Thursday, November 5, 2009

Nutcracker and Ballet Arizona

Greetings all! I just would like to make it known that "The Nutcracker 2009" for Casa Grande tickets are on sale! No you do not need to live in Casa Grande to purchase tickets, but you do need to be willing to get here to see the show.

Tickets are $10 and it is reserved seating. If you're interested either leave a comment on the blog or email me at clee@cguhsd.org.

We spent Tuesday night at downtown Casa Grande's "Art in the Alley" promoting the show and selling tickets.

Another update was the Vista Grande and Casa Verde dance departments trip to see Ballet Arizona perform Swan Lake. We saw an hour long excerpt that left us all wanting more! I think next time we'll opt for an evening performance with student tickets and the entire production. I think I may have more chaperones for that also!

My students were dressed so elegantly and behaved so well! We were the best dressed group in attendance. The very sad part was that people were stopping to ask us what we were dressed up for. My response was "the ballet of course"! I am always amazed by the lack of respect for the art and artists reflected in the way patrons now dress. Symphony Hall is a very elegant place and should be reflected in elegant attire.

Thank you to my students for showing respect for the art, artists and for themselves by dressing up appropriately! I'm very proud of you all!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

ASU Dance Symposium




We attended the ASU High School Dance Symposium. Our students were among the youngest ones there but they had a fabulous experience. Many of them have only taken class from me in the two years they've been dancing. This was the opportunity to take college level classes, gain new experiences, visit a university campus and meet other dancers.



On a sentimental note, my students were taking classes in the very same studios that I took class in. It was pretty neat!



As a teacher, I don't have many opportunities to take class. I was able to take class from one of the instructors that was a grad student instructor when I was still in college. It was so good to "take" class instead of teach it.

Students took six different dance classes, saw an informal performance and had a question and answer session with the grad students and staff. Teachers took a creative movement class, a choroegraphic process class, participated in AZDEO meeting and did a dance and video technology training.

There were things I was reminded of that I have long since forgotten since my college days. The choreography class was amazing. A quote made by the instructor that impacted me was "creativity is a life force, not something that is exclusive".

The whole purpose was to teach choreographic practices in creating meaningful work with purpose. Something I think that I have lost sight of in an effort to teach technique and foundation skills. We had to work in small groups, where everybody was equally heard and valued. It produced a piece of choreography that was creative and had significant meaning for all of us involved. We forget the art lies in the craft and discovery and not in the end products. This is something that I would like to implement more in class.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Casa Grande Nutcracker rehearsal schedule for Friday Oct.23, 2009

Due to a school activity taking away many of our dancers and choreographers, there will be no rehearsal on Saturday, Oct. 24. We will have an abbreviated rehearsal on Friday, Oct. 23 beginning at 5:30. Some groups will not require the makeup rehearsal


5:30-6:00 pm
Gigiones (Black Box) Julianne
Mice, Soldiers, Clara, Drosselmeyer, Prince (Stage) Reana and Patrick

6:00-6:30
Clara, Drosselmeyer, Maids, Christmas Party Cast (stage)
Julianne, Patrick
Chinese (Dance Room) Reana

6:30-7:00
Flowers (Dance Room) Julianne
Candy Canes-(Stage)Reana

7:00-7:30
Snow corps & Snow King and Queen (Dance Room) Julianne
Dolls (Stage) Reana

7:30-8:00
Angels (Stage) Reana
Flutes (Dance Room) Julianne

8:00-8:30
Arabian-Stage
Russian-Dance room

8:30-10:00
Clara and Prince- Julianne (Dance Room)

Friday, October 16, 2009

November 3rd Override-Casa Grande HS District

Last year's failure of the override cost students in the Casa Grande High School district dearly, especially when it came to the arts. The Fine Arts department was hit hard when the drama teacher, and choir teacher were laid off and the remaining programs were significantly cut back.

At the time we thought the override failure was the worst thing that could happen and then came the budget cuts from the state legislature. This district now has two major high schools and guess what the first cuts to be made are? The remaining drama and choir programs at two schools, the dance programs at three schools, art and some music.

As it is, many of us continue to work beyond the school day without extra duty contracts, our pay has been frozen and our health benefits cut way back. We are enduring class sizes of 40+ only for those to become even larger if this override fails again.

Like last year I volunteered to call registered voters and encourage them to vote for the override. Although many are supportive, there were many that were not because they don't want to see taxes go up.

Here are the facts:
The override has been in place for twenty years prior to its failure in 2008.
The decrease of taxes due to the failure was less than $32.00 a year per household.
The need for the override is not due to schools mismanaging money, but due to extremely poor funding in our state, which has just become much worse in the past fiscal year.

Please get out and vote on Nov. 3. Toltec and Casa Grande Elementary Districts also have overrides on the ballots. Please support the schools and all of our futures by voting Yes! for the overrides.

