Goldrush Mail

Words from our readers

The article [“Our Students: A Reflection of Us”] in the January/February issue of Goldrush was great. Thank you so much for asking me to participate and give some credit to my teacher. Wouldn’t it be great if all the kids that are here in New York and in the business, gave credit to the one that got them started and pushed them to get out of the studio to go to New York, or Chicago or Los Angeles to get better? I read resumés every day and you almost never see mentioned the small town dance teacher who got them started. It’s always the big names in the cities they mention. Oh well, guess that’s the new way of thinking. Anyway, again thank you and the magazine looks great and filled with valuable information.

Charles Kelley, Master Teacher, New York City

It’s December 29th and I’m sitting at my desk– trying to get inspired to plan my summer programs and there it is–your new Goldrush!  Your timing is perfect! My staff and I are meeting tomorrow–what a great help this is! I am so impressed with the development of your magazine–it gets better and better with each new issue! I am also thrilled to see so many teachers contributing! Thank you for all that you do–you always respect and consider our points of view and validate us and our industry a great deal. Thanks again, see you soon.

Lisa Mailloux, Steppin’ Out Dance Studio, Portsmouth, RI 

I know you must get bombarded with emails from teachers around the country, but I wanted to thank you personally for all you have done for the dance community. In more ways than I can count, you have changed my outlook and views on my chosen profession and for that I will be forever grateful. I will most certainly be seeing you for the Florida 2005 Project Motivate.

Amy S. Lowe, Owner/Director, Performing Arts Center of Tallahassee, Tallahassee, FL

I cannot thank you enough for the recital theme section [Nov/Dec 2004]. The musical ideas were so helpful; you just saved me weeks of work. I sincerely appreciate your generosity. I will pass it forward.

Anne Jensen, St. Clair Shores, MI

I can’t believe how much work went into this magazine!!! [Nov/Dec 2004] It was wonderful. Thank you so much for all your dedication to the art of dance and the profession.

Brenda Mutch Johnson,

Dance Teachers Club of Boston

I appreciate your book so much! [“The Complete Guide to Teaching Dance”] You articulate so many of my own thoughts! I feel a sense of relief knowing that someone “out there” knows what we go through in running a dance school. I had a copy sent to my sister/partner also. This year we’re using the “Handbook for Intensive Dancers” and the “Employee Handbook” at our school. My hope is to get everyone focused in the same direction and create a unified sense (between parents, students, and teachers) of why we do what we do, why we spend so much time and effort doing it, and why it’s important–not just for making the kids better dancers, but for relating it all to larger values and skills they can use in life. The handbooks have helped with those goals. Thank you and keep writing please. 

Gina Piazza, Piazza Dance Company, Northville, MI

Enjoyed reading your article on reinventing the recital (Nov/Dec 2004). When I began teaching dance some twenty years ago, I felt that the traditional recital lacked variety, so I incorporated a musical dance recital of sorts and began working routines around movie soundtracks and musicals. I not only taught dancetechnique/routines, but I added stage movement, acting, lip-syncing, vocals, comedy, and the musical-style dance production was born. To this day, dance alumni and their parents come to me and say how they still enjoy watching the old recital videos and how funny they were, adding that they learned such a variety of stage work in addition to dance. I am in my second and third generation of students, and I feel that their parents’ enjoyable dance experience with me must have been a true delight if they want their children to experience the same joy in dance. Many students have benefited in college and theater studies as a result of our musical dance productions. Thanks.

Jeanni Talley, Central Texas Academy of Performing Art, Clifton, TX

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