Download New Theatre Instructor, Alice Scott

Dramatic Truth Newsletter
Artistic Director: 767-9222 (Liz Dimmel)
School Administrator: 353-2461 (Anita York)
10510 Grandview Road, Kansas City 64137
February 2011 #33
Studio: 816-767-1234
www.dramatictruth.org
The Director’s Corner
I look outside, and see this beautiful blanket of
white. The trees and the plants appear to have no
life. But we know that come spring, color will be
everywhere, vibrant and full of life. Even though
things have appeared to be still, so much has been
going on that was hidden.
are moving into the final
stages of creativity for the full
length Christian rewrite of
"Sleeping Beauty" (the story
of Christ's bride, the church)
to be debuted in Spring 2012.
I feel like that is a picture of Dramatic Truth in
this season. Things have slowed down. We come
to class. We go home. The ballet company has
taken a break this winter. Kind of quiet.
We are formulating our plans
to bring theater into the curriculum of Dramatic
Truth. It will be theater that presents the truths of
God's Word, in keeping with the mission of DT.
Look for exciting theater camps this summer, and
classes this fall! We are working on new summer
workshops and so much is going on beneath that
appearance of stillness! God is always moving
forward with His purposes! It is our job to be still
enough to recognize when He is moving and move
with Him! Please pray with us as so many
wonderful and new things are on the horizon-things for you, your children, and our community!
As I have said so many times before - I love my
job, and I love all of you!
And yet behind the scenes God is at work in every
area! There has been a steady stream of new
students coming through the door, causing us to
seriously pray about expanding. Staff members
are creating and working towards our "command
2nd performance" of "First Born from the Dead"
this June - such a tremendous opportunity to reach
those who do not know the Lord.
The ballet company members are taking this time
to pray and worship together more; strengthening
their relationships with Jesus and each other. We
Important Parent Information
Firstborn from the Dead: Performance fees are
due by February 15 and costume fees by March
15. Look for an upcoming guide for meditation on
Jesus’ character to help prepare for the production.
Upcoming Potluck: Time and place to be
announced. This will be an informal opportunity
for you to talk with your student’s teacher(s) about
your child’s progress or experience. Watch for
details at the studio.
Hula Class (four weeks) with Kristine Skeele,
native Hawaiian, will start in March. Watch emails for details.
Prayer Point: Pray for unity among the staff and
families at DT so that we could remain free from
strife.
Pray for your student’s teachers.
Welcome Dacia Bostrom, Dramatic Truth Student from Japan
Not everyone travels halfway around the world,
leaving everything familiar behind to attend
Dramatic Truth. Dacia Bostrom has. One of 13
children from Kakegawa, Japan, Dacia is a third-
generation American missionary in Japan. “My
grandpa came to Japan 50 years ago to reach the
Japanese.
He started a church, and we’re
continuing.”
Vision: To glorify God by developing artists and presenting quality life-changing productions
“I studied rhythmic gymnastics for eight years, but
my sisters and I loved to dance. I started to
choreograph dance for special occasions at church
when I was 13. Dance is another way of
worshipping for me.” Dacia was performing this
summer with a Christian dance company,
Shachah, in Japan when she talked with the
Kawases about coming to Dramatic Truth. “I
decided in July and came in September so it was a
very sudden transition.”
What does it take to re-train from gymnastics to
ballet?
“Gymnasts have very firm, strong
movements. Your muscles are tensed. Ballet is
much softer, but both develop strength and
balance in your core,” Dacia explained.
Dacia described the studio as “family-centered,
and I enjoy the size. People are caring and want to
help. I like that I’m starting with the basics and
receiving a solid foundation.”
What are the results of taking this leap of faith into
a new world and from one ? “God has helped me
not to compare myself with other people too
much. He’s helping me to be confident in who
He’s made me regardless of what other people say
or think. When He gives you a talent, it doesn’t
matter how you compare.” Well said, Dacia!
Welcome to the U.S. and DT!
Prayer Point: Please pray for Dacia’s family’s
health and her trip to visit family.
