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GBT Dancer's Handbook
2010-2011 Season
This handbook will outline the expectations for membership in the Griffin Ballet Theatre dance company.
Our Mission
The mission of the Griffin Ballet Theatre Inc. (GBT) is dedicated to enriching the lives of the community by developing a deeper appreciation of ballet and other forms of dance. It provides an opportunity for talented young dancers to perform in a professional atmosphere. The Griffin Ballet Theatre works together as a company to present the community with high quality affordable performances.
Purpose
- To offer educational programs to develop ballet dancers
- To enrich the community through diverse professional performances
- To offer educational outreach experiences
- To increase appreciation of the arts in a rural community
- To use classical ballet as a tool to assist in developing a more highly educated, diverse community
About Us
The Griffin Ballet Theatre is a 501©3 producing non-profit organization. The Griffin Ballet Theatre has maintained a tradition of producing high caliber performances and service to the community since 1994. Each season we strive to bring bigger and better performances to our community. Our outreach program has touched the lives of thousands of students. We are committed in continuing to exceed our mission and inspiring more audiences with each season.
Sponsorship
Your contributions (or contributions of someone you know) will allow us to continue to obtain new programs and develop the growing talents of our own young company dancers. The Griffin Ballet Theatre is funded through individual and corporate funding to maintain a tradition of high caliber performances and services to the community. Your gift to the Griffin Ballet Theatre is tax deductible. You will receive acknowledgement in all programs and other considerations based on the degree of sponsor participation. Parents of each company member and apprentice company member are encouraged to sponsor the GBT at least at the $25.00 level.
Our Director
Mitch Flanders began his dance training with a scholarship to the School of American Ballet in New York. He then joined the Eglevsky Ballet under the direction of Edward Villella where he performed many lead roles in Balanchine ballets such as Serenade, Square Dance, Four Temperaments and Swan Lake, in which he partnered prima ballerina, Allegra Kent. He toured with companies led by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gelsey Kirkland and Alexander Godunov. He joined the Chicago City Ballet as principal dancer under the direction of Maria Tallchief, where he partnered Suzanne Farrell, one of the reigning prima ballerinas of the world. He later joined the Los Angeles Ballet as principal dancer and has worked as a guest artist in the United States and Europe. His other credits include the Metropolitan Opera Ballet in New York, the International Ballet Rotaru, and the Georgia Ballet, where he served as Ballet Master. Mr. Flanders is currently a grant panelist for Georgia Council of the Arts.
Our Ballet Mistress
Jena Michele Kovash is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana where she began her dance training at the age of three. She moved to Lakeland, Florida and studied at the Harrison Arts Center/Lakeland High School and at Highland School of Dance. She is a graduate Cum Laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. She performed in the classical works Giselle and Swan Lake and modern works by Garth Fagan and Sean Curran. After graduation, from FSU, she joined Ballethnic Dance Company for three seasons. She is also one of the founding members and the Rehearsal Director of Brooks & Company Dance, a modern dance company in Atlanta.
When our ballet mistress is in charge of a rehearsal she will be afforded the same respect as the director. The ballet mistress is not responsible for decisions concerning casting or production. If you have questions regarding casting, they should be addressed to the artistic director directly. However: please feel free to speak to her on issues of technique, performance and coaching.
Rehearsal Assistants
GBT uses our older company members as rehearsal assistants. These members are there to provide assistance only. They should have no conversations with parents regarding the casting, progress, attendance or abilities of any of the dancers. They will make no changes to the choreography or placement of any dancer. Should they have any concerns they will address the director, who will then decide if it is necessary to communicate to the parents.
Website
Other than attending a Griffin Ballet Theatre performance, our website is the best way to introduce others to the Griffin Ballet Theatre. The board of directors maintains a website that communicates our mission, goals, leadership and membership as well as provides the community with information about our upcoming concerts. There are fun and interesting features for guests to enjoy and useful rehearsal schedules for dancers to check between Saturday classes and rehearsals. You never know when a new photo of you may be appearing.
