This girl! We've been rooting for her for a long time. But, especially today as she auditions for a college program, we pray with confidence that God is directing her path in choosing a college. Go Maggie. Go Maggie!
Proverbs 3:6 "In all your ways submit to Him and He will direct your paths."
Still Pointe's Winter Concert Comes To The Stage This Week!
Our story ballet, Gerda and The Snow Queen, is a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale of sweet friendship between a neighboring girl and boy, rooted in faith but challenged by evil.
Gerda & Kai delight in all good things, from the flowers in the window boxes to snowflakes, to Gerda’s grandmother’s stories. But when Kai’s heart and eye are pierced by slivers from the wicked hobgoblin’s evil mirror, everything looks different and he begins to treat Gerda badly and uncharacteristically follows the beautiful and alluring Snow Queen.
Gerda sets out to find Kai, encountering many challenges and apparent mis-directions, but she persists, and as it turns out each turn leads closer to Kai and redemption.
Come enjoy this story of virtue, resilience and determination in the face of adversity featuring 48 dancers from Still Pointe.
Forsyth Central High School.
Friday, January 15 at 7pm
and
Saturday, January 16th at 11am and 2:30pm
This dance performance is appropriate for all ages.
Thankful for a Great Beginning
Written by Larry Kahn, Executive Director of PD Gladiators and instrumental in Dance for Parkinson's being offered at Still Pointe.
Still Pointe's newest offering, Dance for Parkinson's, enjoyed a wonderful inaugural class. This is how community-based exercise programs are supposed to work! Kitty Chin, a physical therapist with a large Parkinson's practice, had a vision for her patients to keep exercising in a safe, fun and sustainable program after rehab. She enlisted the aid of patient advocates PD Gladiators (PDG) and community partners Eleanor and Rob Rogers of Still Pointe. PDG obtained funding from the National Parkinson Foundation for the Rogers' training with the Mark Morris Dance Group in NY. The Rogers welcomed the PD community with a very modestly-priced and enthusiastically-produced program, and Kitty, PDG, the NPF and the American Parkinson Disease Association - Georgia Chapter helped get the word out to the Parkinson's community. We all have to work together.
From Eleanor: And, work together we did! We were encouraged by the positive feedback from all the participants after our first 2 classes. We will be meeting every Tuesday from noon until 1pm. Come join us!
Becoming Snow by Maggie Boggs
Wonderfully created in the image of God.
Handwritten notes are the best gifts. A handwritten note written by a mom who beautifully expresses what is in your heart to do is treasured and reminds me as we prepare to begin again that it isn’t just about ballet.
Training Through The Summer
Still Pointe has a number of students who have taken advantage of these summer months to step-up their training. Summer is the perfect time to solidify and improve technique. Below you will find an interview with one of our ASPIRE dancers, Allison B. Currently, Allison is at the Rock School in Philadelphia for a second year in a row. Congratulations to all our dancers who have dug deep this summer both in our studio and at pre-professional schools where dancers soak up the excellent training offered by sought after professionals.
Still Pointe Studios Blog:
SP: How long have you danced/how do you envision dance fitting into your future?
God has blessed me with a gift and passion for dance. I have been dancing for 12 years, (my mom would say I’ve always had happy feet), and do not plan on stopping anytime soon. I strive to be a professional ballerina one day who dances for the Lord. The ballet world is my mission field and I strive to make Him known through dance.
SP: Last summer you went out of town to a ballet summer intensive. Where did you go and how long was the program?
Last summer, by God’s grace and provision, I was able to go to the Rock School’s five week summer intensive in Philadelphia, PA.
SP: What were some of the goals you set for yourself as you prepared mentally for the intensive?
· Stronger relationship with God
· Be a light to those around me
· Don’t compare myself to others, but be confident in the gifts the Lord has given me and do my best
· Become a better dancer
SP: I know out of town summer intensives are quite pricey and that you did several things to help with the costs of the program. Can you tell us about that?
I sent out fundraising letters to my family and friends. I took babysitting jobs any time I possibly could. I also partnered with CiCi’s Pizza when my youth group was going there after one of our events and they gave me a percentage of the profit made that night. I am so blessed to have so many supporters.
SP: Tell us how you felt during the weeks and days leading up to the first day of the intensive.
The weeks leading up to the intensive flew by. I took in every moment I had with my family and friends because I knew that I would not be seeing them like I normally would. I was very excited to be going to a ballet school out of state and to experience new teachers. Dancing makes me super excited and happy and I was looking forward to dancing all day, every day. It was also nerve-racking knowing that it would be different from anything I had ever experienced.
SP: Tell us about the very first day.
