A Blast from the past

Here is a link to an article published by Dance Universe in 2003: http://danceruniverse.com/stories/issues/200312/dance-dec-2003/

The official Flyer for the 2008 Nutcracker

St Andrew's Performance in Boca Raton

The Fort Lauderdale Ballet Classique will be performing its Nutcracker Ballet on Saturday December 13, 2008 at 2:00 PM at  St Andrews School  in Boca Raton. Tickets may be purchased soon through Ticketmaster. There is open seating for this performance. 

Performances will also be on Saturday, December 20th, 2008 at 7:00 PM and Sunday, December 21st, 2008 at 3:00 PM at the
Township Center for Performing Arts
2452 Lyons Road
Coconut Creek, FL 33066

Tickets are $25.00 and are available by calling:
Fort Lauderdale Ballet Classique at 954-537-4195

Magda Aunon, Artistic Director

Madga Aunon began her ballet training at the age of six and has since dedicated her life to the art of dance. Her studies began in Cuba under such famous Ballet Masters as Nikolai Yavorsky, Alexandra Denisova, and Alberto Alonso and Fernando Alonso.

In 1948, she joined the Alicia Alonso Ballet Company, where she performed classical ballets with such well known dancers as Igor Youskevich, Andre Eglevsky, Melissa Hyden, and Lupe Serano.  

Moving the United States in 1960, she continued her studies with the National Ballet of Washington. 

She opened her own ballet school in Virginia and directed the Fairfax Youth Ballet until moving to Florida in 1973. 

As a member of the SERBA faculty, she has taught alongside Robert Joffrey and Richard England. Under her direction, the Fort Lauderdale Ballet Classique has retained the status of "Honor Company" for the past 20 years. 

She has also taught in summer programs such as Boston Children's Workshop, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Alabama Dance Theater and the Joffrey Workshop Ballets. For the past eight summers, she has been principal teacher for the Georgia Youth Ballet directed by her daughter, Magdalena Maury. She has participated in the Jackson International Competition as a Judge, Teacher, and Coach.  IN 2002, she was proud to coach her student, Courtney Clarkson, through the final round of the Junior Division in the prestigious competition. She was also proud to see two former students, Raul Salamanca and Staisha Grosch, qualify to compete in this important event. 

For the past ten years she has served as a judge for the National Endowment of the Arts. Her career was highlighted by her selection as "Distinguished Teacher" by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars in 1989. 

Magda is known throughout the United States as one of the finest and most respected ballet teachers. In 2001, 2003 and 2005, at the Youth America Grand Prix Finals in New York, Magda was named "Teacher of the Year" by Dance Magazine. Magda Aunon's School of Classical Ballet was also named "Best School" by Youth America Grand Prix at the regional competition held in Boca Raton.

 

Why FLBC's Nutcracker is different?

The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition around the world, and most ballet companies perform it around the Christmas season. Why is FLBC's Nutcracker different?

At FLBC, our student dancers dance the lead roles. Typically, a ballet company will allow its student dancers to be part of the corps de ballet, but the primary roles are filled by professional dancers. Magda's Nutcracker is different because she gives her student dancers the opportunity to dance the primary leads, while producing a professionally staged production. 

Our young dancers experience what it takes to put on a professional production: the time and dedication, the patience and perseverance, the attention to detail that makes the difference for the audience. These lessons and skills will help them whether they have a career on stage or not.

And MANY of Magda's students have gone on to careers on stage:

Rebecca Adderton - Louisville Ballet

Wendy Amko - Gainesville Ballet

Erica Attwood - Ballet Classico de Havana, Ballet Quad Cities

Astrid Audet - Boston Ballet

Jenny Baron - Long Island Ballet & California Ballet

Aurora Boch - Ballet National de Cuba

Dana Bozza - Wilkes-Barre Ballet Theater

Jennifer Brown - Sarasota Ballet & Orlando Ballet

Julie Cavendish - Sarasota Ballet

Erica Christensen - C. M. Ballet Theater

Courtney Clarkson - San Francisco Ballet

Kathleen Breen Combes - Washington Ballet & Boston Ballet

Lynn Cote - Washington Ballet

German Dager - Ballet de Montreal, Ballet Florida, Boston Ballet II

Audra L. Dare - Miami City Ballet

Lisa De Palma - Jackson Ballet

Margarita De Saa - Ballet National de Cuba

Susan Fernandez -  Ballet National de Cuba

Leyla Fayyaz - American Ballet Theater

Wendy Glaskin - Southern Ballet Theater

Charlotte Greenman - Gainesville Ballet

Staisha Grosch - Cincinnati Ballet

Victoria Hall - New York City Ballet

Patricia Hauck - Ballet Arizona

Kathleen Herman - Jackson Ballet

Oliver Holkowich - Houston Ballet

Cielo Hrellac - Ballet Arizona

Danielle Ill Grande - Charleson Ballet

Marissa Mackell - Colorado Ballet

Astrid Maugee - Boston Ballet II

Mary Maus - Washington Ballet & Rickmond Ballet

Kathy McKoy - Boston Ballet II & Pittsburgh Ballet

Alex Nagiba - American Ballet Theater & Pittsburgh Ballet (Principal)

