Olivia McBain to Compete in Youth America Grand Prix in New York

 

Olivia McBain Complilation YAGP 2019

 

 Olivia McBain in her own words

We are so delighted to share with you some really exciting news about one of our amazing young dancers! Eighth grade student, Olivia McBain will be competing in Youth America Grand Prix Finals in New York in April. Olivia competed at the local level placing second in her classical variation, Odalisque from Le Corsiare and she landed in the top twelve for her contemporary variation, Orchid by NADA instructor, Christina Simkovich. As a result of her tremendous work she will bring both solos to the stage in New York!

Olivia will be in New York for two weeks as part of a once in a lifetime, jam packed opportunity! She will be part of the Gala production at the Lincoln Center. After she competes with both solos,  she will attend master classes for an opportunity to earn scholarships to train with some of the biggest ballet companies in the U.S.   

Olivia is an eighth grade student at South Forsyth Middle School. She has been since dancing since the age of five, attending NADA's Pre-Professional Summer Intensive Program for the past two years, performing in three summer productions; Sleeping Beauty's Wedding, Swan Lake, and Don Quixote. Additionally she spent time last summer attending MODAS 2018 Summer Intensive in New Mexico on scholarship. This summer she'll be attending the Boston Ballet Summer Intensive on scholarship for five weeks. 

Olivia's parents, both dancers, are so grateful the training, love and support provided by NADA and our community. "...all of her wonderful friends at NADA feel more like family who have been by her side in support and encouragement  year after year. The journey is even sweeter when you get to share it with great friends," says mom, Claudia McBain. 

Olivia and her family wish to send heartfelt and gracious thanks to the following people for helping her reach the highest heights and achieve her biggest goals:

NADA/NADT Director, teacher, mentor, Michael Garrison

Stacey Slichter YAGP coordinator, teacher, YAGP trainer, and mentor

Christina Simkovich, YAGP Contemporary Choreographer, trainer, teacher, mentor

Tatiana Makarova, YAGP trainer, teacher and mentor

Julia Jensen (NADA 2019 Senior) for allowing Olivia to borrow her Odalisque costume

We are looking forward to watching this young lady take the dancing world by storm! Good luck in New York, Olivia! 

Youth America Grand Prix: Congratulations Dancers

Daniel and NADT Director, Michael Garrison

Congratulations to Daniel Gray for his well deserved achievements at Youth America Grand Prix. Daniel competed in pre-competitive classical with Giselle's Peasant Pas 1st Male variation and La Sylphide James variation. He placed 3rd overall and was invited to two summer intensives. Daniel says, "I am so grateful to Mr. G and all the trainers for their investment in me. It was a great experience at the event but the training was the most valuable part." 

Keep up that training, Daniel. We see big things in your future!

 Also...

Sarah Kim competes at YAGP

Congratulations also goes out to dancer, Sarah Kim for her participation in YAGP.

Sarah says, "YAGP was a great experience and I loved it." Sarah feels she improved and became stronger throuhout her many dedicated rehearsals leading up to the competition."I love performing on the stage and and want to experience it all over again!"

Keep up the good work young lady. We're so proud of you! 

If you or your child has competed in YAGP or another recent dance competition, representing NADA/NADT, please send a photo, placement information and any other pertinent information to our Director or Special Initiatives, Dina Garrett at dgm7373@outlook.com

The Nutcracker Cast: Meet Kai, Our Sugarplum Fairy

Kai Shlomi has been dancing since the age of three! We are delighted she will be dancing the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy in North Atlanta Dance Theatre's 2018 presentation of The Nutcracker.

We asked Kai to answer a few questions about her performance:

What are you most excited about in this year's staging of The Nutcracker?
This year I am most excited to be performing as the Sugar Plum Fairy alongside my sister, Nik, who will be performing as Clara. As a senior, it feels special to be wrapping up my 11th Nutcracker with NADA, while sharing the stage with my younger sister.


Tell us what dancing this role means to you?
This is a role I have been aiming for since I was a little girl watching the Nutcracker for the first time. To truly be performing this dream role is so surreal and rewarding.


