![]() How can it possibly be our 20th year? In 2004, Mark and I were just getting Nolte Academy onto its feet as a dance studio and still struggling to make it, but we knew that our community deserved a Nutcracker. The Englert had just reopened as a performing arts venue, and with their leadership, we had a vision for the magic we could create. Our first stage effort was danced to canned music with narration. It wasn’t a bad start, but we knew it could be more. That’s when we met the incomparable Carey Bostian, who believed in this shared dream. In 2007, our Nutcracker became the first production in Iowa with a live orchestra, and it held that unparalleled accolade for many years. The addition of the Sinfonia Nolte has truly made this production magical; we simply can’t thank Carey enough for his creative vision. He and his immensely talented musicians have brought the dancers and stage to life for each performance. In those first years, Nolte Academy didn’t have quite enough homegrown talent to handle the lead roles. We brought in guest artists, and sometimes even Nolte Academy faculty would don their tights and dance with our students! These days, we have multiple casts and understudies to accommodate the incredible talent and growth of our dedicated dancers. We give thanks to the generous support of our inaugural donors, Herb and Janice Wilson, and to Hills Bank for sponsoring this production for the past many years. Our mission from year one was to make The Nutcracker a little better every year. From rented backdrops and a very feeble tree made from outdoor turf from Menards to a professionally produced set that takes an army of stage crew volunteers to move along with a beautifully magical growing tree, we keep working to improve the production each season. Our current ballet has evolved to include a party scene featuring Nolte parents partaking in the festivities, the Snowflake Chorus — a group of singers from the Iowa City Youth Choir, under the direction of Beth Brown — bringing their voices to the hauntingly beautiful Snow scene and nearly 150 talented dancers under the direction of Loren Williams and Jere Hunt, who sacrifice their weekends for hours of rehearsals starting in August. From my vantage point, I see the faces of those who have progressed from a young dancer and baby mouse to a mature dancer pirouetting in their platter tutu, and I remember the faces of all the dancers who have come before. To witness this cycle each year is the true beauty of a tradition. It truly takes a village of people behind the scenes to pull this off each year: Parents who drive, feed, encourage, console and support their performers. Set builders, costume fitters, truck loaders and unloaders who have worked in wind, rain and snow in the middle of the night. The incredible Englert team that has been our partner since day one and makes the magic come together. For so many years, this was our week with The Englert’s house manager then operations director, Sarah Shonrock, and we miss her presence dearly. We have worked hard to bring the Iowa City community a professional tier production of this timeless holiday story for two decades, and with that effort has come the opportunity for our performers to experience performing with a professional stage crew … to a full house, show after show. For a handful of our students, this will be just the first of many such experiences. For others, this Nolte Academy production might be the experience of a lifetime. Regardless, the opportunity to be in a show like this is remarkable for all involved. I am humbled by the efforts of the dancers, directors, musicians, singers, actors, Englert team, volunteers and parents for making this all possible. My sincere appreciation also goes out to our audience, as you have rewarded this effort with your patronage and applause. We are fortunate to live in a wonderful and supportive community that understands the power of the arts to enrich our lives. Thank you for being with us this holiday season. My hope for you is to get lost in the story, the movement, the music and the moment. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season, and we hope to see you again as we build on this tradition for years to come. With immeasurable appreciation, Leslie Nolte
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bookmark our recital info folder:Our 2024 Hancher recital show assignments document is finalized! Tickets to The Great Escape! An All-Star Toy Box Adventure go on sale on Tuesday, April 23 at 10:00 am through Hancher. You can order tickets from their website or from their box office, either in-person or by telephone. The box office address is below. Tickets to Pure Imagination, our vocal and acting showcases, also go on sale on Tuesday, April 23 at 10:00 am through The James Theater's website.
Costume Flipbook: Peruse through our Costume Flipbook to see costumes for each class along with shoe/tights/makeup/hair requirements. Costume Care Tips: To ensure that costumes remain in pristine condition for the big day, we kindly ask that dancers refrain from eating or drinking while wearing them prior to the recital. When taking your costume home, please remember to hang it on a hanger immediately, preferably upside down by the crotch area, if applicable. Keeping all accessories (hairpieces, tap bows, gloves, etc.) with the costume ensures they'll be ready for those picture-perfect moments during recital! **Please write your student's name or initials on the tag of their costume** We are finalizing our summer schedule, and plan to have registration open on Monday, February 12. In the meantime, please note some summer highlights for you to “save the dates” as you make your summer plans… Summer at Nolte offers something for EVERYone! More camps and classes are being added!
We are excited for our performances that will take place at Hancher, The James Theater, and Nolte Academy. Additionally, we will be showcasing the work of our visual artists in the Hancher lobby this May. As we finalize show assignments, please refer to the important dates provided below and feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Students enrolled by Saturday, February 10th may participate in our year-end recital.
