Recent Graduate: Maggie Boggs

Maggie Boggs has been dear to our hearts from the time she began her ballet studies at Still Pointe in 2008. With her dance bag packed and plans to double major in dance and an area yet to be determined, Kennesaw State University might be a frequented destination by those of us who are reluctant to let her go!

Here is Maggie's senior questionnaire:

How long have you danced? How many years did you spend at Still Pointe?
I have been dancing for eight years, all of which were with Still Pointe.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time at Still Pointe?
There are so many wonderful memories. I suppose that if I had to pick just one, my favorite memory is when I performed the role of Snow White in the 2015 winter concert. The ballet’s story of Snow’s grace and hopefulness really resonated with me. Jesus used the experience to draw me closer to Him and instill in me a humble confidence rooted in Him.

What was your favorite part of class?
Adagio is certainly a challenge, but it still might be my favorite! I love trying to connect each step and to continually grow and breathe throughout the movement.

What is your favorite kind of dance to watch? Do you have a favorite ballet?
Ballet, ballet, ballet! And my absolute favorite ballet is Giselle. I love watching videos of Alina Cojocaru and Marianela Nunez performing the lead role, and I’m especially fond of the Act I variation and the mad scene.

Where do you find inspiration?
For me, inspiration seems to come from three sources. First of all, nature! God’s creation always makes my heart sing—open fields and gloriously blue autumn skies always call for dancing, in my opinion. I love to choreograph outside, too, when weather permits. :)

I am also inspired by music, which is such an integral part of dance. Music sets both a tempo and a tone for a combination or for a piece of choreography.

Thirdly, I am continually moved by watching other dancers. By studying my Still Pointe peers and videos of professionals, I am always inspired to work harder or try something a new way.

What lessons from dance will you take into your future?
Dance has taught me so much. One of the main things I’ve gained is a sense of diligence and resilience, even when it seems as though improvement is at a standstill. Ballet is a very long-term project, but this shows just how valuable it is to keep trying and pushing through frustrations and doubts.

I would like to thank my beautiful Still Pointe family for all that they’ve blessed me with. You all are so dear to me and you have impacted my life deeply. Mrs. Rogers, you are such a gifted teacher and so full of Godly wisdom. To all my classmates, who also happen to be some of my closest friends, I am honored to have shared part of this life journey with you. I love you all so much.

As I ponder the precious years I’ve spent at Still Pointe, my heart overflows with joy and gratitude for the golden childhood I’ve had as I danced my way closer to the One who gives us limbs with which to dance and minds with which to dream.

Circa 1981

Eleanor and Rob Rogers sharing the barre circa 1981. 

But, really, now that we have your attention, sign up for Still Pointe's Day of Dance on Saturday, August 13th from 10 until 4. Just $35. to dance and dance and dance all day. It may lead to a lifetime at the barre (or dinner table).

Eleanor and Rob Rogers sharing the barre circa 1981.

Eleanor and Rob Rogers sharing the barre circa 1981.

Recent Graduate: Francesca Rossi

Recent Graduate: Francesca Rossi

The end of Still Pointe’s 10th season was brimming with rehearsals, celebrations, changes, performances, and love. We have not wanted to say good bye to this season and especially to our 3 seniors. Recent graduate, Francesca Rossi, answered some questions that reveal a little about her time at Still Pointe. We are happy that Francesca won’t be too far away, pursuing pre-med studies at Emory University with plans to explore research. We send you into this new chapter of your life with our love and warmest wishes. We hope to see you in Saturday class when you aren’t too busy!

How long have you danced? How many years did you spend at Still Pointe?
I have danced for 15 years, 7 of which I have spent at Still Pointe.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time at Still Pointe?
I have so many memories at Still Pointe, but some of my favorite come from performance days. My favorite Still Pointe tradition is the pinky prayer circle that occurs before and after performances. I remember making the pinky prayer circle before the Snow White performance in 2011 and thinking it was the sweetest tradition for everybody to come together in the pandemonium before a show and settle our nerves while thanking and glorifying the Lord. It is an incredible feeling to be settled down by this prayer that unifies all of Still Pointe literally because of our connected pinkies but also because of our common faith. It is a beautiful sight to see the pinky prayer circle form from loud, exciting chaos, and I remember getting emotional during my last pinky prayer circle before the last showing of Gerda and the Snow Queen 2016, reminiscing and thinking about how much I would miss this.

