Penn State Altoona presents colloquium by integrative arts senior

Friday, February 24, 2012 - 858 hits

A Precise Anatomical Approach to the Teaching of Ballet, by Joshua Barr, will take place at 12:15 p.m., Tuesday, April 10, 2012, in rooms 101-102 of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Barr, a senior integrative arts major and dance studies minor at Penn State Altoona, began his dance training at age 10 at the Allegheny Ballet Company in Altoona. He has attended summer programs on scholarship at both the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle, WA, and Ballet Austin in Austin, TX. He also studied at Ballet Austin as a professional division trainee and later went on to dance as a soloist with Ballet Pensacola in Pensacola, FL. Barr has been an active part of musical theatre productions at Penn State Altoona, the Altoona Community Theatre, and Cresson Lake Playhouse.

Barr states, “Through my concentrated studies with Dr. Esther Siegfried, I will gain a better understanding of what is occurring anatomically within the body that allows fundamental movements to be produced. As I conduct observational research, I am increasing my awareness of the potential for misinterpretation between the teacher and students through language barriers. I hope to enhance educator’s abilities to communicate with students of all levels of understanding. By understanding the importance of precise language articulation and the effect that it has on the student’s development as a dancer, alterations in language usage are essential. A student’s ability to attain a higher level of technical ability is dependent on both the teachers understanding of how movement is produced within the body and their ability to communicate and relay information to students. I believe that the knowledge I gain from this project will be beneficial to me as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and most importantly as a prospective Graduate School student who has a strong desire to someday teach dance at the collegiate level.”

Information for A Precise Anatomical Approach to the Teaching of Ballet may be found at the Misciagna box office, Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and before and during the presentation. You may call 814-949-5452.