Ballet Uncovered ~ Balancing Pointe Podcast

Rebecca King was born and raised in Northern California. She received her ballet training from former San Francisco Ballet School Director and ABT dancer Richard Cammack, former ABT and SFB dancer Zola Dishong, former NYCB dancer Charles Anderson and former Royal Swedish Ballet dancer Katarina Wester at Contra Costa Ballet Centre in Walnut Creek, Calif. King spent two summers studying at San Francisco Ballet School under the direction of Gloria Govrin. Her senior year in high school, she attended The Rock School in Philadelphia. After graduating in 2006, she moved to Miami to train at Miami City Ballet School.

King joined Miami City Ballet in 2007 as a company apprentice and was promoted to corps de ballet in 2008. I n 2010, she founded a dance blog, TendusUnderAPalmTree.com, which has enabled her to reach out to dancers and audience members from around the globe. 

Omar's first connection with visual storytelling through the art of mime theatre. Omar had the privilege of studying under the tutelage of Marcel Marceau at L’École Internationale de Mimodrame de Paris Marcel Marceau. Later, when he went to college to acquire his B.A in Communications and Arts, he discovered in photography a new way of telling stories without words. With photography he could immortalize the moments for a little longer. He has since explored as many areas of photography as he possibly can. Among these, Omar has found a unique way to photograph dancers athleticism and grit while maintaining their beauty and grace - all while immersed in an urban setting. 

Omar Z Robles Photography

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On today's episode of Balancing Pointe Podcast the Host, Kimberly Falker is in the HOT seat!  Melissa Klapper is the host and asks Kimberly all of the questions you may not know.  On this episode she is not uncovering Ballet, but uncovering HER journey in life, in podcasting and in her struggles as a mother of an aspiring ballerina.

Melissa Klapper is a History professor at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey and asked Kimberly to provide her some information as research for the book she is in the process of researching and writing, Ballet Class: An American History which is a scholarly book that will explore the twentieth-century growth of ballet class as a central part of American childhood. Melissa is currently on sabbatical and is devoting herself full time to the research and completion of this book. This will me Dr. Klapper's fourth scholarly book but her first book focusing on Ballet.  

Melissa's other books are; Small Strangers: The Experiences of Immigrant Children in America, 1880-1925 (American Childhoods Series), Jewish Girls Coming of Age in America, 1860-1920 and Ballots, Babies, and Banners of Peace: American Jewish Women's Activism, 1890-1940.

Dr. Klapper reached out to Kimberly to interview her as research for her book. From this they came up with the idea to record the interview and use it as its own episode on Balancing Pointe Podcast.  As you will hear, Kimberly provides a detailed history into her life and experiences as well as providing authentic thoughts on the hardships, frustrations and confusion she feels raising a daughter who is pursuing a life in Ballet.

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On each episode Megan answers YOUR questions each and every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Today’s question come from:

CRUSHED who wrote in saying "Hi Megan, I am 17 years old and in the middle of Summer Intensive Auditions. Each year since I was 13 years old I have gotten into some very reputable programs (including SAB) and have always received at least one full scholarship.  This year not only have I not received ANY scholarship but I have not really received many acceptances.  I am SO upset because I work so hard and now I feel this Th is the ballet world telling me I am not good enough after all.  Do you have an opinion on what might be happening and how I can feel more confident."  Signed, Crushed.

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On each episode Megan answers YOUR questions each and every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Today’s question come from:

Amy who is a Ballet Instructor.  She recalls many lessons learned from teachers she had as a young aspiring dancer.  She wonders what are Megan's most important pieces of advice she tries to pass on to her student's when she teaches.

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Do you have a question about Ballet?

