Arts + Entertainment Blog

Indianapolis City Ballet Announces a Master Class Series

for

Indianapolis Dance Students

Renowned Teachers from Major Schools and Companies around the World!

Following its spectacular debut last September, Indianapolis City Ballet today revealed a new Program as part of its education and outreach initiatives that will begin next month. "It is our intention to present the finest professional ballet program possible in all its various forms" exclaimed Board Chair and founder Robert Hesse, "and as we plan for a future gala performance and the launching of the Indianapolis City Ballet Company, we are pleased to introduce a Master Class Series that draws on our institutional strengths to assist the dance schools and dance students of Indiana".

Beginning on Sunday, January 10, 2010 the Indianapolis City Ballet will present nine Master Classes taught by some of the world's most recognized teachers and dancers for the area's ballet students. "This is an effort to unite the dance schools in the Indianapolis area and help each to give their students an even richer learning environment," Dr. Hesse said.

The program is being directed by Jolinda Menedez who was a former ballerina with American Ballet Theatre and the Bavarian National Ballet in Munich and did major guest appearances in the United States and in Europe. Ms. Menendez has been on the faculty at New York University/Tisch School of the Arts for the past 13 years and is a frequent guest teacher with schools and companies including The Royal Ballet School in London, Scottish Ballet in Glasgow, American Ballet Theatre's summer intensive at all its national sites, the Ben Stevenson Academy at Houston Ballet, English National Ballet School in London, the Joffrey Ballet School and more. "As a teacher, I know that there is never a time to stop learning. This Master Class Series is meant to not only provide students with a new and vital learning experience but also give teachers the opportunity to explore different methods in classical ballet training."

The guest teachers for the Indianapolis City Ballet Master Class Series are individually experienced in giving master classes and are renowned in their field. They have been selected to represent the varied techniques, styles and focuses of the dance world. This first set of teachers includes a ballet mistress from a major dance company, leaders of two of the world's most recognized and successful ballet schools, a working contemporary dancer, founder of a major international ballet competition and more. The variety of styles and background is interesting too with teachers who have performed with Australian Ballet, Bavarian National Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, English National Ballet, Parsons Dance Company, the Royal Ballet, and more.

This initial series will be developed into an ongoing program according to the needs and response of the dance community. The classes will feature live accompanists, a 90-minute ballet technique class and a question and answer session in which both students and observers/teachers can participate. In order to ensure the most meaningful experience for the students, attendance at the classes will be limited. Enrollment is on a class-by-class basis and is open to intermediate and advanced students for a fee of just $25 per person. Observers will be accommodated on a space-available basis to allow teachers to attend for a fee of $10 per person.

Indianapolis City Ballet is pleased to present its Master Class Series at and in conjunction with some of Indianapolis' finest dance studios/schools including: Academy of Dance Arts, Ballet Theatre of Carmel/Performers' Edge, Broad Ripple High School, Central Indiana Academy of Dance, The Dance Refinery, Indianapolis School of Ballet and Jordan Academy of Dance. Two additional classes will be scheduled in September and October and announced separately.

The opening class will be on Sunday, January 10, 2010 at the Academy of Dance Arts in Fishers with Miguel Quinones. People who attended the Evening with the Stars Gala by Indianapolis City Ballet will remember Miguel for his show-stopping performance in David Parsons"Caught". Additional information about this program, this class and future classes will be available at:

www.indianapoliscityballet.org.

The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post have chosen Butler Professor of English Andy Levy's memoir A Brain Wider Than the Sky as one of the best books of 2009.

In the book, Levy writes about his history with, and the history of, migraines.

The Post called the book "a harrowing descent as Levy changes from a man who has suffered from occasional headaches into the victim of an unremitting, four-month-long, life-altering migraine." The Journal said Levy "provides an eloquent treatise on a malady that affects more than 1 in 10 Americans."

Levy said the migraine "completely takes over your brain, and then it goes away and leaves your brain refreshed. It's like: What just happened? And why do I have no control over this?"

To find out, Levy wrote, he scoured "everything from two-thousand-year-old medical textbooks to medieval religious texts translated from Latin to semi-autobiographical novels by surrealist painters. Glossy art books. Thick biographies. Books of ancient incantation and of cutting-edge neurology. And lots of letter collections."

Levy has suffered from serious episodic headaches since his early 20s (he's 46 now), A Brain Wider Than the Sky deals mostly with a debilitating four-month period during 2006 when his recurring migraines made even simple acts like eating painful.

IndyTalks, City-Wide Collaboration Offers Provocative Discussions on Indiana's Future

Indianapolis — In a citywide effort designed to foster a sense of community through respectful and creative civic dialogue, some of the city and state's most active organizations will examine Indiana's future from their own unique perspective in provocative and fresh ways through the IndyTalks initiative.

