Swan Lake 2018: Studio to Stage, A Film by Parker McBain

The dancers who performed in NADT's 2018 staging of Swan Lake poured their souls into the stunning achievement. They left everything on the stage and it was nothing short of spectacular.

In an effort to illustrate the long, rigorous hours of rehearsal, young filmmaker, Parker McBain produced this video that takes us on a journey from Studio to Stage. If you didn't know, Parker is the older brother of NADT student, Olivia McBain. Parker, a former dancer himself, is a senior at the College of Motion Picture Arts at Florida State University. He will receive his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree this May and plans to pursue a career in animation. You might also know his parents as they regularly volunteer at NADA/NADT and have in recent years portrayed Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum in NADAs production of The Nutcracker.

Parker was moved to take on this project for his sister. Olivia has been dancing at NADA since she was six and this is her first year as a company member of North Atlanta Dance Theatre. She performed as a swan and Neapolitan Dancer in the production of Swan Lake.

Parker has quite a bright future ahead of him. He's already earned praise as an award winning documentary and animation filmmaker. It is with heartfelt gratitude we thank him for taking the time to capture this amazing adventure for NADT!

Bet Ya Didn't Know...Some Dancers are Inventors Too!

North Atlanta Dance Academy is proud to congratulate one of its own on a big win at a recent invention competition hosted by Georgia Tech. 

Darby Graham, a seven year old student at NADA recently won the "People's Choice Award" at the Georgia Tech InVentures state-wide event.  Darby has been dancing at NADA for seven years but her mother says she's always loved invention. She blended her passions for dance and ingenuity to develop the award winning, Travel On Foot Roller.

"She got the idea for the roller from leaving dance with sore and aching feet and hearing her classmates complain about their feet. Her gifted class at school had an invention project this year and so her wheels started turning," explains Darby's mother Kacie.

The Travel On Foot Roller can be attached to a cabinet so you can roll your aching feet while brushing your teeth or getting ready for school or dance. It is also portable so you can take it along with you to the studio or when you travel. 

A lot of work went into transforming an idea into a product you might soon be able to purchase. Darby drew out a sketch of what she wanted the roller to look like and how it should work. Then she and her grandfather went to a hardware store and together purchased the items she needed. With guidance from her grandfather, Darby went about making her dream a tangible reality.

Kacie says Darby worked with her "Papa" to make her prototype. "Darby did it all by herself. With his instruction and construction background it made for a great team."

Darby knows dancers will love the product and it's also great for people who suffer from plantar fasciitis. Darby is seeking a patent and hoping to one day sell her Travel On Foot Roller in stores. And this fourth grader isn't stopping there...her mom says Darby has more inventions in the works!

Darby with her Prototype and Proud Parents

Way to go, Darby!

A Look Back and Behind the Scenes: Swan Lake

A note from Mr. G as he looks back at NADTs spectacular production of Swan Lake:

NADT's 2018 production of Swan Lake was a stunning success! The corps de ballet consisting of student dancers performed as a professional unit. Their timing was right on and their formations and poses were consistently clean and in place! 

Erin Blair, returning to perform the dual roles of Odette / Odile was compellingly sympathetic as Odette and conversely deviously conspiratorial as Odile! Her technique was unwavering! Her Prince Sigfried, Norbert Nireiwcz, supported her with great sensitivity. His acting and solo variation exhibited the skill of a seasoned professional! Raul Peinada as Baron Von Rothbart was stunningly evil! His technique was as strong as his character! It was truly amazing as the
audience lept to their feet at the end of each performance! 

Congratulations, NADT!
Thanks! Michael

Please enjoy the slideshow. A special thanks to our professional behind the scenes photographers:
Shay LaVee and Q. Oliver

Personalize a slideshow design

NADT In The Community: Swan Lake On The Road

As part of a renewed effort to give back to our wonderful community, NADT is taking talent on the road! In the days leading up to the fabulous production of Swan Lake, some of our NADT dancers enjoyed a visit to Forsyth County's Brookwood Elementary School. The dancers, in costume, performed a few numbers from Swan Lake for the students during their lunch perios. What a spectacular treat for these youngsters! Students were so excited many of them posed for pictures and asked for autographs.

