Hello Nutmeg Friends,

Hello Parents and Nutmeggers,

The summer here has taken off with over 34 students in the first special summer junior program. Students from all over the country have come together to celebrate Nutmeg's 39th International Summer Program.

Principal Ron Alexander along with Associate Directors Sue Szabo and Joan Kunsch have created a wonderful finale for the program. Also, the dancers were able to work with an extraordinary adjunct professional staff who have each shared a learning experience with them.

Parents and guests are invited to a petite performance at Nutmeg which will showcase our June Program Dancers. The performance is at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday July 21 and will take place in the Nutmeg Studio Theatre. Please see the attached program and PHOTOS of Summer Sessions taken by Kim Fazzino.

After Saturday, we will take a week down only to conduct our second orientation meeting for the July Pre-professional Program. That session will feature over 12 faculty and guest artist staff. Come back to the Nutmeg site often to see newly added materials.

Thank you,

Sharon Dante
Artistic Director




A Nifty Guide to Downtown Torrington
A guide to Downtown Torrington. A showcase of local restaurants, shopping, Arts and Culture and more, click here to download.

 
A Pointe to View

 
 
An exclusive preview of our Aug/Sept Pointe Magazine ad



DANCE REVIEW; Youth and Experience Join To Honor a Ballet Veteran

By JENNIFER DUNNING
Published: August 19, 2004
Eleanor D'Antuono began her long career performing with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, which she joined at the ripe old age of 14. She went on to dance with the Joffrey Ballet and most notably with American Ballet Theater, where she performed for 25 years before leaving to teach, stage ballets and judge international ballet competitions. A ballerina who could perform just about everything, sometimes at very short notice, she has been the ultimate trouper but also a dancer known for the obvious pleasure she has taken in her work and in the passing along of her heritage.

to read more, click here


Behind the Lens
Photographer Ross Whitaker returned to Nutmeg...

Ross returned to photograph the Nutmeg students at the Graduation 2008 performances. You can see some of his work on our website and in our recent print ads. Welcome back, Ross, and click here to see more!

A snapshot of David Felicie accepting his diploma from Sharon Dante during the 2008 Graduation ceremony.

Who says we're all work and no play?

TSOB Corner

Great Performances by our TSOB kids,
we are so proud of you!
To see more TSOB performance photos click here.


Torrington CT, A Great Place to live!
City officials hail 'dreamtown' ranking
By DAVID HUTTER
07/23/2008

TORRINGTON - Living in the city is a "dream," according to online publication Bizjournals.
Bizjournals, the online media division of business newspaper publisher American City Business Journals, ranked the city as having the highest standard of living among micropolitan areas in the United States, according to a release issued Tuesday. Torrington was named the No. 1 "dreamtown" among the 140 micropolitan areas evaluated in a survey. The publication defined a micropolitan area as a municipality of 10,000-50,000 residents and a surrounding county or counties that are economically dependent on the larger municipality. Thus, demographic information from all of Litchfield County was used in evaluating Torrington.
The publication assessed 20 variables including educational attainment, home ownership, proximity to a major city, medium household income and the unemployment rate to determine the quality of life in the area surveyed.
The Torrington micropolitan area has a population of 190,119, a median household income of $66,664, a median house value of $292,200, a homeownership rate of 77.4 percent, people age 25 and older who have a bachelor's degree account for 31.9 percent and an average commuting time of 25.2 minutes, according to the Bizjournals report.
Torrington Mayor Ryan Bingham welcomed the news about the city of about 36,000. A Republican, Bingham said he had been informed by the organization about a month ago about its evaluation.
" We are glad people from outside Torrington see the many factors that make Torrington a great place," Bingham said. "The people who live and work here know Torrington is a great place."
The city continues to change from a manufacturing hotbed to a more technology-based community, he said.
" We still have the roots of an industrial community," Bingham said. "We have a highly skilled and diversified workforce. We have first-generation Americans and Americans whose ancestors came over on the Mayflower."
Bizjournals used information posted on the city's Web site, he said, to conduct its evaluation. It did not interview him or any other city employee as a basis to gather information, he said.
JoAnn Ryan, president of the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, said she was not overly surprised to hear Torrington anchors the area deemed to have the highest standard of living in the nation. She considers the creation of jobs as the major factor in determining the strength of a community because it stimulates the economy beyond the one person whose job is created.
" This is great news for the educational, cultural and artistic institutions of the region," Ryan said. "This is especially great news to natives of the county - we are glad to be recognized."
Like Bingham, Ryan said she hopes the news will raise the profile of Torrington to Americans residing elsewhere in the nation.
City Councilman Marie Soliani, a Democrat, welcomed the report. Soliani said many residents already consider northwestern Connecticut to enjoy a high standard of living that stems from the public school systems, the local economy and safe neighborhoods.
" I've always believed that Torrington has been a great place to raise children and continues to be a great place to raise children," Soliani said. "I think we have a bright future and revitalization will happen."
One thing she wishes to see occur is the state's plans to open a courthouse in Torrington, she said.
Victor Muschell, president of the Torrington Development Corporation, a nonprofit group working to boost downtown business, said the report strengthens the group's mission. The Torrington Development Corporation is waiting to receive money from the state to perform its project, he said.