Brent Phillips - American Ballet Theater & Joffrey Ballet

Mirta Pla - Ballet National de Cuba

Matilde Rabina - Ballet National de Cuba

Enita N. Ranjo - Du-Nord Ballet, France

Meredith Raynier - Milwaukee Ballet & Pennsylvania Ballet

Zelaida Romero - Ballet National de Cuba

Raul Salamanca - Boston Ballet & Ballet Arizona

Priscilla Schroy - Atlanta Ballet II

Whitney Shulman - Ballet Arizona

Andrea Shelly - Southern Ballet Theater & Maximum Dance

Emily Spencer - Colorado Ballet

Jennifer Vanucci - Southern Ballet Theater & Carolina Ballet

Raphael Weedman - Ballet Arizona

 

More FLBC history

FLBC is a member of the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association (SERBA), and has been an Honor Company for the past 25 years. Honor status is the highest accolade given to regional ballet companies. To be recognized as an Honor Company demonstrates consistent excellence in performing and training. The recipient of several Monticello awards for choreography, FLBC has earned a reputation for aesthetic innovation. The company's "Whispers at Sunrise" was awarded best choreography in the Southeastern REgion in 1997, and was chosen for the Gala Performance at the National Festival in Houston, Texas. In 2001, FLBC was selected as runner-up to represent the Southeastern Regiona at eh International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. In 2003, the company traveled to Roanoke, Virginia, where they were honored to dance the Finale for the Gala Performance of the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association. In 2004, FLBC was honored to dance the opening piece in the Southeast Region Ballet Association.

A Brief History of the FLBC

Fort Lauderdale Ballet Classique, South Florida's only regional ballet company, was founded in 1972 and has been under the direction of Magda Aunon for the past 35 years. FLBC was incorporated as a non-profit organization in October of 1986. According to the mission statement of FLBC, the purpose of the organization is to: Promote and foster community interest in the dance and related arts, establish a ballet company to present ballet performances of the highest quality, offer training for performance by means of instruction in ballet, music, production, staging and all phases of the ballet, provide means for performing and educational opportunities through social gatherings and activities, encourage excellence in ballet through the granting of scholarships and awards, and participate in worthy community projects. A major artistic influence in the community, FLBC's repertory of classical and contemporary works apeals to the cultural diversity of South Florida.

Top Ten reasons to Come see the Nutcracker

10. The beautiful sets and staging and the gorgeous costumes that glitter and shine under the lights

9. It's a Christmas Tradition! The tale of Clara and her Nutcracker never fails to delight and capture the imaginations of audiences.

8. Angels - our youngest dancers always steal the show!

7. Mother Ginger - Always fun and always a highlight, and last year Ginger got a new dress!

6. Clara - Every girl wants to be Clara.

5. Snow - The beautiful Snow Queen and her court of snowflakes close the first act.

4. Arabian - A sultry pas de deux

3. Flowers - Dew Drop and her flower attendants light up the stage each year.

2. Sugar Plum Fairy - Sugar Plum and her cavelier never fail to dazzle.

And the #1 reason to come to see the Nutcracker is Magda! For 35 years, Magda Aunon has dedicated herself to the development of future generation of classical ballet dancers. She brings out the best in her dancers, not only on stage but also off stage, helping them develop the skills necessary to be successful in life.

Welcome

The purpose of this blog is to publicize and generate support for the Fort Lauderdale Ballet Classique's 2008 performance of Tchaikovsky’s Christmas Classic, The Nutcracker.

This year marks the 35th annual performance of The Nutcracker under the direction of Magda Aunon. The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition, staged with beautiful costumes, colorful scenery, and a dazzling cast of local students and professional guest artists. Student performers are drawn from Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

This year's performances will be on Saturday, December 20th at 7:30 PM and Sunday, December 21st at 3:00 PM at the
Township Center for Performing Arts
2452 Lyons Road
Coconut Creek, FL 33066

Tickets are $25.00 and are available by calling 561-789-0893 .

Magda is a special teacher who has given so much to the many dancers who have trained with her. I would like this blog to be a tribute to her and invite any dancers (or their parents) to contribute their favorite Magda stories and memories relating to their Nutcracker experiences.