News
RCYBE in the news:
(excerpted from the July 2008 issue of Dance Studio Life)
Nutcrackers With a Bite
Audience-friendly makeovers shake up a holiday classic
By Lisa Traiger
“[The Nutcracker is] a wonderful tradition, but it gets to be tiring to do it over and over again,” says Michelle Raider, director and choreographer of River City Youth Ballet Ensemble, a group of a dozen pre-professional teen dancers in Charleston, WV. Raider, a Charleston native who trained at Walnut Hill School of Performing Arts in Natick, MA, noticed that her 13-year-old company wasn’t the only game in town when it came to The Nutcracker. At least two other groups danced it, and some years a touring production stopped in as well. So last year Raider decided to try something completely different. The Snow Queen, based on the Hans Christian Anderson tale and with original choreography by Raider, proved successful enough that she’ll try a few more performances this year. “We adapted the fairy tale to give it a winter feel that went along with the holiday season. And the theme about friendship really worked,” she says.
RCYBE Members Accepted into Summer Programs
The only three dancers from Kanawha County chosen to be among the top 100 state students at the Governor’s Schools of West Virginia in 2008 were from River City Youth Ballet Ensemble. After an extensive application, essay, interview and audition process, Lauren Dittebrand, Lindsay Scott, and Audrey Wright were selected for the prestigious Governor's School for the Arts—a three-week summer session for academically and artistically talented state high school sophomores. Assessment of the dancers was based upon technical expertise, movement potential, spirit, performance quality, and the ability to learn quickly. The intense, 21-day program takes place on the campus of a different West Virginia college or university each summer. Students attend workshops, classes, and events with some of the best faculty and practicing professionals from their respective fields. Governor's Schools, entirely free for students, are administered by the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts.
Two other RCYB senior company members continued their ballet training out-of-state during the summer. The school for the prestigious New York City Ballet, School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center, accepted Noelle Frame, and Kathleen Sweat attended Rhode Island Festival Ballet's summer intensive on a $500 merit scholarship.
Hannah Crewdson, a current Company member of RCYBE, was accepted into and attended the 2009 Governor's School for the Arts. Kathleen Sweat attended a five week program at North Carolina School for the Arts and Noelle Frame was once again accepted into the School of American Ballet for the 2009 summer session.
Ensemble Honored by Legislature
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| RCYBE acclaimed as the state's official youth ballet. View large image. |
The River City Ensemble is honored to have been named West Virginia’s Official Youth Ballet during the 2007 Legislative Session. We extend our sincerest thanks to the members of the West Virginia Legislature, and hope that our expanding contributions to the area’s cultural life will continue to merit this honor.
WVDCH Scholarship, Encore!
For the second straight year, a River City dancer won the Friends of West Virginia Division of Culture and History
competitive scholarship. Jennifer Arnold received the 2007 award for her jazz performance of “Bye Bye
Blackbird,” following Joanna Radow’s 2006 award for a ballet variation from “Don Quixote.” Both Arnold and
Radow appeared with the company in the Youth Organizations United production of “Sleeping Beauty” at the Clay Center in May 2007.
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| RCYB performs at Charleston's 'Good Night,' New Year's Eve 2006 (Photo courtesy of Charleston Daily Mail) |
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Publication: Metro Valley
By: Emily Chapman
THEATER TEEN TAKES ON CINDERELLA AND HER 'HILARIOUS' STEPSISTERS
Publication: The Charleston Gazette
Published: 04/28/2005
By: Bob Schwarz
TOUCH OF LIFE TALENTED AREA YOUTHS SHINE AT CLAY CENTER
Publication: The Charleston Gazette
Published: 05/11/2005
By: Don Springer
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