For those who didn't know, this weekend the National Dance Foundation in cooperation with Partner Re held their FREE master classes, for all dance students in Bermuda (and for non-students as well) which was attended by a grand total of 58 students over the three day period. Four classes a day (2 junior and 2 intermediate) which amounts to 12 classes in total. With over 3000 kids dancing in Bermuda it is an absolute disaster that these classes are ignored. Think about it. We had dance teachers here this weekend from American Ballet Theater and the Alvin Ailey School who muist think that Bermudians are just not serious when it comes to this amazing art form.

There is no doubt that they knew it was happening. This is an obvious snub for the NDFB, and the fact that the NDFB will not be controlled by the schools, and will run as an independant entity. The schools want to dictate how the corporate $ is spent and thus the standoff. The sad part is that parents are being mis-informed and thus their kids are missing out on world-class opportunities.

The NDFB is the single best thing to ever happen to the local dance community. It promotes excellence and gives our kids opportunities that they wouldn't have on a normal basis.

The sad part is that Louise Jackson, UBP stalwart, who champions the cuases of the island for seniors and the like, will not allow her dance students to take part in anything sponsored by the NDFB.

Ask me why I won't vote for the UBP, see Louise Jackson. Luckily I have a third choice.

Is Louise Jackson the only person who owns a dance company here?

If they all discouraged their students from participating, it sounds to me like there is a bigger issue. 

Why don't the other dance companies support you?

I recall reading about this somewhere ages ago, but can't remember what the issue was.

Hey Sparxx,

From what I've read and heard from friends involved in the NDFB, there is sadly bad blood. I am sure the let's get everyone together and hash it out has occurred, but if you are able to try this approach again perhaps consider this:

A few years back, I was on an "Action Planning Team" to help create an organization. None of the three words in that descriptive, in the end, was in abundance. The only healthy meeting that we had, where work got done, was by having a respected facilitator assist the group.

Eddie

The "faction" involves the following schools, In Motion, UDP Jacksons and in some degree Russian, although Carol and her son James Waddell (owners) did participate on the weekend. Yes, Louise Jackson is still involved as she has great interest in what happens at Jacksons school. The reality is this, The National Dance Foundation has done more for dance than any "national" program before it, and in as much has raised more money than ever before! At first the board tried to be inclusive of all schools but since NO ONE could get along or agree on the direction of the foundation, they all sat out, excluding Somerset School of Dance, who wanted more than anything for this to work. The board realised that since no one could get along, it was best to have an "independant board" with no school affilliates on it. Even Sal Hodgson, from Somerset has been asked to step down.

So here we are with an independant NATIONAL DANCE FOUNDATION that has one mission, to promote dance excellence in Bermuda, with world class training, and the "faction" are witholding their students, because they have no say, or control over the $$$$. It is a horrific thing that they are doing this, and our kids are missing out chances for fear of being blackballed inside their own schools.... yes blackballed, it does happen.

I am bringing this to light here, because yes the three week intensive is a HUGE event for dancers here and the upcoming GALA (in Feb.) to raise the funds for this event is closing in. The sponsors are nervous because the "faction" represents 90% of Bermuda's dance public. I ask you, to please talk to people you know, pass the message on and help to turn this travesty around. 

The National Dance Foundation was created upon the legacy of what was it's predecessor; The National Dance Theater. The National Dance Theater was a small group of people who, with a very limited budget, tried to form a group committed to advancing the art of Dance in Bermuda. It was run on a budget of approximately $20,000 per year. The Foundation, under the leadership of Don Kramer and Wendy Davis Johnson sought a "bigger" picture and with the corporate community set out a plan to bring world-class training to Bermuda on a regular basis, through quarterly master-classes and a 3 week summer intensive. The master classes have always been FREE, and through the Gala and a connection with Catherine Zeta-Jones were able to finance 50% of the cost of the three week intensive that brings dance students from around the world here to dance and study with our own talented kids!

After the first successfull summer intensive, disputes over the direction/vision of the foundation became apparent. Most of this was due to the "infighting" and that Don Kramer is on the board of American Ballet Theater. Schools did not want the foundation to be tied to any organization. The fact is, that there was never a contract with ABT, and to this day there isn't. The Foundation has set the bar by using ABT as a standard. This standard can not be compromised. Equal or better training will always be the Foundations mission. ABT knows this. We were lucky because ABT has never held an international intensive, and Bermuda is it's first opportunity.

Let me clarify a point here. The connection with ABT was meant to set a standard, that is all. ABT is not only about Ballet, as some schools here believe (note... only Russian and Somerset do ballet exclusively. In Motion have begun to demand that all students do ballet, so you see where this is important), ABT offers many different styles and this year's intensive included, Modern, African and Ballet. This usually costs $3000 oer child for the full 3 weeks, for which the Foundation eats 50% of the cost, meaning that they only charge $1500 for it and at the end of the day will sponsor any child that needs financial aid.

The schools will tell you a lot of things. The Foundation has moved from three full time staff to one, and I volunteer as much as I can. The Foundation has made every concession it can to the schools, including removing it's face, Wendy Davis Johnson, and it's amazing programme coordinator Shari Lynn Pringle, and still the schools continue the boycott.

We are treading on very thin ice here. ABT cannot recommend continuing if the local students won't come. This weekend we had a teacher here from Alvin Ailey's dance school and on Sunday afternoon there was a total of 3 students in the calls, my daughter included (she went to EVERY class at her level - intermediate). These classes were FREE.

Please... please pass the word. If you know parents of dancers, or dancers who are serious, please tell them how important this is. The next set of FREE classes is set for the end of January.

Sparxx,

You said, "Schools did not want the Foundation to be tied to any organization." Why?

When I asked about the back story, I must admit I was addressing my own assumption that the reasons for the dance schools boycotting events, were based on some societal issue intrinsic to Bermuda, rather than the structure of the Foundation proper. Is there an elephant in the room?

Thanks,

Eddie

So that's what all those LTEs were about earlier this year?  I know nothing about dance other than the names of the disciplines. But I'm shocked to learn that the numbers are dwindling.

To me, the ultimate question is: What are we ultimately teaching the children with the apparent boycot of the NDFB?