Fairy Cupcakes!

Last weekend while wandering around Walnut Creek with my mom she found and bought me this adorable cupcake kit!  There were other varieties, but of course I had to go with the ballerina-like fairies.  Meri Meri has everything from partyware to stationary journals, and all of it so cute!

Fairy Wishes Cupcake Kit

But wait... there's more!  My mom is nothing if not a fabulous cook and baker, and with Easter this past weekend, her house was a haven of Easterly sweets.  She made a delicious lemon cake with lemon curd and buttercream frosting, and there was enough left over for some lemon cupcakes for us to decorate.  For the frosting we added some pink food coloring for a strawberry lemonade type feeling and taste.  And oh, do they taste good!

My favorite part (besides how yummy they taste) is the cute little fairy ballerinas for toppers.  Their skirts have real tulle, and they stand on their toes atop each cupcake so gracefully!  Check out the Meri Meri website for their cute products and fun party ideas, or if you're an East Bay-er, my mom and I found these at David M. Brian.  Bon Appetit and Happy Easter!

Esmeralda Variation

I had to share this cutie tackling the famous (or infamous) Esmeralda variation.  Too cute!

Just in case you're wondering what the real variation look like, here's one of my favorites.  Enjoy!

Ballerina Cookies!

There's not a ballerina I've met (big or small) who doesn't like cookies, and usually, if you ask a little ballerina what their favorite kind of cookie is, you'll get a plethora of answers ranging from "pink sprinkles with rainbows and glitter", to "chocolate chip with unicorns and strawberries".  (I took a poll during one of my classes I taught this week).

While I'm not too picky when it comes to flavors, with sprinkles or without, I did want to share these cute cookie cutters I found on etsy.com awhile back.  (Thanks again to my mom, who helped me find them).

If you search 'ballerina cookies' on etsy, you'll find some super cute ready to eat and order cookies, like the ones below.

 I love the pastel tutu and leotard combo cookies!  These would be great for any party, I think I might have to throw one for myself just to get my hands on some cookies like these!  Speaking of parties, CYC's Dance Program is getting ready to kick off National Dance Week with a dance party this Friday.  I'm making tutus for some of the other CYC staff (Kristina's from a few weeks ago was such a hit!) so keep your eyes peeled for some upcoming fun party pics!

Bella Umbrella

My students are preparing for our annual Spring Showcase, and this years theme is seasons.  I've always been a fan of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons (my mom used to play it on tape for me as I was falling asleep), but there are a number of other pieces for piano and orchestra that have a season theme as well, such as Glazunov and Tchaikovsky.

My goal for this year's performance was to incorporate some fun props for the students to use, which is not only visually interesting from a stage perspective, but teaches the students spacial awareness and encourages their creative thinking (which they are already masters at).

So far, I've found some super cute butterfly/bug catchers in the dollar bin at Target, beach balls, and park benches to conjure up images of different seasons. While Janice and I were searching around the web looking for ideas and inspiration, she showed me Bella Umbrellas.  I have a natural affinity towards anything old school, and these umbrellas definitely take me back to a different time. Who knew they came in so many shapes, styles and had such history?!  Pagodas, parasols, and lots of ruffles... oh my!

I did decide to use umbrellas for a piece from our spring dances, and while we didn't rent any from Bella Umbrella this time around, we did find some cute ones at JoAnn's.  These are just the right size for my students, and seeing them peek out from under them is pretty priceless and would make any rain clouds disappear. 

Fabulous Kids Parties

My mom passed along the magazine Celebrate by Phyllis Hoffman a few weeks ago to show me an absolutely adorable article that featured a fun little girls party, along with some tips for all party throwers to be.  This particular party (thrown by Kate Landers Events, LLC) had a fun lady bug and polka dot flare, and of course pink was the color of choice.

Photo by: Andrea Winchenbaugh

I've always been a fan of pink and polka dots, so this party definitely tickled my fancy.  Among my favorite items that the party was sprinkled with were pink tulips, polka dot straws, and lady bug cake pops. Here are the pdfs for bottle labels, cake toppers and tent card, as well as a ladybug invitation, favor tag and address label.


http://www.hoffmanmedia.com/pdfs/LadybugA.pdf
http://www.hoffmanmedia.com/pdfs/LadybugB.pdf


Having been in the business of kids parties since 2009, here are some of Kate's  top tips for a fabulous event. Keep the guest list small, usually the age of the child plus two is a good number.  Also, timing is key, host your party between 1:00 and 4:30 p.m.  No meal will need to be served, which will keep messes and costs down.  Place cards are functional and pretty, they also make guests feels like they each have a special place.  Invest in some classic linens and tableware, they'll carry you through years to come.


Enjoy and have fun!

San Francisco Ballet's Coppelia

This past weekend I had the pleasure of taking 22 of my students to see San Francisco Ballet's production of Coppelia.  Despite the few bathroom trips that proved to be the logistical equivalent to herding cats, I was one proud teacher parading my well dressed, adorable, and well behaved students through the San Francisco Opera House.  Their excitement and awe was gratifying, watching them literally hang on to the edges of their seats in order to get a better view was a very heartwarming thing to see.

