Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
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