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Week #2: More Thoughts From the ABT Summer Intensive Program in Alabama - Our Wonderful Faculty

Charles Maple, Director of the Maple Conservatory of Dance

July 3, 2007

It is the beginning of the second week here at the American Ballet Theatre Summer Program at Alabama. It was a whirlwind first week that saw so many accomplishments. I am proud of what the students here have been able achieve in such a short time.

It is my job as Artistic Coordinator of the ABT Summer Program in Alabama to bring together an expert team of ballet masters who can work together to engage, enrich and inspire our young dancers.

These ballet masters are the backbone of the Alabama program. They are the guiding light for the dancers whom they take under their wings for three challenging weeks in Tuscaloosa.

I have put together an intense three-week schedule that leads up to our final performances. The faculty prepares several weeks in advance for this program. Each teacher has a demanding schedule of teaching classes, directing rehearsals, coaching variations, choreographing ballets, reconstructing ballets, casting ballets, and even setting up a photo shoot. They all possess an acute musicality, a sharp eye for detail and the phenomenal ability to remember when they danced these roles that they are now teaching — all of this while nurturing these young dancers with calm dispositions and patience.

Take Denise Limoli. She is an exceptional teacher. "I try to focus on basic technique concepts and details," says Denise. "I want the students to gain a greater understanding of technique so that they can ultimately learn to teach themselves." I brought Denise to the Alabama program because she is not only an exceptional choreographer and teacher, but she also has an uncanny ability to deconstruct a ballet the way a watchmaker can pull apart a delicate time piece, bit by bit, and put it back together. Denise is calm, intelligent and extremely demanding as a teacher.

Denise: The Master!

Then there is Lorin Johnson. He is another exceptionally gifted teacher and choreographer. Being a college professor at California State University at Long Beach, Lorin has an inquisitive mind and is always on the hunt for new ways to teach and help dancers. "I always find it inspiring and invigorating to re-join my colleagues from American Ballet Theatre and The University of Alabama," he says. "I learn a tremendous amount by watching them teach and discussing with them the latest teaching methods." Lorin has a keen eye for detail. One student told me that Lorin's corrections helped her attain a whole new level in her dancing.

Lorin Johnson: An Inquisitive Mind

Like Lorin, Amy Rose has an attentive eye and is organized and methodical in her work. She was given the task of putting together a Don Quixote ballet suite that tells a story. Before the summer program began, she was studying different sections of the first act of Don Quixote for weeks, trying to get every detail in place before teaching it to the students. Since Amy is not a choreographer, this has been a monumental task. I gave Amy this assignment because she puts so much preparation into her stagings. She has intelligence and intuition, and as a stager, she has an extraordinary facility to set the ballet very close to its original format and intent. "I like the challenge of teaching new students," she says. "I like to see that light go on in their head when they come to understand a new idea. I am inspired and excited by that."

Amy Rose with two students from the Violet Level

Carla Stallings Lippert was a substitute for my colleague, Colleen O'Callaghan, who required a last-minute hip replacement procedure and was, sadly, unable to join us this summer. Carla has been staging La Bayadere and is doing a wonderful job. Carla carries about her a calm and quiet nature that she uses to gently, but firmly, nudge the dancers into perfection. Carla is inspired to be part of the Alabama team. "This has been such a wonderful surprise," she says. "I am delighted to see and work with so much fresh young talent from all over America." I am delighted to have her as a part of the team this summer.

A little break with Carla Stallings Lippert

Rita Snyder is a professor in the Dance Department here at The University of Alabama. She has been a faculty member of this summer program for the last five years. Rita is a truly talented and remarkable woman. She is totally dedicated to the world of dance. Rita is also an excellent choreographer. She has a vivid imagination and a pure sense of craft in every piece that she creates. "I teach college kids," she says. "It's nice to teach these younger dancers since I don't get that chance anymore."

Rita Snyder: Hard at work

Gage Bush is a much beloved teacher here in Alabama. She had a long career with ABT and The Joffrey Ballet. She and her husband Richard Englund were the original directors of the Ballet Repertory Company, which is the predecessor to the ABT Studio Company of today. Gage serves as Ballet Mistress of the ABT Studio Company and is an honorary member of ABT's Board of Trustees. In 1997, she helped to establish the ABT Summer Program at the University of Alabama. It was the first training program for young dancers to be held by ABT outside of New York. Gage loves to tell stories from the past that are simply glorious. Gage brings class and a wonderful historical perspective of the ballet traditions, in the form of a real "Southern Belle."

Gage Bush: A true Southern Belle

As for me, well, I loved being a dancer, but I also had a very nice stage career. I enjoy being in the studio, teaching and rehearsing, ready to give back what I've learned from everyone whom I've ever worked with. You can instill technique, but after you get that technique, it's the inner spark of the artist that really matters — the energy, the emotion of getting absolutely lost in what you are doing.

"Can I have this dance?"

For the dancer, it's all about the corrections. For the choreographer it's all about the work. And for the ballet master, it's all about everything that needs to get done, from the studio to the final performance on the stage.

All of the ballet masters here in Alabama are great artists in their own right. As a team, here at the ABT Summer Program in Alabama we have created together an opportunity to be a guiding light for these young dancers and truly make a difference in their lives.

Amy: Still smiling after Don Quixote

Teaching the glorious Green Level

Whew! The end of week one!

Charles A. Maple
Director, Maple Conservatory of Dance
Email: info@mapleconservatory.com