Photo by: Eric Tommason

The story of Coppelia is a fun one, if you don't know the story, click here.  I'm not a huge fan of the Romantic brooding ballets such as Giselle and Swan Lake, I prefer more light hearted pieces, and Coppelia definitely fits the bill.

On Sunday's matinee Maria Kochetkova played Swanhilda (who is actually the main character of the ballet, despite the title of the ballet).  She was a lovely and playful Swanhilda, bringing vibrant jumps onstage, and a series of jumps en pointe in Act III that made me clap with appreciation halfway through her variation (one of my students whispered to me "You're not supposed to clap yet Miss Katrena".  I couldn't help myself, it was great!  Swanhilda's lover Franz was played by Gennadi Nedvigin, who was also playful in his demeanor, and played a perfect flirt.  He as well brought some soaring leaps, tours, and clean double and triple turns to the stage.  Together, they were a cute pair, their onstage chemistry was flirty and fun.  Dr. Coppelius was played by a grumpy but charming Damian Smith.  Smith did a great job of playing an old man obsessed by his habits and hobbies, yet still found a way into the audiences heart as a rather silly, but tender old man.  I always have a special admiration for dancers who can really inhabit their character and bring its personality to the stage.

Act I opened to gorgeous sets of Swanhilda's village.  The sets (and gorgeous costumes) were designed by Roberta Guidi di Bagno were richly colored and vibrant; a happy setting to match the plot of this ballet.  My favorite part of Act I was the character dancing.  (Think traditional folk dancing from areas such as Hungary, Poland and Russia).  Coincidentally enough, the RAD teacher training program I'm doing teaches character dances such as what was performed in Act I in its syllabus; 2 weeks ago when I was in Toronto for a training I studied these forms in great detail.  I'm happy to report that I was thoroughly impressed with the dancers representation of the style of dance.  If done properly, it's exciting, elegant and gives the entire ballet dimension.

Act II finds Swanhilda and her friends exploring Dr. Coppelius' house and all his dolls and toys.  Swanhilda's friends (made up mostly of dancers from the corps) were quite charming, again I was impressed with the characters each of them inhibited and brought to the stage.  There was a nice variety of the spunky and outgoing friends, to the shy and timid ones.  This individuality can often be lost in a group of dancers in the corps, it was refreshing to see it done so well.  As Act II closes the audience becomes aware that Coppelia is not a person at all, but a doll of Dr. Coppelius' making and imagination.

Act III is the wedding scene where Franz and Swanhilda come together with villagers to celebrate their union.  Again there was some fantastic character dancing, but I was a bit disappointed in the story telling (or lack thereof) in this final act.  Traditionally, Dr. Coppelius demands to be repaid for the damage that Swanhilda and her friends caused in his house and is devastated at loosing his favorite doll Coppelia.  Franz and Swanhilda give Dr. Coppelius their dowery money and Dr. Coppelius joins in the festivities and flirtations with Swanhilda's widowed mother.  This element of the story was not clear at all, Dr. Coppelius seemed to just rush onstage and shake hands with a few people before exiting for the rest of the Act.  That's my only one complaint about the third act, otherwise it featured some beautiful variations by soloists and a wonderful group piece by students of the San Francisco Ballet School, not to mention an impressive pas de deux beteween Franz and Swanhilda.

I highly recommend Coppelia, especially for kids.  It's one of the best children's ballets I think, and I can assure you that my students were thrilled to watch it and be a part of it, and I was so glad that I was able to experience it with them!  Want another opinion?  Here's a great review by Geri Jeter http://calitreview.com/14985

Light, Cameras... Beautiful Photography

Last week while attending my course in my Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies with the Royal Academy of Dance in Toronto, Ontario, I spent my days in a beautiful ballet studio (London School of Dance).  It's always fun to visit new studios and see new spaces.  Dancers can be very particular about the spaces they dance in; it needs to be big enough for us to move and travel in grand allegro, and if at all possible, open and inspiring, just like our art is.  I was struck by the photography in the various rooms and studios at London School of Dance.  Take a look at just a few of them that I snapped some photos of.

Photography: Shannon Eckstein

Photography: Shannon Eckstein

Photography: Shannon Eckstein

All these photos were taken by Shannon Eckstein of SilverShadown Photographic Images, who takes light into account in her photos, and as you can see, has gorgeous results.  The top photo was in the studio that I spent my days in last week, and the little girl is just precious, and if you look closely, you'll see a bandage on her chin; the essence of youth right?  The middle photo reminds me of a favorite photo of myself and my good friend Janice, taken a few years ago.

Photography: Brooke Duthie

Admittedly, Janice said that the caption for this photo should be "not that I'm a slave to my phone or anything".  Not that any of us are, right?  This picture was taken in our home studio at Benicia Ballet School, a space where as a child, teen, and now as an adult, I continue to be inspired and feel at home.


It's amazing to me how photography can capture so much: light, inspiration, youth, friendship, and pure love... of dancing, or of the many other things that fill our world.  For more amazing and inspiring photography, check out my blog on The Ballerina Project.