Auditions
Company auditions are by invitation only. The requirements are to be in Ballet III and to have been on pointe for at least one year. The dancer must also be enrolled in a minimum of 2 ballet classes per week (in addition to the weekly company class).
Apprentice company auditions are open for dancers in at least the Ballet II/Level II dancers who are also in pre-pointe or pointe. The dancer must also be enrolled in a minimum of 1 ballet class per week (in addition to the pre-pointe/pointe class and the weekly company class).
Auditions will commence each year in August and each company dancer and apprentice company dancer will sign a yearly contract.
Dues
To create an effective and stable financial base for our company, we build on our revenue from annual dues of $350.00 for company member and $250.00 for apprentice company members. There is a $50 discount available for families with multiple dancers participating. Dues may be paid annually or bi-annually as specified on the GBT Company Membership Terms contractual agreement. Please note that dues must be kept current in order for the dancer to continue to participate. Company dues are not refundable and, if a member is unable to complete the season for any reason, a prorated refund is not available. In addition to company dues, parents of each company member and apprentice company member are encouraged to sponsor the GBT at least at the $25.00 level and to be a part of The Griffin Ballet Theatre Guild.
Commitment to Rehearsal
Members of the GBT, along with their parents, must be willing to commit to what may be at times a rigorous rehearsal schedule. These rehearsals are mandatory. Being present ensures that members are improving their technical ability and becoming familiar with all choreography. This will also increase their flexibility for fulfilling all casting and understudy roles. A dancer who is completely prepared will have a more meaningful personal experience and will be more capable of enriching others through dance.
Attendance
Responsible company members exhibit a commitment to GBT with their attendance. Attendance is recorded and dancers must be present for 90% of rehearsals for each project in order to perform with the Griffin Ballet Theatre. There may be times when unforeseen circumstances prevent attendance. If an absence is necessary, it is expected that members will contact the studio at 770-228-1306 at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled company class or rehearsal. Please leave a message if there is no answer. In the event that a dancer is absent from any rehearsals during production week, performance in the production may be precluded at the discretion of the director. Members who find that their schedules cannot accommodate the attendance requirement should discuss a leave of absence with the director.
Rehearsal and Performance Calendar
Commencing in August, we have company class on Saturday mornings, which are normally scheduled at 10:00am-11:30am, but sometimes vary. Company class is most often followed by production rehearsals. Rehearsals (which are scheduled by groups) normally begin at noon and end anywhere between 2:00pm and 5:00pm but may vary from week to week. Company class and rehearsals are held at Studio D School of Dance located at 111 N. Hill Street. Scheduled times for Company class and rehearsals are always posted on the board at the studio and will be available on the website, as well. Dress rehearsals (which are held during the week before performances) are usually at the appropriate venue. Typically, we perform 3 major productions a year: An outreach and fundraising performance in the fall, The Nutcracker in November and a spring production in March or April. Tickets for our performances generally are $15, $12 and $10 with discounts for students and seniors. We perform in the Griffin Auditorium and at times tour to surrounding counties for outreach performances.
Weekly Company Class and Rehearsal Guidelines
Classes normally begin promptly at 10:00am. Members are expected to arrive early. The time prior to class is to get focused and warm up. Be respectful of your instructor and other dancers by being ready to dance at the designated time for weekly company class and rehearsals.
Production Week Rehearsals
While these rehearsals are usually longer than the weekly rehearsals, they are crucial to performance success. Please allow plenty of time to organize yourself and get your costumes in order before rehearsal begins. There is much to do in little time, so make every effort to be prompt and prepared.
Performances
We are very visible on stage so the way we conduct ourselves is important. Our conduct backstage and during the performance sets the tone for the entire production. We need to listen to all instructions given to us until the performance concludes. All costumes are to be hung up in their proper place and each dancer’s dressing room space should be organized before you leave the theatre each night.
