Cassand Ballet blog

2011-11-13T15:32:00.000-08:00

Cassand Ballet Year-end Showcase

A medley of classical, neoclassical ballet, Modern-Jazz, and a preview of Rodolphe Cassand's Études, featuring Mads ERIKSEN, formerly with Royal Danish Ballet and the choreograph himself, formerly with Ballet National de Marseille - Roland Petit.

Not to be missed: an homage to Roland Petit with Rodolphe CASSAND as The Black Swan.

Seats are limited. Buy your tickets early.

Spectacle de fin d'année de Cassand Ballet

Une sélection de danses classiques, néoclassiques, modern-jazz, et une avant-première du ballet "Études" de Rodolphe CASSAND, avec la participation exceptionnelle de Mads ERIKSEN, ex-danseur du Ballet Royal du Danemark et du chorégraphe lui-même, ex-danseur soliste du Ballet National de Marseille - Roland Petit.

A ne pas manquer : un hommage à Roland Petit avec Rodophe CASSAND en Cygne Noir.

Les places sont limitées. Ne tardez pas à acheter vos billets.

Saturday December 10, 2011 - 7PM

Dance Visions - Cubberley Community Center L-3, 4000 Middle Field Rd, Palo Alto, California

Adult: $15, Children under 12: $10 - BrownPaperTickets.com, at Cassand Ballet or at the door.

Cassand Ballet - 223 Moffett Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043 - (408)636-3123 & (415)505-5659 - CassandBallet@gmail.com - www.Cassandballet.com

News 9/25/2011

2011-09-27T22:42:00.001-07:00

Dear Board of Trustees, dear Faculty, dear Students, dear Friends of Cassand Ballet,

Friday 9/23/2011 was a day full of emotion at Cassand Ballet with the Memorial Ceremony for maître Roland Petit.

We were honored to welcome for the first time in our studio, the first lady of the Consulate of France in San Francisco, Madame Laura Serman, who is also our Honorary President. At her side were Monsieur Caspar Horne and Madame Aude Phay Van, Board of Trustees of Cassand Ballet. We noticed the presence of professional dancers who must have danced in Ballet San Jose’s production of Roland Petit’s Carmen in April 2011. We were moved to see the faculty, the dancers, students, and friends of Cassand Ballet present to help us celebrate the life and work of Maître Roland Petit. We counted 54 people attending the ceremony, but there might have been more.

The words that come most often with the feedback are “beautiful, moving, and inspiring.” Some of the pictures are up on internet. You can view them, along with the video clip of Rodolphe's performance, on our website by clicking on the page Gallery, then the thumbnail“Ceremony for Roland Petit.” But seeing pictures and watching video are nothing near to actually having been part of this “beautiful, moving, and inspiring” ceremony.

After such an intense Friday it was hard for us to find anything else to say in this newsletter, besides expressing our deep gratitude to all of you who were present, have helped or participated in any way with the ceremony. We left with the feeling that, though we held the memorial ceremony to help Rodolphe say goodbye to Roland Petit, the moment the ceremony ended Roland Petit seemed to be staying with us all, forever to remain a part of Cassand Ballet.

In gratitude,

Rodolphe Cassand - Artistic Director

Hao Lueckhoff - Administrative Director

Cassand Ballet

www.CassandBallet.com

Memorial Ceremony for Roland Petit

2011-09-13T22:24:00.000-07:00

In loving memory of

Roland Petit

January 13, 1924 - July 10, 2011

Beloved Master to Rodolphe Cassand,

Grandmaster to the dancers and students at Cassand Ballet,

a Memorial Ceremony will be held at our home studio

Friday, September 23rd, 2011 at 12 noon.

Please join us in presence or in prayer.

223 Moffett Blvd., Mountain View, CA 94043

(408)636-3123 or (415)505-5659

www.CassandBallet.com

To help us prepare for seats, flowers and refreshment, please let us know if you are coming. Thank you.

Evite Facebook event Email

Lettre a Monsieur Petit ...

2011-07-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

Sunnyvale, le 2 août, 2009

Cher Monsieur Petit,

Tel un père qui vit loin de son fils n'a d'occasion de connaître ses petits-enfants, vous êtes un père qui vit loin de Rodolphe et ne connaissez vos petits-élèves.

Je vais donc me présenter: Cher grand-maître, je suis une de vos petits-disciples.

Je suis une élève de Rodolphe, qui me transmet l'art de la danse classique qu'il a hérité de vous.

Chaque fois que je regarde une danse de vous, je vois une image de Rodolphe. Dix-neuf ans après avoir quitte' votre compagnie, Rodolphe garde encore sur lui votre signature. Ses mouvements, son style sont ceux que je vois dans vos oeuvres. Et même s'il a dansé pendant quinze ans dans des compagnies américaines, son style est resté typiquement français, et particulièrement Roland Petit.

Et moi, j'ose espérer que dans le futur lorsque les gens me verraient danser, ils reconnaîtraient sur moi non seulement la signature de Rodolphe, mais aussi la votre. Puisque tout ce que Rodolphe essaie de me transmettre, je les trouve dans vos ballets: la fluidité des bras, les oppositions exagérées, le regard intense, ...

Et a la fin des cours quand Rodolphe s'incline devant ses élèves avec respect et amour, je pense a l'image de vous que je vois a la fin des spectacles: vous saluer vos danseurs avec tant d'humilité et de reconnaissance, j'en reste émue chaque fois et encore.

En ce moment j'aide Rodolphe a monter son école de danse. Ce n'est pas tous les jours facile. Parfois je doute, parfois j'ai peur. Mais il me suffit de penser a vous, a Daniel Franck, Serge Golovine - a mes grands-maîtres, et je me sens armée de courage pour continuer. Je suis persuadée que vous m'auriez approuvée dans mes efforts. Je suis sure que vous diriez: "Tu as raison d'aider Rodolphe, il possède tout ce qu'il faut pour transmette l'art du ballet français aux États Unis."