 

2008-2009 Academic Calendar
now online!

Click here to go to the 2008-2009 Calendar, or if you prefer, download the calendar by clicking here.



News
New secure web feature has been added for both Nutmeg and TSOB students, read on for details.
The Nutmeg Dance Shop is online!

Website Updates

We have added password protection to the weekly schedule that is posted on the website.This feature will be enabled shortly after we return from Spring Break. All questions about how to log in will be answered upon our return to school. We will be adding many exciting features behind this "firewall" and we will notify you as they become available.

Students and parents- you can now order all of your dancewear online, from the Nutmeg Dance Shop. You can shop directly from the Nutmeg website and can open an account or pay directly using PayPal. Parents will find this particularly helpful, though of course, you can always come into the Dance Shop inside the Nutmeg main building. Remember, all proceeds for the shop go directly into the Production Fund at Nutmeg which has allowed us to keep our Costume and Production Department functioning.


Nutmeg's Alumni Notebook
What we are doing now...

Dustin Snoody: Hi, I wanted to e-mail Ms. Dante but her address isn't on the website. I just wanted to thank her for all her help and to let her know I am very happy to be finishing my third season with Orlando Ballet and will be joining The Washington Ballet as full company member this September. Thank you to all my teachers and I would love to hear back from anyone. Also, I love those Nutmeg survivor shirts! Where can I get one?

Phil Skaggs: Hi Sharon, I just wanted to tell you the good news. I just found out today that this cast of OKLAHOMA! will be archived as the formost and definitive version of the show. So I will be Immortalized in the Lincoln center library as the dream Curly for future Okies. I cant believe the stuff that I stumble upon. I thought you might get a kick out of that. Love Phil


Phil Skaggs with the cast of Oklahoma

Tiffany McGinley:
I am currently living in Orlando Florida, working at Princeton House Charter School for autistic children. I am also working with Orlando Ballet to begin a special needs dance program.

Hayley Stone: I am going on my 4th season with Atlanta Festival Ballet. I am a teacher for them and I am also their Summer Intensive Coordinator. We just opened our sister school a few towns south of where we are located and I am the director of their Dance Competition Team.

Barry Hughson: Go Nutmeg!

Crystal Powell: I attended Nutmeg's residency program from 1998 thru 2001. Since then, I graduated Clemson University in 2006 with my Master's in Professional Accountancy. After graduation, I accepted an offer with Ernst & Young to work in the firm's Assurance and Advisory Business Services practice as an external auditor in the public accounting industry. I am currently working on obtaining my CPA license. I have been happily married to Brandon Powell, for almost two years (August 19, 2006).

Amanda Sesko: Wow! It has been a long time! I came across the website and was struck with a blast from the past. I left in 1996 when my family moved to Wisconsin but was there from around age 4/5 and on. Nutmeg has shaped a lot in my life and I am forever grateful and think about dancing a good deal. It has been about 12 years since I have danced, and although I miss it, Nutmeg and all of the frieds and family I made will always be apart of me. I recieved my B.S. in psychology and women's studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and am now at getting my PhD in social psychology at the University of Kansas. I hope all is well and I send my love to everyone!

Mary Elizabeth Mock: Artistic/Executive Director of Florida Ballet Arts Academy in Sarasota, FL; Director of Florida Ballet Arts Ensemble (pre-professional company associated with school); also giving Master Classes & guest teaching in Southern California.

Kerry Miles: Love the new building and the programs that have been established since I was there in the early 80's. I will be sending some news clippings/pictures of when I took classes there myself on Water St. It is fascinating to see Victoria, Cheryl Madeaux and some of the other students that are still around, and to see how their careers have skyrocketed! Can't wait to read and see more :-)

Jarrod Kentrell:
It has been such a long time since I have been able to have a free moment to come by here and say hello. At the current moment I just returned form Montreal from a 3 weeks professional dance project what was made up of many international dance companies such as Cas Public, CND (Nacho Duato), Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Flakk Danse Montreal, Cirque du Soliel, and many more. Another company that was apart of this amazing process was Les Grands Ballet Canadians de Montreal. So I had the great pleasure of meeting John Hall 1st hand. He was super nice and was happening to be there as a photographer the night of out showing. I am now on my to start my 2nd season with the Atlanta Ballet, but this time as an apprentice. So look out for my bio and headshot online:) I am super excited. I hope that everyone is doing well and I will be in contact sooner than later.

Natasha Brooksher: Josh and I spent a few days at Nutmeg setting Le Corsaire pas de deux on about 30 couples! Phew...it was great fun, and all the students were lovely to work with. This was the first time I had actually worked in the new building, so that was a big change from 21 Water St.! Those of you who remember the 3rd floor mid-summer, no airconditioning with the fan in the doorway! haha. Josh had a wonderful time with the young men...we both hope to return again soon!


A Current Nutmeg Student shares some thoughts with us at the Nutmegger! Thanks Amanda!