Junior Company News
Dramatic Truth’s Junior Company, consisting of
Level 3 through Level 5 students, has given three
free performances this year and received a warm
response from audiences each time. They’ve
blessed a nursing home, school for mentally
disabled, and a church with their dances. Hannah
Anderson and Sarah Roberts direct the group of 13
and have choreographed a new piece for them,
Jesus’ Baptism, in the upcoming performance of
Firstborn from the Dead.
On March 4th-6th, members of the Junior Company
will travel to Houston, TX, for Project Dance.
These events, which are held worldwide in major
cities, gather dancers for training and performance
opportunities. According to the Project Dance
website, the weekend is centered around an all day
free outdoor dance concert with the goal of
bringing hope and healing through “the universal
language of dance.” The group will perform
“House of God” and “SMS,” and Hannah is
performing “Come and Listen.”
Prayer Point: Please pray for a safe trip for the
group and for unity and friendship to grow
through the time.
New Theatre Instructor, Alice Scott
Alice Scott, parent of Wee Ballet student Emma,
readily admits she is not short on vision. From
stage experiences beginning in childhood to a
college degree in theatre, Alice has a passion to
incorporate Scripture and worship in fine arts
instruction. She has done so a number of times,
bringing quality productions to a number of
communities.
“Parents love to plug kids into two things: sports
and fine arts. I saw no Biblical basis in any of our
community’s fine arts programs in Jackson, MS,
for children, so I created Curtain Call. This is a
fine arts children’s camp that has become the
largest children’s theatre camp in the state with a
Biblical and worship emphasis. I spent three year
preparing and writing curriculum for this camp,
and have spent the last five years writing and
directing for it.”
Her camp design reveals much about Alice’s
character and heart. “I designed the program to be
Scripture and worship-driven for 5-12 year olds.
Camp is based on making each kid feel important
and loved. Each child has a t-shirt with his or her
name on it. I have 150 eager adult volunteers and
Vision: To glorify God by developing artists and presenting quality life-changing productions
150 campers so the ratio of one-to-one really
builds the kids self-esteem. Their experience with
prayer, drama, dance, and art builds their
communications skills. The final performance is a
worship service, where the kids provide a drama
sketch, and each child leads the audience in a line
of prayer. My vision is to see the children lead.”
Although Alice will not travel to direct camp this
year, she has trained new directors and continues
to write for the program.
With a broad background in both secular and
Christian theatre, Alice loves to see communities
blessed through excellent productions. Some of
her experience includes:
o Directing and choreographing for Chosen
Generation, a young adult group who travels
nationwide “to awaken their generation.”
o
Serving as Fine Arts Department head for
interns in God Chasers International Ministry
School and as adjunct faculty in theatre
ministry classes at Belhaven University.
o
Promoting the movie, “One Night with the
King,” based on the story of Esther.
Directing productions including Through the
Looking Glass, Schoolhouse Rock, Clue the
Musical, and Godspell.
“I’ll be involved in summer camps and plan to
offer registration in the fall for adult/children’s
theatre classes. In time, I hope to do a theatrical
production, but building relationships comes
first.” Welcome to Alice and her family!
Prayer Point: Pray for the Lord to bless new
beginnings at DT.
o
Upcoming Senior Recitals: Sunday, April 3rd
Presenting a senior recital is one of Dramatic
Truth’s graduation requirements and encompasses
all aspects of a production from choreography to
costumes. Currently, Tirzah Mangold and Valerie
Wilson are preparing recitals and plan to share a
venue on April 3rd at the Lutheran High School’s
theatre (Metro Christian Fellowship location).
Tirzah is graduating the modern track, which
requires a group Graham, Horton, and ballet piece
as well as two solos, one Graham and one Horton.
“Graham is based on the contraction and release of
muscles, making a hollowed out shape and then
lengthening up and out. Horton is about overall
shape and uses very long lines,” explained Tirzah.
After graduating from Dramatic Truth, Tirzah
plans to continue dancing and choreographing.
“There are songs I want to choreograph, and I
have some long-term projects I’m starting now. I
would like to choreograph the story of C. S.
Lewis’s The Great Divorce. One of the group
pieces and one of my solos for this recital is the
beginning of that work.”