Je vous suis infiniment reconnaissante d'avoir fait de Rodolphe le beau et solide danseur qu'il est devenu. Je bénéficie pleinement de ses enseignements, qui sont aussi les vôtres.

votre petite-disciple,

Hao Bach-Thai Lueckhoff

Cassand Ballet School & Company

Translation:

Sunnyvale, August 2nd, 2009

Dear Monsieur Petit,

Much like a father who lives away from his son may not have the chance to know his grand-children, you live away from Rodolphe and do not get to know your grand-students.

Then I shall introduce myself: Dear grand-master, I am one of your grand-disciples.

I am a student of Rodolphe, who has been handing down to me the art of ballet he has inherited from you.

Every time I watch your choreography, I see a picture of Rodolphe. Nineteen years after leaving your company, Rodolphe still carries your signature on him. His moves and his style are those I see in your works. And, although he has danced with world wide companies for fifteen years, his style has stayed typically French, and particularly Roland Petit.

I dare hope that in the future when people see me dance, they would recognize on me not only Rodolphe’s signature, but also yours. Because, all that Rodolphe has been trying to transmit to me, I find them in your ballets: the fluidity of the arms, the exaggerated oppositions, the intense look, …

And at end of class when Rodolphe bows to his students with respect and love, I think of your image at performances' end: you bow to your dancers with such humility and gratitude, and I am deeply moved times and again.

Presently I am helping Rodolphe build his ballet school. It is not always easy. Sometimes I have doubts, sometimes I have fears. But it would suffice for me to think of you, of Daniel Frank and Serge Golovine - my grand-masters, and I am renewed with courage. I am certain you would approve my efforts. I am sure you would say: “You are right to help Rodolphe, he possesses all that's needed to transmit the French art of ballet in America.”

I am immensely grateful to you for having modeled Rodolphe into a beautiful and solid dancer that he has become: I fully benefit from his teachings, which are also yours.

Your grand-disciple,

Hao Bach-Thai Lueckhoff

Cassand Ballet School & Company

News 7/11/2011

2011-07-11T18:42:00.001-07:00

Dear Students,

Summer boot camp

More pictures have been added to the Photos page of our website. Thank you to Maarten for the beautiful and artistic black and white pictures!

Rudy would be willing to shorten his vacation time to teach another week of Summer boot camp, Monday 8/1 through Friday 8/5, if we have at least 8 signed up. Please keep me posted on your intention (or not) to attend the camp by the end of this week. You could use the Camp Registration form, or email me.

Summer schedule:

July: Katherine is teaching all classes unless otherwise notified.

Wednesday
10-11:30 - Open Ballet
11:45-12:15 - Pointe (minimum 5 students) Remember to bring your pointe shoes!
Thursday
6:45-8:15 - Ballet technique
8:15-8:45 - Pointe (minimum 5 students) Remember to bring your pointe shoes!
Friday
10-11:30 - Open Ballet
11:45-12:15 - Pointe (minimum 5 students) Remember to bring your pointe shoes!

August:
1st week: Summer Camp (5 full days) or July schedule (3 part days)
2nd week: No morning classes (studios not available 10AM-4PM). Please attend the Thursday evening classes instead.
3rd week: Cassand Ballet Season 2011-2012 starts Tuesday August 16.

Season 2011-2012
Please welcome Anton Pankevitch to become a regular faculty member at Cassand Ballet! We wish Anton a prompt recovery from his surgery today, and look forward to having him at Cassand Ballet as soon as he is well again, probably in September.
2011-2012 schedule is up and can be viewed on our website, page schedule: click on 2011-2012 at bottom right of the page. More details to come soon.

Roland Petit

As Rudy started his second week of vacation in France, we learned the sad news that the grand choreographer Roland Petit, Rudy's most influential master, died yesterday at age 87. Roland Petit was not only a great innovator in dance but also an incomparable creator who has marked and will mark present and future generations alike.

If Rudy was Roland Petit's son in arts, inheriting the his style in dance and in choreography, I have always felt that we, being trained by Rudy and executing his choreography, are Roland Petit's grand-children in arts. If Roland Petit was Rudy's master, then Roland Petit is for me our grand-master.

Cassand Ballet has changed its homepage in commemoration of Roland Petit, and will dedicate all of this week's classes to him. As his funeral is being held on Tuesday in Geneva, students at Cassand Ballet may choose to wear a black or white leotard, on Wednesday and Thursday, as a joined prayer to his wife Zizi Jeanmaire and daughter Valentine Petit.

in remembrance,

Hao Lueckhoff

Administrative Director

Thank you,
Rodolphe Cassand
Artistic Director
Cassand Ballet School & Company
www.CassandBallet.com

News 7/4/2011

2011-07-04T20:32:00.000-07:00

Summer boot camps

We had a lovely second week of ballet boot camp, during which Rudy has created two new short pieces of choreography. Some pictures are up on page Photos of our website, more to come next week. The video clips can be viewed on page Videos or on Youtube:

Congratulations to all campers - full or part camp, week 1 and/or week 2 - for your diligence!

Special welcome to students who joined Cassand Ballet for the first time during the two weeks camp: Erika, Jacqueline (from Texas!), Kelsey, Penny, Rachel, Segolene, Shanti, Vera. We hope to see you again soon at Cassand Ballet!

Students who have completed 20 or more contact hours during the 2 week camp: if you have not received the Certificate of Completion, you will get them in your mail in August. (Sorry for the delay, I didn't get Rudy to sign the certificates before he flew to France.)
Thank you to the many students and friends who attended week 2 mini recital. Your presence warmed Rudy's heart and cheered the performers :)

By popular demand, I have asked and Rudy has agreed to teach a third week of Summer boot camp, at his return from France, Monday 8/1 through Friday 8/5 if we have a ... full house :)

So, if I get at least 8 students signed up by July 15th, the camp will happen, and we'll see Rudy on August 1st. If not, he'll remain on vacation as planned, and we'll see him on August 16. :)

To help plan please sign up early using the Camp Registration form. If you are not sure but intend to attend, pleaser send an email to cassandballet@gmail.com.