Aren't our kids and our future generations worth it?

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Nutcracker "The Tradition Continues!"

Nutcracker is back!!! I know that its been awhile since I've posted and I need to fix that. Two weeks ago we held auditions for Nutcracker and we just finished our second week of rehearsals. We also have a Facebook page for Nutcracker.

Here is the current rehearsal schedule.
Saturday Sept 19, 26 Oct.3, 24, 31, Nov. 7
No Rehearsals on Sat. Oct 10 and Oct. 17

Sugar Plum- times TBA
Arabian-times TBA
Spanish times-TBA



12:15-1:15 Dolls (Stage) Reana
Snow corps & Snow King and Queen (Dance Room) Julianne

1:15- 1:45-Chinese (Dance Room) Chinese

1:45-2:15- Candy Canes-(Stage)Reana
Gigiones (Black Box)Julianne
Jesters-(commons) Patrick

2:15-3:30
Clara, Drosselmeyer, Maids, Christmas Party Cast (Black Box)
Julianne, Patrick
Russian- (Dance room) Reana

3:30-4:30 Mice, Soldiers, Clara, Drosselmeyer, Prince (Stage) Reana and Patrick

3:30-4pm Flowers (Dance Room) Julianne

4:30-5pm-Flutes (Dance Room) Julianne
Angels (Stage) Reana

Saturday Nov. 14
10:00-1:00 Act 1 Cast (Full Run of Act 1) With Tech crew
1:30-4:00 Act 2 Cast (Ensemble Pieces and full Run of Act 2) With Tech crew

Saturday Nov. 21-10 am-4pm (All Cast) 2x Run through and pictures

Pictures Nov. 21 Video tape, Dec. 1,
Nov. 30, Dec 1, 2 All cast dress rehearsal 5pm-9:30 pm
Performances Dec. 3 and 4.

Rehearsals are closed to the public. Performance dates are Dec. 3 and 4 at Vista Grande High School. For info contact clee@cguhsd.org.

Vista Grande High School is a brand new high school. With the recent budget cuts we are starting our brand new baby dance, drama, choir and band programs with less than we need. Tax Credit monetary donations are accepted in our bookstore, just specify the Fine Art department of choice. Email me or call 520-494-9400 and ask for the bookstore.

The drama dept is always looking for clothing, furniture and accessories to start off our prop and costume supply. Unique and period clothing is always in demand! We'll even take old Halloween costumes.

Nutcracker/drama booster meeting will be this Thursday at 7pm in the blackbox.
We have some important issues to discuss!

Friday, May 8, 2009

CGUHS Dance Concert-with videos!


On Saturday, May 2 my beginning dance classes had their spring dance concert. Many of these dancers have never performed before. Overall they had a great experience! This shot in the hallway was during dress rehearsal taken by somebody's camera phone.





Sunday, April 5, 2009

WGAZ Championships 2009


On Saturday, April 28 I had the opportunity to attend the Winterguard Arizona Championships (WGAZ) held at Veteran's Memorial Colisuem. Winterguard features indoor cologuards and drumlines which happen after the fall outdoor season.

As a former colorguard member and instructor myself, I love to attend these events and don't get the chance as often as I would like to because of my other committments. Today I traveled with Casa Grande Union High School who featured a Winterguard, Drumline and a winter brass line for exhibition. I'll include a few of the decent shots I got with my camara. My shutter was too slow for all the action.

Winterguard







Casa Grande High School's Show was "In the Park" featuring the song "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz.

Drumline






I haven't seen a drumline competition in a couple of years and I was amazed at the creativity and ideas that are now being incorporated into the show design. These shows were as much fun to watch as the guard shows.

Casa Grande High School is the only school in the state that features an indoor brassline. Because it is such a unique concept, there is no competition for them so they performed for exhibition. Their show was "Sweeney Todd". Like the drumline and guard shows they had a unique theme and incorporated so many different elements into their show.




There were so many groups for awards they almost couldn't fit them all in. Congratulations to the Casa Grande Drumline who took second place in their division for state and the Battery caption award.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Little Shop of Horrors



Little Shop is my next project that I have been working on for Casa Grande Union High School. A couple of my dance students are in this cast. Although I am the choreographer, there really isn't a ton of choreography in this show. The kids have done an excellent job, and the musical, although humorous on the surface, is quite the commentary on society.

Little Shop will run April 3 and 4 at Casa Grande Union High School's auditorium, at 7 pm, tickets are $10. It will be the last production directed by Manual Leybas, who has been the drama teacher at the high school for 30+ years and has recently been laid off as a result of the budget cuts. This could also very well be the last musical at Casa Grande Union High School.

As for me, I will be assigned to teach dance, and drama at Casa Grande's second high school, Vista Grande next fall, so I too will be leaving CGUHS. We are still trying to decide where that will leave traditional productions such as Nutcracker.

