Morning Meditation

After some quiet meditation this morning, I started to think of one of the children's meditations I had learned from my Radiant Child training (taught/created by Shakta Khalsa). I like to use the things she taught me in conjunction with my own "Yoga-Snack" but I feel that in the schools the chanting element can sometimes be a disconnect in the program. The school I work at now, is quite eclectic and accepts the introduction of the yoga elements of chanting and using the ancient language of Sanskrit, but other schools might not be as progressive.

I started musing on the "I Am Happy, I Am Good" meditation and I came up with this school friendly alternative:

Sitting in Easy Pose, holding your hands so that the pointer finger is free to waggle and the other fingers are curled to meet the thumb.

Waggle your pointer finger while saying:
"I am happy, I am good; I am happy, I am good"

Then release you fingers:
Bring your hands to your belly and say "A, E, I, O"
Bring your hands to your heart and say "A, E, I, O"
Bring your hands to your forehead and say "A, E, I, O"
Throw your hands up to the sky and say "U"

Then repeat the pattern backwards:
Bring your hands to your forehead and say "Ha ha ha ha"
Bring your hands to your heart and say "He he he he"
Bring your hands to your belly and say "Ho ho ho ho"
Open your arms and let your palms be up and say "Hu" (Pronounced Hoo)

The sequence would be to say this 4 times out loud, 4 times in whisper, 4 times in your head, 4 times in whisper and then 4 times out loud.

Yoga-Snack: Warrior Series

I was so impressed with the class when I arrived for Yoga-Snack this morning. They were all seated quietly in their seats, reading. The teacher rang her chime to signal the end of reading time and the beginning of yoga. They all calmly put their books away in their cubbies and went directly to the floor. I felt a quiet sense of peace in that room. Their energy was encompassing.

I decide to do a Vinyasa sequence. I like how it builds energy and requires a constant state of attention. There is very little holding of poses; instead it is more like a dance.



Warm-Up:
We started in Easy Pose and did our spinal warm up. Then one at a time, right hand across left knee, palm opened up, twist gently towards the opened hand side putting the free hand behind you to add support. Then switch sides. Cat and Cows with some loud meows and moos. Balance, while on hands and knees, one arm out, opposite leg stretches back; then when ready reach back without stretch hand and grab onto foot of leg in back, and make a one sided bow pose. Repeat other side.

Vinyasa Sequence:
3x Sun Salutation : Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose), jump forward, Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bed) , Flat Back, Uttanasana, rise up, arms above head, let head fall back (Lift from heart center). Come down: Flat Back, Uttanasana, Flat Back, step to high plank (hold it be strong); let self slowly to floor, up into Cobra, hsssssssssssssssssssssss.
Uttkatasana/Chair Pose/ Lightning Bolt Pose/ Must be strong in this pose. You are electricity.

Warrior Series:
Step back into Virabradasana 1 (Warrior I)-make sure back foot is on floor, with the toes slightly facing out, while front foot is facing straight forward and front knee is bent to a 90 degree angle and back leg is straight. Arms up. Let head fall back. Virabradasana II (Warrior II): I am strong! I am able! I am marvelous! Take time and put weight on front foot and transfer into Virabradasana III (Warrior III). Arms forward balance and hold.

Repeat from Chair Pose through Warrior series on opposite leg.


Deep breaths in & out in Tadasana (Mountain Pose), hands at heart center.

Deep Relaxation:
Savasana/Corpse Pose/ Dead Man’s Pose. I take them through a short relaxation exercise: at the beach, warm sunny day, lying in sand and how t holds you perfectly. Hands are at sides, with palms open, pretend you have bird seed on your hands and if you lie perfectly still, the sea gulls will come down and eat out of your hands. I then proceeded to go to each child and give their arms the noodle test.

Wake-Up:

Wiggle hand and toes, turn wrists and ankles, rub hands together, and rub feet together. Rock and roll to stand.

Namaste!