Summer schedule:

July:

Wednesday
10-11:30 - Open Ballet
11:45-12:15 - Pointe (minimum 5 students)
Thursday
6:45-8:15 - Ballet technique
8:15-8:45 - Pointe (minimum 5 students)
Friday
10-11:30 - Open Ballet
11:45-12:15 - Pointe (minimum 5 students)

August:
1st week: Summer Camp (5 full days) or July schedule (3 part days)
2nd week: Morning class closed (studios not available 10AM-4PM)
3rd week: Cassand Ballet Season 2011-2012 starts Tuesday August 16.

This week
Anton Pankevitch teaches morning classes, Katherine Minh Noorda-Nguyen teaches evening classes.
In The Fairies ballet production in May, Anton danced the Diamond Cavalier and Rose solo, and Katherine the Jester and Rose solo.

Anton Pankevitch

Anton Pankevitch was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He started training at Vaganova School and then moved to the United States, where he continued training at School of American Ballet, Universal Ballet Academy, and San Francisco Ballet School. Anton began his professional career at New York City Ballet, moved to the Dutch National Ballet, then the Royal Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Ballet San Jose.
His classical repertoire includes principal roles in Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Coppelia, the Pas de Trois in Swan Lake, and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet. Anton has also performed in ballets by William Forsythe, Hans van Manen, John Cranko, Kenneth MacMillan, Frederick Ashton, Kent Stowell, Twyla Tharp, and Ulysses Dove.
He has taught at the English National Ballet of Canada, Stuttgart Ballet, Leipzig Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Katherine Minh Noorda-Nguyen

Born in San Francisco, grew up in San Jose, Katherine began her training under Virginia Ernenwein. She further studied at San Jose Cleveland Ballet, Ballet Academy East, BYU Dept. of Ballet, San Diego City Ballet, and at UC San Diego Theatre and Dance where she also performed ballet and contemporary dance. Katherine holds a BS and MS in Plant Molecular Biology and Bioengineering, and a BA in Dance with a focus in dance kinesiology. She has danced professionally in San Diego, Kauai and Oahu, Puerto Rico, and New York City, and has extended experience teaching ballet. In her most recent venture, Katherine formed a nonprofit to foster ballet and theater arts on the island of Kauai, where she was also a Chemistry, Math, and Physics teacher at public and private schools.

Happy July 4th!

Happy first week of vacation to Rudy and Iveta!

Hao Lueckhoff

Administrative Director

Cassand Ballet School & Company
www.CassandBallet.com

The Fairies - synopsis in pictures

2011-05-05T08:17:00.003-07:00

Take a sneak preview of The Fairies ballet !

Read the a story illustrated with pictures !

http://www.cassandballet.com/The_Fairies/Sneak_preview.html

The Fairies ballet - synopsis

2011-05-03T23:05:00.001-07:00

Rodolphe Cassand’s

The Fairies

A Story Ballet in three Acts after Les Fées by Charles Perrault

Synopsis

In a XVII century village in France, there is a widow who has two daughters. Fanchon is disagreeable and arrogant, and Paquette* is sweet and courteous. The Mother loves Fanchon dearly, but treats Paquette quite unfairly.

Prologue – Mother, Fanchon and Paquette

Mother is making a new dress for Fanchon who drives her mother crazy with her caprices.

Paquette sweeps the floor and dream of an imaginary prince. Fanchon purposely spills trash to make her sister work more. Seeing Fanchon and Paquette fighting, Mother sends Paquette to the fountain to fetch water.

Act I – Encounter with the Fairies

Two fairies are dancing at the fountain. Seeing Paquette coming, the fairies plot to test her. One of the fairies disguises herself as an aged and exhausted woman. Moved by the woman’s frailness, Paquette offers her some water to drink. The elderly woman then turns into a fairy and bestows a “gift” on Paquette.

At home, Mother and Fanchon are impatiently waiting for Paquette. Mother scold her for being late. Paquette starts talking, and a Diamond Princess appears, then more diamonds appear. Mother is curious about what happened. As Paquette recounts her encounter with the fairy, pearls appear around her. Mother greedily sends Fanchon to the fountain to meet the fairy.

At the fountain, the two fairies plot to trick Fanchon. A fairy disguises herself as a princess and asks Fanchon for water. Fanchon refuses, the princess turns into a fairy and casts a spell on Fanchon.

At home, Mother can’t wait to hear about Fanchon’s encounter with the fairy. When Fanchon finally talks, a toad, then snakes appear. Mother and Fanchon, horrified, blame Paquette for causing Fanchon’s misfortune. Paquette runs away.

Act II - Encounter with the Prince

Paquette wanders in the forest, tired and desperate. A Prince went by and consoled her. As Paquette recounts her story to the Prince, roses appear around her. Moved by such a kind heart, the prince falls in love with Paquette and brings her to the castle to marry her.

Act III - The Wedding

It is the wedding day. The guests are arriving at the wedding ball. A jester entertains the crowd.

Mother and Fanchon arrive at the wedding. When Fanchon starts complaining, snakes and toad appear and scare the guests. The Fairies arrive in time to reestablish order. As Paquette greets the Fairies, black diamonds appear. Paquette and the Prince rejoice together. The party goes on happily with all the court.

*Paquette, pronounced /pɑkɛt/, is named after Charles Perrault’s mother.

Thoughts

2011-04-02T23:02:00.001-07:00

I just visited Ballet Master Willy Burman's F.B. page from "Steps" on Broadway (from whom I took class in the past) and I "lifted" this passage of his thoughts on professional ballet training. Needless to say: "I agree"...