What was your favorite part of class?
My favorite part of class would have to be when Mrs. Rogers or any other teacher strikes up a really interesting and slightly challenging combination that makes us really determined to succeed. The kind of combination that may yield 3 or 4 trails, but the whole time everyone is carefully watching and congratulating their classmates when somebody gets it. I also love Contemporary with Mrs. Kayla when she has a specific goal or agenda for that day, like when she says, “Today WE ARE FINISHING THE DANCE!” There is a certain exciting energy shared by everyone on those days, and it feels amazing once we finally finish that dance, or get those fouettés perfectly in-sync, or get that contraction to match the music perfectly. It’s just an amazing feeling.

What is your favorite kind of dance to watch? Do you have a favorite ballet?
I think a lot of different types of dance are very interesting to watch. I think classical ballet is really fun to watch because of the precision, tradition, beauty, and grace. It all just comes together to create an amazingly impressing performance that my eyes cannot stray from-it’s pretty mesmerizing. But I also love watching more contemporary or modern dances because of the way that the dancers connect with the music, and the movement is so not-traditional and experimental that it too is mesmerizing! I think I love watching these dances the most because they are the styles that I hold closest to my heart.

And a favorite ballet… I love a ballet that is theatrical and provides a dramatic show so call me cliché but I love Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

Where do you find inspiration?
I find a lot of inspiration in music. Dance and music are the ultimate pair, so often I find myself compelled to dance when a certain song strikes a chord within me. When given choreography, I find inspiration in how the emotion from the music relates to my own life. I channel the emotion and I can feel myself truly performing.

What lessons from dance will you take into your future?
I think that dance trains you to be obedient and patient, just from waiting at the barre for a combination or waiting for your placement in choreography. My boss told me that she met a ballet dancer and she reminded her of me, and I thought it had to be the common poise and patience that we all seem to develop. Dance exhibits hard work at its finest, and I have learned through dance what it is like to put in hard work and reap the benefits later on. I have also learned to be confident in myself through dance. Still Pointe is not an overly competitive environment like other stereotypical dance studios so it has been a wonderful place to grow as a young girl. Here I was not pressured to be the best at everything and feel crushed when something didn’t go my way. I realized that we all have our strengths and weaknesses, in dance and any other aspect of our lives, and focusing on your strengths is what will give you that confidence.

I would also like to thank everyone at Still Pointe for giving me a wonderful 7 years. I have grown an incredible amount during this time, and I have been blessed to have been able to grow in such a loving environment surrounded by such inspiring people. I love you all!


And, we love you, Francesca! You are a gentle, brilliant, sweet, and determined woman. God bless you and be with you!!!

A Last Minute Change of Scenery

For the past few days a story has been going on...

Construction at South Forsyth High School....blah blah blah....it's gonna be fine....blah blah blah.....helicopters.....blah blah blah.....FAA.....blah blah blah.....everything is NOT fine....blah bl......we have no theater!!!! 

But the end of this story is a happy one...Still Pointe Spring Concert and Storybook Recitals will now be held at 

Wesleyan School
Powell Theatre in Wesley Hall
5405 Spalding Drive
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 

It is a beautiful campus and they have saved our performances! In fact, it is so beautiful, you may just want to dress up and take pictures at this one. 

For tickets...please follow the following link. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=16863730873

Spring Concert Performances will be held Friday, June 3rd at 7pm and Saturday, June 4th at 2pm. Storybook Recitals will be held Saturday, June 4th at 10am and 11am. 
 

Senior: Josie Negvesky

 Jo---You have brought so much life and joy to the studio! We will miss your sarcasm and how you bring a lightness to class that reminds us never to take anything too seriously. You have had a significant impact, from volunteering with the little ones to helping out with our Parkinson's class; you have a wonderful, giving spirit that will bless everyone you meet as you go forward. 

How long have you danced? How many years did you spend at Still Pointe?

I have been dancing for 13 years, three of which were at Still Pointe. 

Do you have a favorite memory from your time at Still Pointe?

In the dressing room of GATSQ for the final show when I was Gerda, Miss Kayla said that if I were to make this my last year, the studio would never be the same. I cried and there was a big group hug. I will always remember that. 

What was your favorite part of class?

The little conversations I have shared with my classmates in between barre work and during center.  Oh and Miss Jessica's ab workouts. Yessssssssss.

What is your favorite kind of dance to watch? Doyou have a favorite ballet?

I love watching all types of dance and the unique creativity found in the differences. My favorite ballet is The Royal Ballet's adaptation of Alice in Wonderland

Where do you find inspiration?

Song lyrics read backwards and thrift stores. 

What lessons from dance will you take into your future?

You have to be the one to pick yourself up when you fall, and the faster you get up the stronger you become. Also, if you get up fast enough, nobody will realize you fell to begin with.