Balance

Yoga is all about balancing the push and pull of poses, of life. When your arms are extended up, you must feel the pull of the earth below. Flamenco has that same feeling of elasticity. Nothing goes forward without being pushed back, nothing rises without being pushed down, everything is expressed with hardness and softness. The looks of a flamenco dancer are both ugly and beautiful. Jolie laide is slangy French for someone whose beauty draws you in even as their ugliness repels you.

jolie laide (plural jolies laides)

Definition: noun; unconventionally good-looking woman: a woman whose facial features are not pretty in conventional terms, but nevertheless have a distinctive harmony or charm.

The Moral Code of Yoga

The Moral Code of Yoga seems to me the way everyone should be raised and should raise themselves. In some ways it seems so simple, but we are creatures often ruled by our impulses, but if we are made aware of our ability to choose, from an early age, then maybe we can really start living as children and then as grownups we won’t miss our squandered youth.

1. Ahimsa: non-violence, non-injury, harmlessness. Free yourself of aggression, preconceptions and suspicion and you will be able to create an attitude free of violence.
2. Satya: truthfulness, honesty. By being honest, we as individuals can gain self assurance and also gain the trust of others.
3. Asteya: non-stealing, honesty. Stealing is not only a materialistic pursuit; be sure to own your own ideas. Use your own original thoughts.
4. Brahmacharya: self control in thought, word and deed as well as control of all the senses. Practice self control and moderation throughout life. Do not take more than you need. Do not fall victim to your desires.
5. Aparigraha: non-possessiveness, non-greed, non-selfishness. Materialism does not make you a better person. Be happy with what you have. Free yourself of greed.
6. Shaucha: purity, cleanliness. Cleanliness of body, clothing, food and surroundings and also of thought, words and actions. Keeping things clean (pure) encourages a healthy life and a clean mind allows for positive thinking.
7. Santosha: contentment, peacefulness. Thankfulness. Be content with what you have. Appreciate the small things in life. Be at peace with everyone and accept who you are. Contented feelings come from consciousness and self knowledge not from the possession of things.
8. Tapas: Self Discipline. Helps develop positive habits such as self control. Allows the individual to make choices through which their lives will become more ordered and better organized. Use yoga, meditation, good eating habits. Take care of yourself in body and mind.
9. Swadhyaya: introspective self-study. This is self directed learning and allows for the discovery of the real self. Use yoga, meditation, reading and journal writing to answer your own life questions.
10. Ishwarapranidhana: Live a spiritual life. Do not be driven by your wants and desires. Be confident in your own strength and believe you are ok as you are.

Yoga-Snack: Go With The Flow

For today's Yoga-Snack, I led the kids through a light vinyasa sequence. They have more knowledge of the asanas and are able to combine them to flow.


We started in Easy Pose, held our bellies and did three large belly breaths. I had a request for Bumble Bee Breath, so we did 3 of those, with our hands over our ears and then for one final breath, we did Volcano Breath, big breath in through the nose, hands rise above head, look up, then on a large open mouthed exhale, blow all the "fire" out that is inside you.

We lay back, and one leg at a time, lifted our leg up, perpendicular to the floor and pulled gently to stretch, then hugged that knee in and then carefully switched legs. Then we hugged both legs in and gave ourselves a huge, satisfying yoga hug. Then 3 rock and rolls up to Navasana (Boat Pose).

The Flow Sequence:
1. Mountain Pose, hands at heart center
2. Up Mountain, hands joined above head, let head fall back
3. Uttanasana (Standing forward bend): Shake head yes and no.
4. One knee lunge, hands on knees; lift arms high and let head fall back
5. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose): Wag tails
6. Plank (hold it to make you strong)
7. Lower slowly to Cobra Pose, big breath in and Lion's Breath Out(Repeat)
8. Downward Facing Dog
9. One leg lunge (choose opposite leg), hands on knees; lift arms high and let head fall back
10. Rise Up and Standing Forward bend
11. Up Mountain, hands joined above head, let head fall back
12. Mountain Pose, hands at heart center
13. Dancer's Pose (First time simply with hand holding foot; second try full Dancer's)
14. Kneel down, sitting on heels and feet and relaxed under your body). Lean back on hands, lift chest, let heads fall back.
15. 2 Miutes of Silent Meditation
16. "Yogini Went To Sea" (Acapella because my speaker wasn't working)

Namaste

Yoga-Snack: In Your Chair

Today I tried something different with my Yoga-Snack. I based today's class on the Yoga Calm 15 Minute "in-chair" lesson.

