Considering it’s time for the Chinese New Year, this YouTube alert features a little piece of choregraphy by Chino Zhang Jigang.

“I see dance being used as communication between body and soul, to express what it too deep to find for words.”

~Ruth St. Denis~

Sylvie Guillem is fabulous and quirky in Evidentia. Check her out!

Centerstage is open today for regular store hours.
10AM – 5:30PM

We are giving away a few passes for a free screening of Untraceable on January 22, 2008, at Pacific Place. Come by Centerstage and pick yours up!

Capezio has been clearancing some of their Dancesport ballroom shoes, and we are passing the savings on to you on our online store.

BR27S Scorpion in Black

This stylish ballroom shoe by Capezio has twisted Latin T-straps and a strappy vamp with a gold centerpiece, sleek buckle and a 2.5″ Latina heel. Suede sole gives better grip for controlled turns. The fully leather lined, suede sock and cushioned footbed mean more comfort and a better fit. The upper is out of exquisite Black satin.
These shoes normally retail for $96 but are on sale for $64.99. These shoes are no longer offered by Capezio, so these are becoming hard to find. These shoes come with a shoe bag.

Capezio Scorpion in Champagne

Paris BR34S in Champagne

For something with a little more sparkle, we have Capezio’s Paris BR34S Ballroom Shoes in Champagne Satin.

Inspired by haute couture and designed for maximum performance, Capezio’s split sole construction provides superior flexibility without sacrificing support or durability. Elegant rhinestone encrusted criss-cross vamp and full heel counter. Satin upper, suede/leather sole and socklining. 2.5″ fully wrapped Latina heel and rhinestone buckle. This beautiful crafted and sophisticated style enhances any dancer’s repertoire.

These shoes retailed for $134, but are now on sale for $89.99, and we only have one pair left!

Peggi BR42 in Black

For something with a lower heel, check out Capezio’s BR42 Peggi in Black with a 1.5″ heel.

Take on the studio or the club with Capezio’s new Peggi. Split sole construction features a finished edge suede forepart that is fused and reinforced with a zig-zag stitch to a leather sole that breasts the heel. It provides superior flexibility without sacrificing support or durability. The pattern is sculpted to follow a dancer’s foot. The insole construction flatters and enhances Capezio’s new sole combination. The insole is also beveled and features a 3/4 shank and a fully flexible, cushioned forepart. Easy flex right where you need it. Featuring non-slip suede, Capezio’s signature socklining is sculpted and crafted to match the sole with a color to compliment the upper. The extra long ankle strap can be personalized to your preference and channelled through the sole for added stability and ease of fit.

These shoes retailed for $100, but you can pick them up for $66.99!

Vienna BR04ES in White

Lastly we have Capezio’s court shoe, The Vienna, in white satin.

High quality ballroom dance shoes, -perfect shoe for weddings, celebrations and especially ballroom dancing! -Made for dance, these are very flexible. Other features include comfortable padded insoles and suede leather counterpockets and soles for optimum turns. White satin outers include elastic edges for perfectly secure fit.
These shoes are discontinued shoes and so very hard to find. They retailed for $90, but we have them listed for $39.97, but once they are gone, they are gone!

It’s the time of the year to start auditioning for Summer
Programs. The following is a list of upcoming audition dates in
the Pacific Northwest. This is by no means a complete list of
all of the audition opportunities out there. If you don’t see
the school of your choice listed below, it’s possible that they
don’t have an audition date scheduled for any cities in the PNW.
Most schools will accept a video audition.

Seattle:
1/5 – North Carolina School of the Arts
www.ncarts.edu or 336-770-3290

1/5 – The Rock School
www.therockschool.org or 215-551-7010 x 1117

1/6 – Ballet Austin
www.balletaustin.org or 512-476-9051 x 126

1/6 – Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB)
www.pnb.org or www.myspace/pacificnorthwestballet

1/11 – Joffrey Worksop TX
www.thejoffreyworkshoptx.com or 210-744-1272

1/12 – The Jillana School
www.jillanaschool.com or 858-270-8248

1/13 – Boston Ballet School
www.bostonballet.org/school or 617-456-6269

1/13 – Milwaukee Ballet School
www.milwaukeeballet.org or 414-649-4077

1/18 – American Academy of Ballet
www.american-academy-of-ballet.com or 212-787-9500

