Recently one of my readers asked me to address an important issue: How to get her son enrolled in a public school, such as Profession Performing Arts School (PPAS), in New York City. This might seem like a simple task, and it can be if your son attends a residential ballet program. However, if your […]
Looking for a Summer Dance Intensive for Your Son?
It’s that time of year again…time to audition for summer dance intensives. I feel quite removed from the process this year because Julian will be handling it by himself in New York. He’s made his own decisions about which intensives he wants to attend, and he will sign up and audition on his own as […]
Time to Start Auditioning for Companies & Summer Intensives
The School of American Ballet (SAB) students receive guidance about summer intensives and company auditions just before Thanksgiving break. The boys are brought in to see Jock Soto, the head of the men’s division, and he asks them what summer programs they might be interested in attending. He then advises them on their choices. He […]
Our First Regional Dance America Experience
We returned from Regional Dance America (RDA) in Los Vegas a week ago. We haven’t had a break. My husband, Ron, flew in from Germany the day before we left and flew out to Missouri to care for his mother a day after we returned. Julian had rehearsals up until the evening before we left […]
Proud Momma Must Brag Just a Little…
Four summer intensives down, three results in: one merit scholarship (SAB), two full scholarships (ABT and SFB). Still waiting on Juilliard; we have only been told he is still in the running. Ballet training pays off, guys…that’s all I can say. Oh, and I go to see Julian’s emerging choreography piece for RDA performed…very nice, […]
Technical Ballet Training Pays Off
Many of you know that last summer Julian came back from New York City and his time at American Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive, as well as at Complexions Contemporary Ballet summer intensive, with instructions to spend a year (or two) working on his ballet technique. That’s why he left his pre-professional contemporary ballet program for […]
Joey Dowling on a Dancer’s Education and Training (Part 3)
One of the issues we’ve been struggling with lately has been whether or not Julian will go to college. We’ve always assumed he would, but in the back of all of our minds we knew a chance existed that he might simple end up dancing. As they say, dancers dance. (Expect to see more posts […]
New School Year, New Focus, New Dance Program
I didn’t realize I’d let so much time pass since my last post. Time flies when you’re having fun…not. Julian and I got back from New York, and I entered into a harried three and a half weeks of getting him to the TDC summer intensive, preparing for my daughter’s 18th birthday party and to […]
Back Home in Time for TDC Intensive and an Award
We arrived back home in N. CA to freezing weather…well, at least that’s what it feels like after seven and a half weeks of beastly heat. Here in the mountains where we live, it’s about 55 degrees each morning due to the coastal fog. It might hit 78 in Los Gatos during the day, but […]
Don’t Miss TDC 2010- 2011 TDC Season Auditions
Hey N. CA dance parents. TDC will soon be holding auditions for the coming year. Remember, TDC is a pre-professional company, and it’s a non-profit. All the money parents pay in tuition goes to the dancers. Everything, including studio space, is there for the kids. There’s almost no competion–no fees for costumes. There’s tons of […]
TDC Spring Concert and Summer Intentsive Fast Approaching
Okay, this is a blatant advertisement for the TDC Spring Concert and summer intensive, if you live in the Northern California area. Attending the show offers a great way to see what the program is about and to see the level of dance and dancer at TDC. Plus, by attending you support a superb nonprofit […]
Salim Gauwloos (Part 2): How to Succeed in Hollywood and on Broadway
Julian doesn’t have much interest in going to Hollywood. However, he wouldn’t turn down the opportunity if it presented itself. He simply wants to work as a dancer. These days, though, he’s focused on classical and contemporary ballet. That said, he’d jump at the opportunity to work on Broadway…or to be on Glee. So, I […]
Whoo Hoo! Julian's Into ABT and We're Off to NYC Again!
Just a short note to say that Julian received notification late last week that he had been accepted again into the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive Program in New York City. Whoo hoo! However, we were a bit upset at first to see that he had not been awarded a scholarship. Last year he received […]