YOU can be a part of the show by sending us your questions by clicking HERE:

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Originally from Brussels, Belgium, Olivier Wevers is the founder and Artistic Director of Seattle’s critically acclaimed contemporary dance company Whim W’Him. In 2012 Wevers was honored with the City of Seattle’s Mayor’s Arts Award and in 2011 he received the Princess Grace Choreographic Fellowship. In both 2011 and 2010 Wevers’ work took home the grand prize award at the Annual Dance Under the Stars Choreography Festival in California and he has also been named by Dance Magazine as one of their 25 to watch.

Wevers first began exploring choreography in 2002 while still a Principal Dancer at Seattle’s Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB). In 2009 he founded Whim W’Him to create a “platform, centered around choreography and dance, for artists to explore their craft through innovation and collaboration.” In 2011 Whim W’Him was named the resident dance company of Intiman Theatre.

This episode features two of my previous guests Nel Shelby and Margaret Mullin who are working together on a very special project; a full length documentary called "No Dominion", a film Celebrating the life of the late Ian Horvath, champion for the art of dance and AIDS awareness. 

The film is the brain child and passion project of Margaret Mullin who is a soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet.  As you will learn in this interview, this has been in Margaret's thoughts since she first saw Ian's work when she was in the 7th grade.  

As Margaret's vision began to take shape into reality, it was suggested she reach out the acclaimed film maker, Nel Shelby.  Together they are creating something amazing.  Together they are sharing with the world a beautiful story and showing that a vision and dream can become a reality when hard work is coupled with a good purpose.

If you would like to contribute to this film, please click on the link below. 

Contribute here:

Make a donation here.

No Dominion Film

On each episode Megan answers YOUR questions each and every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Today a listener brought Megan a brand new challenge and asked to hear from a Royal Ballet dancer.

As you will hear, NO listener challenge is too great for Megan Fairchild as she brings us an exclusive interview with Leanne Cope from Royal Ballet!  

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Do you have a question about Ballet?

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Today’s guest is a break from my usual – my guest today is Doctor Linda Stirrup who is a dentist as well as an author of a children’s book series featuring a young girl named Natalie Jean.  Up on My Tippy Toes, beautifully illustrated by Reginald William Butler, is the story of a young girl whose resolve to take up ballet begins to crumble when she finds her first class challenging. Will she gain the resolve to return? 

Maggie Kudirka was a member of the Joffrey Concert Group in NYC when she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in June 2014. She was only 23 years old and had no risk factors for breast cancer other than being female. Results from a subsequent genetics screening showed that she did not carry the genes linked to breast cancer.

Maggie had a large, aggressive tumor that grew very quickly and spread to her bones and lymph nodes. She moved back home to be with her family and began treatment at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

Fortunately, her type of breast cancer (positive for Her2, ER & PR) responds very well to the drug Herceptin. Maggie's tumor began shrinking after her first chemo treatment on 7/1/14 and continued to shrink until it was completely gone. The pathology report following her double mastectomy on 12/26/14 found no cancer in either breast or lymph nodes. She had a pathological complete response. Six days after surgery, Maggie was back in the studio working to regain my strength, stamina, and technique. Maggie hopes to return to dance in NYC again.

Once breast cancer metastasizes to another body part, it is very difficult to know if all the cancer has really left the body after treatment. Tiny, undetectable cancer cells could be lurking dormant in the body. If these cells come to life, the cancer will return. That is why metastatic (stage 4) breast cancer is considered incurable. To keep the cancer cells dormant, Maggie will remain on medications for the rest of her life or until a cure is found. The cost of these medications is enormous: $4,000 to $9,000 per dose, per drug. She receives two drugs every 3 weeks, and a 3rd drug every 4 weeks. Maggie is hoping to join a clinical trial testing a treatment that will keep her cancer from returning.

The costs of battling cancer are enormous even with health insurance which does not cover all expenses. Maggie greatly appreciates donations in any amount for her medical expenses. If you would like to help, tax deductible donations can be made at:

http://www.theyoungandbrave.com/warriors/maggie-k/#sthash.NoVcxbRI.dpuf

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