barefootballerinas ~

End of Fall season

2011-12-07T09:31:00.000-08:00

After moderating 10 performances for school groups at the Betty Oliphant theatre, teaching 77 workshops at schools in and around Toronto, I went on tour with the apprentice dancers of the National Ballet of Canada, pianist, stage manager, wardrobe and staff to Sault Ste Marie, ON. There we saw Ontario's beautiful fall colours. Here below dancers on an after performance walk on the much loved HUB nature trail.

More workshops and performances and then return to Toronto for the world premiere of the new Romeo & Juliet with the big company. The company had rave reviews for Alexei Ratmansky's new choreography and design/costumes by Richard Hudson.
To date I've been invited to give 5 workshop presentations to teachers of my work with brain-compatibility in the dance class. In Ottawa, Stratford, Lakefield College, Blue Mountain and Toronto. All the participants were very enthusiastic and appeared to have never seen something like this before. I loved the energy.
Mid November I had a much too short visit to Victoria, BC, and held a workshop with Sandi in visual art and me in dance. Wonderful to see students I have known for years and meet new families. We escaped the rainy weather into thoughts on all things hot in India. Students showed a short Bollywood style dance to parents who then joined us for a circle dance to finish.
Back in Toronto I'm enjoying our prolonged mild weather, walks to market on Saturdays, teaching at schools and projects with the National Ballet. On my recent trip up to Ottawa visiting my parents I saw the performance of renowned Pina Bausch theatre/dance company. Wow! amazing crazy ideas that keep coming back to me. What a place in modern dance history this lady has had. And to think I saw her company when it was just starting out in Amsterdam some 30 years ago!

Back to the office! keep in touch.

New Job Starts

2011-09-09T04:57:00.000-07:00

Trinity Bells Park

I have a beautiful ride on my bicycle to work through parks, streets full of different brick houses, past some interesting sculptural chairs, to finally see the CN tower. I zip along the waterfront and land at the National Ballet of Canada.

foyer of National Ballet

my cubicle in admin office

some of my favourites in wardrobe department
Swan Lake tutus

I am busy teaching workshops in schools throughout Toronto for YOUdance, planning our upcoming tour to Sault Ste. Marie, and many admin related affairs to keep this busy program going. I will be hosting shows at the Betty Oliphant theatre with children who have attended my workshops in the audience. Soon you can look up the ten dancers on the the website of YOUdance, and me too!

What a Summer!

2011-08-31T13:22:00.000-07:00

July I taught at The School of Dance, Ottawa, ON., mornings ballet for 10-12yr olds and afternoons with the older teens in Dance Composition. The fans in studios could never really make the heat disappear, but the enthusiasm of students and wonderful dancing made up for any discomfort. The ballet students learnt more demanding ballet sequences, and we finished with our version of a peasant dance from Giselle. One of my favourites from the classical repetoire. In Composition we explored Movement Signatures, structures of choreography, style changes, and students really enjoyed creating their own environmental disaster choreographies shared with the other students and parents on our last day.

For August I moved out to the west coast (here kicking up my feet at Witty's Lagoon)

to visit and holiday with my girls in Victoria, BC. as well as direct, teach, and dance at Cabri Creative Summer Arts programs. Truly a wonderful feeling to see the familiar, welcome past students, as well as meet new families too. Sandi in visual art classes, and Rhonda in music, as well as the terrific teen helpers makes this a teaching highlight of the year. The first week the theme was Colours with lots of exciting explorations.

The second week we discovered how any number of different seeds could be adventurous, inventive, secretive and sleepy! Dance creations were made, art and song. As always audience joined in a circle dance to celebrate being alive and happy!

Thank you everyone!

2011-05-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

The last residency of this season with the National Ballet was in Parry Sound, population 5,000. As per usual I went up the week ahead. I was working with a group of grade 7-8's who wanted to end in the performance with YOUdance. In the week I also had an all boys class trying out dance for the first time in a community heavy into all things hockey. By week's end there was a buzz about what was happening in the gym and the principal invited school trustees and teachers to join in watching a pre-show run of the piece we called Copy Me. Some proud dancers showed their moves to classmates.

"The choreography was amazing!" said a teacher with big wide eyes on first viewing. "I liked the second half the best because of the energy" student comment. And my favourite was a group of three students who found me afterwards and let me know that they would be signing up for this next year when they are in grade 8 as this year they weren't sure what it was and now that they have seen it definitely want to be part of it. The shows with the YOUdance company were in the stunning Stockey Centre theatre over looking the bay and went off with success.

