WINTER 2001                  VOLUME 6.1 DANCE CAVISE NEWS

Letter From the Director Friends, This Fall marks the beginning of our 12th season and a record breaking enrollment of over 700 students. I feel the key to superior education is an excellent teaching staff. I would like to welcome our newest members: Leonard Ajkun, Jessica Murray, Gwedolyn Swinehart and Gloriann Duncan. We look forward to the exciting new energy they will bring us this year. This season did get off to a rough start for me, personally. As many of you know, I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and ultimately hospitalized during the first week of classes. It is still a humbling experience as I try to rehabilitate myself to be able to do even the simplest tasks. Now, after seven weeks, I can look forward to a full recovery. I would like to thank my students and their parents for their kind wishes and positive thoughts. Thank you to my new Northern Westchester students for their patience with the delay of the program. And thank you to Jamie and my wonderful staff for "holding down the fort" and going that extra distance. You all have taught me how to take nothing for granted, and to enjoy each healthy moment. I am grateful to you all. Joe		Look who's coming to dance cavise... THE MASTERS Rebecca Stenn Masterclass In Modern Technique Saturday, January 20th 1:00-2:30 PM $20.00 ABT'S Irina Dvervenko Mastercall In Ballet Technique Saturday, March 10th 1:00-2:30 PM $20.00 Lisa Hopkins Masterclass In Theatre Dance Saturday, February 10th 1:00-2:30 PM $20.00
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS There's nothing like being "Home For The Holidays" . That's why we decided to bring the annual Dance Cavise Christmas Show back home, Éto our studio. We will dance and sing on Tuesday, December 12th 7:30-8:30 PM. Our good friend Bob DuSold, of Broadway's Les Mis and Phantom , will be singing in the holiday spirit with us once again. We have also written a letter to the North Pole hoping Ol' St. Nick can stop by to enjoy our refreshments and bring his own holiday cheer. Admission is whatever you feel like putting into the hat, with all proceeds to benefit the Off Center Dance Theatre. See you there!!

YOUTH ENSEMBLE UPDATE Congratulations to The Off Center Dance Theatre Youth Ensemble 2001! The Ensemble was created for students who want to make a serious commitment to dance performance. The Audition, which was held on Saturday, November 4th, was highly attended. Congratulations to : Monica Anson Kimmie Behrman Jenna Dalto Carly Daum Christina Guhl Lindsay Hachey Aurelie Hasse Sarah Heisler Lauren Holstein Ximena Iacono Lauren Jasinski Christine Piccora Michelle Pinto Taylor Piscionere Megan Pollard Gilian Rappaport Jacklyn Trifiletti Jamie Yasgur Adrienne Ziluca Cara Zimbalist     Also:   Taryn Brandes Elinor Lerner Marianne Rendon Julie Serow Emily Turco   The Youth Ensemble has already performed this past fall at the Arthritis Foundation's Mini Grand Prix, and the Community Arts Day held at Fox Lane High School in Bedford. The Youth Ensemble will have a full schedule this winter and spring with performances at Horace Mann High School in NYC, Gilda's Club and Blythedale Children's Hospital. If you are interested in having the Youth Ensemble perform at your school, call Joe at Dance Cavise. LIGHT the light If you can't make it to Rockefeller Center to see the tree lighting ceremony, don't worry!! You'll be able to see the annual Dance Cavise building lighting. This event always draws a crowd, so mark the date on your calendar and join in the fun. We will sing carols and light the building each evening during the week of December 4th. Bring your cameras and your voices and join us for the countdown between 5:00 and 5:30 PM each day.		TEACHER UPDATES LEONARD AJKUN (BALLET) A native of Italy, Leonard has performed with The Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Santa Barbara State Street Ballet in California. Leonard has performed in numerous Ballet's including, Don Quixote, Giselle and Romeo and Juliet. He is teaching adults on Thursday mornings. JESSICA MURRAY (BALLET) is the choreographer's assistant to world renowned Milton Myers. She has performed with David Parsons and was a member of the Rochester City Ballet. She is teaching Advanced Ballet to our teens. GWEN SWINEHARDT (TAP) Gwen is a recent graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Arts Academy in New York. She recently performed with avion Glover. Gwen is now teaching our Advanced eight and ten year olds. PArent's day Parent's Day is a chance for parents and family to observe their child in a classroom setting. Remind your children that this is NOT a performance to ease any anxiety they may feel. Dance Cavise will be holding Parent's Days for most classes in January. You will be receiving information and dates about your child's class before the holiday vacation. TASTY TIDBITS Miriam's Chanukah Potato Latkes Ingredients: 2 Lbs. Potatoes, Peeled, Cut Into 8th's 1 Medium Onion, Peeled, Cut Into 8th's 1 Cup Matso Meal (Can substitute flour) Canola Oil For Frying In food processor, process potatoes & onions together till very coarsely chopped. (Use the pulsing on/off button just until big chunks are gone). Empty mixture into large bowl, add matzo meal, just enough to bind slightly, salt and pepper. Heat oil in large heavy skillet,1 inch deep, over medium high heat. Drop mixture by large spoonfuls into oil, (flatten with back of spoon). Fry until edges are brown. Flip once. Drain on paper towels. Serve with homemade applesauce. Recipe can be doubled, tripled etcÉcan be done ahead of time and reheated on cookie sheets in single layers at 300 degrees for ten minutes.
CAMP CAVISE Camp Cavise 2000 proved to be a wonderfully creative experience, once again! This year marked the final appearances for many performers as they said their final "good-byes". We may see them return as counselors next year! Speaking of next yearÉit's never too early to start planning for summer 2001. You You can sign up for Camp Cavise beginning in January 2001. Look for special discounts for early registration.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU... "It's Somebody's Birthday Today...." We would like to extend a "Happy Birthday" to the following Dance Cavise family members:       DECEMBER Lori Biscardi-Cavise - December 14th JANUARY Joe Cavise-January 7th Kerry Gallagher(Brown)-January 20th FEBRUARY Vicki Fisher-February 15th           KIDS' KORNER Why I Love Being A Teacher Demonstrator By Emily Turco Last year, I was given the opportunity to demonstrate for a six and seven year old class. I was really nervous, thinking about how I would do and if I would mess up. When I met the class of smiling faces, I felt an excitement about actually helping them learn about something I loved. I remember when I was six years old and looking up to my teacher's demonstrator as a role model. I knew that I wanted to be that role model for the children in my class. This year, I have the opportunity to work with another group of kids the same age. As I continue assisting the teacher in class, I realize how much I enjoy working with younger kids. I enjoy being able to assist these kids in learning to dance and hopefully they will love it as much as I do. Demonstrating has given me a tremendous amount of enjoyment. I love working with "my kids" and hope I have taught them as much as they have taught me. I want to be the same mentor for them that I had when I was young. Being a demonstrator makes me feel like one of the luckiest people in the world.

SCROOGE Scrooge, the musical, returns to the historic landmark Tarrytown Music Hall Theater this December 8th-10th. Scrooge, directed and choreographed by Lisa Hopkins, has been called "a gift to the season É rivaling Madison Square Garden's production". This original production originally presented Off-Broadway at the Lambs Theatre is suitable for all ages, and tells the traditional Dickens tale with a few twists. The productions score, written by Phillip Stern, features a live orchestra. It is performed by a cast of 25 talented singers and dancers, one of which is our favorite Broadway veteran, Dance Cavise's own Joe Cavise. He will delight audiences with his appearance as the as the singing and dancing "Mr. Fezziwig". CALL: (914) 524-0944 FOR TICKETS NOW!