Class Spotlight: Contemporary 1

February 19, 2019 by Canyon Concert Ballet

Canyon Concert Ballet currently has one Contemporary 1 class, taught by Ms Cassie and Ms Alta. Learn more about this fun dance class!

What is Contemporary? Contemporary dance is a fluid dance style that blends ballet and jazz dance. A contemporary dancer uses movement to express strong emotions such as love, joy and anger, and usually perform to music with lyrics…the lyrics of the chosen song serve as inspiration for movements and expressions. Music may consist of many genres including pop, rock and hip hop. Movements in contemporary dance are characterized by fluidity and grace, with the dancer flowing seamlessly from one move to another, holding finishing steps as long as possible. Leaps are exceptionally high and soaring, and turns are graceful and continuous.

Class Description: This class is designed to introduce the young dancer to Contemporary Technique. Contemporary is a term to describe a broad and ever changing style of dance that draws from Ballet, Modern and Jazz Techniques. Ages 7+

What is your favorite part about this class?

Ms Cassie: My favorite part of this class is being able to express emotions through dance and movement while also learning versatile dance technique.

Which song is your favorite to dance to in this class?

Ms Cassie: My favorite song is our warm up song, “Lost it to trying” by Son Lux, Its a relaxing song that helps focus us into the beginning of class.

How long have you been teaching dance?

Ms Cassie: I have been teaching for a year now by myself, I used to T.A. for classes when I was younger as well.

Anything else you’d like people to know about this class?

Ms Cassie: I want people to know that this is a very inclusive class no matter what the students dance background is and we would love to have you!

Contemporary 1 happens Wednesdays at 5:30pm with Ms Alta at the Conifer Studio and Thursdays at 4:30pm at our with Ms Cassie at our Harmony Studio. Register for Contemporary 1 class today!

Meet Your Teacher: Ms Tiana

February 19, 2019 by Canyon Concert Ballet

Get to know teacher Ms Tiana better!

Tiana Farnsworth grew up in Colorado Springs, CO. She performed and studied ballet at Colorado Ballet Society and was introduced to modern in her adult years. She started her dance education at Pikes Peak Community College (PPCC) where she danced under Stephanie Kobes-Newcomb. She performed with the student company, High Altitude Dance Ensemble (HADE), for four seasons. She completed her Associates in Dance in spring of 2015 and is now attending Colorado State University (CSU) for her B.A. in Dance and B.S. in Health and Exercise Science: Health Promotion.

Tiana learned the complexity of choreography, modern technique, ballet technique, and teaching modern and ballet. She also enjoyed dancing in the Ballet Reparatory Ensemble for two semesters. She was a featured dancer of the Ballet Reparatory Ensemble in the Le Corsaire Suite adapted by Madeline Harvey in the “Pas De Trois Des Odalisque” as the first soloist. Tiana currently teaches at Canyon Concert Ballet as a children’s ballet instructor and is excited to spread her joy and knowledge of dance to her students by including history, technique, and fun within her classroom.

Ms Tiana teaches Ballet 1 on Wednesdays at 5:30pm, Ballet 2 on Wednesdays at 4:30pm, and Ballet 3 on Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

Here are some fun questions we asked Ms Tiana to get to know her a little better:

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Graduating in May from CSU with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor’s of Science in Health and Exercise Science. I have learned and progressed as a dance and exercise teacher which I am happy to share with my students.

What is your favorite book? How about movie?

It is so hard to pick a favorite book! It rotates between many different books but I always love thread fantasy books. Right now, my favorite is from the Inheritance series called Eragon by Christopher Paolini. My favorite movie would be How to Train Your Dragon and all of them in its series. You could say that dragons are some of my favorite creatures.

Is there a quote or saying that you live your life by?

“No one has failed who keeps trying and praying” by Jeffery R Holland

“Just keep dancing!” by me/unknown

Would you rather vacation in Alaska or Hawaii, and why?

I would prefer to go to Hawaii in the winter because then it will not be too hot or too cold and less people. I could enjoy all of the beautiful scenery by hiking, walking, and doing fun outdoor activities.

What are your hobbies?

I love to play board games with my husband and friends. We try to get a group together often just to have fun and take our minds off of school or work.

If you were a superhero, what would your powers be?

I would have the power to teleport so that I would not have to drive anywhere.