Why do you think this ballet has become such a holiday tradition?
I believe (this) ballet has become such a holiday tradition because it showcases one of the most well known seasons of the year in an art form which brings joy and holiday spirit to audience members. Ballet encourages emotion and happiness among viewers, especially through holiday classics such as The Nutcracker.


Why should people choose our show over others in the Atlanta area?
People should choose our show over others in Atlanta because we have by far one of the most high quality Nutcracker productions in the area. From the pristine costuming to the large venue, the exquisite staging, and the beautiful dancing, our Nutcracker performance is the best way to get into the holiday spirit!

Purchase tickets at www.northatlantadancetheatre.com 

Nutcracker Cast: Meet Moriah

Moriah Jones has been dancing for ten years. She will be dancing Dew Drop Fairy, Snow and Side Arabian in North Atlanta Dance Theatre's 2018 presentation of The Nutcracker.

We asked Moriah to answer a few questions about her role in this year's delightful staging of the holiday classic:

What are you most excited about in this year's staging of The Nutcracker?
I am most excited for the first scene of second act.

Tell us what dancing these roles means to you?
This Nutcracker, I will be performing my first lead roll in a ballet performance, and this will probably be the last time I will perform in the Nutcracker as I will be transitioning to college next year.

Why do you think this ballet has become such a holiday tradition?
I believe the music in this ballet is why it is so well known and liked today. The ballet starts with a Christmas scene and is colorful and bright making it perfect to bring an audience into the holiday spirit.

Why should people choose our show over others in the Atlanta area?
Families should choose NADT Nutcracker over other Nutcracker shows because it is a high quality ballet and more affordable than most professional performances.

Purchase tickets at www.northatlantadancetheatre.com 

It's Time for Magic and Wonder!

The holidays can be hectic and frenzied; we encourage you to BEGIN this special season with us. NADT will present The Nutcracker at Infinite Energy Theater November 9th-11th.

This year’s presentation boasts exciting additions to the battle scene and new twists to Clara’s dream.

NADT founder and Artistic Director, Michael Garrison describes his vision; “North Atlanta Dance Theatre’s Nutcracker is light and fun for the entire family. Some productions can be quite dark. I did not want a spooky Nutcracker. Our production is well structured in its narrative and quality of choreography.”

Garrison explains the importance of bringing the Nutcracker to the stage each year. “It is a tradition that encompasses the entire dance world and has become a big part of our country’s holiday tradition!”


NADT Presents the Nutcracker at Infinite Energy Theater:

November 9th 7:30 p.m.

November 10th 2:30p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

November 11th 2:30 p.m.

Tickets Are On Sale Now: www.northatlantadance.com

Hit the Links..."Fore" a Great Cause!

Dan McBain, Event Chair

Get ready for an afternoon of fun and fundraising! It's time for our annual NADTee It Up Golf Tournament.

As you know, NADT is a non profit organization. We delight in teaching young people the art of dance and bringing their talents to the stage through live performances. We hold steadfast to the belief that dance is a touchstone to so many other strengths and skills. Our dancers graduate well rounded and confident and ready to face the world with an appreciation for art. But, as a nonprofit, we cannot do this wonderful work without support from our parents and our community.

We rely on your support to make the magic happen! So we're asking everyone to consider signing up to be part of NADTee It Up! The event takes place September 23rd at 2 p.m. at Bear's Best in Suwanee, Georgia. All ages and skill levels are welcome.

This year's Event Chair, Dan McBain is a former professional dancer and his daughter, Olivia is a rising eighth grader and company dancer with NADT. Dan says this event is a wonderful opportunity to include fathers. "I think it is probably difficult for many fathers to fully understand the connection that their child has with dance and the benefits that came come from it. Often we hear about the injuries, personal struggles, disappointments," says McBain. But he adds, there are so many inspiring outcomes from the discipline and the joy of dance.