... "The cost in the classroom for a dancer to become a professional is to become totally involved in all parts of the class from beginning to end, executing all the combinations rhythmically and with correct technique, avoiding difficulties, facing the possibility of failure, of looking awkward, learning to trust, to believe and to let go. When one is committed to this, one can do what one wants artistically. But without the illusion of beauty in all this, the work would be uninteresting. The idea is not to be beautiful but to give the illusion of beauty. This is the application of the principle of dance lifted to the ultimate. "

... Having read that, I just want to acknowledge my dancers at Cassand Ballet School. Asking each one of them to read Mr. Burman lines, more than once perhaps, as I did myself.

Then I'd like to thank you all for your loyalty and continuous training at the studio. You have made leaps of progress. Through the ups and downs you have maintained your support and I hope that you are enjoying the journey as much as I have. I too, am evoluting with a better understanding of the essence of the ballet movement because you're allowing me to.

I am grateful to you all. Thank you for honoring the studio with your presence.

'With love,

Rodolphe Cassand

Newsletter 2/20/2011

2011-02-20T21:50:00.001-08:00

Monday - Master Class with Stephane Dalle.

Monday 2/21 (President's day) and Monday 2/28, 10AM-12PM, Master Class with Stephane Dalle in lieu of ballet open class. 30 minutes Floor-Barre, followed by 90 minutes Ballet.

Fees: $40 for both Mondays, drop-in $22

Wednesday - Ballet Basics workshop with Mads Eriksen.

This Wednesday will be the 6th class of the series. Mads will lead the group for a "field trip" to Rudy's ballet open class, doing barre only.
On the 8th and last class of the series, Mads will lead the group to take the whole class with Rudy.

This workshop ending in three week, the next series, Ballet Basics Workshop 2 will start right after:

Eight Wednesdays, March16. through May 4., 10:00AM-11:30AM

In eight weeks Mr Eriksen will teach you the basics of ballet, and help you build solid foundations to integrate any of Cassand Ballet's ballet class. The workshop includes two "field trips" to Rudy’s ballet open class to assess progress. Absolute beginners or not, all is welcome!

(Note: this workshop, in studio 2, is held simultaneously with Rudy's Open Ballet class in studio 1)

Workshop fee: $130, including a pass to one mini-class (Core, Pointe, Strength or Floor Barre) class with Rudy. Minimum 7 students.

Drop in $16, normal class tickets do not apply.

Thursday evening mini-class this week will be a Stretch class. We hope to see many of you.

have a nice week,Rodolphe Cassand, Artistic Director
Hao Lueckhoff, Administrative Director
Cassand Ballet School & Company
www.CassandBallet.com

Happy new year 2011

2011-01-02T11:10:00.001-08:00

Dear friend,

It's with great pleasure that I'm welcoming you into 2011. May all your wishes become true with a good health for this new year. I will remain your devoted, faithful and dedicated ballet and fitness instructor as usual. We at Cassand Ballet thrive to renew our goals of helping you achieve an even more fulfilling dancing experience now.

We've added Ballet Basic Program with a new teacher.

Our Mini Class lunch time will help the ones who still want to stay in shape while on a tight schedule with 5 different dancing styles on 5 different days.

New seasonal Master Classes with special guests stars to enrich your dancing journey.

Our Choreography Program will continue throughout the year for the most adventurous of you who want to perform. With two full blown shows on May 28 at Sunnyvale Theater.

So weather you're looking to casually take a ballet class or have a loftier goal we aim to please you.

Thank you very much and happy new year!

Rodolphe Cassand
Artistic Director
Cassand Ballet School & Company
www.CassandBallet.com

Upcoming classes & workshops

2010-12-27T09:48:00.000-08:00

Dear Students,

We hope this email finds you in a happy spirit.

Our Year-end showcase went well: we had a full house, the dancers did well and the audience responded well. Thank you to all who came, your presence means to us. And thank you to all who stayed behind for strike. There were a lot to do and we appreciate your help, your spouse's, friends' and children's help. Please say thank you to them for us.

While waiting for official pictures to be on our website, you can already see our dress rehearsal pictures on our Facebook page.

While Rudy is taking a well deserved vacation to Tahoe, Mads Eriksen will teach Ballet Open classes on

Tuesday 12/28 and Thursday 12/30, 10AM-11:30AM.

School resumes Monday 1/3, and January 2011 will bring a treat to everyone at Cassand Ballet

To the beginner students who love our school and style but have been shy with Rudy's fast pace classes: we have tailored for you a Ballet Basics and Foundation Workshop to help you integrate Rudy's class by the end of the workshop. And we have found for you THE teacher who matches Rudy's precision and grace: Mads Eriksen.

8 Wednesdays, Jan 19. through March 9, 2011, 10:00AM-11:30AM (note the change of date: it's not Monday)

$130, including a ticket to one 30mn mini-class with Rudy. 7 students minimum.

More info and registration click here

;

To more advanced students who want to add natural grace and dramatic to your dance, you are treated with a Master Class series: The Bournonville style with Mads Eriksen, from Royal Danish Ballet.

Two Mondays, Jan 3. and Jan 10, 2011, 10am-12pm

In lieu of Rudy’s ballet class. $40 the series, drop in $22/class

More info and registration click here
;

And, if you simply love to perform, sign up now for Choreography Workshop 10 with Rodolphe Cassand. This is your last chance to sign up for a choreography workshop during this school year. After this, Cassand Ballet Company will cast and run rehearsals to prepare for the world premiere of the full length ballet The Fairies.

Eight Fridays, January 21 through March 11, 2011

12:15-1:45PM Morning rose fairies

8:15-9:45PM Gem Stones

More info and registration click here

Please check page Class News on our website for more information, and don't hesitate to contact us for any question you may have.

