Istarted teaching dance over 22 years ago and loved the creativity and energy that is necessary to be a good instructor. Currently I do choreography for the Northwest Studio for Ballet and Performing Arts in Fresno, California. This is the residence school for the Central California Ballet (CCB) a semi-professional dance company. We have a foundation called The Lively Arts Foundation (LAF) which I am very proud to be a board member of.
The Lively Arts Foundation was started about 15 years ago by Diane and Frank Mosier, the owners of the Northwest Studio for Ballet and Performing Arts. Diane and Frank understood the craving Fresno area audiences had for professional entertainment and dance. Over the years LAF has brought such great performances as: Dance Theatre of Harlem, The Shanghai Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Moscow Festival Ballet, Gregory Hines, Debbie Reynolds and Tony award winner (and former Fresnan) Audra McDonald.
The impact Diane and Frank have had on young people's lives is a testament to children involved in the arts. Many of our ex-students are successful at whatever it is they choose to undertake, many are businesspeople, Pharmacists, and Lawyers. One of Diane's ex-pupils is the principal ballerina of the Oakland Ballet-Ms Erin Yarbrough. Erin Yarbrough was delighted to come back to Fresno as a guest performer in CCB's production of Cinderella, March 21,22,23, 2003. Erin is a lovely charismatic dancer, who has been taught well by the skilled and talented eyes of Ballet Mistress-Diane Mosier.
The thrill of performing is exciting, but there are many hours of rehearsal involved. A serious dancer has to be dedicated to being perfect at every performance. December 2002, I performed in the Central California Ballet's production of "Nutcracker, The Mouse Queen's Revenge." This is an exciting recreation of the beloved 1893 P.I. Tchaikovsky classic with intriguing characters added from the 1814 "Nutcracker" tales by the master storyteller E.T.A. Hoffman, upon which the original ballet was based.
Our rendition of "Nutcracker", The Mouse Queen's Revenge was the mastermind of CCB's resident
Librettist, Frank Moffett Mosier. A Librettist is one who writes the words, or text of an opera or ballet. In simple terms Frank creates the story and acting/body (non-dancing) movements. Frank is a former New York City playwright/director who taught for 15 yers at Quintano's School for Young Professionals and had his own Off-Off Broadway theatre in St. Luke's Church in Greenwich Village. Central California Ballet performs their Nutcracker at the historic, art deco styled Tower Theater.
Central California Ballet's production of Cinderella was equally imaginative. Frank preserved the basic story line, while injecting a "dark story" regarding the forces of good vs. evil. In CCB's storyline, the fairy godmother, is an evil fairy who is a personification of the Devil who hopes to exploit Cinderella's wretched family situation to procure Cinderella's soul. For this presentation I was the Stage Manager, insuring our cast of 36 smoothly on stage and off, basically tying up loose ends
Artistic Director, Diane K. Mosier (wife/partner of Frank Moffett Mosier) is a classy, ageless and camera-shy beauty. Diane is a veteran of Alicia Langford's Boston Ballet, New England Ballet and the Broadway stage. She has developed a number of promising dancers. Diane conducts an extensive summer workshop with many guest artist teachers to keep the dancers "on their toes." Pointe Magazine, listed the Northwest Studios residence program for 2003. Diane has had a great opportunity to work with many various dancers from all over the central California areas and professional dancers from major companies are utilized for guest appearances. Diane is a visionary and has many guest choregraphers and teachers work with the CCB. This is important for a student/dancer to understand the different choregraphic styles and expectations. A dancer who has hopes of dancing professionally, must be able to handle all styles of dance as many major ballet companies are doing modern and contemporary pieces.
Local choreographer, Yukari Matsuda Thiesen the Director of the Valley Youth Ballet VYB, under the Valley Performing Arts Council (VPAC), has done some great choreographing for the CCB. The VYB ballet schools are located in Kingsburg and Reedley, California but takes in many students from several rural areas. When putting a ballet together it is a team effort that requires the support from communities and all dance studios cooperating. Yukari has done a fabulous job in bringing culture into smaller rural towns.
The Lively Arts Foundation and Valley Performing Arts Council work closely with the local school districts to offer special performance for students. The Friday morning of our Nutcracker opening night is a dedicated school performance. This is a sold-out event, with some children comming as far away as Caruthers. Many are the children of Mexican farm labor workers, who have never seen a ballet in their lives. The sparkles in their eyes and smiles on their faces as they leave a performance is gratifying. Another organization that works closely with the arts in the schools is the Arts Education Partnership (AEP). Their website is quite impressive and gives support to learning in the Arts and student academic and social development.
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