Miss Debra's Dancing Doorways

Miss Debra's Dancing DoorwaysMiss Debra's Dancing DoorwaysMiss Debra's Dancing Doorways
  • Home
  • Dance Facts
  • What People Say
  • About the Author
  • More
    • Home
    • Dance Facts
    • What People Say
    • About the Author

Miss Debra's Dancing Doorways

Miss Debra's Dancing DoorwaysMiss Debra's Dancing DoorwaysMiss Debra's Dancing Doorways
  • Home
  • Dance Facts
  • What People Say
  • About the Author

DANCE FACTS FOR KIDS

ARABESQUE

TRAIL BLAZER DEBRA AUSTIN

MR. B. WAS ONCE A CHILD

  • Did you know ballet terms are in French?
  • Arabesque is named for a curly-cue decoration
  • One leg supports the body, other leg is extended, and arms lift out from the body.
  • Zhirui Zou is playing the wicked Black Swan with Ballet Theatre of Maryland.

MR. B. WAS ONCE A CHILD

TRAIL BLAZER DEBRA AUSTIN

MR. B. WAS ONCE A CHILD

  • George Balanchine, known as Mr. B, was born in Russia. 
  • Was a Candy Cane in an early Nutcracker. 
  • Lots of children danced in his New York City Ballet Nutcrackers. 
  • Made up the ballet The Spellbound Child 
  • Here he is standing behind the young Christopher Byars.

TRAIL BLAZER DEBRA AUSTIN

TRAIL BLAZER DEBRA AUSTIN

TRAIL BLAZER DEBRA AUSTIN

  • 16 years old - first African American woman to join New York City Ballet.
  • Joined Pennsylvania Ballet as first African American Principal Ballerina hired by a major company outside Dance Theatre of Harlem
  • Known for hanging in the air with her high flying jumps Here with William DeGregory in Who Cares? in Penn-Milwaukee Ballet
  • Now a master teacher



FLYING DANCER

BALLET DANCERS FLY!

TRAIL BLAZER DEBRA AUSTIN

  • Guillermo Asca slices the air as he arches his back.
  • Men dance with strength and power.
  • Did you know that Revelations by Alvin Ailey, is one of the  most popular dances in the world?
  • Revelations ~ blues music, gospels and spirituals.

ARTHUR MITCHELL!

BALLET DANCERS FLY!

BALLET DANCERS FLY!

Arthur Mitchell just black frame

 Arthur Mitchell! (1934-2018) 

  • Paved the Way for Black Dancers 
  • Mitchell did for “ballet what Jackie Robinson did for baseball” 
  • Became the only Black dancer in New York City Ballet in 1956 
  • Powerful, strong & elegant Principal Dancer 
  • Founder & director of Dance Theatre of Harlem —- all Black ballet company 
  • Check out “The Constellation Project” - Mapping the Dark Side of Ballet - at Mobballet.org

BALLET DANCERS FLY!

BALLET DANCERS FLY!

BALLET DANCERS FLY!

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

by New York City Ballet 

  • Ballet dancers fly! The character Puck is a sprite who causes all kinds of fun trouble.  
  • Wires are attached to dancer Roman Mejia, so he floats above the stage. Technical crews behind the scenes make this happen. 
  • Roman’s father is Paul Mejia and also danced with the ballet company years ago. 
  • William Shakespeare wrote this comedy over 400 years ago. 
  • Choreographed by ballet company founder George Balanchine. He even danced in the ballet. 
  • Photo by Erin Baiano

Miss Debra's Dancing Doorways

SYKESVILLE, MD

443-290-8586

Copyright © 2022 Miss Debra's Dancing Doorways - All Rights Reserved.