Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
| By Paula Canning Staff Writer HOLYOKE Nearly empty, with the exception of towering stacks of sprung flooring, studio 403 on the fourth floor of Open Square is scarcely recognizable as the dance academy it will soon become. But in a few short weeks, the last piece of portable sprung flooring will be installed, the mirrors will be in place along the walls, and a dream that began ten years ago for Rose Marie and Charles Flachs will finally be a reality. With an open house and registration on Sept. 10 from 3 to 6 p.m., the couple will be celebrating the opening of their new state-of-the-art dance studio The Massachusetts Academy of Ballet. Specializing in the Russian method of classical ballet, the studio will offer classes for anyone five years of age or older. Professional dancers with 20 years of ballet dancing, teaching and choreographing experience, both Rose Marie and Charles have been associate professors of dance at Mount Holyoke College (MHC) for the past ten years. According to Charles, he and Rose Marie began discussing the idea of opening a dance studio over a decade ago, but it wasn't until the two were on sabbitical at MHC that they gave the idea serious consideration and began looking for spaces to rent. "We'd been planning on opening up a school for years but for some reason or another, it just wasn't the right time," Rose Marie said. Although the South Hadley residents had explored a few potential sites for their studio before deciding on Open Square, Rose Marie explained that when the couple first moved to western Massachusetts 10 years ago, she remembers passing by Open Square and being "very impressed." After attending a few events at Open Square, Rose Marie said she became even more attracted to the converted mill building. "I just love the exposed brick, the hardwood floors, and the creative atmosphere," she said. "It's a very interesting place." As the two await the opening of the studio, both Rose Marie and Charles are eager to begin instructing students with their method of teaching that Charles described as "different from a lot of schools." Modeled after the Russian syllabus Vaganova that both Charles and Rose Marie studied with Margarita De Sa a highly regarded authority of the training method Charles explained that the approach focuses on a complete understanding of ballet dancing "from the bottom up." "If a dancer doesn't have this basic understanding, it can be harder for [him or her] to progress in a later stage," he said. He equated this learning process with Picasso's study of cubism, explaining how he began his work as a classic portrait artist. "Once you have that base, then you can move on to something else," he said. Emphasizing classical technique, artistry, musicality and creativity, Charles said that the training method focuses on stamina, and the simultaneous coordination of the head, arms, and legs. "It has created many of the best dancers in the world," he said. According to Rose Marie, the couple will use this teaching method with two main goals in mind, one of which is to provide those wishing to become professional ballet dancers with a place to develop and perfect their skills. The other goal, she said, is to give anyone wanting to learn ballet a place to hone their interest and enjoy the art form. "We don't expect all of the students to become professional dancers," Charles explained. He said that this particular group is crucial to the dance form because although they might not become professional dancers, those who simply enjoy ballet frequently form the future audience and support for ballet. "It's like how Little-Leaguers become the future baseball fans," he said. "They can take that love for [the activity] and carry it on." Rose Marie, originally from Rochester, N.Y., was never among those that simply enjoyed ballet her interest in ballet was fueled by a passion and love for the art form that inspired her to pursue her talent full force. She began dancing at the age of 11, and at the age of 16, she followed her passion to New York City, where she attended the New York City School of Ballet. At the age of 18, Rose Marie began her first job teaching at the Cincinnati Ballet Company, before going on to dance professional with the Nashville Ballet, where she and Charles met. While there are many reasons behind her passion, Rose Marie said that her love for dancing is mainly a response to 'the way it makes be feel when I move to the music. It's a language that allows you to express yourself to music." She added, "With any art you have to have a passion for it, a calling. It's something that you want to do more than anything else." Although sharing her passion for ballet an interest in the art form came a little later in life for Charles than it did for Rose Marie. While attending college as a theater major, Charles was required to take a movement class, and upon learning the basics of ballet, he said he "absolutely fell in love with it." "I had a wonderful teacher who really taught me the importance of ballet," he said. As he was already 18 years old, just beginning to learn ballet and taller than most other dancers, Charles said he was given circumstances in which he was "either going to sink or swim." He said he was fortunate to have "progressed very quickly," as a dancer, moving on to dance professionally with the Nashville Ballet, Ballet West and the Cincinnati Ballet. According to Charles, he was drawn to ballet because of its "athleticism". Involved in sports such as basketball and baseball since he was a young child, Charles explained that ballet offered him a similar outlet. He said this, combined with a "passion for movement to music," forms the base of his attraction to ballet. Charles said that, in addition to his passion for ballet, he also loves teaching. "When you see a student progressing, it's almost as exciting as ballet itself," Charles said. Rose Marie also expressed a similar enthusiasm for teaching. "Whenever your able to help someone it feels really good," Rose Marie said "Seeing how you can affect the lives of students is very exciting." Charles said he is hoping that the Dance Academy will attract more male students, which comprise a smaller portion of the ballet dancing population. "A lot of men have to struggle with the stigma associated with ballet," Rose Marie said, explaining that this is seen more in the United States than it is abroad. She said that the target group at the academy will be adults, noting that the majority of dance academies are targeted at younger age groups. Rose Marie said that the couple is hoping to get senior citizens interested in taking classes. According to Charles, the Academy will focus on training, rather than performing. "A lot of times when the focus is on performance rather than training, the training is compromised because there's not enough time to train," he said. Rose Marie and Charles are hoping, however, that the future of the Academy will include a small performance group. "Performing is important," Rose Marie said. "We want to have a sense of balance between training [and performing]. That will take us a couple of years to achieve." She said class sizes will begin small, and then increase in size in the future. "If you're an artist, you're a dreamer," Rose Marie said. "We're really going after this one." Classes can be taken in "Pre-ballet," once a week, in the "Regular Division," from two to an unlimited number of times per week, as well as in the "Adult Division" from two to fives times a week. Tuition costs are dependent on the number of classes taken per week. Single class price is $15. A ten-class card is $110, $100 for those with a valid college i.d. A 12-week introductory course for Adult Beginner's only starts in September and the fee is $150. Those who attend the Open House and Registration on Sept. 10 will be offered a five percent discount on tuition registrations, and a scholarship contest will also be offered. The event, which will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at 4 Open Square Way, Studio 403, is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the studio's website at www.massacademyofballet.com |