 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.
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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.  This month we are highlighting a #blackartist each week that has been a major influencer in the arts community and beyond.
Sidney Poitier (1927-2022) was a Bahamian and American actor, film director, and diplomat. In 1964, he was the first black actor and first Bahamian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. He received two competitive Golden Globe Awards, a competitive British Academy of Film and Television Arts award (BAFTA), and a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album. Poitier was one of the last major stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema. In addition to his talents on screen, he used his platform to fight against racial injustices, working with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In 1964, Sidney Poitier risked his life for civil rights. He delivered a suitcase full of $70,000 into the heart of America's racial nightmare. "Black actors, celebrities and entertainers who support voting rights and racial justice — whether behind the scenes or in more vocal ways — owe a debt to Poitier and the work he did in front of the camera and when the Hollywood klieg lights were turned off." —Peneil Joseph Photo: Archive Photos/Getty Images Learn more about Sidney's venture and see some of his work here, here and here.  youtu.be/UeYP8ssD_BMThis month we are highlighting a #blackartist each week that has been a major influencer in the arts community and beyond.
Njideka Akunyili Crosby is a Nigerian-born visual artist working in Los Angeles. She inspires us to examine complexity and layers in our past and our present as she explores her culture and identity in her paintings. Akunyili Crosby says, "I think the point I make in my work is that my home is Nigeria and the United States at the same time.” Her paintings show us that we can be many things at once. "A mesh of old and new imagery, as well as traditional and modern media—in addition to photo-transfers she uses acrylic, charcoal, and colored pencils—process is essential to Akunyili Crosby’s cosmopolitan style. She’s influenced as much by European masters as by the household products that she collects in Nigeria. One gets a very physical sense of perspective through her works; you’re led instinctively to the big picture ideas about the way cultures, histories, and identities intertwine." — Charlotte Jansen in Artsy Photo: Brigitte Sire Interview with Akunyili Crosby here.  Alvin AileyNorman Maxon, New York Public Library This month we are highlighting a #blackartist each week that has been a major influencer in the arts community and beyond.
Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) was an African American dancer, director, choreographer, activist, and founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Ailey was known for taking his life experiences growing up in the rural south and turning it into storytelling and thought provoking modern dance works. As once a student of Lester Horton, who was the founder of one of the first racially integrated dance companies in the US, Ailey went on to create his own legacy through his dance company, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, that would continue to inspire future generations of dancers to become performers, choreographers, teachers and plenty more. More:  We had an amazing experience at YAGP Chicago! We are immensely grateful to be surrounded by such wonderful studios, passionate instructors, awe-inspiring choreographers, talented dancers, and phenomenal supporters. Congratulations to all who danced their hearts out! And congrats to our semifinal award winners:
Pre-Competitive Classical Variations Top 24: Brynlee Sawin Peyton Eustice Top 12: Brynlee Sawin 3rd Place Overall: Brynlee Sawin *** Small Ensemble Top 6: Fragile Hybrid Just 2nd Place Overall: Hybrid *** Large Ensemble Top 6: Moonlight Sonata 3rd Place Overall: Moonlight Sonata *** Junior Contemporary Soloists Top 24: Gabe Johnson Top 12: Gabe Johnson 1st Place Overall: Gabe Johnson *** Junior Classical Ballet Variations Top 24 Women: Lily Stuhr Sage Sulentic Top 12 Women: Sage Sulentic Men: 1st Place Overall: Gabe Johnson *** Senior Contemporary Soloists Top 24: Emma McMahon Tatiana Schmidt *** Senior Classical Ballet Variations Top 24: Emma McMahon Tatiana Schmidt *** Outstanding Choreographer: Leslie Nolte  We are honored to be producing and performing the world premiere of longtime Open Doors Dance Festival instructor Marjorie Thompson's first book, A Curious Tale of Magic, Mischief and Music. This 45-minute storybook ballet is fun for the whole family and there's even an opportunity to meet the characters after each show! Tickets are available for purchase here with limited seating in the cozy James Theater. We have been collaborating on this project for over two years and are finally ready to share the story of Hannah, Shep, and all of the zany magical characters that accompany them on their journey. Read more about the book here. Copies will also be available for purchase at the show, signed by the author herself.
Marjorie Thompson has had a legendary career, first working with George Balanchine at New York City Ballet, then teaching the Company and at School of American Ballet before becoming a faculty member at Pacific Northwest Ballet School. Join us at The James Theater this weekend to support our dancers and fill the house for our longtime colleague and friend. Fall Schedule, Leveling and Registration
Our 2022-23 schedule is now available for viewing! You’ll also find links to tuition, class descriptions (with recommended number of weekly classes) and attire considerations on this page. Registration will open Monday, July 18 at 9:00 am. Information regarding Iowa City Youth Choir auditions and Madrigal Singer auditions will be available soon. Classes begin Tuesday, September 6. Dance students’ 2022-23 levels (levels 1-8) can be found in the parent portal by clicking on the 3 bars in the top right corner, “Account” then “View Student” by your student’s name and navigating to the skills tab as seen below. Please register for your assigned level, as our instructors have considered each dancer for a most successful year of learning! Faculty & Classes We have a wonderful returning faculty along with some new faces! We welcome advanced ballet faculty Jere Hunt, who will also be instructing modern dance, and Juliet Remmers, new advanced modern and young children’s dance faculty Breanna Dorsey, our new Acro and young children’s dance faculty Kari Rosfjord, and Kayla Drow joins us teaching a variety of genres. Learn more about these new additions on our website. We are also excited that Evan Zukin will be leading our Tap Program this season. Our studio truly offers something for everyone – be it young children’s programming, visual arts, dance, Pilates, musical theatre, choir, acting or fitness/dance/art classes designed for adults! Read more about all that we offer here. Covid19 Policy Update Please see our current policy here. We are continuing to align with the CDC recommendations and ask that our students follow their guidelines. We will no longer be notifying families of positive COVID19 cases. We appreciate and celebrate the success we have had in all our staff and students adhering to COVID19 policies for the past two years. In fact, we have also benefited in cutting down on illness in general from the use of masking when feeling unwell! While masking is no longer required for any students at Nolte Academy, we encourage mask wearing anytime a student may be under the weather to help us avoid influenza, strep, stomach bugs, and other cold viruses! Our teachers thank you. Pay it Forward with Our New Artists Initiative This summer we partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters to bring camps to new BIPOC artists that are just getting to know us at Nolte Academy. It was a great success! “My daughter is loving Nolte camp and having the best time! We would not have been able to afford this camp without the partnership between Big Brothers Big Sisters and Nolte Academy and appreciate the chance to participate!” Please consider helping us keep the momentum going this fall! You can “pay it forward” with the New Artists Initiative in two ways:
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