Also coming soon is our ‘Recital 101’ handbook for all things you need to know! Production Dates Sunday, May 19 - Thursday, May 23
Costume Fees: Creative Movement: $55 Children's Dance: $55 Kinder Combo: $60 1st Grade Combo (1st costume, tap: 2nd costume, jazz/ballet): $120 Levels 1-2 Tap/Jazz/Contemporary/HipHop: $65 Levels 3-4 Tap/Jazz/Contemporary/HipHop: $70 Levels 5+ Tap/Jazz/Contemporary/HipHop: $70 Acro (all levels): $50 Musical Theater: $60 Acting: No fee, found clothing at home/in our costume shop Voice: No fee, dress blacks or found clothing at home/in our costume shop Ballet/Modern 1-2: $55 Ballet/Modern 3-4: $60 Ballet/Modern 5+: Rental Fee of $35 Classical at Nolte - PrePro 1 Ballet and Modern (2 dances): Rental Fee of $70 Classical at Nolte - PrePro 2 Modern (1 dance): Rental Fee of $35 Classical at Nolte - PrePro 3 Modern (1 dance): Rental Fee of $35 *Select Classical at Nolte ensemble pieces will be included in the Hancher Recitals After a five year hiatus, Nolte Productions Youth Theatre is making a BIG comeback in a BIG way! We are thrilled to announce our 2023-2024 season, which comprises three award-winning junior musicals directed by Devon Stone, touring Broadway actor. Devon is joined by our amazing musical team of Erin Taylor and Kristen DeGrazia. Auditions slots for our first production, Anastasia, are open now! Fall Musical: Anastasia: The Musical (Youth Edition) for Grades 5-8 Performance dates: November 17-19, 2023 Performance location: ICON's Workshop Theatre
Stay tuned for additional details for our next two productions! *** Winter Musical: Matilda Jr. for Grades 4-10 Performance dates: February 2-4, 2024 Performance location: The James Theater Audition Dates: December 5-6, with callbacks as needed December 7 Sign up link + audition requirements soon *** Spring Musical: Shrek Jr. for Grades 4-10 Performance dates: May 3-5, 2024 Performance location: The James Theater
We have many wonderful items we are offering "for sale" as we transition out of our formal preschool program. Instead of pricing items, we ask that those who are interested in shopping our liquidation make a donation to our Nolte "New Artist Initiative" scholarship fund. In its second year, cholarships are made possible by monthly donations from families like you, and matched by Nolte Academy. The fund enables community members with limited resources to enroll in arts classes with us. If you would like to enroll our monthly New Artist Initiative program, please select an option through your JackRabbit account.
To view a short video of the items for sale, please visit our website, and come shop Tuesday-Friday 9:00 am-4:00 pm THIS WEEK, or by appointment. There are no holds on items. There are a few photos attached to this email, too. We have many books, children's tables and chairs, cubbies, storage items, puppets, units, and more! Email us if you have questions or want to schedule a time to shop. And, please be as generous as you can! Our scholarship recipients are grateful! It’s that magical time of year again! Auditions for the 2023 Nolte Nutcracker will be on Wednesday, August 16th.
Auditions will consist of movement phrases from different roles in the ballet and be observed by Loren Williams and Jere Hunt. Students will not be required to prepare any material. Students should follow our Nolte Academy attire considerations. If you wish to audition, please fill out this form prior to the date of the audition. If you wish to be considered for the 2023 Nolte Nutcracker but are unable to attend, please fill out the form and email Loren Williams informing her of your absence. Casting will be announced on Friday, August 25th. Casting will be accompanied by a full 10 week rehearsal schedule. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any additional questions you may have, Nolte Academy Team AUDITIONS: Wednesday, August 16th 5:00-6:00 Ballet 1-3 6:00-7:00 Ballet 4 & 5 7:00-8:00 Ballet 6+ 8:00-8:45 Pointe dancer level 6+ Cast Member minimum Class Requirements: Dancers must be enrolled in: Ballet 1 & 2: at least 1 ballet class per week Ballet 3-8: at least 2 ballet classes per week Pointe roles: at least 3 ballet classes & 1 pointe class per week REHEARSAL WEEKENDS: Wk 1: Friday, September 8th - Sunday, September 10th Wk 2: Friday, September 15th - Sunday, September 17th Wk 3: Friday, September 22nd - Sunday, September 24th Wk 4: Friday, September 29th - Sunday, October 1st Wk 5: Friday, October 6th - Sunday, October 8th *no rehearsals the weekend of October 13th - 15th* Wk 6: Friday, October 20th - Sunday, October 22nd Wk 7: Friday, October 27th - Sunday, October 29th Wk 8: Friday, November 3rd - Sunday, November 5th Wk 9: Friday, November 10th - Sunday, November 12th Wk 10: Friday, November 17th - Sunday, November 19th Tech Week: Sunday, November 26th - Wednesday, November 29th *Mandatory rehearsal dates: Wk 9, Wk 10 & Tech Week* Public Performances: Thursday, November 