This month I've been teaching at a school down on Queen's Quay in a wonderful light filled building with a dynamic class of grade 4's. We are creating our version of an opening to Midsummer Night Dream and having lots of fun, growing imaginations, learning new skills, and energizing our bodies.

Looking forward to Toronto's Ultimate Block Party at Fort York on June 5th. I will be dancing with a team inviting passers by to join in a circle dance and creative explorations. Reminds me of some of my favourite students in Victoria doing something similar with me at Fernfest below.

More talks and events in the works in upcoming months with time enough for some wonderful weekends spent in Ottawa with my parents. Both still prolific in their work and keeping the sunny side up!

Spring beginnings

2011-03-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

The Spring quarter began with a wonderful collaboration with grade 12 dancers at Cawthra Park Secondary, Mississauga, ON. A group of 35 dancers putting in their efforts, talent, ideas, and trust in the dance with lucky me.

End of March brought me to Thunder Bay, ON, working on 'Snow notes' with a class of exuberant grade 4 students from St.Paul's Elementary. The 20 students will be performing after 6 classes (!) with the YOUdance performers from The National Ballet of Canada in an evening show. Sooo exciting. The teachers here are generous, creative, and eager to connect with all things new. I'm loving it!
Thunder Bay is the city with the Sleeping Giant, a land mass and protected park, with an enchanting First Nations story attached.

Thunder Bay is also close to Fort William with re-enactments of times past.

This is the land of snow as I gaze out the plane down at the sea-like Lake Superior with the most beautiful patterns of broken up ice. I just couldn't stop watching. It's also the land of the sauna!

And the dancers were amazing in Snow notes! plus they really enjoyed themselves altogether on stage making the dance happen under the lights.

photos by Brent Linton, Chronicle-Journal

Middle of Winter

2011-02-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

The new year started off with lots of teaching in and around the Toronto area in elementary, middle and highschools doing workshops for the National Ballet outreach program. All I can say is students and teachers wanted more! I see they have had a lot of salsa classes in some of the schools a craze that went into effect after the popular Ballroom movies a few years ago. But as my past students will know this class is different and teachers are catching on. It is a relief for teachers and students alike who are stuck in newly built mostly cement classrooms to move to music in a logical, fulfilling, thoughtful way. Self directed - teacher directed. Everyone in class has success, with teachers as usual being surprised by all students being able to engage in this style class. Another comment from teachers becoming common after one of my classes is how eagerly the boys in particular take to the work at hand. For me I often don't think that anyone wouldn't like it, but of course glad of the observations.

Lakefield College School main entrance

End of the month I was guest at Lakefield College School where I have never felt more welcomed by students and staff. As the week progressed more classes wanted to have their turn at the fun the other classes were having in dance, and by Friday I had many of the staff join in a lunch discussion and demo. I do hope to return to the lovely campus and wonderful teaching staff.

Tash helping with morning shovel

For all the west coast friends wanting to make sure I know that crocuses are up in their gardens, yes I know but am loving the vigor the season here is making us feel. I'm also looking at the morning shoveling as my free upper arm work out and marvel at the beauty of a city gone white over night. My girls experienced their first 'snow day' where the schools are officially shut due to snow. It landed right on my birthday, what an unexpected treat! we had a blast all day.

Birthday goat cheese soufflé... yum

My project at the moment besides teaching at schools in town will be making two choreographies for Cawthra Park Highschool, one of the two audition arts highschools here in Toronto. I have travel to teach and choreograph in Thunder Bay and Parry Sound. Plus there is interest in my teachers training course, and planning summer and next year. I am very close to posting the summer school details for Victoria, BC, at www.CabriCreativeDance.com

Check back soon.

Annemarie

Nearing end of Fall Term

2010-12-09T18:09:00.000-08:00

Toronto has offered these delights of wonderful talent to me so far:
theatre - The Great War by M. Hollingsworth @ Cameron House
ballet - Cinderella by National Ballet co., @ Four Seasons
museum - Maharaja / Schnabel/ other @ Art Gallery of Ontario
contemporary dance - DanceMakers @ Fleck Theatre
more contemporary dance - Moonhorse Theatre @ DanceMakers studio
film - documentary work of Vic Muniz @ Bell Lightbox theatre
Startford in fall colours and now a blanket of snow
book launch for Canada's Lola Dance
fiddling @ Silver Dollar
two open house arts highschool evenings
MA theatre students @ York University presenting their movement pieces
One of a Kind Craft show @ Exhibition Place
stayed in line with daughter for 7hrs on portfolio day--saw 3 university profs.
many great restaurants
life drawing classes @ Toronto School of Art
many great coffee shops
lots of beautiful bike routes to all my errands and more
professional dance class @ 509 Collective and Techdance
private galleries along Queen West
people watching in all areas of town
10 house guests already!!!

