More Information

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Don't miss the Russian Fair at the Oshman JCC - May 9th

Don't miss the 18th Annual Russian-American Fair at the (brand new gorgeous) Oshman Family JCC -- and watch for BBA students giving a sneak preview of our upcoming show. We'll be in the Schultz Cultural Arts Hall. Check out this page to see a photo of some of our dancers and for updates on the Fair's events. We expect to be performing at about 1:30 PM.

How to find the Schultz Cultural Arts Hall? Just head for the JCC and find parking. It's "F" on this map but you'll find it all well marked once you arrive.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Stay connected with our new Facebook page

To help keep you informed about all the exciting changes at the studio as well as our upcoming events we've launched a new Facebook page or reach it directly by following this link, doing a web search or searching for "Bayer Ballet Academy" from inside Facebook.

www.facebook.com/BayerBalletAcademy

You'll find news, special events (like our "Meet the Stars" series), photos from shows and other events and be alerted to any studio news. Please consider inviting some of your friends to see the page -- especially those you want to share info and photos about the shows, summer intensive and registration for classes. It's all there!


Bayer Ballet Academy


(N.B. The old FB page was deleted and so you will need to "fan" the current page if you want to have Bayer Ballet in your feeds. Also, if you are a "friend" of Inna's personal page you will see a notification suggesting you become a "fan" of the Bayer Ballet Academy Page. Up to now, the Bayer Page was simply Inna Bayer's personal profile.)

Monday, March 22, 2010

About BBA's Semi Annual Performances

The Bayer Ballet Academy produces two (2) full-scale ballet performances every year, one (1) in the December and one (1) in the early Summer. The Summer Dance Carousel 2010 will be BBA's 4th full scale performance and it will be held at the Smithwick Theatre (Foothill College) on June 20th, 2010. Once tickets are on sale, you'll find details here, at the studio and in your email box about ticket prices  and how to promote the show to your friends and family. (Tickets on Sale April 9, 2010)

The entire student body (excluding the Pre-Ballet 1 students) will have roles in the show. The program is in two parts and there will be an intermission. The first part has a recital structure with a loose woodland theme for the Pre-Ballet students's parts as well as stories from European folk tales. The part act will also include guest performances by professional dancers.

The second part takes place in a Russian market and will will take you to a bright Russian fair. Vivid characters, colorful costumes, and technical precision of movements set to a brilliant music of Igor Stravinsky will bring to life magical folklore, including Baba Yaga and other unforgettable characters from the Russian tradition.

Last year's program was similar and a great success -- don't miss these pictures taken by a parent of one of our students to give you an idea of what is coming. Or take a peak at the selection of photos available on our (new!) studio Facebook page -- Part I and Part II have separate albums there.

Casting -- As of March 20, 2010

Tickets on Sale April 9, 2010 


Part I - Fairy Tales in the Merry Meadow
Merry Meadow.................................................Pre-Ballet 2
Dance of the Mushrooms.................................Pre-Ballet 3
Flowers.............................................................Pre-Ballet 4
Seven Dwarfs....................................................Masha Sandler, Masha Pereverzev, Varvara Pichkova, Ksenia Leshchinsky, Liza Vaynblat, Anna Varfolomeeva, Hannah Chou, Riva Rubin
Snow White.......................................................Katya Panchenko
Polka...........................................................Ballet Level 1
Russian Dance............................................Ballet Level 1-6
Sleeping Beauty..........................................Ballet Level 2-6
Pas De Trois................................................Alisa Peshina, Katya Sigal, Daniel Rubin
Solo variations: Anastassiya Bronnikova, Alena Tarnikova, Alisa Peshina, Ester Kozakevich, Anush Harutyunova, Ada Chibukhchyan, Lucy Chibukhchyan 
Russian Dance..................................................Ballet Level 2-6
Tarantella..........................................................Ballet Level 2-6
Little Red Riding Hood....................................Lydia Paredes