30th - Sunday, December 3rd 2023 Nutcracker Absence Policy During the rehearsal process for the 2023 Nutcracker production, each dancer is allowed a maximum of two absences per role they are assigned to, which includes any absences due to illness. Should a dancer surpass this limit and miss more than two rehearsals for a specific role, Loren Williams or Leslie Nolte holds the discretion to replace them with their alternate or understudy. No rehearsals may be missed during the above listed mandatory rehearsal dates. If a dancer needs to be absent from a rehearsal, they are required to complete an absence request form, conveniently available in the 2023 Nutcracker Family Drive. This absence policy has been implemented to ensure the production maintains the highest level of quality and enables all dancers to feel fully prepared and confident when performing on stage. For example: Susie is cast as both a Polichinelle and a Party Child. As per the policy, she is allowed to miss a maximum of two rehearsals for her Polichinelle role and two rehearsals for her Party Child role. However, if Susie were to miss one rehearsal for a birthday party, one rehearsal for a vacation, and an additional rehearsal due to illness, the total absences would add up to three, resulting in a violation of the absence policy. Summer Intensives Nolte Academy Students were accepted to:
Royal Ballet School American Ballet Theater School of American Ballet San Francisco Ballet Houston Ballet Pacific Northwest Ballet Ellison Ballet Ecole Superieure de ballet du Quebec Boston Ballet School Hubbard Street Dance Joffrey Ballet Chicago Ballet West Academy Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Sarasota Ballet Colorado Ballet Academy School of Philadelphia Ballet UNCSA BalletMet Louisville Ballet Atlanta Ballet Milwaukee Ballet Cincinnati Ballet Oklahoma City Ballet Kansas City Ballet Texas Ballet Theater Sacramento Ballet School of Ballet Tucson The Colburn School Next Gen Ballet The Rock Duncan Cooper Summer Intensive Ballet Des Moines AWARDS #1: AGE 9-10 SOLOS
Invitations: Harper J. - TOP stars performance team Harper J. - Master classes scholarship Top 10 competitive age 9-10: 5th: Harper J. - Stupid Deep AWARDS #2: AGE 11-12 SOLOS Judges choice awards: Liliana L. - Sweet and subtle Peyton E. - Control award Sage S. - Poetry in motion Invitations: Sage S. - TOP stars performance team Sage S. - Progressions scholarship Lily S. - Progressions scholarship Category winners: Ballet: Katelyn W. - Forest Variation Modern: Sage S. - Fracture High Point: (for those with more than one solo) 2nd: Sage S. 6th: Peyton E. 7th: Lily S. 9th: Katelyn W. Top 10 intermediate age 11-12: 3rd: Lucy H. - Prelude 9th: Liliana L. - A Little More Top 10 competitive age 11-12: 2nd: Sage S. - Fracture 8th: Peyton E. - Voices AWARDS #3: AGE 13-14 SOLOS Judges choice awards: Cora Z. - Breath of fresh air Invitations: Gabe J. - TOP stars performance team Gabe J. - Progressions scholarship Ava K. - GoPro scholarship Choreography award: Beautiful Mess - Gabe J. (Leslie) Category winners: Contemporary: Gabe J. - Pull Me Out Modern: Gabe J. - Beautiful Mess Tap: Gabe J. - Sunny High Point: (for those with more than one solo) 1st: Gabe J. 6th: Ava K. 9th: Cora Z. Top 10 intermediate 13-14: 9th: Skye F. - I Will Be Top 10 competitive 13-14: 1st: Gabe J. - Beautiful Mess 8th: Ava K. - Messages 9th: Ella L. - Intermission AWARDS #4: AGE 17-19 SOLOS Judges choice awards: Emma M. - Technique queen Lili NB. - Fancy floor work Emma G. - Rhythm master Invitations: Emma M. - TOP stars performance team Emma M. - GoPro scholarship Taylor S. - GoPro scholarship Ava W. - GoPro scholarship Choreography award: Inertia - Emma M. (Noelle) Category winners: Contemporary: Emma M. - When It Breaks Open: Emma M. - Inertia TOP entertainer award: 2nd: Ava W. - Elements High Point: (for those with more than one solo) 1st: Emma M. 4th: Ava W. 9th: Emma G. Top 10 competitive 17-19: 1st: Emma M. - Inertia 3rd: Ava W. - Elements 10th: Kara T. - Ain’t No Sunshine This month we are highlighting a #blackartist each week that has been a major influencer in the arts community and beyond.
Duke Ellington (1889–1974) made a name for himself as the composer and orchestra leader at Harlem's Cotton Club, a white-patron-only nightclub. He composed more than 2,000 songs and several musicals. Ellington viewed music as a form of activism. He knew that music could reach people in a way that words simply could not. While he knew the power of words as a poet and writer, he also knew that white people were more likely to listen to music by a Black musician than read the revolutionary writings of a Black activist. "Black leaders did not so much fight against the racial system in America as quietly and determinedly circumvent it.” - Duke Ellington's America Learn more about Ellington here, here and here. |
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