Wishing you a happy holidays season,
Hao Lueckhoff, Administrative Director, for
Rodolphe Cassand, Director
Cassand Ballet School
www.CassandBallet.com

2011 January-March new Workshops and Master Class series

2010-12-20T18:02:00.000-08:00

Master Class: The Bournonville style of ballet with Mads Erikson

Two Mondays, Jan 3. and Jan 10, 2011, 10am-12pm

In lieu of Mr Cassand’s ballet class. $40 the series, drop in $22/class

Learn the Bournonville style of ballet to add natural grace and dramatic impact to your dance. In this Master Class series, Mads Eriksen from Royal Danish Ballet will teach how to add contrast between the speed of the legs and the grace of the arms and torso. More info and registration click here

Ballet Workshop for Absolute Beginners with Mads Erikson

Eight classes, exact day (Tue, Wed or Thu) TBA soon

mid Jan through mid March, 10:00-11:30

In eight weeks you will learn the basics of ballet, which will help you get ready to take Mr Cassand’s ballet open classes. The workshop includes two "field trips" to Mr Cassand’s ballet class to assess progress and readiness.

Workshop fee: $130, including a pass to one Stretch class with Mr Cassand. 7 students minimum. More info and registration click here

Choreography Workshop 10 with Rodolphe Cassand

Eight Fridays, January 21 through March 11, 2011

12:15-1:45PM Morning rose fairies

8:15-9:45PM Gem Stones

More info and registration click here

2010 Year-end Showcase

2010-11-13T10:59:00.000-08:00

Cassand Ballet cordially invites you, your family and friends to a celebration of dance and festivities!
This exciting holiday program includes highlights of my original works from Cassand Ballet's past season and a sneak-preview of a new ballet, The Fairies, which will premiere in May 2011.
Enjoy performances by members of the Cassand Ballet School & Company, with guest artist, Mr. Mads Eriksen, formerly with the Royal Danish Ballet and Ballet San Jose.
I look forward to seeing you there!

Rodolphe Cassand,
Artistic Director
Cassand Ballet School & Company

Cassand Ballet year-end showcase dance opportunities

2010-10-19T23:24:00.000-07:00

Click here for Details and Registration

Floor Barre at Cassand Ballet

2010-10-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

After having trained some ballet stars such as Zizi Jeanmaire and Yvette Chauviré, Russian choreographer Boris Kniaseff left Paris in the 1960s and went to Switzerland, where he founded a school. Problem: the walls of the building were classified, which prevents screwing the bars. Never mind! Boris Kniaseff decided to have his students work on the ground. The Floor Barre was born, and this method has come down through the ages.

Today, this mixture of relaxation and ballet dance is widely taught at dance centers in Paris, and is adopted by professionals and novices alike.

Floor Barre is an excellent tool to help understand alignment, correct posture, strengthen core area, and develop flexibility.

By popular demand, Cassand Ballet will offer a 30 minutes Floor Barre classe every Friday 11:30AM-12PM, starting this week. (Regular mini-class fees apply)

We hope to see many of you, beginners and advanced alike! ;-)

Rodolphe Cassand, Director

Hao Lueckhoff, Administrative Director
Cassand Ballet School
www.CassandBallet.com

Source: L'express, "Comme les danseuses des annees 1960"

Cassand Ballet Company, a non-profit organization

2010-10-06T00:17:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce that Cassand Ballet Company has achieved non-profit status! Our goal
is to build on our many accomplishments during the past year and take Cassand Ballet to a new
level. We plan to broaden our community outreach efforts and increase the number of performance
opportunities for Cassand Ballet Company dancers. It is anticipated that we will receive 501 c (3) tax
exempt status by the end of this calendar year which will enable us to apply for grants to support our
productions. Tax deductible donations to the Cassand Ballet Company will assist with defraying theater
costs for our upcoming performances, such as our December 18th Showcase at Dance Visions and the
mounting of my new ballet, The Fairies, which will premiere on May 28th, 2011 at the Sunnyvale Theater.

We will be contacting you soon to share further details about our upcoming performances and to
determine your availability to participate in the many aspects of the company. With your help, we will
continue to make magic!

Thank you,

Rodolphe Cassand
Artistic Director
Cassand Ballet
www.CassandBallet.com

Guest teacher Stephane Dalle at Cassand Ballet

2010-09-26T15:34:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that guest instructor Stephane Dalle will teach the Ballet Open class onMonday October 4th, 10-11:30AM at Cassand Ballet.

Stephane Dalle, born in Guise, France, studied in Paris with Solange Golovine, Serge Golovine, Raymond Franchetti, Jaqueline Fynnaert and in New York with Stanley Williams, Andrei Kramarewsky, Gabriela Darwach, and William Griffith.

He was awarded the best partner prize from the Serge Lifar Competition in Kiev, Ukraine; received a diploma from the Varna Competition, Bulgaria; and was the Johnson Foundation Prize winner with Lausanne Competition in Swizerland.

He has danced the classical and contemporary repertoire with: Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Bonner Oper, Opernhaus Zuerich, Ballet Bejart Lausanne, Ballet Frankfurt, English National Ballet London, Ballet der Deutschen Oper am Rhein Duesseldorf, Het National Ballet Amsterdam, Ballet San Jose, Ballet British Columbia Vancouver.

Retired from dancing in 2006 he is now teaching Ballet Class and Floor Barre all over Europe.

After the Ballet Open class, Stephane will teach a 30 minutes Floor Barre class in lieu of the Stretch class (minimum 5 students).

Floor Barre is a method developped by Boris Kniaseff in 1948 in Ateneo, South of France.
Floor Barre exercises provide low weight impact and improve the dancers' Core / Abs area.
Boris Kniaseff counts among his students Roland Petit, Zizi Jeanmaire and Jaqueline Fynnaert.