1/19 – Orlando Ballet School
www.orlandoballet.org or 407-426-1733 x 10

1/20 – Burklyn Ballet Theatre
www.BurklynBallet.com or 877-287-5596

1/20 – Idyllwild Arts
www.idyllwildarts.org or 951-659-2171 x 2223

1/20 – Joffrey Ballet School
www.joffreyballetschool.com or 212-254-8520 x 23

1/20 – The School of American Ballet
www.sab.org or 212-769-6600

1/21 – Walnut Hill
www.walnuthillarts.org or 508-650-5020

1/21 – Washington School of Ballet
www.washingtonballet.org or 202-362-3606

1/25 – Houston Ballet
www.houstonballet.org or 713-523-6300

1/26 – American Ballet Theatre (ABT)
www.abt.org
video submission deadline is 2/1/08

1/27 – PittsburghBallet Theatre School
www.pittsburghballet.org or 412-281-6727

2/1 – Kirov Academy of Ballet
www.kirovacademydc.org or 202-636-0635

2/2 – Atlanta Ballet
www.atlantaballet.com or 404-873-5811 x 212

2/2 – San Francisco Ballet School
www.sfballet.org/school or 415-553-4642

2/3 – Ballet Chicago
www.balletchicago.org

2/5 – American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet School
www.arballet.org or 609-921-7758i

2/10 – Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet School
www.linesballet.org or 415-863-3040 x 248

2/23 – Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB)
www.pnb.org or www.myspace/pacificnorthwestballet

3/1 – The Ailey School
www.theaileyschool.edu or 212-405-9513

Spokane:
1/26 – PittsburghBallet Theatre School
www.pittsburghballet.org or 412-281-6727

2/9 – Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB)
www.pnb.org or www.myspace/pacificnorthwestballet

2/17 – Kansas City Ballet School
www.kcballet.org or 888-968-2538

Vancouver:
1/12- Virginia School of the Arts
www.vsaart.com or 434-847-8688

1/21 – Idyllwild Arts
www.idyllwildarts.org or 951-659-2171 x 2223

Portland:
1/25 – Purchase College
www.purchase.edu/dance or 914-251-6300

2/9 – Ballet Austin
www.balletaustin.org or 512-476-9051 x 126

2/15 – Kansas City Ballet School
www.kcballet.org or 888-968-2538

2/24 – NW Professional Dance Project
www.nwpdp.com or 503-421-7434

Vancouver, BC:
2/3 – Atlanta Ballet
www.atlantaballet.com or 404-873-5811 x 212

A lot of girls (and their parents) are understandably scared of what pointe work will do to their feet, and are worried about it being painful. In the past, with badly fitting shoes and often poor strength in the feet, many dancers did get terrible pain and had problems with their feet.

But this is not the case any more!

The Perfect Pointe Book has a fantastic new program that teaches you how to strengthen your feet and body in the shortest space of time. Now that pointe shoes are available in so many different fittings, if your feet are very strong, and the shoes fit well, it is quite possible to dance with little or no pain at all! If you start off knowing what to feel, and how to get the most out of your shoe, you can have a long and happy career dancing on your toes.

Written by Dance Physiotherapist Lisa Howell, this one-of-a-kind book teaches you how to test yourself, and work out what any weaknesses may mean. It then guides you through four special exercise programs designed to really target those areas and improve your technique and strength as quickly as possible!

If you are planning on any form of career or continued practice in ballet, this book is an essential part of your ballet bag. Whether you are just beginning pointe, or have been en pointe for years, you will learn so much about your body and how it should work by going through this process.

“This is an excellent manual for both pre-pointe and advanced dancers. It is simple to use, and will be a great help to students who are serious about developing good pointe work. Lisa has written many helpful exercises, with clear photographs to demonstrate how to improve strength and prevent injury. This manual would also be very useful for teachers, and particularly student teachers, who want to learn how to safely prepare their pupils for pointe work. ”

- Lindsay Ellman-Brown LRAD ARAD
Grade Examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance
Junior School Head Teacher – Ecole Ballet Studios, Sydney, Australia

Click Here for more information about The Perfect Pointe Book

“Building A Strong Foundation Builds A Strong Future!”

We will be closed on New Year’s Day. Regular store hours resume on Wednesday, January 2, 2008.