 Community outreach is part of our educational mission.  Exposing kids to
dance in their schools is an excellent way to enlighten and perhaps inspire
them to take interest in the art of dance. It also helps keep our name in
the minds of parents and teachers. Mr. Garrison

A special thank you to our dancers, Jenna Bunker, Anna Armstrong, Olivia McBain
and Lindsay Shadoff for taking time out of their day to serve as poised and gracious representatives. They performed dances from Swan Lake; Mazurka, Neapolitan and Cygnets.

Jenna, Anna, BES Student, Olivia, Lindsay

Please help us look for future opportunities for outreach as we showcase the best in dance in the greater Atlanta area. If you have a suggestion please leave a comment below or email: sccpresentsinc@gmail.com  

Instructor Spotlight, Stacey Slichter

 Never let your fear speak for you!

We all know Miss Stacey as NADA's talented, sought after instructor but she is so much more dynamic than that and the depths of her passion for dance take her beyond the classroom walls in myriad ways.

While she is an accomplished and seasoned dancer in her own right, she never stops stretching herself to new heights.

For example, Stacey has been working with the esteemed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater since 2006 when she was asked to teach a one week summer session for its company dancers. That parlayed into a tremendous opportunity to teach each summer at the theater's New York studios. Now each year when AADT travels to Atlanta, they reach out to Stacey to serve as a guest instructor. And in fact, Stacey just finished a session with their dancers.

As a professional dancer for over 20 years, it is always nice to surround yourself with other professionals who have persevered through this art form. Also, I have been drawn to this amazing company since I was 10 years old. At that young age I instantly fell in love with the company’s athleticism and artistry. I think the best opportunity of all though, has been the friendships I have made with some of the dancers in the company.

For Stacey, art is constantly moving, changing shape and growing. It is her steadfast belief there is "no room for complacency" in this art form. Therefore constantly challenging herself and pushing beyond her comfort zone is what makes her such a force on stage and in the classroom.

Instructors, as well as dancers, need to always explore outside their comfort zones. This is where the true creativity and mastery are found. Teachers are still students. We are always learning, always discovering, always adapting.

You might question how these experiences with other dance theaters benefit NADT. For Stacey it is all about setting an example. When she was first asked to guest teach in 2006, despite having a long and impressive resume, she nearly allowed nerves to get the best of her; she nearly turned it down. A mentor encouraged her saying she would always regret giving into her fears of failure.

 I heard her words and knew she was right! I can’t imagine the what ifs if I had let my fear get in the way. To this day, I feel the fear and do it anyway. It’s the only way for an artist to thrive.

Erin Burt Returns to NADT to Dance Swan Lake

When a body moves, it's the most revealing thing. Dance for me a minute, and I'll tell you who you are. ~ Mikhail Baryshnikov

It can be argued the most beautiful art comes from the most vulnerable places within us. When an artist delves within, into that rich soil of soul and unearths pain, joy, truth it is a magical thing to behold. This is what we can expect from Erin Burt as she breathes life into the classic and well loved ballet, Swan Lake.

Since graduating from NADT in 2014, Burt has been working towards her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. This staging of Swan Lake teams pupil with teacher as Mr. Garrison teams with Miss Burt to bring a dream into fruition. “This is very exciting for me personally because it is the culmination of the ultimate mission of NADA/NADT, the opportunity to train dancers in our school and company and then to hire them to perform as professionals,” Garrison explains. This will be Burt's professional debut. "This opportunity has been very special to me, as it has always been my absolute dream role. ...I’m thankful that the Garrisons and all my teachers have supported me to dance this role, as it is one of the most demanding in ballet repertoire," Burt said.