We started seated at the tables, pushed back a little. There we took 3 large belly breaths, in and out of the nose and then to spice it up, we took 3 Volcano Breaths, breathing in through the nose, arms up together above the head, look up, then the exhales are through the mouth, blowing "fire" out. Then for a laugh, we closed our mouths and with our tongues licked on top of our teeth, up to the gum, all the way around the front of every tooth, as if you were licking peanut butter off that was stuck there. We did this 3 times in both directions. This really relaxes the jaw and tongue.

In sequence, for a light vinyasa (flow) class, we stood behind our chairs with our hands joined at heart center (When you bring your hands together it helps to balance the right and left sides of your brain):
1. Mountain Pose (hands at heart center)
2. High Mountain (hands joined above head-tall llike a mountain)
3. Forward bend arms crossed above head (hand to elbow) to top of chair or table.
4. Stand up, feet together
5. One leg back, lunge, holding chair
6. Then arms joined up above head, look up
7. Feet together (front foot joining back)
8. Lean body forward, both hands grasping chair, top of body parallel to ground (Chair Dog).
9. Dancer's Pose both sides
10. Step opposite leg forward and repeat lunge sequence on opposite side through (8).
11. Stand up, feet together for High Mountain
12. Mountain (Hands at heart center)
13. Seated twist
14. Head on desk, whole class challenge, 2 minutes of stillness & silence

A MIDWINTER NIGHT’S CONCERT 2/21/10

A MIDWINTER NIGHT’S CONCERT
A fun-filled evening with Jazz, Blues and Tap Dance with
Little Rose and The Boston All-Stars

All-Stars include :
Theodore Powers, rhythm guitar; Lenny Bradford, bass;
Sir Cecil,drums; Roberto Cassan,accordion; Reggie Grant, sax.

Dancers:
International star, Josh Hilberman;
Dr. Venus alias Rebecca Folkerth,
Patrice Monahan, Eve Agush and Val Marcantonio

$10 cash donation suggested

Dress festive and bring your own dancing shoes!!
Free on street parking

When: Sunday February 21st
Where: 357 Huron Ave Cambridge MA
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Other: Light Refreshments served, BYOB

Flipping Your Dog

Yesterday I attended Barbara Benagh's 3-hour Flipping Your Dog workshop. It was wonderful. She describes the action of starting in Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose) and then flipping yourself over into Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel or Upward Bow Pose) as a vinyasa sequence: "a series of movements consciously connected by breath. It is a wonderful example of how a sense of dance can be preserved in yoga" And it was! Downward facing dog pose is a wonderful pose. It combines three very important elements: It is an inversion pose, a hip flexibility pose and a strength pose. When you add the flip, you get a great twist. You get to hang in the twist and then end up in a back bend and then you have to rewind the sequence to get out of it. We practised for about 2 hours before we even approached the vinyasa.


She started by leading us through a few lying twists. I have to note that this morning, my mystery hand pain seems to be gone and I think that is directly related too these two twists. I got such a great shoulder stretch. I will definitely add these to my morning practise.

We then placed a block under the base of our neck, behind the shoulder blades, brought our hands together and cradled our head and then brought our elbows together as close as possible. After a time, we let our elbows slowly open up consciously keeping our shoulder blades open against the block.