Part II - Russian Fairy Tale Carousel
Street Organ Grinder: Daniel Rubin
Swan Queen: Anastassiya Bronnikova
Colombina: Alisa Peshina
Monkey: Alice Haimov
Clowns: Alena Tarnikova , Alya Goldin, Nastya Goldin, Alice Haimov, Lydia Paredes
Birds of Paradise: Katya Panchenko, Sasha Smelyanskiy
Gypsies: Beginning - Ada Chibukhchyan, Lucy Chibukhchyan                  
                  
               Dance - Anush Harutyunova, Ester Kozakevich
Witch: Ada Chibukhchyan
Arabian Dance: Ada Chibukhchyan, Lucy Chibukhchyan, Miss Christie, Alena Tarnikova, Grace 
Grant
Flower Girls: Anastassiya Bronnikova, Lydia Paredes, Alya Goldin, Nastya Goldin, Jenya Orzhekhovska, Irene Ulitsky, Elizabeth Peterson
Peddler Girls: Alisa Peshina, Ester Kozakevich, Anush Harutyunova, Yana Ulitsky, Alena Tarnikova, Mary Belaya
Bakermen: Katya Panchenko, Alina Taratorin, Irene Ulitsky, Elizabeth Peterson, Ellen Minkin, Sasha Paredes
Cookies: From Level 1 - Sasha Smelyanskiy, Jamila Zahir, Alexandra Fouksman  
               From Pre Ballet 4 - Harry Peterson, Becky Kipnis, Ellie Osher
Wicked Birds: From Level 1 - Elizabeth Peterson, Irene Ulitsky, Alina Taratorin, Ellen Minkin, Sasha Paredes, Alexandra Fouksman,
                From Pre Ballet 4 - Anyka Chan

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Save these dates: May 9th and June 20th

Selected BBA students will perform at the Russian Fair - May 9th, 2010 at Palo Alto JCC and all students will perform in our annual Summer Dance Carousel at Smithwick Theatre (Foothill College) on June 20th, 2010.  



Parents should watch for rehearsal schedule and updates in their email boxes. Theatre rehearsals for the Summer Dance Carousel will be on June 17th, 18th and 19th. Tickets on Sale April 9, 2010.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Bayer Ballet Academy Announces Its Summer Intensive Program (2010)

For ages 8 -15 ~ Mondays through Fridays, July 19th – August 13th ~ Audition and registration deadline: April 15th ~ Tuition due: May 1st ~ Registration Packet

If your child is serious about ballet, you need an intensive program with a strong faculty, extraordinary attention to detail and a rigorous focus on the development of your child. The Bayer Ballet Academy's (BBA) summer intensive is the right option for you. Our highly qualified instructors will be joined this summer by Margarita Yassim, an internationally renowned teacher whose experience includes 22 years at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. This exclusive summer program is designed for students aged 8 to 15 who successfully complete an audition.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
How do dancers prepare their bodies so that their arms seem to float and the music seem to be drawn through their movement? How is a group of dancers transformed into a “corps” that seems to transmit story and sound as if by drawing a breath? What magic creates a gossamer curve of the arms and transforms complex physical movement into expressions of sheer grace and nobility?

BBA's summer program will immerse the student in the magic of classical dance in the renowned Russian style, sharing secrets, telling stories, attending to the almost imperceptible details that lend grace, nobility and artistry to the athleticism of dance. Rigorous focus on posture and balance development, stretching, strength, movement coordination, stable turns and high jumps and musicality are ingredients in the transforming elixir. Immersion in the attention of instructors seasoned in the Vaganova traditions begins to reveal the secrets. Along with the classical repertoire, we will feature partnering, character dance, and pilates for ballet. Two levels will be offered and students may take one two-week session or two two-week sessions (see below Curriculum Overview and Schedules and Fees)


FACULTY
Our faculty is honored to be joined this summer by Margarita Yussim. Her career spans many decades and includes 22 years teaching at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. She has taught throughout the world, including Poland, Argentina, and Israel and is the author of numerous publications on ballet education. In addition, the pedagogy is supervised by Dean of the Academy, Inna Bayer – a seasoned professional ballet mistress whose extensive teaching experience is also international, including Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and the USA. The BBA's faculty also includes Ramon Moreno, principal dancer of Ballet San Jose, and will include a Pilates instructor experienced in working with dancers. Classes will be accompanied by a professional ballet pianist.