Amanda Bailey dances at Golden Gate Park with her friends at break before the performance for the LINES Ballet summer session. Amanda is in 11th grade. She is a high honors students at East Granby High School and is one of few students eligible to graduate from the 10 year Professional Training Programs at Nutmeg. She has been the recipient of both the Donna Neri and Mary Ellen Adamo scholarship awards.

At Alonzo King LINES Ballet Summer Program in San
Francisco, California, I was shown how to grow physically and mentally in order to achieve my future goal in becoming a Professional Ballet Dancer. It was at LINES Ballet where I learned many new dance styles that I have never tried before. I loved every minute of my Horton Modern classes and the Contemporary Partnering classes along with the regular ballet classes. They have really expanded my mobility to move in a whole new way. I loved every teacher because no matter how many times we
had them, they always had new ways to keep us dancing to our fullest. I was taught that if I really wanted to become a Professional Ballerina, I would not dance with the music but totally into the music. From Flomenco to Hip Hop to Horton to Ballet, Alonzo King and the rest of the staff have made me a stronger and more confident dancer. All the other
dancers around me truly were my family, always encouraging one another to keep doing their best and to have fun.
- Amanda Bailey

 

 

 

News
Read our Breaking News Here
Nutmeg Alumni
TSOB CORNER

NUTMEG ALUMNI

We want you...

We'd love you to be a part of everything going behind the scenes and if you'd like, we will give you a log in to the secure side of our website. Please make sure that we have all your latest information, you can update it by clicking here. This way you'll be able to participate in our online discussions, blogs, newsletters and much more.

TSOB NEWS
Parents- the summer brochure for TSOB and Nutmeg’s level A2 are now in print and the information is online in the TSOB section of our website.  You will receive your brochure shortly.  All TSOB parents are encouraged to secure a place in the Summer Program early and should contact the TSOB registrar at 860-482-7375, personal appointments are also available to review interests. All A3 parents should contact Marguerite Sabia at 860-482-4413 ext 303.  A3 will meet six times a week in the summer months and there will be a choice of weeks for this level. 
We look forward to hearing from you!
 
Parents of A3 or level 5/6 who have not yet met with Ms. Dante for E-script reviews are encouraged to call her for an appointment, or contact Mrs. Sabia to set up an appointment for you.

 

Welcome Ron Alexander!
Nutmeg's New Principal



The Nutmeg Conservatory is pleased to announce the appointment of Ronald Alexander as Principal of the Classical Academic and Training Programs, effective June 1. In this position, he will be responsible for supervising school’s academic and artistic components.

Mr. Alexander has an MFA degree in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and a School Administrator’s certificate from City College of NY. Presently, he is on the faculties of Adelphi University, where he teaches Dance History/Criticism, the Ailey Arts-in-Education Program at the Ailey School, LaGuardia Community College in New York.


Ballet Veteran
continued from column one

Those qualities were honored on Saturday night by the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts in ''A Jubilee Celebration: Eleanor D'Antuono 50 Years in Dance,'' a gala program at the handsomely reclaimed old Warner Theater here. The theater is the anchor of downtown community redevelopment inspired by the conservatory, its ballet company and their sprawling complex of buildings.
The conservatory is also known for its training of young medalists in several of the most important competitions. And so it was fitting that the program should begin with a showpiece number for the conservatory's summer students. Choreographed by Joan Kunsch, the piece, ''Jubilee Overture,'' suggested that the young dancers had learned a great deal about onstage authority and the power of lyrical arms.
The students also served as a dream audience for the balance of the evening, cheering on their favorites and acknowledging technical feats with amusingly ear-splitting cries of delight. Ballet Theater's Ethan Stiefel teasingly played to the youngsters, dancing with an extra swagger in a truly dazzling performance of the pas de trios from ''Le Corsaire,'' with Gillian Murphy, almost frightening in her pyrotechnical daring and aplomb, and an earthily virtuosic Gennadi Saveliev.
There were also performances by dancers from the other companies Ms. D'Antuono has worked with as a dancer and behind the scenes and by alumni who have gone on to professional careers.
One highlight in the long but fast-flowing program was the flamelike dancing of Quinn Pendleton in a solo, choreographed by Vladimir Malakhov, from ''Cinderella.'' Mauro Villanueva, from the Joffrey Ballet Chicago, was affectingly melancholy in the prince's solo from ''Swan Lake.'' For sheer fun, though, nothing quite equaled Scott Thyberg's deliciously silly new ''Slice (or, Ballo D'Amore),'' set to Italian-American love songs. Set in a rustic cafe, the ballet was performed by dancers from the Nutmeg company and by alumni and included a solo for a pizza (Victoria Mazzarelli), complete with topping, in a segment danced to Dean Martin's rendition of ''That's Amore'' and Lou Monte's ''Roman Guitar.''
The program's lead dancers also included Emily Patterson, Samuel Pergande, Rosie Ponte, Tanigato Yoshiyuki, Dominic Hodal, Katie Pivarnik, Martina Chavez, Christina Theryoung and David Tamaki. Cynthia Quinn, Yasmine Lee and Brian Simerson, all from the Momix company, also performed dances from that company's repertory.

 

 

 

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