We hope many of you can make it to this new experience at Cassand Ballet.

Happy dancing!

Rodolphe Cassand, Director

Hao Lueckhoff, Administrative Director
Cassand Ballet School & Company
www.CassandBallet.com

Persephone trailer

2010-05-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

2010-05-03T22:14:00.001-07:00

Watch Persephone trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cER1BzB3Cs

BANDW

2010-04-28T01:42:00.001-07:00

In celebration of National Dance Week,

Cassand Ballet classes are FREE to new students

today through Sunday May 2. 2010

Click here for schedule

Stage Makeup lesson

2010-04-09T22:52:00.001-07:00

Cassand Ballet is proud to offer a

Stage Makeup lesson

with Julie Zeler, makeup artist

Sunday, April 18, 2010, 4-5pm

TDC, 223 Moffett Blvd, Mountain View.

Julie Zeler trained at Ecole Internationale d'Esthetique Elysees Marbeuf, a prestigious makeup and cosmetology school in Paris just one block off the Champs Elysées.

She has experience as makeup artist for TV shows, for special effects in movies, and salons in Paris.

Julie moved to the Bay Area three years ago and is now esthetician at Hedy's Skin Care in Palo Alto.

At Cassand Ballet, Julie will demonstrate how to apply makeup for a stage appearance, and give various makeup tips and tricks.

This class is open to all.

Persephone dancers are encouraged to attend.

$10 prepaid.

$11 drop in.

We hope you will enjoy the experience!

April news

2010-04-03T21:54:00.001-07:00

Dear Students,

March was a busy month at Cassand Ballet with daily rehearsals for Persephone ballet. There has been a nice energy in the studio and I am feeling upbeat about the progress my students have been making, and appreciative of my dancers' good will and effort.

Pointe and Stretch classes have been going on steadily on Tuesday and Wednesday at noon and Friday evening. At Cassand Ballet you can make things happen, and you did it!

April is here with again a well-loaded program. Mark your calendar with the following:

Sunday 4/4 10:30-12pm: Class IS held on Easter Sunday. No break! :)

Fridays 11:40-12:10pm

New additional Stretch class. Sign up here to make class happen.

Sunday 4/18, 3-4pm

Stage makeup lesson taught by Julie Zeler, makeup artist from Paris.

$10. Class open to all. I encourage all Persephone dancers to attend so that all will harmoniously look beautiful.

Look out for more information to come in a separate email. Sign up here

Friday 4/23, 6:40-8:10pm

BANDW Sample Class @ Cassand Ballet: As part of Bay Area National Dance Week celebration, we are offering a series of sample classes with 30mn Beg/Int Ballet, 30mn Stretch, 30mn Modern-Jazz. This takes place in lieu of the usual Ballet class, and is a FREE event. Bring your friends and family!

Saturday 4/24

Cassand Ballet will be performing at 3 venues (free events):

BANDW Dancing in the park, noon to 5pm @ Music Concourse in Golden Gate park, San Francisco. Cassand Ballet company will dance in the first hour of the event.
BANDW, Sample class @ Dance Visions, 1-5:30pm. I will teach a 30 mn ballet class at around 3pm
Peninsula French Fair, 10am-6pm. Cassand Ballet will have a booth there, and the company will perform from 5 to 5:30pm
BANDW, Show @ Dance Visions, 6pm

For more details please check page Events on our website.

Friday 4/30, 6:40-8:10pm

BANDW open house @ Cassand Ballet. Ballet class will be FREE to new students. Bring your friends!

Last but not least, please help promote Persephone show by sending this ePoster to your connections: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcwh4qnw_58cfhgzrhk , and start buying tickets at the studio! :)

Happy April dancing month!

Rodolphe Cassand
Director
Cassand Ballet School & Company www.CassandBallet.com

Summer camp for teens 12-18 years old

2010-03-28T23:31:00.000-07:00

If you are passionate about dance and serious about wanting to improve, come and train with us this summer at Cassand Ballet.

At Cassand Ballet, students will have the chance to study directly with artistic director Rodolphe Cassand, former soloist with SF Ballet and the National Ballet of Marseille - Roland Petit. He also has performed with many other companies, including Smuin Ballet, Lines Ballet, ABT, and Dance Theater of Harlem.

Born to a French prima ballerina, Rodolphe was trained at a young age by Paris Opera Ballet masters. He teaches his students in the style in which he was trained at the Conservatoire in Paris, paying attention to details and general artistry. Students who consistently study with Rodolphe have shown steady improvement, and many have gone on to become beautiful dancers.

During this workshop dancers will have the opportunity to improve and polish their dance technique, extend their dancing style, and discover new and exciting choreography created by Rodolphe Cassand, which they will perform on the last day of the camp.

Session 1: June 14-18, 2010

Session 2: June 21-25, 2010

more info : click here

Persephone ePoster

2010-03-27T10:02:00.001-07:00

http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcwh4qnw_58cfhgzrhk

2010-03-23T23:04:00.001-07:00

Buy your tickets now! click here

2010-03-22T23:44:00.001-07:00

"You have to trust"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-03-22T00:32:00.001-07:00

"You have to emanate all that. And you are able to do that."