The wrap on Nunsense!



I know that I am way behind on blogging about this show, considering it has already come and gone. But I should mention it just the same. I had the priviledge of being the choreographer for this show at the request of Stacey Seaman, a former colleague of mine who directed the show. I also had the priviledge of working with an amazing cast of five ladies and the extracrdinary crew working backstage. The ironic part was that one of the cast members was a good friend I graduated high school with and hadn't seen since graduation until I found out she was living nearly in my backyard a few months back. I made so many new connections. If you have a chance check out S.T.A.G.E who helped promote this and is working to develop theater in the local area.

Some of the things I love about shows include the connections and new friendships that are built as a group works towards a common goal, being around other creative, passionate people, the rush and stress of show week as everything finally becomes real, the success of a show. This is the world in which I fit and no matter what is happening, somehow always makes sense to me.

In this case Nunsense was on March 5, 6 and 7 at Central Arizona College's Pence Auditorium. The show was seen by 1800+ patrons with a complete sell out for the matinee on the 7th. This was the first musical in several years at CAC and it is hoped that this won't be the last musical.

Here are a few shots as we rehearsed and wrapped up....




Saturday, March 7, 2009

What Budget Cuts Mean to Us.

The state of Arizona is facing massive budget cuts, the prevelant are in education. Now that we are now 51st in the nation for spending per capita on students here is what is really happening in our local districts. I say ours because every district in the state is facing the same issues and same cuts and actually this is happening in other states as well. As the economy spirals towards a full blown depression despite tax credits, and stimulus money, none of it is really going toward who really needs the help, the everyday people and education.

The state of Arizona is cutting so much out of education that we are getting to the point we may as well just sentence our children to a life of ignorance. Budget cuts are just counting the superficial expenditures, but the everyday necessities. For example, in my district, huge cuts in supply budgets, the potential loss of benefits for teachers, pay freezes, and the worst part program cuts and layoffs. Lightning has struck on either side of me with the lay off of our drama teacher, who has taught in this district for 33 years, and the choir teacher who has only taught fo three years. The justification, they don't have enough numbers for their classes to make the new requirements of 25 per class. So rather than reducing them to part time, the district is laying them off and bringing in a person who is not qualified. Part of this is due to the failure of our budget override, that we hope to try and pass again in November, along with every other district in the county. If the budget override fails again, it has already been decided that fine arts cannot be sustained and I too will be out of a job. In spite of this, we quietly do our jobs and continue in our cause. Our protests have fallen the in deaf ears of our school board and our legislators. We are treading on thin ice and if continued, will lose our accreditation making the diplomas our students earn worthless. But as our economy further deteriorates, what choices do we have? While sports will also be taking a hit, it isn't the hit that our department has taken. Oh, by the way, have I mentioned that after the override passed, our department came up with $65,000 worth of cuts that come mainly from band and drama that we voluntarily gave up? Today we learned that the vocal music and drama will be reduced to two periods each while the extra stipends for people who assist with band will also be cut, in addition to what we already gave up. What is going to be investigated, does the varsity football team really need 14 coaches when they haven't won a significant game in years and our band is nationally ranked. I don't understand the logic either. Band goes all year long, football among other sports is only a few months and takes time out of the school day for students and staff costing the district double for teacher pay, sub pay and stipend pay. Don't get me wrong, sports are valuable and teach valuable skills. My husband is a basketball coach, but does it all on a volunteer basis. I also put in many hours on a volunteer basis to support my department. My pleas as I stood up and confronted the board on why they have not heard us when we have been at every work session, yet sports have not set foot in the board room. My reccomendation, for every staff member cut from our department, cut a staff from sports to make it equitable. They'll save more money, sports receives more than we do for stipends. Again, the value of we do, is not viewed the same.

They ask for opinions and ideas, yet, this all falls on deaf ears. They claim "the squeaky wheel gets the oil", yet we're not asking for oil, we're just asking for no more parts to be removed. Their claim is "there are no sacred cows" however we're all standing at least knee deep in the bull crap! You tell me folks, I called them on it and for their lack of notifying us about extra duty meetings.

When budget cuts happen, we give up what we can, and still it isn't enough. They have to go further and begin dismantling the department starting with drama, choir and band. The collateral damage is the teachers who lose their jobs and the students who are losing their mentors. The students are and will continue to be the biggest victims.

For the record....let's not foget our superintendent's $600 monthly allowance for a car. I'm not sure where she goes, but if people are losing their jobs, should we really be using crucial funds to pay for a perk.

If you would like to comment please feel free! If you would like to complain to the board, their email addresses are at the Casa Grande Union High School District website, www.cguhsd.org. Otherwise, you can also contact your local representative and let them know your feelings about the budget cuts. These cuts will also cost you not just in loss of programs, but to pay to participate in sports too. Think about it......