Dan explains, "the dedication it takes to attempt to perfect the dance and to show up even when you would rather not, the perseverance it takes to stay with it even when your mind and body want to give up and the ability to work with others to create something bigger and greater than you could have ever done by yourself makes our children better and stronger." McBain believes these life lessons are, "priceless and something any father can appreciate."

NADTee It Up will host 35 foursomes. Anyone can join; fathers, uncles, grandparents, neighbors.
Our tireless creative team has been hard at work planning what is sure to be a marvelous afternoon. Golfers will be greeted by stilt walkers and then handed goody bags. Refreshments will be available including a celebratory NADT 20th Anniversary bottle of bubbly. Vendors like Pasta Vino and Taco Mac will be providing food along the course. Additionally, Titos and Patron will be serving drinks and there will be raffle prizes. The tournament will conclude with a fire performance, hors d oeuvres, awards and a cash bar.

There are various levels of sponsorship should you be interested. The cost for a foursome is $500.00 and individuals are $145.

We would be so grateful for your time and support. Please call us 770-772-8000 or email: northatlantad658@bellsouth.net for registration and sponsorship information

What They're up to Now?

Spring is such a wonderful and often bittersweet time of year.  Young dancers, whom we’ve watched grow from young children to accomplished young adults, leave us to graduate and move on to exciting futures. Some of them take all the poise and dedication they’ve learned from dance and parlay that into wonderful careers. Others choose to continue their practice. Two NADA and NADT Alumni Emily Patterson and Bridget West have been cast in some pretty incredible ballets as they extend their education at the University of South Carolina. We had a moment recently to catch up with Emily who tells us all about What They’re Up to Now!

Emily Patterson:

On April 15th, Bridget and I had the chance to perform in the University of South Carolina’s annual Ballet Stars of New York performance. Every year, our teacher, Stacey Calvert (former New York City Ballet soloist) invites several current Principal dancers from NYCB to perform iconic Balanchine ballets with us. The fact that we even get to perform these ballets at all is special, because the Balanchine Trust has so many rules about who can perform them, who can set them, and how the production runs as a whole. This year, we performed “Allegro Brillante” and “Stars and Stripes,” two incredibly difficult but well known Balanchine works. I was honored to dance in Allegro Brillante, a fifteen-minute ballet danced by four corps couples and a principal couple, which was danced by Ashley Bouder and Jared Angle. Though it was one of the most challenging ballets I’ve ever danced, it was absolutely a dream to perform. The second work in the show was commissioned by Sara Mearns for NYCB, titled “The Bright Motion” and choreographed by the renowned Justin Peck. This one was a phenomenal duet between Sara and Robbie Fairchild, and it was thrilling to watch. Finally, the showstopper was the famous “Stars and Stripes” Ballet, set to the famous Sousa music, arranged by Hershey Kay. It was especially thrilling to hear it played by our live orchestra! The ballet is split into five sections, or “Regiments,” as Balanchine named them, and Bridget and I both danced in the opening section— usually called the Short Girl Regiment. Of the thirteen girls in that section, we actually danced right next to each other (just like old days!). Following our regiment were the Tall Girls and the Men, with the men’s regiment leader role danced by NYCB’s Anthony Huxley, an incredibly exciting and beautifully technical dancer to watch. Then, Sara Mearns and Robbie Fairchild took the stage again for an exhilarating pas de deux as the Liberty Bell and El Capitan. The ballet culminated with all 41 dancers on stage together. We enjoyed every moment of this performance!

taken by Jason Ayer, and features the USC Dance Company with Sara Mearns, Robbie Fairchild, Anthony Huxley and the men of Columbia City Ballet

So what’s next?

Emily will graduate from USC on May 12^th. She’s been auditioning and sending her performance reel to a lot of different companies. While in undergrad, she also completed the prerequisites for a Physical Therapy graduate school, because she’s always been interested in helping dancers recover from injuries and the science behind physical activity. “So somewhere down the road, I’d like to pursue that as well... but not until I’ve had my fill of performing,” says Emily.

Bridget is a rising junior at USC, and, along with dance, she is interested in learning more about Athletic Training—whether that is through a PT program or becoming a personal trainer!