Dear OAB Students and Parents,

We hope your holidays were merry and bright.  Welcome back and Happy New Year.

Exams and recital will be here before we know it so we want to share some important dates with you.

EXAMS: Tentatively end of March or beginning of April

RECITAL: Sat., May 29—Dress Rehearsal at Joslyn 10 am-6 pm; individual times TBA.

Tue., June 1 and Wed., June 2 — Recital at Joslyn  7:00 pm

There will be TWO performances this year for dancers in Grade 5 and above;  those below Grade 5 will have one performance night only.  We are doing this to keep our recital under 90 minutes, to avoid over crowding the backstage area, and to give the older dancers a little more performance opportunity.  We will need 2 parents from each class of younger students to help backstage on the night their child is not performing.  Teachers also may be asking for costume help. Please volunteer if you can.

Parent Observation is the week of Jan. 18.  We hope to let you know then which night your child will be performing.

Nebraska Dance Camp in Halsey will be July 11-July 17 and our Summer Intensive will be June 7- July 2.  Brochures for both will be coming out this month.

We’re looking forward to dancing in 2010!

Patti, Penny, and Sheila

OAB classes are canceled for today, January 7, 2010, due to the weather!  The make up classes for Jan. 6 & Jan. 7 will be rescheduled later.   Contact 346-0469 with any questions.

In case of bad weather, the Academy will close if schools in the OPS district are closed.  For Saturday classes, call the Academy to check on the class status.  Makeup classes will be scheduled for weather cancellations.

The Academy’s 2009-10 year will begin on September 8. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone back in class!

The new class schedule has been posted here. Also, be sure to read this page for updated information about our policies.

For new students with previous training, we’ll be conducting a placement audition on Sunday, August 30, at 2:30 pm. The purpose of this audition is simply to help the faculty advise you on what classes would be best for you. Please contact us in advance if you plan to attend the placement audition.

Also on August 30, everyone is welcome to join us for a studio open house from 2 to 4 pm. You’ll be able to tour the facility, meet faculty members, and get answers to any questions you might have.

As always, feel free to contact us if you need further information. We hope to see you soon!

Thanks to everyone who participated in, helped with, or attended our 2009 recital, Alice in Wonderland.

Here’s a photo sampler of the studio dress rehearsal at the Academy (click the arrow to play):

And here’s one from the final dress rehearsal at Joslyn:

Congratulations to everyone who was involved in December’s successful Omaha Dance Project production, A Winter Celebration of Dance, at the Jewish Community Center Theater.

Here are some photos from the performance:

The Omaha Dance Project proudly presents  “A Winter Celebration of Dance” at the Jewish Community Center (333 S. 132nd Street, Omaha) on Saturday, December 13, 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, December 14 2:00 p.m..  There will be contemporary ballet, jazz and modern dance works plus selections from The Nutcracker.  Tickets are $10 Child/Senior and $12 Adult.  Call Omaha Academy of Ballet (346-0469) for more information.

OAB dancers perform in the Dundee Days parade

Omaha Academy of Ballet dancers took part in the Dundee Day parade on Saturday, Aug. 23. The costumed dancers moved up Underwood Avenue performing a “parade-friendly” combination set by instructor Lynne Nevin, drawing applause from the crowd.

Academy students performed August 9 and 10 at Lauritzen Gardens‘ Art in Bloom festival.

Nineteen students participated in the program, which featured pieces from our 2008 recital choreographed by faculty members Lynne Nevin and Mary Waugh-Taylor. Co-director Sheila Nelson coordinated the production.

Thanks to all the students and families who participated!

[Pictured: Austrian dancers take their bow at 'Art in Bloom']