Dayton Ballet @ the Mid-Day Arts Café - Schuster Performing Arts Center

Today, our Young at Heart Group attended an excellent program at the Schuster!  I never thought I would enjoy the ballet but this program was a lot of fun.

We started with a nice box lunch. Then, as we continued to eat, two ballerinas from the Dayton Ballet provided a very good ballet demonstration. The ballet was performed by Marcia Hetrick and Annalise Woller. The ballet was "Two Sisters”, in honor of Miss Josephine and Hermene Schwarz. These sisters were pioneers of ballet in Dayton.

Following the performance, the girls and Karen Russo Burke, Artistic Director Dayton Ballet answered questions. I found this to be very educational and informative.  For example, a typical ballerina retires from performing around the age of 35. Then, they take up a second career, perhaps still involved in ballet, as is Karen.

Both Marcia and Annalise have college educations that they can use after their ballerina careers, if they choose.  They go through very rigorous exercises via activities such as Judo, Zumba, Swimming, Elliptical, etc. This is to keep all muscles exercised and joints limber. Both girls are 24 years old so they still have a few performing years ahead of them. They do a small number of programs a year (4 to 6) and about 4 performances each, except for the Nutcracker, which is 6.

After the program, one of the ladies took us on a short tour of the Mead Theater where the Nutcracker will be performed! I learned several interesting facts about the theater. There is a Star Field at the top of the huge room which is what was in the sky at the time the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk.  Also the distance from the back of the Upper Balcony to the back of the Stage is the same length as the First Flight.  I really like the way they incorporated some of our local history into the design. The Schuster will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary in 2013.

This was a very good program and we will certainly be planning similar programs involving the Schuster Performing Arts Center in the future.  Actually, the Carillon Brass (Dayton Philharmonic Brass Quintet) will be performing at our Luncheon program next month on December 11th at 11AM. Don’t miss it. This will be a great way to begin celebrating Christmas.

Young at Heart Luncheon – 13, 2012

This month we had a good turnout as we move toward Thanksgiving and Christmas with a special program highlighting “Elizabeth: A Time for Truth”. We also featured had more than our normal amount of special music along with the very special dramatic presentation by Geri Campbell.

Our music included a piano by Fred Scheffler and special vocal music with a Duet by Marlene Williams and Sandy Hayward (left photo below). Later, Alison Misere sang a solo to her son, Jacob (right photo). Actually, I think you can hear him helping, occasionally. This was a perfect segue to the dramatic presentation with Elizabeth and Baby John.

Geri Campbell played the part of Elizabeth. She wrote this dramatic presentation based on the Scriptural account of Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary and mother of John – The Baptist, from Luke chapter 1. She will also be performing this at the Creation Museum during their Christmas Season. However, this is the first performance of their season, a season premier!  You can hear her presentation HERE. However, just hearing doesn’t do it the justice that it deserves and what you would see with her in the proper dress, etc.  Geri did a very nice job and we’ll be having her back for other programs in the future. If you missed this, be sure to catch it around Christmas at the Creation Museum south of Cincinnati in Kentucky. Better yet, bring your family for a fun evening, there.

Of course, our luncheon program would not be finished without the great meals provided by Lisa Poe and our kitchen staff, servers, setup and decorating staff and other kitchen help. Thank you all for a fantastic job.

Next month, we will have another very special program on December 11, 2012 at 11AM. We will enjoy the music of Carillon Brass. This is a brass quintet by performers from the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. I had the privilege of hearing them as they did their rehearsal in our auditorium on Monday. We are in for a real treat! They will be performing a program that is about the same as they will be doing at The Loft, downtown. This performance will be sure to get everyone into the Christmas spirit. Be sure to join us and bring your friends.

Carillon Brass during Rehearsal