We did two different low lunges. The first we let the bent knee pass over the foot and raised one arm (same arm as the foot on the floor) and if we could, without bending sideways, touched the floor with the other hand right by the side of the body. The raised arm, we let reach back and created a back bend. The second pose, we kept the knee directly over the foot, bent our back leg and held the inside of the foot with the same hand, and then raised the other arm to create a back bend.

Next was the straight legged version of Dying Warrior.

Then a crazy twist that she calls Eric's Twist, where you sit on your heels and grab the heel of one foot with he same side hand and then bring yourself down to the floor, onto your shoulder.

We did 3 series of Dog-in-Prayer-2 to Cat to Cobra.

Then Pasarita Padottanasana (Standing Wide Legged Forward Bend), where we put more weight beind us and then stretched our arms out forward on the floor, creating a dual direction tug. Then we just hung out in the pose.

We did two Virabhadrasana I series(Warrior I). The first was Dancing Warrior into Virabhadrasana II. The second ended in Parsvottanasa, relaxing over the leg.

Next we did a series of Hand Stands against the wall.

We then used a block as a bolster, laying it right at the edge of our shoulder blades.

Then came about 40 minutes of flipping our dogs. We started with regular wheels to warm ourselves up. I had great success and was even able to give a good assist to the woman on the mat next too me. My wheel felt wonderful and light. I was even able to imagine myself standing up from a back bend (by going onto my finger tips in the pose)and one day know I will be able to stand up.

We ended class with Baddha Konasana, Janu Sirsasana, Headstand and Savasana.

Brookline Ballet Flamenco

Last night was the first night of flamenco classes at the new and beautifully crafted Brookline Ballet. We opened with a bang and the classes were full of kids and adults ready to dance.

Need something new for 2010? Well get yourself to Brookline Ballet and dance flamenco with Eve Agush:

Flamenco Thursdays:
4:00-5:00PM Youth Level One (Approximate ages 5-11)
5:00-6:15PM Teen/Adult

Brookline Ballet
www.BrooklineBallet.com
1431 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA 02446
617-879-9988

Yoga Snack: Humility

The beauty of yoga is not only is it not a competition with anyone else in the room, it also not a competition with yourself. You must know humility to practise yoga (Humility: The characteristic of being humble; humbleness in spirit and deportment). We have to accept in ourselves that every day dawns a new experience on our yoga mats and that if yesterday you were able to balance in tree pose with your leg high on the thigh, your arms embracing the sky and your head laid out, that today might be a day to back off and keep your leg low, secure your balance and have your hands at heart center. Or the analogy I used for the kids was "If yesterday you could jump as high as the school, today you may only be able to frog hop, and that is OK. Be happy and focused inside yourself and find peace with your practise)

Today's Yoga Snack:
3 Bumble Bee Breaths (hands over ears) buzz, hummmmm, ripple lips and a final Balloon Breath with a satisfying "ahhhhhhhh" at the end.

To warm up our spines, we started with Bumpy Camel (riding through the desert). We flipped onto our stomachs and did 3 cobra's hissing in the sand, ending with a King Cobra, feet to head. Back up onto our feet, and we did a series of Camel's. After slipping our feet out from under us, 3 Bridges and then we rode our "air" bikes, forwards and backwards.

Then as a series of asanas: Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)-Tree (Vrksasana)-Eagle on a Mountain (Sitting on heels , arms by sides, full arm flaps like an eagle)-Jog in place (We'll be running up the mountain, when we come; we'll be running up the mountain when we come; faster...we'll be running up the mountain; faster...we'll be running up the mountain; faster...we'll be running up the mountain when we come...ahhhhhh huge balloon breath and bring breathing back to normal-strecth up , hands clasped and fall forward and up, swing your trunk for Elephant-full stretch in upward Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

We then sat and put our thumb and pointer finger together for Chin Mudra* and in total silence, stillness and focus, we meditated for one whole minute! It was incredible!

Of course we ended with Happy Jio!

Namaste!