The first day I walked in and sat down in the lobby on the first floor waiting with the many dancers to be called back to the studios. I did not know anyone, I did not know what to expect, and I was nervous. However, I soon realized that many people didn’t know anyone else either. I met a girl and she was very friendly. We all went into the biggest studio on the fifth floor. The directors then introduced themselves and the Rock School Staff. Then they gave a small orientation about the school and what to expect. After that, we began our first class. In this class we received name tags that we wore the whole intensive. These tags said our first name and last initial, how many weeks we were dancing and what level we were in. After my first class, I went down to the cafeteria and ate my packed lunch with the girl who I met at the beginning of the day. Then I had my afternoon classes. It was a very exciting, full day, and by the end of it I was worn out.
SP: During the intensive, what did a typical day look like for you?
A typical day would start with a ballet technique class in the morning and then I would go down to the cafeteria for lunch. We had a pretty long lunch break, so I had time to read, write in my journal, skype my family, stretch, and pretty much have time for myself. After lunch break, I had another ballet technique class followed by a pointe class. After my pointe class, I had rehearsal for the final show scheduled for the end of the intensive. I didn’t have rehearsal every night but at least three days a week. After rehearsal, I would eat dinner in the cafeteria and then hop back on the bus and go back to the dorms.
SP: What were some highlights of your 5 weeks of training at the Rock School?
I loved every minute I was at the Rock School. The best moment I had was the beginning of the third week. I was actually really sad that first Monday because I had a hard time saying goodbye to my mom and sister. They stayed with me the first two weeks and then went back home while I stayed in the dorms for the last three. In my first class of the day, I was getting a little teary-eyed thinking about them. God is so gracious and He took care of me. In His perfect timing, the director so happened to be watching that class. She told me at the end of class that I was moving up to a higher level! I was thrilled and felt more confident not only in my dancing, but also knowing that God was taking care of me. He knew that I needed that extra push to keep going even when I had no family to be with me. This was definitely the biggest highlight of my time at the Rock school. After I moved up, I had more hours of training and I also got to take a partnering class once a week. I conquered my triple pirouette and was very happy because I could tell I was improving. Of course, I loved performing on stage at the end of the intensive. I was so glad to see my family and the Rogers family after the show. Another cool thing was my roommate’s name was Allison too.
SP: Did you encounter any particular challenges and how did you face those challenges?
During my time at the Rock, I was recovering from peroneal tendonitis. My feet didn’t bother me every class I took, but the first few days were the worse than the rest. In order to get to the studios, you have to take at least four or five flights of stairs and stairs were one of the main things that aggravated my feet. I was constantly going up and down and my feet were hurting bad enough that I had to sit out of some of my classes. I never sat out of a full class, but I did have to sit out when it came time for jumping. I discovered there was an elevator available and did not take the stairs after that. Not taking the stairs helped my feet tremendously. I also took an ice bath every lunch break.
Another big challenge was I did not have any Christian friends. I did not meet one Christian while I was there. This was difficult because I did not have anyone to encourage me in my faith. However, I did have Someone who was taking care of me. God was with me and He was my true friend, comforter, and sustainer. I found encouragement from the Bible that He is on my side and I have nothing to fear.
I became friends with one girl in particular who told me that she was not very religious. I was able to share my faith with her and be a light. Every morning we took a bus to the Rock from the college dorms where we were staying. I used this time to listen to podcasts by John Piper, Paul David Tripp, Matt Chandler, and many more. It was a refreshing way to start my day. One time I was sitting with my friend on the bus and we both listened to a podcast together. It was really cool to see God reaching out to those who do not know Him. I continued to build a relationship with her and had many opportunities to shine Jesus’s light.
SP: Did you find the other dancers encouraging to one another or competitive with one another? Did you make any friends?
For the most part, I would say that the other dancers were friendly. There were some that were a little more competitive than others. Outside of the studio, I would say that most everyone was friendly. In the studio, to be honest, I was not really paying attention to those around me because I was focused on getting as much out of every class as I could. Looking at others would only distract me from the reason why I came. I did make friends with my roommates and a few other girls from my class.
SP: So, what are your plans for this summer?
This summer I am going back to the Rock School for another five weeks. This time I will be staying in a dorm the entire time.
SP: Are you preparing in a different way? What are your goals the second time around?
This time around, I am more confident. One, because I know what to expect. Two, since last summer, I have grown closer in my relationship with the Lord. I am going to use the gifts that He has given me to the fullest. I am also excited because this time I am going with a dear friend, Juliette. It will be easier for me this time because I know someone, and not just any someone, a good Christian friend. Having a friend who I can encourage and be encouraged from is a blessing from the Lord.
My goals the second time around include drawing closer to God, and being a light to those who are around me. As far as technique goals, I plan on continuing to improve my level of control, increase the height of my arabesque, work on having better quality in my jumps, and being able to do multiple pirouettes.
SP: Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience?
