Academy Newsletter: October 2023

Starting October 1, the Otto M. Budig Academy invites new students of all ages to try their first class for FREE! If you know someone who is interested in trying one of the Academy's many class offerings, invite them to visit the link below for more information or to sign up.

As part of this promotion, we also invite currently enrolled students to join in the free class fun. Curious about an elective class or want to explore a new dance style? Use the link below to sign up for a free single-session class in a division elective or Community Division class offering.

This introductory offer extends to new adult students too. Join us for a complimentary class in any one of our Adult Dance + Fitness classes at the Valentine Center for Dance. Just visit the link below.

New Faculty
For the 2023-2024 Academy season, we are proud to introduce several new Academy + Education faculty members. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to:
Alison Cole
Kiersten Edwards
Missy Lay Zimmer and Andrew Hubbard
Qi Jiang
Eileen Kim
Daimy McInroe
Shane Ohmer
Carlos Quenedit
Kimberley Stewart

Welcome CB Moves Students
This month, we are excited to welcome our CB Moves students back to the Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance, with classes beginning this week. Please be conscious of wheelchairs and mobility aids in the parent and student lounges and help us give a warm welcome to all our CB Moves families!

The Student Performance Ensemble is a brand-new performance-focused program for upper division students, designed to provide young dancers with exclusive performance opportunities throughout the Academy year. Led by Resident Faculty member, Jennifer Rutherford, and Principal Dancer, Sirui Liu, our 2023-2024 ensemble boasts 21 participants in its inaugural year, and our team is so impressed by their early time in the studio together! The Student Performance Ensemble’s first performance takes place later this month.

Student Performance Ensemble Fall Showcase
Sunday, October 22, 2023
Two Performances at 2:30 and 4:30 pm
Sheakley Family Premier Studio

We'd love to have you join us to celebrate their inaugural performance! Tickets are free (or pay what you like) and will be on sale soon.

Last month we gave a shout out to our Student Experience Representatives (SERs) who provide key onsite support to students and families during evening and weekend class hours.

Today we want to introduce another team of helpers you might see when you’re here for class: Teacher Assistants! Most of the time they’re here at the Center for Dance, these volunteers are taking class themselves as students in our Preparatory, Community, Young Dancer, or Advanced Divisions. But once or twice a week they lend a hand in Creative Dance classes, helping teachers care for students, demonstrating steps, and serving as role models for our youngest students. We’re so grateful to this amazing crew of young volunteers, and we hope you’ll join us in extending thanks! Their support is a huge part of our successful and positive class culture.

Don’t forget! The Academy Fall Break is October 30-November 4, so there will be no classes that week in our Children’s, Preparatory, Community, Young Dancer, or Advanced Divisions.

Academy Fall Break
October 30 - November 4, 2023

Please note that Professional Training Division, CB Moves, and Adult Dance + Fitness classes will continue as scheduled during Fall Break, and Young Performers Cast rehearsals continue for any students involved in upcoming productions. The Administrative office will also remain open that week during regular business hours and can be reached at cbacademy@cballet.org or 513.562.1111.

Now that the 2023-2024 Academy season is fully under way, we would like to take a moment to remind everyone of our parking options. Students and families are welcome to park along Gilbert Avenue (pink in the image below) or in one of the lots beside and behind the Center for Dance (purple in the image below).

The section of Gilbert Avenue between the driveway entrance and exit and the driveway itself are for drop-off and pick-up only (red in the image below). Please do not park and/or leave vehicles unattended in these areas to ensure traffic can continue to flow. As posted on city street signage, the 6 feet on either side of the driveway entrance and exit are no parking zones to ensure vehicles can safely enter and exit. Vehicles parked incorrectly may be ticketed and/or towed.

September 30 – October 5: CB Moves First Week of Classes

October 14: NO CLASSES (Queen Bee Half Marathon)
Student Performance Ensemble and Young Performers will still rehearse this day.

October 20: Tuition Payments Due (4, 8, & CB Moves Installment Plans)

October 21: Professional Training Division Fall Studio Showcase

October 22: Student Performance Ensemble Fall Showcase

October 30 – November 4: NO CLASSES (Academy Fall Break)
CB Moves, PTD, and Adult Dance + Fitness will continue to have classes this week.

November 3 – 5: Jewels at Music Hall

November 13 – 18: Family Observation Week

George Balanchine’s masterpiece Jewels has been called the first full-length abstract ballet, and since its premiere in 1967, has remained one of Balanchine’s most-loved works. The work is inspired by the artistry of jewelry designer Claude Arpels and is presented in three acts, distinctive in mood with music performed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra: Emeralds evokes the 19th century dances of French Romantics and features the music of Fauré; Rubies is contemporary, witty and fiery, and is a tribute to the collaboration of Balanchine and Stravinsky; and Diamonds recalls the grandeur of Imperial Russia where Balanchine grew up and trained and is more purely classical, utilizing music from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3.