Lunch and pictures!

Dear Senior Girls,

Hope everyone had a good time as I did during lunch time today! As promised I posted the photos in facebook already. You can have a look. I thought this jump picture was quite cute, haha. So I posted it here to share with everyone.



~Ms Lovell

CSTD Exam Pictures

Dear Parents and Girls,

I have most of your pictures posted under the "pictures" section. Enjoy them and I hope everyone enjoyed their examinations very much! You can write to me in the "talking station" about how you felt about this exam if you like. :) If you need the higher resolution pictures please free feel to email me. I will send them to you as quick as possible.

Also be reminded that classes will be as usual, and I will see all of you back in class to learn new exciting stuff for the next grade!

~Ms Lovell

All the best for your examinations next week!

Dear Girls (Nov 08 examination batch),

I just wanted to wish everyone good luck for your ballet examinations next week! I know you have been working very hard and all of you should be looking forward to your examination day where you can show all you have learnt to the examiner.

All the scolding in class is for your own good and I believe everyone is the best they can be already! Do your best and most important show your lovely smile to the examiner.

All the best and see you all on your examination day! :)

~Ms Lovell

Class Schedule 2009 - Loyang Point Crestar

Updated as at 14 Aug 2009

Saturdays
9:15am - 10:00am > Pre Ballet
10:00am - 11:00am > Grade 1
11:00am - 12:00pm > Grade 3
12:30pm - 1:30pm > Grade 2
1:30pm - 2:45pm > Grade 6
2:45pm - 3:45pm > Grade 1
3:45pm - 4:30pm > Pre Ballet

Mondays
6:15pm - 7:30pm > Grade 6
7:45pm - 8:30pm > Pre Ballet (Coaching)

Note: All classes except NEW/On going classes are available through audition only. To arrange for an auditon, please email me @ lovellchia@gmail.com

Class Schedule 2009 - Jurong East Crestar

Updated: effective from Nov 2009

Sundays
9:00am - 9:45am > Primary
9:45am - 10:45am > Grade 2
10:45am - 11:30am > Bebe Ballet (started effective Oct 09)

12:30pm - 1:30pm > Grade 5
1:30pm - 2:30pm > Grade 3
2:30pm - 3:30pm > Grade 4
3:30pm - 4:30pm > Grade 2
4:30pm - 5:15pm > Grade 1
5:15pm - 6:00pm > Primary

Tuesdays
7:15pm - 8:00pm > Primary (Coaching)
8:00pm - 9:00pm > Grade 2 (Coaching)

Note: All classes except NEW classes are available through audition only. To arrange for an auditon, please email me @ lovellchia@gmail.com

Class Schedule 2009 - Hougang Crestar

Fridays

7:15pm - 8:00pm > Primary
8:00pm - 9:00pm > Grade 2
9:00pm - 10:00pm > Grade 2 (Coaching)

Note: All classes except on-going classes are available through audition only. To arrange for an auditon, please email me @ lovellchia@gmail.com

Open House for all Jurong East Nov 08 Exam Classes

Dear Parents and Girls,

Open house this sunday (9th Nov) at the following class times.
1045am - 1145am : Grade 1
1230pm - 130pm : Grade 3
130pm - 230pm : Grade 1
230pm - 330pm : Grade 2
430pm - 515pm : Pre Ballet

Cameras/Video cameras are allowed. Kindly ensure your daughter has a neat hair. See you!

~Ms Lovell

Does my child have a talent for ballet?

Dear Parents,

I have been asked this question at countless occasions throughout my teaching career. The moment I get this question from an anxious parent, I knew that they do not fully understand the meaning of dance education.

So what exactly is dance education? What does it instil in the students? Well, teaching dance does not only involve teaching the students dance steps. If it is really the case, everyone of my students above grade 5 can be dance teachers, since they already know the bulk of the ballet syllabus. In my dance class, teaching dance is teaching of confidence, concentration, discipline, grace and creativity to each of the students. If the student can achieve these qualities during their learning years, they have already mastered the essence of ballet. Even though their steps are not perfect, they are considered talented and good students in my eyes.

I have many students who are so called "perfect" dancers. They can dance all the steps taught to near perfection, but they do not move me. If they are dancing without expression and life, they will be considered dance students forever. They will never become dancers. Can you consider them talented in this case?

Yearly examinations are a good gauge of the student's dancer quality. They however are not a perfect gauge either as there is some form of subjectivity to it. However, they are the best available benchmark for a student to judge where they actually stand.

I adopt an "open-door" teaching style whenever I can. This is a very good way to build the student's confidence. However, I do get many overly anxious parents who stand at the door every week and correct their daughter by shouting across the room. They often forget that there is a ballet teacher standing in the room. They do not realise that their actions come across as disrespect and rude. What are they telling their daughters? They are telling them its okie to be rude! So please stop that if you are guilty of that.

Having said that, I certainly do not mind parents standing outside and taking notes to correct their daughter at home. In fact, this is what I want to encourage all parents to do!

Parents of young students in pre-ballet and primary must take note that your daughter will be easily distracted if you stand outside the door. I fully understand your anxiety to make sure your daughter is coping well. Do not set high expectations for your daughter, let her develop freely and most important stay very humble and be always ready to learn. Certainly DO NOT tell her things like "you are the best dancer in the whole class!", "your friends are not dancing as well as you!". Remember over-confident students lose the attitude and willingless to learn as they think they are the best already. These are the students who would ultimately fail. Of course, small words of encouragement "well done, girl!", "you did well today" are fine.

You are welcomed to check on her progress but do so discretely. Stand at a location where she cannot see you. Do avoid filming or taking photographs as this instils the wrong idea in your daughter that ballet is all about being pretty, posing and taking photos.

So parents, please avoid over-pressurising your daughter and let her develop freely. Over-pressurising will cause her to ultimately lose interest in dancing! Remember learning to dance is not all about learning the steps!

~Ms Lovell

2008 Asia Pacific Dance Compeition - Under 8 (1st Prize)

Dear Girls & Parents,

This was one of my entries in the recent asia pacific dance compeition. Vera had put in tremendous effort and hours of practice to achieve this. Well done, Vera!

Enjoy the video! Mindy's video will be up next! :)

~Ms Lovell