Chin Mudra
This gesture symbolises the connected nature of human consciousness. The circle formed by the index finger and thumb represents the true goal of yoga – the merging of the individual soul with the universal soul. It is a gesture of receiving. When the finger touches the thumb a circuit is produced which allows the energy that would normally dissipate into the environment to travel back into the body, and up to the brain. When the fingers and hands are placed on the knees the knees are sensitised creating another pranic circuit that maintains and redirects prana within the body. In addition placing the hands on the knees stimulates a nadi, which runs from the knees up the inside of the thighs and into the perinium. Sensitising this channel helps stimulate the energies at the muladhara chakra. When the palms face upwards in the chin mudra the chest and heart area are opened up.

Yoga Snack: Tree of Life

Today's Yoga Snack started with a bunch of Bumble Bee Breaths. We blocked our ears, inhaled deeply, and then buzzed, hummed, rippled our lips on the exhale. The kids were very focused and contemplative. On the final exhale, we all let out a resounding "Ahhhhhhhhhhh"

With the kids attention still focused, we did Bumpy Camel. Next we lay on our stomachs and pressed up into cobra, we all relaxed there for a moment and then everyone tried to lift their feet, some of the kids were even able to bring their feet close to their heads. Flipping onto our backs, we brought our legs up and bicycled both frontwards and backwards. After, we sat on our feet in an easy Hero Pose and in succession we 1. put our hands behind us and leaned back 2. dropped our heads back 3. leaned back on our elbows 4. lay all the way back. After I explained how to roll a little to one side to release our legs from underneath us, we stayed on our backs and did a few bridge poses. We then squatted down, keeping our heels up, and did 10 really great Frog Push-Ups. To finish, a large balloon breath in Tadasana and we were ready for Tree Pose (Vrksasana).

We started with our own Tree Poses, one leg and then the other. The kids were very focused and some even tried to walk their eyes up the wall to the ceiling to create a back bend in Tree Pose.

Next was Group Tree. We all stood in a circle, with our arms up by our sides, slightly bent, palm to palm with the people next to us. Then everyone tried Right Leg up, full breath, and then Left Leg, full breath.

For a final exercise, we did Partner Tree.
* Partners stand side by side with shoulders touching.
* Place weight on inside leg.
* Bend the outer leg and place foot on inside of other thigh.
* With inner hand, grasp partner's foot.
* Bring other arm in front and hold hands with your partner.
* Hold position and try to keep your back as straight as you can.
* Return to starting position.
* Repeat the exercise but change places so you use the other leg.

The tree exercises were a great success. The kids received a super high five for their attention and concentration today.

Namaste!

Flamenco Hands: Floreo

While teaching yesterday, I came to realize that the hands move with the natural timing of breath. By this I mean that you breath in, when your inhale is complete, there is a natural moment before you being your exhale. As in reverse, when you exhale, there is a natural moment at the end of the exhale before you begin you next inhale. I see this in relation to the timing of the hands as accents in flamenco dancing.

The motion of the hand is palm, fingers, wrist, palm, fingers: The palm pulls toward the wrist, then the fingers curl towards the wrist, then the wrist curls, then the palm beings to open and the fingers follow. The accent moment is the first "in" motion and then the hands begins its curl in timing with the music until the next accent. The hand needs to fully extend before it beings its journey back, therefore having a natural moment at the end of the full curl before it beings its next curl.

An adage I like to use is "You have to come all the way in before you can go out and you have to go all the way out before you come in" Meaning you have to fully go out before you can actually go in or it is never really in or out (in tap dance I say "You have to get off it to get on it and you have to get on it to get off it...meaning you can't really get on if you were never off and visa versa)

FLAMENCO FESTIVAL 2010

WORLD MUSIC/CRASHarts PRESENTS
From Spain
FLAMENCO FESTIVAL 2010
featuring
NOCHE FLAMENCA & Soledad Barrio
Friday, February 5, 8pm
and
GALA FLAMENCA: TODO CAMBIA
Featuring: Pastora Galván, Manuel Liñán, Belén López, Rocío Molina and others
Saturday, February 6, 8pm
Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston
Tickets: $40-$65
FOR MORE INFO OR TO BUY TICKETS ONLINE NOW!