What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?

I would take a survival book, my scriptures, and a fire starter kit.

What is your favorite part about teaching at CCB?

My favorite part about teaching at CCB is my students. I love to see when they learn and grow throughout the semester in dance and as people.

Summer Intensive Guest Teacher: Anthony Pucci

February 5, 2019 by Canyon Concert Ballet

The Canyon Concert Ballet School Summer Intensive offers a unique 2-week program. Week 1, June 10-14, offers a Ballet Concentration. Week 2, June 17-21, offers a Contemporary Concentration. Today’s dance world demands a versatile dancer. This unique 2 week intensive offers the training today’s aspiring dancers need. While each week may be taken individually, we highly recommend enrolling in both weeks for the full benefits of the intensive. You can learn more about our Summer Intensive here, and you can register with the form here.

Each week, we will feature one of the amazing guest artists for our 2019 Summer Intensive! This week:

Anthony Pucci

Anthony, born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, began his dance training at Studio Dance under Michele Burke. He attended the University of Iowa, where he received a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography. While attending university, he had the privilege to perform extensively in faculty, graduate, and undergraduate work — most notably a site-specific work at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia with the visually stunning Tori Lawrence & Co, as well as an evening-length work exploring energy cultures at an Anthroprocene symposium hosted by the University of Wyoming with Incite Insight Arts. Anthony danced for four years with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre in their productions of Carmen, Don Giovanni, and others. Anthony is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor through the Yoga Alliance. For the past two years Anthony has been a performing member of NW Dance Project. At the NW Dance project he has enjoyed working with Ihsan Rustem, Danielle Agami, Cayetano Soto, Wen Wei Wang, Patrick Delcroix, and artistic director Sarah Slipper.

Anthony is appearing courtesy of NW Dance Project.

Summer Intensive Guest Teacher: Sydney Dolan

January 30, 2019 by Canyon Concert Ballet

Each week, we will feature one of the amazing guest artists for our 2019 Summer Intensive! This week:

Sydney Dolan

Sydney Dolan started her ballet training at age three in North Carolina. She has been a finalist in the World Ballet Competition (2012 to 2016) as well as the Youth America Grand Prix (2014 to 2016). In 2016, Sydney also received bronze medals from the World Ballet Competition as well as the Youth America Grand Prix – Tampa, where she performed Le Corsaire’s Medora and the Diana and Acteon variation as a part of the Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow: YAGP Gala.

Sydney joined Pennsylvania Ballet as a member of PBII in 2016, joined the Company as an apprentice in 2017, and was promoted to the corps de ballet for the 2018/2019 season . She has performed featured roles in Angel Corella’s Swan Lake (Pas de Trois) and The Sleeping Beauty (Lilac Fairy), George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® (Dew Drop), and Rubies (Tall Girl). She has also performed company roles in ballets such as Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Angel Corella’s Le Corsaire, and George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations.

Prior to Pennsylvania Ballet, Sydney performed nationally and internationally in ballets that include Victor Gsovsky’s Grand Pas Classique in Sarasota and the lead role in Paquita in Japan. Most recently she performed the La Esmereldavariation for the 10th Anniversary World Ballet Competition Professional Gala in Orlando, FL.

Summer Intensive Guest Teacher: Regina Montgomery

January 23, 2019 by Canyon Concert Ballet

Each week, we will feature one of the amazing guest artists for our 2019 Summer Intensive! This week:

Regina Montgomery

From Los Angeles, Regina began studying ballet under former Mariinsky Principal, Marat Daukayev. She attended the Rock School for Dance in Philadelphia and received 1st Place at the Youth America Grand Prix. Regina joined TBII in 2013, the main company in 2014, and was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2018. She currently heads the Dancer Committee and is the Shoe Coordinator for Tulsa Ballet. She’s been featured in both Pointe and Dance magazines and is working towards a degree in Business through TCC. Regina has performed soloist roles in The Nutcracker (Angelini), The Sleeping Beauty (Angelini), Swan Lake (Angelini), Don Quixote (Holmes), Cinderella (Stevenson), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Wheeldon), and others. She has also performed works by David Dawson, Edwaard Liang, Alejandro Cerrudo, Dwight Rhoden, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Helen Pickett, Nicolo Fonte, Adam Hougland, Ma Cong, and Val Caniparoli.