VRB in the News
VRB's Summer Fitness Camp
Read article featured in the June 25th edition of the Virginia Gazette.
August is an exciting time at VRB! As seen in Williamsburg's Virginia Gazette, VRB will be offering a Dance Fitness Camp for children 10-14 years of age. This 3-week camp is designed to encourage weight loss and fitness through Zumba (Latin dance aerobics), yoga, strength-building exercises, aquatic exercises, hip hop dance, and daily nutrition classes. Campers will be provided a healthy lunch and learn hands-on to make their own "easy to do" healthy snacks. A BIG thank you to Chef Denis Callinan at the College of William & Mary!
Camp will be held August 8-26, Monday-Friday, 9:15 am - 2:00 pm. Cost: $300 + $30 non-refundable deposit/materials fee. Campers need to submit an athletic physical form.
Scholarships are available to eligible campers. Please email, dance@dancevrb.com, or call, (757) 229-2553, the studio for scholarship information.
VRB's The Nutcracker
... In Phi Beta Kappa Hall, the Virginia Regional Ballet also mounted a mighty fine "Nutcracker," one that provided extremely excellent results.
The most attractive addition this year was having Klara danced by Adelle Carpenter, the assistant to the choreographer and Regional's studio director. Klara was also transformed into the Snow Queen which allowed us to see Carpenter's still captivating elegance of line and perfectly placed pointe work. 
With such solid partnering by Cornelius Bartlett as the Snow King, this expanded role was a high point to this "Nutcracker."
There were other choreographic twists and turns from director Heidi Robitshek, as seen in additional numbers and enhanced interaction in the party scene that reflected Old World tradition and warmth.
As for the scene in which the Christmas tree grows beyond the imagination, Regional's treatment of this moment maintains a magic quality that superbly matched the music and the moment. This entire "Nutcracker" excelled in merging music and motion, with nary a wasted second of either ingredient. Among the notable dances were the wonderful Snowflakes, the Candy Canes, the Spanish, the Arabian and a really cute Mother Gigogne with Bartlett as a grand and athletic jester.
Guest artists Melissa Barak of New York City Ballet and Rory Hohenstein delivered a finely done Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier. Theatrical lighting enhanced the Bolshoi Theater's scenery and provided a magical backdrop for what was one of Robitshek's best-ever "Nutcrackers" in her 30-some years of producing this classic. It truly was a job well done and much appreciated by the packed house.
John Shulson
The Virginia Gazette
December 22, 2010