Demanding might be a slight understatement as Burt will be dancing the dual roles of Odette and Odile. While NADTs presentation follows the ballet's original choreography, there are subtle changes of expression which command Burt to expose darker places within her as yet untapped on stage. Explains Burt, "I’ve had to dig deeper into my own experiences and extract particular emotions that could help me relate to the characters I am portraying. It takes time and experience to truly embody the role. I want the audience to wonder about the Black Swan, as she is mysterious and darkly mesmerizing and to feel the agony and betrayal of the White Swan when the Prince mistakenly swears his love to (her). I want the audience to be right there with me and to feel these powerful emotions."

And Burt says taking us there will require everything she's got physically and psychologically. "The choreography alone requires pure strength and commitment, and I’ve learned to trust myself and my body with the pressures of demanding physicality. I’ve drawn inspiration from a multitude of classical principal dancers so that I can develop my very own White and Black Swan," says Burt.

It is not lost on Burt that she is a role model for all the younger NADA/NADT dancers. Hundreds of students have watched her over the years and are waiting with great anticipation to see her performance. To the young and talented dancing alongside her or sitting captivated in the audience, Burt has a message: " I hope they understand how important it is to be individual and your authentic self, and to know that there is always something special about you."

Do not miss this bold and rousing presentation of Swan Lake...for there is magic at play.

Purchase tickets online today! Performances March 17 and 18
www.northatlantadance.com  

NADT On the Road: Visiting Our Community

We are exited about a new initiative at NADT to give back to our community. Dance transcends all things and we believe there's no better way to lift up our fellow citizens than by sharing our gifts and talents.

Members of NADT recently visited Sunrise Assisted Living. Dancers, in full costume, performed four dances from Swan Lake.

Following the performance NADT dancers presented the audience with flowers, a sweet little twist on tradition.

We are eager to share our dancers with our community in schools, preschools, nursing homes, community events, festivals and fairs. If you have a suggestion for an opportunity to take our talent "On the Road" please don't hesitate to share!

First Signs of Spring at NADA

It's that time of year again at NADA, the excitement and beauty of The Nutcracker and the Holiday Season is behind us. The rigors of instruction have amplified and the cold, damp winter is wearing on us all. So how about some theatrical beauty to match those first buds of spring just starting to burst forth? Maybe some little black bags with gold piping? You know what I'm talking about...costumes are arriving.

Mrs. Kitty Garrison has been busy labeling and sorting all of this season's gorgeous recital costumes. Look for her to visit your weekly classes soon. We've had a sneak peek and as always NADA dancers will be visions of beauty and grace as they take to the stage in May.

NADA: On the Road

Here's something you might not have known, NADA Aristic Director, Mr. Michael Garrison frequently serves as guest instructor at The University of Georgia's Department of Dance.

Mr. G. recently taught a ninety minutes class to some of UGA's finest young dancers. Six former NADA students have gone on to take their talents to Athens, dancing for the Bulldogs.

Mr. Garrison's relationship with Joan Buttrum, Director of UGA's Dance Department spans over
three decades. 

Please join us in congratulating Mr. G. on showcasing the instruction that makes NADA/NADT the very best in North Georgia and taking that excellence beyond our community. 

Swan Lake: Don't Miss This Stunning Staging of a Classic Ballet

You do not want to miss Mr. Garrison's staging of Swan Lake March 17th and 18th at the Infinite Energy Theater. Miss Erin Burt, one of  North Atlanta Dance Academy's most promising students, will be dancing the dual lead roles of Odette, the beleaguered white swan and Odile, the evil black swan.

“This is very exciting for me personally because it is the culmination of the ultimate mission of NADA/NADT, the opportunity to train dancers in our school and company and then to hire them to perform as professionals," stated Mr. Garrison.

Miss. Burt graduated from North Atlanta Dance Academy as an `Honors` NADT company member. Upon graduation Erin was accepted to attend The University of North Carolina School of the Arts!

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www.northatlantadance.com