Plus I have had three trips out to Startford to work with two highschools and one more in town, plus one intermediate school. More outreach workshops for the National Ballet as well as ongoing in the new year with lots of travel. As in any school setting the minute we teachers stop talking, turn on the music, and start the dancing I see smiles across the room at about the core/distal move! and past students of mine you know what I'm saying. Lovely.

My girls and I are still struck with the genuine friendliness and time people in Toronto take to strike up a conversation. I have yet to see the busy busy too busy side of people here.

Our kittens are decidedly females and frisky as ever. We now have a discarded tree trunk attached to the staircase for them to climb on and keep their claws just so sharp. They are smart of course and keep them in for hugs.

Over the December break my thoughts are turning to dates and programs for the summer school in Victoria, BC. Any changes or inspirational ideas are welcome.

Most happy holidays to everyone!

Annemarie

Sudbury amazing dance students

2010-09-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

Painting by Sonja Hidas at Sudbury Art Gallery, a moving exhibition.

Move

Change

Travel

Move/Change/Travel month #1

2010-09-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

Move is difficult, change feels like trauma, and travel takes a long time.
So these are some of the things I did. Took in two kittens who needed a home, look out the window each day and start to watch the beautiful trees change colour, laugh with the squirrels doing acrobatics on the telephone lines, walk with my teen to school each morning because I still can, start to plan ThanksGiving with my bigger family, have a house warming, find a beach, ride my bike many times from my house all the way downtown and back, visit and be inspired by the Art Gallery of Ontario (wow!), meet open and friendly neighbours.

beads from friends and west coast collection

We have been making wee footsteps in our new life here in the big city. I've been anxious to get in the studio and be with dancers again. I MISS my students in Victoria sooo much!! and the lovely families that bring them. This month I went in to meet the people who are involved in the outreach program of the National Ballet Company. The program is called YOUdance. The artistic director is Lindsay Fischer who danced in the same company as I did in Amsterdam, the Dutch National Ballet. So he has kindly asked me to do some work with this program in schools. My first job is where I sit tonight in Sudbury with highschool students. (Or secondary students as they say in Ontario.) I met 15 keen and energetic students today in a great studio. We are going to make a piece about Move/Change/Travel and perform in the same evening as the National Ballet apprentices.
The second work I have is a combined program with Stratford Shakespeare Theatre co. and the National Ballet who work together in schools. Along with a drama artist I will work with three schools on their productions this fall and in December we will present the works. I am so excited to be working on both these projects.

Cosmo and Sampson the new boys

To round out the month we have already had our first visitor from Victoria! perhaps not such a big country after all.

First day in TO

2010-08-25T20:13:00.000-07:00

Well we hit the city with a fury all day long. The trams, which I must remember are called streetcars, the metro, which I must remember are called subways, and the locals are just too darn sweet and friendly, I must remember not have the urge to hug and dance with everyone. Feeling rather like the country mouse who visits the big city we felt we should spruce up a bit. So we went shopping of course! We walked around our soon to be neighbourhood and the girls who had still not seen it were happily pleased. The quaint Italian lunch stop, our new absolute favourite, feels just right and the fresh fish market with lovelies smiling on ice made it all seem like it's a good thing. School registrations coming along nicely. Back in the loft to relax and feel the new vibes I think we're off to a good start.

From here on in I will probably write once a month to let you know the latest. Thinking of you all.

Now we really made it!!!!

2010-08-25T20:01:00.000-07:00

Ok day nine and we just push through getting up even earlier than ever before and set off on the road for our new home. Great tunes on the go, left overs from last night's dinner, and we're set. We wind our way past ponds filled with those waving bullrushes from my childhood, lily pads and ducks looking more and more like the landscape I grew up in. Into Sudbury for a stop with the bikers at Timmy's for coffee and donuts. The smoke stacks are impressive here.

The day is turning into something lovely passing the Blind River which is quiet and calm.

Our highway changes into the 69 which heads directly I'm told right into the heart of Toronto. And yes, they were right! along side the big big BIG trucks on the 401 and everyone else we made our way to our dear 'friends like family' in Corktown to await our real home being vacated. We truly made it across to Toronto!!!

We made it!!!

2010-08-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

Day eight we've had enough (as my eyes can tell you) and just want to be there getting on with things that are starting to make long lists in our heads. Up early with the fog, and we are told more smoke from BC! We're thinking of all of you there. Tank fill up and away we go.

Beautiful vistas on drive today, sandy beaches with almost Mediterranean coloured waters on lake Superior.

