Wednesday, August 27, 2008

HEY, FACEBOOKERS!

Become a fan of Cassandra Shaffer Dance Ensemble on Facebook! It's the new cool thing to do.

Go on, don't be shy...

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Le Sacre Du Printemps: The Oddball Child


You heard it here first:
Le Sacre Du Printemps: The Oddball Child.
There are no elders, no mystics, and no implied nudity in this version of Le Sacre. CSDE and Stravinsky's score tell the tale of the Spring family, a normal middle-class family with four children, one of whom has always been a little....strange. Things start getting stranger after the young woman turns sixteen, and soon the family learns that something evil is afoot...

We also started our first pointe piece since......since..... since Rebekah French's solo in Season 1. Which doesn't really count, because it was a solo and also because she ended up not doing my choreography. But that's another story for another time. We're doing Celebre Tarantelle, and I love that it's being created at the same time as Sacre because of the opposing duality between both pieces: One is ultra-classical, ultra balletic, petite allegro and pointe work that involves many releves in a row and fast footwork. The other is as far from ballet as you can get-- very angular, very athletic, very Horton. We are going to be in great shape by the time this ballet is finished. In the meantime, we will be very sore.

Today's rehearsal was also a happy occasion because Diana came back! We haven't seen her in a long time (since Big Range), and we sure did miss her. In addition, we recently welcomed Robin Lynne Evans to the Ensemble. She is a recent graduate of Sam Houston State University, where she received a bachelor's degree in dance. Welcome to the family!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Checking In/Announcement

Greetings from California!
Roxy is now the CSDE production assistant-- which means she's in charge when I'm not around. Tim is choreographing for the next 2 weeks while I'm at UC, but she'll be the "Mom" of the group-- so between now and the 15th, if you're going to be late/absent/etc let Roxy know. I'm 2,000 miles away; so until I get back letting me know doesn't help (especially because internet/cell phone service is hit or miss up here). :>
Congrats Roxy!

I miss you all, and I can't wait to see what you've been cooking up in Tim's rehearsals. :-) See you in two weeks!

Here's the schedule again in case anyone needs it:
Friday, August 8th from 7:30-9 (Danielle & Cassandra Out)
Sunday, August 11th from 10am-12pm (Danielle & Cassandra Out)
**No rehearsal August 15th**
Sunday, August 17th from 10am-12pm

Love,
C