What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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8 WHAT'S UP! JANUARY 22-28, 2023 FEATURE Dancing With Greatness Royal Winnipeg Ballet teaches, recruits in NWA MONICA HOOPER NWA Democrat-Gazette O ne of only two U.S.-based auditions for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet will be right here in Fayetteville. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division will host auditions and a master class Jan. 23-24 at the Walton Arts Center. The first master class will be for students in grades 8-12 from 2:45-4:15 p.m. Jan. 23, and a master class for adults is 4:30-6 p.m. on Jan. 23 in Starr Theater. The classes are free, and registration is encouraged, but not mandatory. "Master classes that we hold during our audition tours are basically a standard ballet class, but a place where we welcome everyone," explains school Director Stephane Leonard. He adds that it also allows participants "to get the sense of what our school is about and our methods of teaching." "The master class will definitely have more of an interactive aspect than the audition class," he says and will be based mostly on the needs of those participating. Dancers will not be assessed during these classes. "Sometimes the term 'master class' may sound either intimidating or more than what it is. It is a ballet class — no different than other classes, except maybe there's more of a sharing aspect on the methodology and pedagogy of ballet," Leonard says. The master classes will offer both students and adults an opportunity to expand on their craft. "Ballet, even for myself, is an ongoing learning discipline. Even when you go back into more rudimentary or basic aspects of the training, it benefits everyone to get deeper into the technique itself," he adds. "I teach ballet. I'm 55. I partly do ballet — not on the stage anymore, of course, but I keep learning every day. It doesn't matter the level of study." Johanne Gingras, Teacher Training Program director at Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Kendra Woo, an instructor in the professional division of RWB who serves on the artistic faculty, will lead the master classes at Walton Arts Center. Gingras has been with RWB since 1984 and teaches ballet, pointe, character and repertoire. She also conducts auditions and teaches master classes during the annual RWB School Audition Tour. "Adults that are teaching students would benefit tremendously to join her class," Leonard enthuses. Woo began dancing with RWB Recreational Division when she was 5 years old. After an impressive career as a dancer, she graduated from the RWB School Teacher Training in 2022 and teaches with the RWB School Professional Division. Leonard says the auditions Jan. 24 are akin to a simpler ballet class. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School is seeking dancers to join one of three full-time Professional Division programs: Ballet Academic, The Anna McCowan-Johnson Aspirant, and the Teacher Training Program. Applicants will audition as a group. "The audition itself is a little bit simpler than the standard ballet class," he explains. "The level of technique is not the only thing we're looking at." For instance, for students in fifth to seventh grade, he says, "we are looking for aptitudes and ability, and not necessarily somebody that has a lot of background in dance or has been training since they're 3 years old." Instead, "we look for the physical aptitude for dance: Are they musical? Do have a natural ability to jump or a good sense of coordination," he says. "We'll look at their flexibility," in addition to watching them do "fun exercises — waltzing around for us to see coordination and musicality." He adds that he hopes dancers don't "Ballet, even for myself, is an ongoing learning discipline," says Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Director Stephane Leonard. "I teach ballet. I'm 55. I partly do ballet — not on the stage anymore, of course, but I keep learning every day. It doesn't matter the level of study." (Courtesy Photo)