Now in the height of recital rehearsals, Tirzah
offered this advice to students before it’s time to
begin recital planning:
“Know that the
unexpected and unplanned will happen. I’m trying
to do one or two small things every day to fight
my tendency to procrastinate. Pay attention when
you’re in others’ senior recitals, and you can get a
good sense of what you like and figure out
problems that you’ve had as a dancer. Just
viewing your dance experiences this way helps
you think about what’s best for your dancers so
you can make your recital easier for everyone and
a good experience.”
While everyone pursues choreography in a
different manner, Tirzah listens to a song and sees
a lot of general movement to get ideas. She’s
currently focused on learning how to adjust the
movement to the music’s tempo. “Sometimes
ideas just aren’t feasible until you see how it looks
when someone else is doing it. You realize
smoother or better ways as you go-it’s a lot of trial
and error.”
From a student with years of experience at
Dramatic Truth, what’s the best part of the school?
“I’ve enjoyed the atmosphere at the studio. It is
exceedingly encouraging. I love the worship
times and the moments where you get to focus on
an intimate relationship with the Lord. You get to
worship not just with your heart and soul, but
you bring your whole body into it. It’s
wonderful to be a part of that.”
Vision: To glorify God by developing artists and presenting quality life-changing productions
Valerie will graduate from the classical ballet
track at Dramatic Truth. She is required to
prepare a pointe solo and group piece as well as a
modern solo and group piece. Valerie is not sure
how dance will fit with college plans for next year.
determine the roles you give people. Finally,
there’s so much to do in a short time so make a list
of everything you have to do, break it into pieces,
and work on one chunk at a time. Then the whole
thing won’t overwhelm you.”
Her advice for recital planning: don’t be a
perfectionist. “While you have to strive for
creativity, you have to give yourself grace for this
first time. You are using a completely different
set of skills and tools than anything you’ve ever
done. Don’t set unbearably high standards and
expect amazing choreography. Remember that
people here are always for you.”
From Valerie’s perspective, what’s the best part of
being at DT? “The very best part of being at DT
is walking in and knowing everyone’s face. I
have enjoyed being able to have long-term,
deep friendships, and that makes the hardest
dance day easier and more fun. We learn to
read each other so well that people notice when
you’re not doing well, and you can do the same
for others. Over time, you become great friends
with your teachers as well. They’ve seen your
best, and can offer you grace on an off day.”
Prayer Point: Pray that all would be blessed by
participation in this recital and that students would
grow in love and mature in leadership while at
DT.
“Expect to put a lot of time into the recital and
explore what kind of choreographer you are.
Choose choreography that portrays who you are
rather than what you think you should do for
someone else. Also, it’s hard to have your peers
as students, and you have to be ready to navigate
relationships differently when casting. You need
to be sensitive to feelings, but you can’t let that
Summer Workshops and Camps: New Formats and Offerings
Pre-K Princess Camp, July 29-30: For 3-8 yearolds, the purpose of this camp is to engage young
ones in dance and theatre and whet their
appetites for the performing arts.
advance in ballet technique and will focus on
choreography from the ballet, Raymonda.
GT and the Halo Express, June 27-July 1: For
5-12 year-olds, this camp offers instruction in
dance, art, and theatre. New theatre instructor,
Alice Scott, will assist DT staff and brings loads of
experience and fun to this DT summer favorite.
Hip-Hop/Jazz Workshop, August 12-13
Teen Theatre Workshop, June 10-11 or July 89: For 13-18 year olds, this is a high-energy,
hands-on week-end with a variety of instructors to
teach different forms of theatre. Classes are
Friday and Saturday, with a Sunday performance.
Classical Summer Workshop, June 24-25: For
dance students, particularly from other area
studios, this week-end offers an opportunity to
Modern/Improv Workshop, August 5-6
Sketching and Drawing Workshop, June 14-16
and June 21-23: For 12-17 year-old aspiring
artists, this class offers beginning art instruction.
Adult workshop available July 16th and 23rd.
Dance Intensive, July 10-15 with optional week
16-22: Aaron Chen will be joined by hip hop artist,
Ryan Warren. Early registration of $250 for one
week and $470 for two weeks ends February 28th.
See www.dramatictruth.org for more details.
Prayer Point: Pray that these camps would
refresh all participants and bless our community.
Vision: To glorify God by developing artists and presenting quality life-changing productions
Vision: To glorify God by developing artists and presenting quality life-changing productions