I want to encourage anyone who is thinking about or is about to go away to a summer intensive that God is with you always. Yes, learn as much as you can from your classes and teachers; however, the most important thing is to have a strong foundation in the Lord. He gave you your gifts and talents and He deserves the glory. When things get hard and don’t go the way you expect or want, God will give you the strength you need.
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
A Moment of Worship
A post by Kelly Negvesky, mom of two ballet V students.
In the womb she seemed to always be moving and when she breathed deep on this globe, I recognized the movements. So, no surprise that she spoke to us often in movement. She learned her alphabet running from letter to letter on the stairs in our house. And if music sounded on the airwaves, she wafted through her daily life moving to it. Always, moving to it.
Creative movement dance class at the age of 4 seemed a given. The dance teacher instructed me that the class was more for me than her. Partly true, she moved so much and a creative space to learn to do that without knocking over an aisle display seemed wise. But the journey into worship that she would draw me into with each performance proved an unexpected delight.
When I embarked on this mom journey, I spent a lot of time processing what I wanted these offspring, these adults to-one-day-be, to look like when they present themselves on the world’s stage. I wanted productive, diligent, dynamic people that lived a life shining the glory of their God. Who would believe that I’d find the ballet studio to be the ultimate training ground to help develop just such character?
From 4 year old creative movement to the heights of pointe work, I have watched my daughters wrestle kindness, perseverance, trustworthiness, and teamwork. Watched them dig deep to find gratitude when they were not cast in a primary role; offer true congratulations to the one who did. Take the time to include and draw out a ballerina that feels her body type or abilities fall short of where she wants to be.
It has been a blessing to find instructors passionate about the heart and soul of the girl over her center stage potential and ultimately her reflective nature on the studio. These instructors do exist and move after move it has taken but a little prayer to uncover these unique teachers, unique studios. If you are wondering, Still Pointe is just such a place.
Each dance year culminates in that final recital. I claim a seat front and center in a generic auditorium and take in this year’s growth and development, glittery costumes and props. But when the music plays, I realize the music and movement is drawing me to a place most holy, when the dancer becomes a conduit that beckons me into the throne room of a King and the Holy Spirit indwells this generic auditorium. It is a moment of worship most unique.
Bibbidy Bobbidy Boo
Each year, Still Pointe gives an award to students who have been studying with us for 5 consecutive years. In the next few weeks, our fairy godmother will be putting the finishing touches on beautifully decorated pointe shoes for the honorees. These uniquely designed awards will be presented at our annual spring concert. Congratulations to this year's hardworking students! We love you!
Finding a Home
Post by Ellie Swiger.
Ellie Swiger graduated from Chattahoochee High School summa cum laude in the spring of 2014. She is continuing her education at Georgia Tech with a major in Industrial Engineering and minors in computer science and technical communication. When she's not studying, she volunteers at a local afterschool center, coordinates Homecoming and Greek Week activities for her sorority, plans events for the freshman class through the Freshman Activities Board, and comes back to visit Still Pointe as much as possible.
Dancing is something that gets in your blood- once you identify as a dancer, especially as a ballerina, you can never go back. And since I started dancing at the wee age of 3, I was hooked from the start. Ballet was bound to be a part of my life. This has plenty of perks: dancing is great exercise, teaches good discipline, and is a fantastic creative outlet. However, it is surprisingly difficult to find a studio with people with whom you actually want to spend the amount of time a commitment to ballet requires. Oftentimes dancers are catty, clique-y, and overly competitive.
Throughout my entire dancing career, I refused to accept these tendencies. I was never ready to let my love for ballet lead me into relationships with people who did not have my best interests in mind, who didn't value the same things I did, who made me want to skip class because I felt unwelcome and under constant scrutiny. I became a studio-hopper. Over 11 years of dancing, I went to 10 different studios. I hadn't spent a summer NOT studio shopping in what seemed like forever. I took it to be a normal part of the ballet experience.
All of that changed when I came to Sill Pointe. My first class, everyone immediately introduced themselves to me, welcomed me, helped me learn the steps to any of the set barre combinations, and congratulated me when I conquered the dreaded "8 8 4 4 2 2 1 1" combo. After the class was over, I felt like I had made a bunch of new friends and learned a lot. This feeling never went away, and I kept coming back- I couldn't get enough of the positive attitudes, love, and encouragement I was constantly surrounded with. And I was learning more and more each class, and actually improving. I think that part of the reason for this was the incredible teachers, and the other part was the fact that Still Pointe has an atmosphere that encourages pushing oneself- because if you fall, they'll be there to pick you up, and cheer you on for working that hard. I'd never found that before, and I don't know if I'll ever find it again, but I don't mind, because I know I can always call Still Pointe my dance home, and I will be coming back as often as possible.