Growing Up Dancing

Growing Up Dancing

Tradition is a large part of the holidays for most families.  My parents were both ballet dancers and our December holiday revolved around performances of the Nutcracker.  I have carried on that tradition in Sierra Nevada Ballet with performances of the...
PASSING JOY – THROUGH GENERATIONS

PASSING JOY – THROUGH GENERATIONS

Ballet is an art form that is passed down traditionally from generation to generation. I am reminded of the value of that tradition every year as we prepare for our annual production of the Peanutcracker-The Story In A Nutshell. I was inspired by young audience...
THE MAGIC OF THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY CONTINUES

THE MAGIC OF THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY CONTINUES

For many, the Sugar Plum Fairy needs no introduction.  She is the magical legendary creature who epitomizes goodness and light and transcends any earthly description. Composer Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky gave her a voice when he discovered the celesta (musical...
Arts Education – A Young Perspective

Arts Education – A Young Perspective

In celebration of National Arts Education week  (September 12-18), I thought it appropriate to focus on the importance of arts education. Years of research show that arts education is closely linked to almost everything that we want for our children: academic...
LIVE THEATER IS BACK!

LIVE THEATER IS BACK!

We are so fortunate to live in a time of ever-improving technology where we can attend meetings via Zoom, watch videos on our computers, and see streaming performances on our cell phones.  With these wonderful modern inventions, it is easy to forget the amazing...
Artown Creates Festival History at Rancho

Artown Creates Festival History at Rancho

I have to marvel at the brilliance of Artown’s Executive Director, Beth MacMillan. It was in October of 2020 when, faced with the COVID venue shutdown, that MacMillan came up with the idea of performing at a large socially distanced (attendance controlled) outdoor...