A series of community-based discussions will take place at different venues across the city to promote civic dialogue while exploring what it will take for Indiana to survive and prosper in the 21st century. Using Richard C. Longworth's 2008 book Caught in the Middle: America's Heartland in the Age of Globalism as a starting point, Indianapolis residents will have to chance to participate in a series of dynamic exchanges themed on the question, "What is the future of Indiana and the Midwest?"

IndyTalks will begin on Jan. 13, 2010, when 90.1 WFYI-FM will air a live radio interview with Longworth. Subsequent program offerings will allow for the discussions to range from the role of economics and politics to faith, education, heritage, the arts, and even food practices in our collective futures.

Participants are encouraged to do more than listen - they are encouraged to talk, offer ideas, connect to their community and create solutions. Individuals will also be encouraged to keep the conversation going on their own by using the IndyTalks Facebook page and by heading to the Athenaeum's Rathskeller for freelanced monthly conversations on the issues raised during the IndyTalks series.

For more information about IndyTalks, including a complete 2010 schedule, visit www.indytalks.info.

IndyTalks is a collaboration of the Athenaeum Foundation, Indiana Historical Society, Indiana Humanities Council, WFYI, Marian University, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, Big Car Collective, Arts Council of Indianapolis, University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community, Christian Theological Seminary, IUPUI Common Theme Project and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and Spirit & Place. Promotional support is also being provided by Smaller Indiana and IndyHub.

International Violin Competition of Indianapolis Secures Funding for Original Documentary

Indianapolis - The International Violin Competition of Indianapolis (IVCI) is pleased to announce that it has received a $100,000 capital grant award from The Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Inc. This leadership support gift will be used to help underwrite the production of an original documentary of the 2010 Competition, making it possible to present both the city of Indianapolis and the Competition to the rest of the nation via distribution through American Public Television.

TrendyMinds marks its 15th year by giving $150,000 gift

12 non-profits to benefit from agency's in-kind program

Indianapolis - TrendyMinds, an Indianapolis-based full-service advertising

agency and public relations firm, is celebrating its 15th anniversary by

giving local non-profits quite the party favor; twelve (12) businesses will

receive a total of $150,000 worth of in-kind marketing, branding,

interactive, public relations, advertising and promotional services in 2010.

TrendyMinds accepted applications through their website and chose the

winning organizations based on need, services desired, and interest from the

staff. The winning organizations are:

* Carmel Symphony Orchestra

* Fishers Arts Council

* IndyHub

* International Kidney Stone Institute

* Junior Achievement Intellectual Army

* King Park Area Development Corporation

* La Plaza

* Madame Walker Theatre Center

* Planned Parenthood of Indiana

* School on Wheels

* The Polis Center at IUPUI

* The Wellness Community

"I feel incredibly lucky to be celebrating our fifteenth year in business,"

says Trevor Yager, founder and principal of TrendyMinds. "We've had and

continue to have amazing clients, fantastic results and truly talented

employees. We felt it was our duty to give something substantive back to the

community as a way of sharing the wealth, so to speak."

TrendyMinds has a long-standing tradition of donating its services to

charitable organizations and nonprofits. In 2009 the agency awarded $50,000

to eight nonprofits: Athenaeum Foundation, Carmel Symphony Orchestra,

Fatherless Foundation, FIDO (Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside), IndyHub,

King Park Area Development Corporation, A Little Wiggle Room and The Polis

Center at IUPUI. Other organizations that have received in-kind work in

previous years include Methodist Health Foundation, Gleaners Food Bank, and

the American Cabaret Theatre.

"We know that 2010 will likely continue to be a hard year for many business

so we feel fortunate that we're in a position to give away this amount of

work," says Vicki Bohlsen, principal. "These deserving organizations do so

much good in the community, so I'm thrilled we can put our professional

expertise to use and help them achieve their goals."

In addition to donating $150,000 worth of agency work, TrendyMinds will

celebrate its 15th anniversary with four special events to be held

throughout 2010 and will premiere a new promotional campaign.

TrendyMinds is a highly creative, full-service boutique agency. Our

services include advertising, branding, public relations, interactive

services, social media and promotions. With a passionate and experienced

staff, TrendyMinds doesn't just create ad campaigns, press releases or Web

sites -- TrendyMinds creates identity. Founded in 1995, TrendyMinds prides

itself on exceeding expectations, creating lasting and meaningful

relationships with clients, and hiring only the best and brightest in the

industry. TrendyMinds is located in the Douglass Pointe Lofts of Fall Creek

Place in downtown Indianapolis. For more information on our work, staff or

services, please visit www.TrendyMinds.com or call 317.926.1727. Follow

TrendyMinds on Twitter @TrendyMinds or join our Facebook Fan Page at

www.facebook.com/trendyminds

Humane Society of Indianapolis hosts Dick Wolfsie book signing.