Please contact the school message center at (650) 917-9971 to request an audition. Download registration here.

Summer Intensive Curriculum Overview

Mondays through Fridays, July 19th – August 13th
Audition and registration deadline: April 15th
Tuition Deadline: May 1st
Please contact the school message center at (650) 917-9971 to request an audition -- leave your name and contact number. Registration Packet here.

CURRICULUM (subject to change)
Level A (8 - 10 years old; at least 1 year of ballet training is required)
9:00-10:30 .....................Technique
10:30-12:00 ...................Ballet Pilates/Gymnastics
12:00-12:45 ...................Floor Barre
12:45:1:30 .....................Pointe Work/Pre-Pointe Work
1:30-2:30 .......................Lunch Break
2:30-3:45 .......................Character Dance
3:45-5:00 .......................History of Dance

Level B (11 - 15 years old; at least 2 years of ballet training is required)
9:00-9:30 .......................Warm up
9:30-10:30 .....................Ballet Pilates/Gymnastics
10:30-12:30 ...................Technique/ Pointe Work
12:30-1:30 .....................Repertoire
1:30-2:30 .......................Lunch Break
2:30-3:30 .......................History of Dance
3:30-5:00 .......................Partnering (Tue, Thu) Character Dance (Mon, Wed, Fri)

Registration packet is available online or can be picked up our dance studio. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Audition fee is $20 for non-BBA students. Late audition/registration will be allowed if space is available; late registration fee ($100) will be applied if students register after April 15th. See Schedule and Fees below and more details above. Registration packet here.

BBA Summer Intensive Schedule and Fees


PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Audition and registration deadline.......................April 15th
Tuition due ..........................................................May 1, 2010. 
Session I (levels A and B)....................................July 19 – July 30 (Monday through Friday)
Session II (levels A and B)...................................August 2 – August 13 (Monday through Friday)

FEES and TUITION

Audition fee....................................$20* (waived for currently enrolled students of BBA)
Registration fee...............................$50 ($100 penalty for late registration)
Deposit...........................................$100 (applied towards tuition)

Tuition (for full four weeks).....................$1,700
Tuition (for two weeks only).......................$900

No credits or refunds. Make-up classes will not be given.  A registration package can be found on our
website together with a downloadable flyer. See above for more details or a curriculum overview.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Bayer students meet Romeo and Juliet!

From Romeo & Juliet (Ballet San Jose)
Ramon Moreno signs a program for a young student

Following Ballet San Jose's February 28th, 2010 performance of Romeo and Juliet on Sunday students of the Bayer Ballet Academy (Los Altos) met with Ramon Moreno (who danced the role of Romeo) and Maria Jacobs-Yu (who danced the role of Juliet). Ramon Moreno is also an instructor at the Bayer Ballet Academy.

"Part of ballet is making dreams come true ... and who wouldn't want to meet Romeo and Juliet?" said Inna Bayer, "And, more seriously, such meetings with professional dancers inspire the students and help them understand the things that focus, discipline and artistry can bring to their lives." Inna Bayer is the founder and ballet mistress of the Bayer Ballet Academy.

This meeting was the third in a series of "Meet the Stars" events organized by Inna Bayer for students at her Los Altos ballet school, which teaches in the world-famous Russian style.

From Romeo & Juliet (Ballet San Jose)
Maria Jacobs-Yu meeting with fans after her Sunday performance.


This event was the third in a series of "Meet the Stars" organized by Inna Bayer for students of the Bayer Ballet Academy. The first event took place on November 1, 2009 and featured a visit to the Bayer Ballet Academy by the international ballet and dance star Maria Kochetkova. In the second, students met with Ms. Kochetkova after her performance as Odette in SF Ballet's Swan Lake where Ms Kochetkova is a principal dancer.