Costumes and Attire
No eating or drinking in costumes at any time. No horseplay in costumes! Any repairs that need to be made to a costume should be brought to the attention of the wardrobe mistress in a timely matter. Any ripped tulle or tutus need to be fixed immediately. You are responsible for checking for your costume upon arrival to the theatre and returning it to its proper place at the end of each performance. If you do not have a complete costume you will not go onstage. This includes headpieces. At no time does a dancer have the authority to make ANY changes to the costume or vary the way they have been instructed to wear the costume. Dancers must always have clean tights without runs or holes. Ballet and pointe shoes should be clean and no ballet shoes with any holes in them will be allowed on stage. Failure to comply with all of these guidelines will result in a dancer not performing in that performance.
Commitment to Choreography
Although our dancers are at varying levels of technical and performing experience, certain disciplines apply to everyone. Give your undivided attention to the director. It is very important for every dancer to watch and listen to the director concerning staging and choreography. No one should be talking when the director, ballet mistress or stage manager is talking.
Core Values Time
We know that time is valuable, and we are committed to making the time together as pleasant, productive, and meaningful as possible. Rehearsals begin promptly on schedule and are carefully prepared to make effective use of our limited rehearsal time. Performance dates are usually designed a year in advance so that dancers can mark their calendars and plan ahead.
Responsibility
All company members are responsible for their own actions and their actions toward other company members. Remember you are working together to put on a spectacular performance. Negative energy is counter-productive and disrespect will not be tolerated. Members should strive to support one another in a positive manner. Respect for the director’s decisions regarding casting is mandatory and negative opinions of casting will not be tolerated. It is also each company member’s responsibility to know their rehearsal schedule. Missing a rehearsal and claiming not to have known about it will be an unexcused absence and may result in that dancer being removed from a part or a section of choreography. Members should not forget to take care of their bodies as they are your instruments. Drink plenty of water. Staying well hydrated is essential to maintaining stamina. Remember to bring a water bottle to class and rehearsals. Make an effort to select healthy food choices and be sure to get adequate rest, particularly during performances.
Communication
Pertinent GBT announcements are made at each rehearsal but the bulletin board and email are the major formats for communicating information between rehearsals. It is essential for each member to ensure that their email address is current (as well as other contact information) and to notify the studio front desk attendant of changes. We will verify addresses and email accounts during the first few rehearsals each semester. Also, each member has a mailbox at the desk. Upon arrival, please be sure to check your mailbox and the bulletin board for any announcements. We publicize our company through the GBT website and will be posting rehearsal information on this site, as well: www.griffinballettheatre.org. If you need to have a private conversation with the artistic director, please make an appointment at the desk. The Director cannot have personal conversations during rehearsal time.
Appreciation
Members are carefully chosen using such criteria as talent, expertise, dedication, a cooperative spirit, and a love of dance. Mutual cooperation and respect among the members are the cornerstones of our success.
The Board of Directors assists the Director, Mitch Flanders, in guiding the company toward its mission and goals. The 2010-11 Board of Directors includes:
Deborah Allen (
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Susie Blackshear (
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Amy Daniels (
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Katheryne English (
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Lori Flanders (
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Mitch Flanders (
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Amy Miller (
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Denel James (
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Dawn Johnson-Perdue (
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Janet McDougal (
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Jennifer Smith (
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The Griffin Ballet Theatre Guild
We hope to enlist other volunteers as the Ballet Guild to help in many areas:
- GBT Evening of Dance (Fall Performance)
(Silent Auction & Refreshments)
- Nutcracker Boutique
- Ushers
- Flowers
- Concessions
- Ticket Sales
- Costumes
If you would like to volunteer in a certain area, please contact the GBT Guild Membership Chairman, Carla Walsh (phone: 404.660.4045 or email:
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