seconds – stretching for less than that will not benefit you fully.
2. Do not “bounce” your body up and down in a stretch – try to stay in one position the whole time. “Bouncing” in a stretch can also lead to injury!
3. Know the difference between “good pain” and “bad pain.” Stretching is not always comfortable and sometimes it downright hurts! However, if the pain is unbearable, do not push yourself or you could sustain an injury.

4. Make sure to warm up your body first – for example by doing a few barre exercises. Stretching is less painful and injuries are less likely to occur if the body is warm before stretching.
5. Make sure you stretch both your right and left sides evenly – you want to achieve flexibility on both sides!
6. Stretch as often as possible! Don’t reserve stretching just for dance class. Stretching once a week during class will not benefit you fully – try to warm up and stretch while watching a movie at home!

7. Warm-up and stretch before class – this is really great for you!
8. Make sure you’re breathing during a stretch. Bringing in enough oxygen while you stretch will help your body relax.
9. Start stretching your feet and then work your way incrementally up your body. This way you build up the stretch and don’t put too much strain on your body.
10. Stretching after class is important because the muscles tighten during class and stretching will help them to lengthen again. This can also prevent knots in the muscles!

Questions? Contact us!
Adagio Ballet’s Faculty

At the start of every Session and around every performance, we try to give Students and Parents some guidance on how to make the perfect ballet bun! The perfect bun will have a professional appearance that will complete your ballet look and make you feel just like Julie Kent! Developing the habit of having the right hairstyle for ballet class (and not just performances!) helps teach Students about the expectations of the ballet classroom. It doesn’t have to be hard – it just takes practice and a few tips!

What you will need:
-Hair gel (spray gel works best)
-Fine-tooth hair comb
-Hair elastics (buy elastics that match your hair color)
-Hairspray (extra-hold works best)
-Hairnet (buy a hairnet the matches your hair color)
-Hairpins (Bobby pins will work, but hairpins work best around the bun. Buy them to match your hair color)
-Bobby pins (buy them to match your hair color)

Steps to “Building” the Perfect Bun:
1. Begin with wet hair: Wetting your hair with a spray bottle or showering right before you create your bun will help keep it manageable and slick.
2. Apply hair products: When it comes to controlling frizzy hair and those annoying little pieces around your temples, hair products are your best friend. Begin your bun by gelling your hair and combing it up into a tight pony tail. The ponytail should rest slightly above the middle of your head and there should be no “whispy” pieces sticking out.
3. Twist your ponytail: Take your ponytail and twist it with your hand until it is very tight. The twisting action should naturally form a circle bun around your ponytail holder. Secure the bun with a few hairpins so that it doesn’t fall out. Try to keep the bun as flat as possible so that it doesn’t stick out of your head (it can look a little awkward!)

4. Grab a hairnet: Open the hairnet all the way and stretch it out so that there are no bumps. Wrap the hairnet around your bun being careful not to misshape the bun. Secure the hairnet to the bun using more hairpins. Remember: the more hairpins, the more secure the bun!
5. Polish off your bun by spraying all of your hair with hairspray.

The Ballet Bun can be a great Summer Look, too! Need more advice – let us know!!