I just want to say thank you to all of my teachers and fellow students for making these three years at Still Pointe, the best years of my life. You guys are wonderful and I would not be the person I am today if I didnt have you all in my life. I love you.

Summer Intensives

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Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
      Listen to the DON'TS
      Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WONT'S
      Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me-
      Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be

-Shell Silverstein

As the calendar keeps turning and we approach the end of our tenth season, we are overwhelmed by the beauty that anything can happen and anything can be. 

We are especially blessed this year to be sending several of our sweet students away for the summer. The students this year are incredibly hard workers and through their perseverance and God's grace, they are creating lives of excellence, pursuing the gifts that God has given them. 

Deanna Cudjoe and Sarah Justmann will head to New York for an intensive with American Ballet Theater, dancing in the same studios that Misty Copeland and Maria Kochetkova call home. 

Allison Bell will return for the third time to her summer ballet home in Philadelphia, The Rock School of Dance, where Alexandra Ansanelli and Beckanne Sisk made their first connections in the professional world.

Juliette Negvesky will travel south to Next Generation Ballet in Tampa where she earned a scholarship. Next Generation has served as a stepping stone to all of the major American and many European ballet companies for many young dancers, including Hannah Bettes. 

 Jeremy Leurart has been awarded a scholarship to attend Bossov Ballet in Maine! 

And finally, we have two bound for Joffrey Ballet. Isabella Sacca will attend their program in Denver, while Grace Weigel will get her inspiration and training in New York. 

We are so proud of you and all of the hours of sweat and pain and staying up late to do homework after class.

While we will miss those we are sending away, we will be doing our own hard work here at home! 

We have some of our favorite guest teachers returning this year, as well as some new faces! Classes include ballet, pointe, pas de deux, conditioning, contemporary, and choreography. We will conclude on Friday with a performance of excerpts from the week. 

We will be splitting our Summer Intensive into two levels in order to give some of our younger students the chance to work hard and get the full summer experience that our older students enjoy! The intensive is open to students from 9 to 18. Students will be split into levels after placement class on the first day. 

The intensive will be held June 27th through July 1st from 10am to 4pm every day. Our intensive is open to students from other studios as well. 

We believe in hard work and big dreams, so whether you want to follow in the footsteps of our out of town girls one day or you simply want to immerse yourself in the fun of dancing all day, every day for a week, sign up for this awesome opportunity in your own back yard! We encourage every single one of you to listen to the musn'ts, and then prove that anything can happen with a little determination. 

Cost: $270.
 

 

Still Pointe's Winter Concert Comes To The Stage This Week!

Our story ballet, Gerda and The Snow Queen, is a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale of sweet friendship between a neighboring girl and boy, rooted in faith but challenged by evil.
Gerda & Kai delight in all good things, from the flowers in the window boxes to snowflakes, to Gerda’s grandmother’s stories. But when Kai’s heart and eye are pierced by slivers from the wicked hobgoblin’s evil mirror, everything looks different and he begins to treat Gerda badly and uncharacteristically follows the beautiful and alluring Snow Queen.
Gerda sets out to find Kai, encountering many challenges and apparent mis-directions, but she persists, and as it turns out each turn leads closer to Kai and redemption.
Come enjoy this story of virtue, resilience and determination in the face of adversity featuring 48 dancers from Still Pointe.

Forsyth Central High School.         
Friday, January 15 at 7pm
and          
Saturday, January 16th at 11am and 2:30pm       
This dance performance is appropriate for all ages.

Tickets may be purchased online for $9.00 or at the door for $12.00   
Click HERE to buy tickets online!!!

Thankful for a Great Beginning

Written by Larry Kahn, Executive Director of PD Gladiators and instrumental in Dance for Parkinson's being offered at Still Pointe.

Still Pointe's newest offering, Dance for Parkinson's, enjoyed a wonderful inaugural class. This is how community-based exercise programs are supposed to work! Kitty Chin, a physical therapist with a large Parkinson's practice, had a vision for her patients to keep exercising in a safe, fun and sustainable program after rehab. She enlisted the aid of patient advocates PD Gladiators (PDG) and community partners Eleanor and Rob Rogers of Still Pointe. PDG obtained fundi
ng from the National Parkinson Foundation for the Rogers' training with the Mark Morris Dance Group in NY. The Rogers welcomed the PD community with a very modestly-priced and enthusiastically-produced program, and Kitty, PDG, the NPF and the American Parkinson Disease Association - Georgia Chapter helped get the word out to the Parkinson's community. We all have to work together.

From Eleanor: And, work together we did! We were encouraged by the positive feedback from all the participants after our first 2 classes. We will be meeting every Tuesday from noon until 1pm. Come join us!