Our Dancer of the Month for March is in her 11^th season of dance and working so hard.  Ada Simmons has improved so much this year.  Not only is she still making incredible strides in ballet, but she has added modern to her repertoire.  Also, she is a first-year Junior Company dancer and even performing in student choreography.  Graceful and precise are two words that describe Miss Simmons.  She carries these values in each and every discipline with which she works.  In ballet she is paying careful attention to her quality of movement while still embracing technique, whether it is applying resistance in developpe or sharply attacking her arrival en pointe.  She is continually rehearsing the proper manner of working port de bras while jumping. She has made much progress performing her role as a fairy in SLEEPING BEAUTY—it is a surprise which one she will be. In modern she is improving a lot by taking that graceful nature of hers and converting it into smooth and emotional story telling. Ada is definitely a leader in the classroom and keeps everyone smiling because she is giving and positive.  One of her accomplishments these past few months is her turning counting music into also hearing music, which not every dancer can master.  Miss Simmons is performing a variety of roles and styles of dance in her Junior Company works. Thank you for being a great example for other dancers to follow.  Thank you for your amazing dedication to this art form.                         

Our Dancer of the Month for February is in her fourth season of dance. Hard working Katherine Truax has made tremendous progress in her ballet and jazz classes. First, she tackled a harder ballet technique class this year and is making leaps and bounds in her ballet skills. She focuses on applying technique while reciting her vocabulary in each class. Miss Truax is rehearsing the proper resistance in plies and articulating her feet splendidly in tendues, which also improves all of her foot work—from releves to jumps. She carries an optimistic attitude throughout the class and is eager to learn and accept new challenges in both disciplines. Katherine is the youngest dancer in her jazz class, but she keeps up with those big girls just fine. She asks detailed questions and applies all she learns. Miss Truax has a tremendous passion for dancing. She is even working partnering in the jazz class. She will be lifted in the air in the Summer Concert. Let it be noted that she was ill for 2 weeks after Christmas break and was able to catch up with the choreography already. Hooray for you, Katherine! Thank you for your determination, hard work, and cheerful dedication to dance.

  Our Dancer of the Month for January is in his second season of tap at the studio and making big strides.  Charlie Hill brings his bright and fun personality with him to each and every class.  Ms. Stefanie gives the students a minute to discuss something exciting about their day.  Charlie usually has a joke for the class—at least something funny to share.  Do not let his silly side fool you.  He works very hard and is mastering the tempo increase which requires him to speed up his footwork.  He is also improving greatly in memorizing lengthy combinations at the barre and center floor.  Some of his claims to fame are fine tuning his flaps, walking flaps, and even running flaps.  His double heels across the floor are sharper with every repetition.  Mr. Hill even works shuffles in all different patterns and with increased speed.  Before Christmas break he started learning cramp rolls and quickly accomplished them even with added speed then.  Imagine what he will do with more time to work them.  He is able to recite vocabulary and brings his all in class every time.  Thank you, Charlie, for your dedication and delightful personality.              

Our Dancer of the Month for December has been dancing for one year and a half. Enrolled in ballet and tap, Madeline Haan is putting her best foot forward this season. In ballet she is quick to respond to the vocabulary questions — from reciting the French terms to offering the definition of these terms. She is very focused on her technique at the barre and center, but she is not too focused that she holds back her smile. She clearly loves ballet and all of the elements of this technique. Miss Haan is very good at following the rules, which also allows for her to improve so quickly and so much. Some of the strengths she is showing us are her ability to rotate from her hips and her incredible feet. Madeline’s tendues are strong and beautiful! IN tap she and her classmates are progressing from flaps to moving across the floor in flaps. This keeps Miss Haan on her toes both mentally and physically. EAch week she learns a new combo center floor, which really works on practicing memorization. She seems to welcome the challenge with joy. Thank you, Madeline, for the hard work and happiness you offer to each class and to Crawfordsville Academy of Dance.

  Our Dancer of the Month for November has been studying ballet for four years.  Ava Barclay has improved so very much in these few months back to dance.  She is balancing proper placement while focusing on her rotation and proper use of her arms developing while placing them on her back.  Also, Miss Barclay is articulating her feet so nicely in tendues and that carries right into her very strong releves.  Center floor she continues the foot articulation in sautes and glissades.  Ava is focused on each combination in ballet and can answer vocabulary questions.  Retaining corrections from one week to the next allows her to establish a firm foundation and improve her technique rapidly.  She does all of this with a smile on her face and a pleasant demeanor.  Thank you, Miss Barclay, for all you contribute to class and invest in yourself.  You are a gem!              

  Our Dancer of the Month for October is in her third year of ballet at the studio.  Eleanor Rose is a beautiful dancer focusing on all the aspects of her ballet studies.  From technique to performance, she is attentive to it all.  When working the exercises on the floor with the fusion ball, she is striving and succeeding to feel the hip flexors in motion while utilizing gravity.  All her exercises a la seconde are improving as well—from floor work to the barre.  She is doing an incredible job retaining vocabulary and applying the breaking down of technique for almost every step.  Her crisp and clean lines and closes in glissade are spot on as is she maintaining her upper body placement while performing glissade.  While paying attention to her technique, she also expresses delightful movement quality.  All of this and Miss Rose is also a sweet young lady with a gentle and hard-working personality.  Thank you for all you offer in class, Eleanor.             

Classes will begin Tuesday, September 5th! We are looking forward to the new season of dance upon us!

Crawfordsville Academy of Dance will be holding registration for the upcoming season on Saturday, August 12th from 1:00 – 4:00 pm and on Saturday, August 19th from 1:00 – 4:00 pm.

We look forward to seeing you this year!