Author of Mornings with Barney to donate half of proceeds to Humane Society of Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS (December 14, 2009) The Humane Society of Indianapolis (HSI) will host Indiana-based humorist, author and television personality Dick Wolfsie on Saturday, December 19, 2009, from 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. for an autograph session of his book, Mornings with Barney: The True Story of an Extraordinary Beagle. Wolfsie will donate half of the proceeds from books bought at the shelter directly back to HSI.

Dick Wolfsie has written eight books and is presently a weekly humor columnist for 25 central Indiana newspapers. is Wolfsie's biography of his dog, a beagle who has been featured in many of Wolfsie's books, articles and TV segments.

"Mornings with Barney is a touching book and makes a great last-minute stocking stuffer," says John Aleshire, CEO of the Humane Society of Indianapolis. "We're thrilled that Dick has chosen to donate to the shelter and share his time this weekend."

Mornings with Barney will be available at the Humane Society of Indianapolis for $15, nearly $6 off the retail price. HSI also offers gift certificates good toward adoption fees and all goods and services, including dog training, pet toys and supplies, and Pet Supplies Plus DIY dog wash coupons.

"Nobody will stop you from creating. Do it tonight. Do it tomorrow. That is the way to make your soul grow - whether there is a market for it or not! The kick of creation is the act of creating, not anything that happens afterward. I would tell all of you watching this screen: Before you go to bed, write a four line poem. Make it as good as you can. Don't show it to anybody. Put it where nobody will find it. And you will discover that you have your reward." Kurt Vonnegut

Dear Members and Friends of the Writers' Center of Indiana:

A year ago, the Writers' Center faced serious financial difficulties, along with so many other nonprofit arts organizations, so it pleases me very much to report that, with the help our Board's hands-on approach and the generosity of donors and volunteers, the Writers' Center will enter 2010 not just surviving, but thriving.

During 2009, the Writers' Center offered a full schedule of classes, taught by published authors and experienced teachers, and evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. Our annual Gathering of Writers and Readers, held November 7 at the Art Center of Indianapolis was a resounding success. "Evening with the Muse," a free monthly event, has a dedicated audience that gathers to hear a featured poet and to read their own work.

In addition to these familiar programs, we introduced "Be a Better Writer," a series of craft lectures funded by the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation. We were honored to be invited by CICF to coordinate "Moving Forward," a poetry contest to select the poems that will be incorporated into three bus shelter installations on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.

Outreach programs took the Writers' Center into the community, with memoir projects at Flanner House and the Indiana State Correctional Facility for Girls that gave voice to people not usually heard. In addition, I spoke about writing and gave writing workshops to nearly a thousand students, teachers and library patrons throughout Indiana over the past year.

Coming up in 2010-all that, and more! We're exploring new events and outreach opportunities that will expand our audience and offer inspiring, educational programs for writers working at all levels-and for book lovers, too.

First on tap: This Thursday, December 17, visit www.indianawriters.org to view our schedule of winter/spring classes.

Many thanks to those of you who renewed your memberships over the past year. We appreciate your support! And a hearty welcome to the many brand new members who have joined the Writers' Center. Many came to us by way of our Facebook page-and a fair number by word of mouth, as well. There's a bit of a buzz around town about what's happening at the Writers' Center these days, and that is a fabulous thing!

If you participate in Writers' Center programs, but are not a member, we'd love to add you to our ranks. If your membership has expired, we'd love to have you back in the fold. Benefits of membership include discounts on classes and events, as well as access to the Members-Only Page on our new website that will be launched in January.

And, of course, the great pleasure of being a part of a lively community of writers.

For membership information, visit www.indianawriters.org.

NOTE: We have established a $25 membership for teachers, seniors (60+) and full-time students, which will be required to receive extra class discount after January 1, 2010. To sign up, please send your form and payment by mail. Our website is not currently set up to process this category of membership.

Donations above the membership cost are tax-deductible-and would be greatly appreciated! You may send a check to the Writers' Center of Indiana, PO Box 30407, Indianapolis, IN 46230-0407 or visit www.firstgiving.com/writerscenterofindiana to make an online donation.

The mission of the Writers' Center of Indiana is to nurture a writing community, to support established and emerging writers, to improve written and verbal communication, and to develop an audience for literature in Indiana. Whether you are a beginning writer, an established writer, or a serious reader curious about how writing works, we hope you will decide to be a part of our community in 2010.

Best wishes for a happy and creative new year.

Barbara Shoup

Executive Director