Then we hit terrible roads and construction. Lots of 'Moose on the Loose' yet again but some how hiding on us. The rocks here are changing from lovely pinky quartz to jagged slates. We arrive in Sault St.Marie at 5pm and decide to stay. We dine at Gigi's where we are treated like ladies and fed a fabulous pizza. Yes, with picnic hamper enough for tomorrow.

Home stretch

2010-08-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

The two nights in Winnipeg were filled with long chats, pool swim, and cuddles with the children. Nice to be with family and not packing up each day, or squished into uncomfortable positions in the car.

Day seven does arrive and we must away. We leave Winnipeg lazily after map consultations at 11am,

and return for forgotten items and gas, so eventually head off at noon. The day is a stretch for food as we don't have our much enjoyed food hamper from Marilyn and we have to wait until 3:45pm until a sign of food appears at Bobby's near Vermillion Bay.

Then Ontario!!! and signs everywhere for Moose on the Loose. Other signs reading large Vehicles Need More Space. Ummm.... do people here need some more space awareness in Tactile patterns I'm wondering??? (all BrainDance students I hope you're smiling!)

We slide into ThunderBay at 10pm (local time) due to construction delays. First motel full but we are kindly directed to another. Pick up some food at grocery, eat, shower, crash.

BC follows us

2010-08-23T15:52:00.000-07:00

Day five we wake up to a smoke filled Medicine Hat and find out the forest fires have blown all the way over!! The handsome porter fills us in on the details while letting us know that there is no need for a tip as " chivalry isn't dead it's just been on hold since King Arthur". We find bakery goodies for the road and leave at a leisurely 9:30 a.m. The well known tunnels weren't open yet and we are anxious to keep going.

The day on the road brings the first of two scarry events. First with a skinny fox weaving on the side of the road looking disoriented and then a huge truck's back end bringing up the dust as the driver tried to slow down for traffic. Yikes!

We make it all the way through another province and arrive in Winnipeg at 5pm in time for a super dinner al fresco with our long time friends like family.

Eagle Birth Road

2010-08-22T20:26:00.000-07:00

Day four starts off driving just over the way in Medicine Hat to the world's biggest tepee on Eagle Birth Road. A huge metal structure with paintings drawn on huge drum heads attached to inside of open structure. The story involves an eagle, then otter, and merman ending up naming Medicine Hat. The dropping off cliffs behind the tepee were worth the walk and being the only tourists that morning you could really feel the whispers from buffalo herders in days past.

This is the land of rolling plains, and very very long trains. I kept waiting for a horse back rider to gallop over the ridge, alas no. Sage, yellows, burnt orange, greens, shocking lime green, heather green, sandy are the colour palates of the day.

Saskachewan border zipped by with no flare so we turned back over the highway to get the official photo for province number two, yaeh!

Arrive in Moose Jaw at Temple Garden Spa and live in our bathrobes and swim suits for the next 14 hours soaking up the relaxing and rejuvenating properties of the mineral baths.

Longest Day

2010-08-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

Day three we get going earlier and in total will be on the road for 14 hours. We take out breakfast at Salmo and gas up. It will take us two tanks of gas to cross BC. My youngest daughter is fascinated by the scariness of truck runaways in these great hills. No sightings of Big Horn, Cariboo, Elk, Badger, or Big Sheep, nor do we see any bears as noted on signs.

We listen to a song by The Shins, New Slang, that gets played over and over.

Glacial coloured lakes, soaring mountains and big trucks cover the day.

We stop at a down right funky coffee shop in Cranbrook, then find a super book store after having a picnic in the park with the war memorial which leads to many history discussions. I love my girls they are so awesome.

Into Alberta and boom the landscape changes to flat and vast colour swatches.

Also boom went an awful lot of unsuspecting insects on the car...yuck. Lethbridge seems to be all ginormous box stores that are each as big as the airport in Victoria! So we roll on past windmills in Cowley, Bow Island that has fields of dill and therefore makes us feel like we are sailing in a pickle jar.

We spend the night in Medicine Hat and sleep like babes. Here goes road to the spa in MooseJaw!!

On the Road

2010-08-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

The barefootballerina left in a flurry with her two teens making the ferry in last 5 minutes of boarding time. Spent the night in Vancouver in the loving arms of family, fed, tickled and put to bed. Day one of our trip across this great land to arrive eventually in the Big Smoke.

(Off and away with my girl driving, who knew!)

Day two we picnic, take in the grand landscape of dense mountains and sparkling rivers, cry at songs that remind us of our links to the island we have left, visit the Forbidden Fruit winery (hee hee), swim in lake at Osoyoos and end up in a motel in Grand Forks.

Trying to get to bed early and learn how to blog all at same time!