I recently took another short trip to Germany to see Julian dance in a SemperOper Ballett premier. We were thrilled to see him dance in Nordic Lights, October 25 and 27, three contemporary pieces by Swedish choreographers. We arrived in Germany to a text message asking if we would make it to Dresden by 1 […]
Mark Foehringer on Preparing a Dancin’ Boy for the Professional Dance World (Part 2)
Boys mature at a different rate than girls. They deal with their emotions differently, and often have different issues as they move through puberty and into young adulthood. I think this can become even more pronounced for the young male dancer who may find him self sticking out like a sore thumb amongst his peers […]
Summer Intensive Auditions End, REAL Auditions Start
A lot has happened since my last post…I’ve just been too busy to write. I apologize. I’ve got a non-dance related book coming out in a few months, and getting ready for that launch has been taking up all my time. Anyhoo. Since I wrote last Julian has been struggling with his tendon tear. 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 […]
Happy Mother’s Day to All Dancin’ Boys’ Moms
This is a special blog post for all those dancin’ boys’ moms: Happy Mother’s Day! You deserve some credit, appreciation and…time off. Without your support, where would your dancin’ boys be–even if they won’t admit to your part in their success? So, enjoy yourselves today and give yourselves a pat on the back. As for […]
Our First Regional YAGP Experience and Results
Well, the Northern California regional YAGP results are in…on many levels–at least for us. Julian and his partners did really well, as did the other dancers from City Ballet. He and his young partner came in first in the ensemble division for their Nutcracker Grand Pax. Whoo hoo! He and his other partner came in […]
YAGP On, YAGP Off
Julian continues auditioning for summer intensives despite the fact that we had to let the School of American Ballet know our decision a few weeks ago. That means the ABT results came if after, as well the San Francisco Ballet School and Juilliard results. ABT offered Julian a full scholarship this year, but it just […]
Joey Dowling on How to Succeed as a Dancer (Part 4)
After it’s all the training has been completed, one question remains: Will the dancer get a dance job? Will he make it through the audition and into a company or a show? What can a male dancer—or any dancer for that matter—do to increase the odds of becoming a successful professional dancer? And what does […]
Joey Dowling on Dance, Choreography & Transitions (Part 2)
Since many young dancers have dreams of not only becoming professional dancers but also of becoming professional choreographers, I decided to ask Joey Dowling how she transitioned from successful dancer into her career as a successful choreographer. This post includes my questions and her answers. I have to admit that my interest in this topic […]
Joey Dowling on Dance, Choreography & Transitions (Part 1)
I had the pleasure of speaking to Joey Dowling last year when Julian attended the New York City Dance Alliance convention in San Jose. She told me some stories about her transition from dancer to businesswoman that I found quite interesting. Like Joey, as a young teen Julian spends all his time dancing. By the […]
A Mouse in the House and the Start of the Complexions Summer Intensive
I can’t believe the ABT summer intensive has just two weeks left. Time flies…in the heat and with a mouse under my bed. Yes, I paid almost double this year for our apartment in the West Village, and we got a pull out couch, a desk for me to work at, a great kitchen, a […]
Salim Gauwloos (Part 3): How to Succeed as a Dancer and a Choreographer
Maybe the fact that Salim Gauwloos appreciated Julian’s ballet technique was one of the reasons Julian enjoyed dancing with him in New York. Julian had just completed the six-week American Ballet Summer Intensive and had improved considerably during that time. Of course, he had a sound foundation in ballet after three years at Ballet San […]
Tech Week and ABT Summer Intensive Auditions this Week
Seems like we just got back from New York City, but Julian and his Dad went off to San Francisco today for his American Ballet Theatre summer intensive audition. I think he was a bit less nervous this year, but, of course, this year everything is riding on it. Last year, he did it on […]