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"Nutmeg Conservatory teams up with local school for intro to ballet series"
Oct 18, 2019
By Jack Sheedy | The Litchfield County Times
Students from St. John Paul the Great Academy practice stretching exercises at Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory, part of a 10-week collaborative outreach program between the two organizations.
TORRINGTON – Students from St. John Paul the Great Academy, formerly St. Peter/St. Francis School, are learning a few things about ballet they probably never knew.
See Original Article On The Litchfield County Times
“When you put words together, you can tell a story,” said Victoria Mazzarelli, artistic director at Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory. She told the group of 25 students, from grades 5 through 8, that learning ballet is like putting letters together to form words, then sentences, then stories.
“In ballet, you combine a sequence of steps to create a dance. Dancers use their bodies to tell the story,” she said.
The introductory program came about through a conversation among Father Emmanuel Ihemedu, Pastor of St. John Paul the Great Parish in Torrington; Joan Kunsch, Nutmeg’s associate artistic director and national audition tour co-director; and Dr. Nancy Testa, principal of St. John Paul the Great Academy.
When Father Ihemedu was assigned to the parish in 2018, he was faced with the prospect of closing the school. He feared that would be bad for the parish and bad for the community. He found creative ways to keep it open, including implementing a sliding tuition scale and expanding the curriculum.
Father Ihemedu and Kunsch spoke with Dr. Testa, who approved the program. Nutmeg then designed a 10-week curriculum for novice dancers, many with no previous ballet experience. Sessions include gentle limbering and strengthening exercises, posture, basic ballet combinations, jumps and other lessons.
“The series of classes is intended to improve balance, musicality, coordination, quick learning skills, muscular engagement, changes of dynamic, core strength, and arm control. All exercises are intended to increase focus and attention span,” a program description states.
Alexandria Propfe, a junior high and intermediate teacher at the school, said, “They come to school the next day and tell us how sore they are. It’s good for them. It’s designed so the kids can become aware of everything that ballet is. It’s not just what they think it is. There’s a lot more to it. They’re really enjoying it.”
“The kids are loving it,” Testa agreed. She said it brings life back into learning and brings out each child’s creativity. She said when she greets them on their return each week and asks how it went, they say, “Oh, it was great! We get to have fun, but at the same time we’re stretching. We know it’s helping us to build our core.”
“Not only does it open up the kids’ eyes, but it also starts putting them in a mind frame, let’s say, of what they think they want to do later in life,” Testa said.
Kunsch, one of the instructors of the class, said, “When they understood and could do what was asked of them, the students’ faces lit up with joy. This sort of self confidence-building achievement and fulfillment of talent can provide an impetus for a healthy and productive future. Victoria Mazzarelli and I are so happy to be a part of this new initiative.”
Mia Mastrogiovanni, an eighth-grade student in the program, said that when she first heard of the program, “I thought that was the coolest thing ever, because when I was younger I always dreamed of dancing up here.”
Conal Toland, a sixth-grader, said he had two reasons for volunteering to take the program.
“Number one, it would take time off from school,” he said with a laugh, but quickly added, “and number two, I’m always riding by here and see people in here so I thought, hey, maybe I can go inside there.”
Mia said, “I just love everything about it. The room is cool. The teachers are great. I just love it all.”
Conal said that he loves even the things he’s bad at. Asked what those might be, he laughed, “Most of it. When we do that skip and gallop, I always fall down on my knees.”
The program is one of many ways Nutmeg reaches out to the community to instruct or entertain in free or low-cost ways, according to Donna Mattiello, director of academics. In addition to offering this program, Nutmeg routinely asks its students to perform at civic events, schools, business openings, fund-raising events, festivals, nursing homes, libraries and more.
Mazzarelli said, “The discipline and focus that it takes to be a dancer is something that can be transferred to the students’ everyday life. We hope they walk away from each class feeling uplifted and energized!”
For information on other programs Nutmeg offers, and to learn of upcoming events celebrating Nutmeg’s 50th anniversary, call 860-482-4413 or go to nutmegconservatory.org .
