happeningskidsteens When? May 16-19 | Event? Piano competition | Venue? Life in Music
Ballare School of Performing Art
A Strong Pointe Does your child have a passion for dance? There is a new addition to the Kingdom’s cultural repertoire and it could be just the place you’ve been looking for.
36 May 2012 BTM
Launched September last year, the Ballare School of Performing Art has proved it’s a top venue for both children and adults to learn dance. The teachers have introduced a whole new learning approach to dance, music and fitness by offering students the opportunity to learn the arts of dance in a positive, structured and inspiring environment. Their wide variety of classes caters to individual goals, needs and skills for students of all ages and abilities. The schedule for classes include ballet, tap, pointe, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, cheerleading, break dance, salsa, acrobatics and much more. What sets Ballare apart is that students are not only grouped by age but also by their ability and skill level. “It is very important that a child has the proper placement in order to fully excel in their desired class. Advanced or beginner morning and evening adult classes are also on offer,” says owner Hala Al Zayani. The performing arts school accepts students as young as twoand-a-half years old in a ‘Twinkle Toes’ ballet class. To keep its range of courses as varied as possible, Ballare also offers piano lessons under two international exam classifications. The syllabus used at Ballare is accredited by the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) and is taught by a team of IDTA certified instructors. “Our teachers have a rare
combination of professional performing careers and college educations in dance,” explains Hala. Hala hopes to add depth to the already wide artistic field in the country by providing a strong foundation for appreciation of the arts as well as a creative discipline for the youth. The classes have so far proved to not only refine students’ talents but also instil inspiration for the love of music and dance. Hala herself, who is a graduate of a performing arts college in London, had started dancing at the age of five and always dreamt to open a performing arts school in Bahrain. “Opening Ballare came very naturally to me and wasn’t a tough decision. It’s what I’m passionate about and I am delighted to provide a well-structured creative curriculum for students of all ages and abilities here in Bahrain,” she explains. Tuneful keys This month, Ballare will be participating in ‘Etude’, a music competition organised by Bahrain’s very own Life in Music school. The competition, open to everyone, will be categorised under piano, classical guitar and vocals. Etude participants will be judged by a panel of three judges including Life in Music owner and established pianist Olga Aoust. E Call 17 300-021.