My ballet journey started a long way away from New Orleans. As a native of Brazil, as I was training in my hometown, I struggled with the question of how to become a better dancer. I came to the realization that staying at home was not an option. Most young dancers go through a similar…
Read More "An Homage to the People of The Dance Theatre of Harlem"
During this unprecedent time of Covid-19, our school has had to slow down a few beloved projects, however we continue to explore. One of the things I find therapeutic during this pandemic is to connect with likeminded people; from national dance seminars, to old friends, and past students. Connecting with people who love what I…
For today's post, I wanted to shed some light on the talented male dancers of Live Oak Dance, and the teacher that has helped Live Oak take our boys to the next level. Aaron Wiggins, Marigny Opera Ballet star and our senior teacher, has been fundamental to both the creation and the development of our…
Read More "Boys Do Ballet: a Conversation With Aaron Wiggins"
Over the course of the school year, we’ve observed our students who take a variety of classes, and what we’ve seen to be true is that their growth in ballet technique becomes accelerated.
Read More "Ballet Blog- Dance Epiphany after the Winter Intensive"
What a year, Live Oak Family! When we look back at 2019, we will probably always remember it as the year of experimentation. In 2019, Live Oak Dance held the greatest number of specialized workshops to date. From adult beginner ballet workshops, to contemporary workshops, to a completely revisioned winter intensive, we explored the outer limits…
What better way to start off 2020 than with a contemporary workshop with Jarrell Hamilton? Jarrell’s dance career and background in contemporary dance is beyond impressive. Her impressive background reads like a who’s who of the contemporary dance world (click here for her live oak bio). And even if names like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre don’t…
New Orleans' own Kesha McKey is a major contemporary dance powerhouse. We are over the moon to be collaborating with Kesha in our Nurturing the Whole Dancer Winter Workshop, this December 27 and 28 (click here for more information). Kesha is the current Dance Department Chair at NOCCA and the founder and artistic director of…
It’s Time to Prepare for Summer Intensives! Recently, we hosted our annual photoshoot to help our students get a leg up for their national summer intensive auditions. Once their photo and video portfolios are ready, they will embark on the quest to find a programs they would like to attend. What is a Dance Summer…
Shreveport navite Gretchen Erickson talks about her dance training, teaching in New Orleans, and her favority moments as dance artist
One of the most important questions a dancer asks themselves is: how hard should I train? For many dancers this is a question that surfaces at the beginning of the year when they, together with their families, decide on the schedule for their dance training. One of my frequent jobs as a ballet instructor is to guide students who are faced…