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-03-17T22:28:00.001-07:00

"Show me something I haven't seen before!"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-03-16T21:23:00.001-07:00

"Manage your effort!"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-03-13T22:02:00.001-08:00

"Be prompt!"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-03-12T21:06:00.001-08:00

"You want to push in areas you are least comfortable. That's where you make progress"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-03-10T22:10:00.001-08:00

"Be fully immersed in each movement!"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-03-09T23:06:00.001-08:00

"Use your peripheral vision, and dance together!"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-03-08T22:54:00.001-08:00

"Use your body as your own metronome!"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-03-08T08:42:00.001-08:00

"Each of you is a soloist! Be as bright and clean as you can!"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-03-04T15:54:00.001-08:00

"Everything is possible"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-03-03T23:39:00.001-08:00

"Lick the floor with your feet."
-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-03-02T21:43:00.001-08:00

"Breathe, anticipate!"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-03-02T00:04:00.001-08:00

"Be calm!"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-02-28T18:17:00.001-08:00

New pictures on our website. Check it out: www.cassandballet.com

2010-02-26T17:34:00.003-08:00

"Commit until the end!"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-02-25T17:22:00.001-08:00

"Practice your dismounts, whether they are on or off balance"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-02-24T16:55:00.001-08:00

"Find a moment when you don't have to spend energy. It's not a struggle at all time!"

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-02-23T19:28:00.000-08:00

"Right intention"

Rodolphe Cassand

2010-02-18T13:30:00.001-08:00

"Dynamic isolation."

-Rodolphe Cassand-

2010-02-17T19:54:00.001-08:00

"Be balanced and know what comes next!"

Rodolphe Cassand

Choreography Workshop 7

2010-02-09T21:56:00.001-08:00

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEtGaF9wM3dqVE9UQ2FydmkxbmxKR1E6MA

2010-01-19T23:50:00.001-08:00

...Ballet... Friends, I am getting so very deep into the art of teaching and creating material. This is my birthday and the best gift is when I come to the studio and students wait for me to give them. Thank you god. Thank you all.

Rudy

CW6 registration form

2010-01-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

Choreography Workshop 6 registration form
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dDkxeFNmMWZtUkEzQ2NmN3B0UnlCb3c6MA

Choreography Workshop 6

2010-01-01T19:45:00.000-08:00

Dear students,

As you may have heard, Cassand Ballet is working on a world-premiere full length ballet: Persephone.

Choreography Workshops 3-4-5, representing three months of work, 12 pieces of dance, were performed on 12/19. We got enthusiastic feedback from the audience, adults and children alike. And they are looking forward to seeing the complete ballet in May. (BTW, save the date! Persephone, Saturday, May 22nd, 2010 at 6pm, Sunnyvale Community Theater)

We have two more workshops to go before the Premiere.

Choreography Workshop 6:

8 rehearsals of 90mn. Creation of new pieces to complete the story of Persephone.

Workshop 6a (neo-classical): 8 Fridays 11:30-1pm
Jan 8 15 22 29 Feb 5 12 19 Mar 5 $200

Workshop 6b (modern): 8 Sundays 12:15-1:45pm
Jan 10 17 24 31 Feb 7 14 21 28 $200

Workshop 6c (neo-classical): 8 Sundays 2-3:30pm
Jan 10 17 24 31 Feb 7 14 21 28 $200

Schedule subject to change (We need at least 6 people signed up for a group to happen).

Workshop 6s (soloist): 8 sessions (30mn private lesson + 30mn independent rehearsal), $400

Performance:

Sun March 7th, 2010, 2pm at West Valley college, Saratoga, or

Sat April 24th, 2010, 6pm at BANDW, Dance Visions, Palo Alto

Discounts:

$10 discount if register to 2 or more CW6
additional discount of $10 if registered and paid in full by Jan 4
additional discount of $10 to dancers who have registered in Choreography Workshops 1 2 3 4 5
additional discount of $10 to students who have taken 10 classes or more during the month of December

Payment is due 48 hours prior to 1st rehearsal

Choreography Workshops are offered to students of our school, without audition, because Cassand Ballet Director knows the level and capabilities of all his students. Dancers new to our school are asked to have taken at least 2 classes before the first rehearsal so that he gets to know your dancing style.

We hope all of our students will be part of the theater performance in May.

To make sure we have time to build a choreography on you, we hope to see you in Choreography Workshop 6!
Happy new (dancing) year!

Rodolphe Cassand, Director

Hao Lueckhoff, Administrative Director
Cassand Ballet School & Company
www.CassandBallet.com

2009-12-06T19:51:00.001-08:00

Cassand Ballet presents

Persephone

Showcase & potluck

Choreography by Rodolphe Cassand

A Holiday treat to the whole family

Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 7pm

Dance Visions

Cubberley Community Center, L-3, 4000 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto

FREE entry. A contribution of $5 towards production costs is appreciated.

www.CassandBallet.com

408-636-3123

2009-11-27T23:01:00.000-08:00

I feel that this one is a jewel in the making. Ask any participant and watch their eyes... If you have any second thought about joining, please join now. No one is turned down. Come with the many who once more have found a new voice through our beautiful Art form. I promise quite an unforgettable journey... Won't you share your love of dance with us? Ballet, modern, contemporary, mime... We're using them all. It's not to late... Your host.
Rudy

CW5

2009-11-27T22:51:00.000-08:00

Today we started another chapter in the story. The mothers, their family. All help in the search... I'm very, very happy the way this new material is taking shape. Thank you to all the artists contributing! ' love it!

CW5-b.

2009-11-24T14:48:00.000-08:00

Excellent session today to kick off this new segment introducing Hecate, Goddess of the crossroads has a triple body... Mussorgsky music completes the choreography beautifully. Good job dancers!

Choreography Workshop 5 around the corner

2009-11-23T15:44:00.001-08:00

Dear students,

The myth of Persephone is unfolding beautifully at Cassand Ballet Choreography Workshops (CW).

CW3 tells the moment Persephone was kidnapped by Hades, CW4 when she integrated Hades' world. CW5 is just around the corner.

CW5 may tell the moment Demeter wandered looking for her daughter Persephone until she discovered the truth. A solo part has started this Sunday. More solo, pas-de-deux parts will start as of Tuesday, and the group dance on Friday.

If there is enough interest for a CW5 weekend rehearsal, I may open a Sunday group.

It is not too late to join CW5, but please fill out ASAP the CW5 registration form, so I can start picturing you in the dance.