http://www.worldmusic.org/concerts_event_indiv.php?p_seq=774&utm_campaign=FlamencoFestival&utm_medium=Outreach email&utm_source=link&utm_content=&utm_term=

Groups of 20 or more receive a 20% discount on tickets when purchasing tickets in advance with World Music. Call 617-876-4275 for details.
Now celebrating its eleventh year, the Flamenco Festival is dedicated to the powerful art of flamenco featuring the finest dancers and musicians from Spain.

Madrid’s Noche Flamenca celebrates the essence, purity and integrity of traditional flamenco. The company of seven dancers and musicians has been hailed internationally for its transcendent and deeply emotional performances and is recognized as the most authentic flamenco touring ensemble in the field today. Lead dancer Soledad Barrio has won awards from more than a dozen countries for excellence in dance and is considered one of the greatest performers of her time.

Gala Flamenca: Todo Cambia (Everything Changes) is a true flamenco celebration, featuring mesmerizing performances with renowned dancers and musicians direct from Andalucia, Spain. Gala Flamenca: Todo Cambia (Everything Changes) features flamenco’s most important and daring young stars: the sensuous Pastora Galván, a versatile dancer able to navigate easily between classic and modern flamenco; Manuel Liñán, a master of dazzling technique who is steeped in tradition and known for his dramatic choreography; the passionate Belén López, a sensationally beautiful and riveting performer; and Rocío Molina, the fiery dancer who has “become one of the finest soloists in the world today,” according to the New York Times. The four soloists will be joined by nine other dancers and musicians, including dancers David Coria and Jonatan Miró, guitarists Paco Cruz and Manuel Cazas, vocalists Jesús Corbacho and Juan José Amador, percussionist Sergio Martínez, and palmas Vanesa Coloma and Guadalupe Torres.

FOR MORE INFO OR TO BUY TICKETS ONLINE NOW!
http://www.worldmusic.org/concerts_event_indiv.php?p_seq=774&utm_campaign=FlamencoFestival&utm_medium=Outreach email&utm_source=link&utm_content=&utm_term=

________________________________________

Yoga Snack: Silence!

Wednesday's Yoga Snack started with a new type of pranyama (breathing) exercise. We started with a deep breath in through our noses and then while exhaling we "hummed" making a buzzing sound like a bee. This is called Bumble Bee Breath. The kids loved how the vibrations of the humming tickled their lips. We did this again and then on the third time, we also blocked our ears with our hands and got to have a buzzing symphony inside our heads. It was a great way to block out all external sounds and only hear yourself. A perfect yogic destination!
Silence...sssshhhhhhhh...”Silence is the relative or total lack of audible sound. By analogy, the word silence may also refer to any absence of communication”. We dedicated today’s Yoga Snack to silence. Silence helps kids to create a deeper understanding of their environment and themselves. I find that the use of asanas (poses), stories, games, songs, laughter and silence all help deepen the children’s perspective of themselves as individuals and as part of a group. Yoga is the perfect vehicle for this. It offers a non-competitive environment where kids can relax together and feel successful and feel happy and energized both as an individual and as part of a whole.
After Bumblebee Breath, we moved onto a series of Kundalini Yoga warm-ups taught to me by Shakta Khalsa: bumpy camel, washing machine (while saying Sat Nam) and dryer. We then lay back on the floor and proceeded to do air walking with our arms stretched over our heads. As we would walk, we would touch each leg with the opposite hand. Cross body actions are especially brain balancing exercises.
Next, Bridge Pose and Candle.
We then hugged our legs in and gave ourselves a satisfying dose of gratitude.
Then happy baby (with some gleeful gag-a-goo-goo’s, hence a good dose of laughter)
Tree pose and once we got our balance, each child took the pose to their full expression.