IN THE MEDIA
After 50 years of building a reputation for professionalism in dance instruction, Nutmeg Ballet was forced to put that reputation to the test this year. Audition tour director Joan Kunsch injured her arm and was unable to go on her annual 18-city nationwide recruiting tour. But, “Nothing will be canceled,” she promised in early December. “It was up to me to solve it,” said Kunsch. “I thought, ‘Who better to represent Nutmeg than the former students who are making professional company careers around the country?’” She compiled a list of about a dozen Nutmeg alumni around the country and called them. They eagerly accepted the challenge. For example, Kunsch said, “We have a Nutmeg graduate, Amy Potter, who is a principal dancer in the Oklahoma City Ballet, and I called her and she’s ecstatic to do it. She said, ‘Proudly, I would do it. Proudly.’” Another former student, Thel Moore, trained at Nutmeg from 2012 to 2015. He agreed to cover three of Kunsch’s scheduled cities, including Richmond, Va., where he is a danseur at the Richmond Ballet Company. Moore said in an email, “What I typically look for in an audition is a base in classical ballet but also a love for ballet as well. I’m looking for a spark that you usually can’t teach but mold into something beautiful.” He said students are nervous at first, but “when they see the brochure [and] how beautiful the building is and how incredibly professional the staff is, they usually lighten up and get really excited for the audition.” The far-flung team of Nutmeg-trained dancers are directing auditions in January and February in nearly 40 cities in the United States and Canada. Some of these cities are on Tim Melady’s usual itinerary as audition tour co-director. Melady, Nutmeg’s principal ballet master, is also standing in for Kunsch in several cities. Speaking by phone from an airport near St. Louis, Mo., Melady said, “I have been to the West Coast. Seattle had a good turnout. Portland had a good turnout. San Francisco had a good turnout, and they are all so interested in Nutmeg and Torrington!” He said, “We’re so lucky that we have such a respected reputation.” When an auditioning dancer asks about Nutmeg, he refers them to former Nutmeg students in the area, who are happy to talk about their experiences. Melady said the constant influx of students from thousands of miles away is enriching for them, for Nutmeg and for Torrington. “People come to Nutmeg and say, ‘Oh my God, we’re meeting people from Wyoming! From California! This is crazy.’ Everybody knows about Nutmeg Ballet. It’s wonderful!” Kunsch said that when she has gone on the audition tour – which she has done every year since 1993 – she tells dancers, “Not only are you auditioning for Nutmeg; Nutmeg’s auditioning for you.” She tells them, “We’re not looking for perfection. If you were perfect, would you need us? We’re looking for trainability.” Moore said, “Bringing talent from all over is very important because it keeps Nutmeg as one of the best schools to train at in the United States.” Melady said, “[The auditioners] have heard of us, and they’ve heard of our reputation. And that’s a real advantage. Our reputation is golden. There are more and more schools just vying for this slice of talent. And there is always talent.” Victoria Mazzarelli, artistic director, said Torrington auditions at the Nutmeg Conservatory attract not only local aspirants but dancers from New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania for both the summer and year-round programs. Remaining auditions at the Conservatory at 58 Main Street are Feb. 1, 15, 29 and March 7, from 9 a.m. to noon. And by the way, said Mazzarelli, locals are most welcome! “During these next few months, our year-round students and faculty are rehearsing and preparing for our Spring Studio Series that will be held on March 18, 19, 20 and 21,” she said.
TORRINGTON – The first time Shelley Gallo and her mother, Rosemarie Meyer, attended Nutmeg Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” in 1975, they thought it was a musical play. Shelley was four years old. “When are they going to start talking?” she asked her mother. They had never been to a ballet before! But, since that night 44 years ago at Torrington High School’s Little Theatre, they have attended Nutmeg’s “Nutcracker” almost every year, missing it only once due to illness. “I’ll bet we hold the record,” Shelley said. Nutmeg’s “Nutcracker” has since outgrown the high school auditorium, of course, and now is performed yearly at the 1,750-seat Warner Theatre and the 900-seat Belding Theatre at The Bushnell in Hartford. It opens Dec. 7 at the Warner. “I remember going that first time with my mother,” Shelley said, “but I don’t really remember how I felt when I left. I do remember all the pretty ballerinas and the pretty costumes, but I can’t say I ran out of there saying I want to be a ballerina.” Rosemarie said she had taken Shelley to Christmas Village and was looking for something new to share with her. She saw an advertisement for “The Nutcracker” in what was then The Torrington Register. “I thought that was something that I’d like to start with her as a tradition,” she said. “We realized at some point in the performance that it was not going to be a play,” she said. “There was not going to be singing, or any kind of dialogue, but we just watched it in awe because the dancers were so talented and the costumes were so beautiful and the scenery was beautiful. And as the years have gone by, it’s gotten better and better.” Costumes and scenery have evolved, and this year the mother-daughter duo are looking forward to revolutionary changes. To mark Nutmeg’s 50th anniversary, hundreds of the 1,200 costumes will be new, designed by Janessa Urwin and Susan Aziz and hand-finished at Nutmeg’s own costume shop. And the 22-year-old set by Campbell Baird will be replaced by spectacular scenery by Boston’s theatrical designer Roger LaVoie. Artistic director Victoria Mazzarelli has reimagined the choreography, and Brian Sciarra has designed new lighting. There will be some delightful surprises. “There have been little tweaks every year,” Shelley said. “Maybe the lighting is a little different, or the choreography is different, or maybe there’s a sash on a costume that’s a different color. My mother and I would bump elbows and whisper, ‘Did you see that?’ This is the first year that we can’t compare our notes.” When they heard that things would look very different this year, Shelley said she and her mom were at first nervous. “But I’m sure it will be beautiful.” Rosemarie said, “I can’t wait to see this year’s new scenery and costumes. We’re both really excited about it.” Rosemarie and Shelley both love family traditions, especially around Christmastime. Since Shelley was a child, she helped her mother every year bake cookies. Now, though she lives in New Hartford and her mom lives in Torrington, Shelley says she still bakes more than 1,000 cookies every Christmas and gives them to co-workers, family and friends. “The Nutcracker” is perfect for tradition-minded people, she believes. “I love the story because it’s the whole Christmas Eve party, and I come from an Italian family,” she said. “Christmas Eve is the biggest celebration in my family. It’s such a magical time, even for me now. I carry on the cookie-baking traditions my mother and my two Italian grandmothers carried throughout the years.” Nutmeg’s new 2019 “Nutcracker” ushers in a brand-new tradition as Nutmeg Ballet enters its second half-century. Tickets can be ordered through Nutmeg’s website – also reimagined and redesigned for the occasion – at www.nutmegconservatory.org. Warner Theatre performances are Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. Performances at The Bushnell in Hartford are Dec. 14 and 15 at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
