Bella

5 (2 reviews)

Rate $62
Response 1h

5 (2 reviews)

$62/h

I create dancers! Former Professional Classical Ballerina with over 35 years of experience as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, artistic director, and studio/company owner. I was also a burlesque danc

Dance
Ballet

Lesson location

- online

About Bella

I have over 35 years of experience as a professional ballet dancer, teacher, choreographer, artistic director, and 13 years as a studio/company owner. I was school director for The Dance Academy, Troy School of Ballet, and Montgomery Ballet. I was principal ballet teacher at The Alabama School of Fine Arts, where I taught audition classes for American Ballet Theatre's Summer Intensive. I taught for over 10 years at Northwest Florida Ballet's Summer Intensive as well. I have also been on the faculty of the following schools: Mann Dance Center, Luverne Dance Academy, North Atlanta Dance Academy, Ruth Mitchell Dance, Andalusia Ballet, and Auburn Ballet Theatre. I was principal dancer with Ballet Etc., Mobile Ballet, Contemporary Ballet Company, Dance Theatre of Long Island, Northwest Florida Ballet, New York Baroque Dance Company, Montgomery Ballet, Ballet Hysell, and Alabama Dance Theatre. I was with Mobile Ballet and Northwest Florida Ballet overlapping for about 10 years. I was Artistic Director for the following: Ballet Etc., Troy School of Ballet, Ballet Alexandria, Auburn Ballet Theatre, and was Associate Artistic Director for Montgomery Ballet. I have been a guest artist all over the country. I am a costume designer, set designer, and I can make tutus. I have choreographed over 50 original ballets and 6 full-length versions of my own, I am sanctioned by the David Lachine Foundation to stage the ballet Graduation Ball. I was trained for the most part at the David Howard Dance Center in NYC. The style I was taught was close to The Royal Ballet, mixed with Joffrey and Balanchine. My main teachers included: David Howard, Diana Cartier, Winthrop Corey, Dorothy Lister, Sean Lavery, Gelsey Kirkland, Irina Kolpakova, Dame Sonia Arova, Peter Schabel, Paul Estabrook, Don Steffy, David Anderson, Harvey Hysell, Marylou Hume, and Ali Pourfarrokh. I have played principal roles in Dracula, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Don Quixote, Cinderella, Carmina Burana, The Messiah, Sleeping Beauty, and many ballets created on me. I am very proud of my success as a ballerina. I have had the extreme pleasure of being coached by some of the most amazing dancers in the world. You don't get that information from watching a video. You get it from being coached in that role. I am so fortunate to have this information in my head, "straight from the horse's mouth." I was a burlesque dancer for over 15 years an won several Queen of Burlesque titles. I am a cancer survivor, which took some of my abilities as a dancer away from me, but I am cancer-free for over 10 years and I am here, looking forward to sharing my knowledge with all of you.

About the lesson

For over 35 years I was as a professional dancer, and have been a choreographer, teacher, coach, artistic director, and studio owner. My approach to ballet is one that is safe for the body. Nothing forced, but developing the muscles required to maintain. This especially applies to turn out with me. Technique comes from the pelvis, the proper use of the seat muscles, and turning out from the entire rotation of the leg and hip. Port de bras comes from the natural "swing" of the arms and I try to make movement look as organic as possible.

As far as performing goes, I think it is our responsibility as dancers to make the audience feel as comfortable as possible while watching a dancer perform. My coaching comes from that perspective. Movement should look effortless, confident and appropriate for the level of the dancer. You want the audience to come on a journey with you. As a former baroque dancer, I focus a lot on the eyes, facial expressions, and portraying the character that you dance.

I teach beginner, intermediate, advanced and professional levels. Ballet, variations, flexibility, pointe, and I can help with pas de deux classes as well. I prefer over the age of 10. Please note: Pointe is taught according to a dancer's ability and not their age.

I love to teach and coach and there is nothing that makes me happier than to see things "click" in a dancers head when they finally accomplish their goals. My demeanor is nurturing, yet firm. I am not a teacher who breaks someone down but encourages them to accept where they are and to adjust according to their ability with, of course, a sense of challenge. I am also not concerned with a dancer's body type. Beautiful dancers can be made from beautiful people.

I look forward to talking with you, working with you and bringing out the beautiful dancer that is inside you.

Recommendations

Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the tutor.

S

Shari

Bella is a true professional with vast experience in the movement industry. I have worked with her on a personal level in the past in the classical dance world, and my experience with her has always been incredible. Kind, caring, funny, knowledgeable and she continues to learn and grow as a human. I highly recommend her!
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S
Shari
Bella is a true professional with vast experience in the movement industry. I have worked with her on a personal level in the past in the classical dance world, and my experience with her has always been incredible. Kind, caring, funny, knowledgeable and she continues to learn and grow as a human. I highly recommend her!
N

Natalie

Bella is such a kind and talented instructor. They take the time to listen and connect emotionally with you , which I appreciated. I feel so lucky that I was able to take a class from them and that I got to see them perform on stage!
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N
Natalie
Bella is such a kind and talented instructor. They take the time to listen and connect emotionally with you , which I appreciated. I feel so lucky that I was able to take a class from them and that I got to see them perform on stage!
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5 h: $310
10 h: $620

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$62/h

I create dancers! Former Professional Classical Ballerina with over 35 years of experience as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, artistic director, and studio/company owner. I was also a burlesque danc

Lesson location

Recommended

About Bella

About the lesson

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I create dancers! Former Professional Classical Ballerina with over 35 years of experience as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, artistic director, and studio/company owner. I was also a burlesque danc

Lesson location

Recommended

About Bella

About the lesson

Recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

online

Other tutors in Dance

Becah

Jasmine

Onton

Mika and Kaia

Sujaya

Oxana

Anja

Drishti

Elnaz

Vanshika

Anjalika

Nivi

Anushruti

Aayushi

Sonam

Mel

Akshiptika

Pearl

Shreya

Gandhy Lucero

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