"EN POINTE" MAY BALLET BROOKLINE NEWSLETTER We hope you are enjoying the spring session and look forward dancing this spring and to recital week on June 15th-17th!

Meet DanceFIT's Owner: Ms. Gina

Tell us about yourself: When asked this question, I used to say ...I am obsessed with ballet music, writing ballet curriculum, tulle skirts, headbands, delicious vegetarian food, anything with basil on it, paddle boarding, dance workouts, but now I am older and while  all those things describe  me,  most importantly  I am the mother of 3 beautiful and amazing children .  Joey is almost 8 years old, Tommy is 6 years old and my little girl Maggie is 20 months.   My husband and best friend, Chris  keeps me sane, and has supported my very busy life and career goals the past 10 years! He is an amazing dad, but makes me so proud with his work too. He works for an  incredible  non-profit  called T he Positive Coaching Alliance.  The organization leads  seminars to help coaches, leagues and leadership teams create the best experience for student athletes.  In addition to my personal life and  activities, I teach 7 days a week and over 20 classes between my Natick, Brookline & Virtual studios.  I absolutely LOVE every class I teach, and am grateful for the opportunity to watch children's techniques grow and improve each class. More importantly, their confidence builds and their smiles speak volumes. In case you might be wondering about my credibility, I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania and am fortunate to have an extensive dance resume including dancing pre-professionally in Cannes, France at the L'Ecole de Danse de Rosella Hightower. I also interned at the Washington Ballet and was hired immediately after as a Movement Specialist to teach ballet to over 500 kids per week in inner city schools.  At the young age of 23, I opened DanceFIT in Brookline with 10 ballet students from hanging up fliers at the park.   Now, I am so grateful and excited to share that the DanceFIT community has grown exponentially!  Tell us how you plan your ballet classes: When you teach 20 classes a week, planning is so important, but after 15 years of teaching ballet classes, a bit of it does happen organically.  You have to adapt to each day and each class.  Every  Sunday , I sit down and make new/ fresh   playlists, but I  am very careful to keep many of the familiar basics in it.  You can follow me on Spotify to see what your dancers are listening to in class. Ballet is based on repetition and once dancers are around 8 years old, the structure is very classical. Plies, tendus, degages, etc.  Before dancers get to this level, they need to master their positions, basic ballet progressions across the floor and certain locomotives.  We have so many songs that teach these moves. My teachers receive an email from me every week with the curriculum and a shared playlist.  We all add our own twist, experience and teaching style to each class, but we are on the same page with the material that is taught.  Your daughter is 20 months, has she started ballet yet?  I am so happy you asked this question just so I can share the adorable picture of her in class. I haven't started her in Tippy Toes yet because I am always teaching it, but  I would love to experience this class with her and interact like the other moms/ dads get too. Young dancers receive all their cues and energy from their parents in this class, and I don't want to be too distracted.  I think I will make this happen in the fall because I plan to teach a couple of Tippy Toes classes with an assistant. I can't wait to enjoy this special experience with her.

What is your favorite thing to wear to dance class? I think I am getting older because I prefer wearing all black like my childhood ballet teachers.  I still try and wear a leotard and tights with a ballet skirt or tutu, but I layer over with a wrap sweater, DanceFIT tank, or off the shoulder sweatshirt. Hair ALWAYS in a ballet bun though. Who is your favorite ballet dancer? Currently Misty Copeland. She is so inspiring with her message to young women.  She is strong, graceful and beautiful.  I have never seen her dance in person, but it is my dream to before she retires. I am also a big fan of the male ballet dancers, Baryshnikov and Roberto Bolle. I love showing my boys videos of them.  As young athletes they are amazed and have a new admiration of my "job." What do you want your students both old and young to get out of your ballet classes?  My ultimate goal is to make my students love to move and regard it as a necessary part of each day.  Dance and fitness keep you physically and most importantly mentally healthy.  In this day and age, taking time to move and stay fit is crucial! Ballet teaches a person discipline, flexibility (not just in body), and a wonderful work ethic. To become a dancer there is no way to cut corners, and that dedication translates into other areas of life. Ballet dancers really are happy  people with healthy bodies and active minds.

POSITION of the MONTH: Third Position a posture in which the turned-out feet are placed one in front of the other, so that the heel of the front foot fits into the hollow of the instep of the back foot.

FALL REGISTRATION FOR BROOKLINE WILL OPEN TO CURRENT STUDENTS BY THE END OF MAY. PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR AN EMAIL FOR WHEN REGISTRATION OPENS TO OUR CURRENT STUDENTS! AS YOU KNOW, WE FILL UP FAST.  :)