Performance will be Saturday December 19., 7pm at Dance Vision studio, for Cassand Ballet end of year 2009 celebration.

I hope you consider being part of this exciting project!

Rodolphe Cassand
Director
Cassand Ballet School & Company

2009-11-18T15:04:00.000-08:00

It's with pleasure that I invite you to come see our latest work: "Oceanides"

This piece defines the birth of the full length ballet that's been in the making for the past two months:"Persephone"

Other pieces are in the making now. In December we'll show more.

If you're curious and would like to catch a glimpse of the mood and settings of this new ballet (that you could be casted in), please come watch Ayumi,Irina, Julie, Sara, Kristy and Michelle perform...

Points of view - a Dance Vision studio concert and potluck

Dance Vision studio,

Cubberley Community Center L-3, 4000 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto

November 20-21, 2009, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets: $12, students and senior: $10, children 5-12: $5

All proceeds go to Dance Vision

Your host, welcoming you.

Rodolphe Cassand

Director

Cassand Ballet School & Company

www.CassandBallet.com

CB Choreography Workshop 5

2009-11-10T21:45:00.000-08:00

Choreography Workshops 3 and 4 are coming out beautifully. Choreography Workshop 3 is being performed at Dance Vision on November 20 and 21.

Choreography Workshop 5 (CW5) will be performed

Cassand Ballet end of year 2009 performance

Saturday, December 19, 2009

at Dance Vision studio.

Solo(s) & Pas de deux/trois (dances for two/three) works could also be presented.

Rehearsals: four Friday 11:30-1pm, 11/27 thru 12/18, at TDC
CW5 fee: $100

Interested students please fill out the following form ASAP, or email CassandBallet@gmail.com

CBCW3, almost there!

2009-11-10T21:39:00.000-08:00

We're well on our way to our presentation. Tech & Dress rehearsal right around the corner next week. We're almost ready! Tomorrow rehearsal in costumes, playing with colors...

Cassand Ballet Choreography Workshop 4

2009-10-02T20:39:00.001-07:00

1st Performance is scheduled for our end of the year celebration at Dance Visions Studio, Saturday December 19, 2009 - 8pm

Rehearsals: Oct 4 - Dec 13, 2009

Students who are behind the group are committed to taking private or semi-private lessons to catch up.

If interested please email ASAP to cassandballet@gmail.com.

The myth of Persephone

2009-09-27T22:49:00.001-07:00

Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter, was a rare beauty. To keep her away from the deities who wooed her on Mt Olypus, Demeter chose to raise her in secret on the island of Sicily, where Persephone lived in complete security, playing in the forests of Enna with the Oceanides (nymphs of water).

Mesmerized by her beauty, Hades, king of the Underworld, fell in love with her and with Zeus' permission, plotted to abduct her.

One day, while picking flowers with the Oceanides, Persephone spotted a beautiful daffodil. She left the group to pick it. The moment she touched the flower, the earth opened, Hades rode out in a chariot and stole her away. Persephone cried out.

Nobody heard Persephone, except Hekate, Demeter, and the Sun. Demeter, having heard her daughter's cry, rushed to find her, but Persephone had disappeared, and no one could tell her what happened: neither the Oceanids, or the human, or the birds, or the gods.

Overcome by grief, Demeter wandered the earth to search her daughter for nine days and nine nights, denying herself all forms of food, drink, or comfort. She was seen holding a burning torch in each hand.

Meanwhile, Persephone had integrated the Underworld, grown rather fond of Hades and enoyed her role as queen of the Underworld.

When Eos the dawn appeared on the tenth day, Hekate came to Demeter to help her look for Persephone. They went to see the Helios, the Sun, who knew everything and revealed the truth to Demeter. The news broke Demeter's heart. She left Mt. Olympus and wandered the earth dressed as an old woman. No one recognized her in her mourning. For an entire year Demeter refused to allow the earth to bloom. She did not bless the crops or look with favor on the harvest. Every growing thing withered and died; the once green earth turned brown and barren. All over the world people starved.

Concerned that the mortals would all die out, Zeus sent Hermes, the messenger god, to demand that Hades return Persephone to her mother. But through much cajoling Hades had managed to persuade Persephone to eat seeds from a pomegranate--the food of the dead. He obeyed Zeus's order and allowed Hermes to take Persephone away, but he knew his bride would have to return to him, for anyone who has tasted even the smallest morsel of the food of the dead while in the underworld is doomed to return there.

When Persephone and Demeter were reunited, they wept tears of joy.

Zeus decreed that Persephone would not have to stay in the Underworld for the entire year. Instead, she would stay there for a third of each year, and then in the other part of the year she would be allowed to return to her mother.

Each year, during the months when Persephone returns to her, Demeter makes the earth green and blesses the harvest. But during the months when Persephone has to stay in the Underworld, Demeter mourns, and in her grief and loneliness she makes the earth turn barren and cold. Nothing is allowed to grow during these seasons of grief. The world waits with Demeter for Persephone's return each spring, when the earth will turn green and warm once more.

CBwkshp3

2009-09-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

That's exiting we're starting today with "Persephone" . It's not too late to join... Rudy

CB Choreography Workshop 3

2009-09-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

Choreography Workshop 2 was performed at Dance Mission theater. We have posted some informal pictures on Facebook (Become our fan Facebook to receive regular updates!)

Cassand Ballet Choreography Workshop 3

will be performed for Dance Vision's annual recital: Points of View.

There will be one ballet, level Advanced Intermediate, Advanced.

Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 11:30AM-1PM starting 9/23/09, Tech rehearsal 11/18, dress rehearsal 11/19, performances 11/20, 11/21 8PM

Fees: $200. Students having taken more than 12 classes at Cassand Ballet or having been performed in Cassand Ballet Workshop 1 or 2 have a $25 discount.

If interested, email ASAP to cassandballet@gmail.com