NA Ma Ste
** The Yoga Snack is a fully integrated class with all children present: typical, non-typical, spectrum kids…One boy who is in the Autism Program at the school who used to have t leave yoga and go to a separate morning meeting is now fully integrated into the morning routine of the class and he is especially happy to be at yoga. For his special writing assignment, where he could write bout anything, he chose to write about yoga class. He writes, “I like laying on the floor in yoga. I was relaxed”. I think that says it all!

Brookline Ballet School opening Monday

By Brock Parker, Globe Correspondent

They've performed everywhere from Germany to Spain, London and the United States and now retired dancers Trinidad Vives and Parren Ballard are hoping to guide some of Brookline's children into the world of professional ballet.


Vives and Ballard have teamed with fellow Brookline couple John and Renée Randle to found the Brookline Ballet School, which is set to open Monday, Jan. 11, at 1431 Beacon St. just outside of Coolidge Corner.


"Our aim is to really become a serious training school," said Vives the artistic director for the school, and former artistic associate of the Boston Ballet. "With kids, you really see it happen from zero. You really see the fruit of your work."

The Brookline Ballet School will have two dance studios and will offer dance courses to children and adults of all ages. In addition to ballet, the school will also offer modern dance, jazz, Spanish, African and ballroom dance. Yoga, Pilates and stretching classes will also be offered at the school.

**Flamenco/Spanish Dance will be taught by Eve Agush on Thursdays (www.BrooklineBallet.com)


Construction is still being completed at the school, located in the former home of "The Wild Goose Chase" store, but one studio will be operational by Monday when the doors open, said John Randle. The second studio will be completed a week later.


With backgrounds in business and management, the Randles decided to start the ballet school with Vives and Ballard in June and are hoping their school could eventually house about 150 students.


Ballard, who met and married Vives while dancing professionally in Europe, said he's hoping to get as many boys interested in ballet as he can.


"I was a very, very good jumper, and that is what boys find exciting," Ballard said. "In a way it's almost like gymnastics."


Vives, whose professional career began in Hamburg, Germany, and continued with stints with the Basel Ballet in Switzerland, the Düsseldorf Ballet in Germany, and the English National Ballet in London, said that most students at the school will not go onto careers in professional ballet.


But she said the school is hoping to teach an appreciation for the art of dancing that will continue with children, even if they never dance professionally.


Ballard said he is looking forward to working with children and the opportunity to help shape their lives.


"I just enjoy the impact I make on them as people, too," he said. "We work hard, but we also have fun."

New Youth Flamenco Classes

Eve Agush’s Youth Flamenco Class Schedule:

THURSDAYS at The Brookline Ballet School:
4:00-5:00PM Youth Flamenco Level One (Ages 7-11)
5:00-6:15PM Youth Flamenco Level Two (Teens and adults, should have at least two years dance experience)
(Please register through the studio)
www.BrooklineBallet.com

SATURDAYS at 77 Addington Road, Brookline:
11:0AM-12:00PM Youth Flamenco Level One (Ages 6-11)
(Please register though alwaysbdancing@live.com)

Trail classes are offered at all locations to all new students

Also, find Eve, at
The Dance Complex, 536 Mass Ave. Cambridge for Youth Tap on Wednesdays:
4:00-5:00PM Level One (ages 6-11)
5:00-6:00PM Level Two (ages 11+)
(Please register through alwaysBdancing@live.com)

Eve as also available for startup classes, privates, choreography and performance in flamenco, tap dance and yoga.
Please inquire alwaysBdancing@live.com

Happy New Year!
Eve

Remember to always be dancing!
Recuerde de siempre estar bailando!
www.alwaysbdancing.blogspot.com

Guiding Light

A thought for the new year "Be a guiding light for yourself"



Guiding light= motivate yourself - and others - by becoming a mentor

Mentor= serve as a teacher or trusted counselor; a wise and trusted guide and advisor