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      The recital was another resounding success, thanks to all of our hard-working students, staff and parents.  Mr. Ozsoy is off to the races at Louisiana Dance Foundation's Summer Intensive in Shreveport.  Then he's off to New York until the middle of August to teach at Joffrey Ballet School's Summer Program.  When he returns from New York, he will be boarding another plane to take him to the National Ballet of Mexico in Mexico City, to teach company class and coach some of the dancers in rehearsals. 

      Our graduating senior, Alianna Whiteaker-Chudecke, will be attending the D'Angelo School of Music at Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA earn her bachelors in vocal performance.  She will continue her dance training along with her harp studies.  We will miss her and wish her the best.

     Our Level IV and V students did a great job performing at Dance for the Planet on May 3, 2009 despite the wind and chill.  We hope you got a chance to see them.

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      Karen Nalley-Raines moved to the Texas Hill Country in October, 2008.  She has been an integral part of Ozsoy School of Ballet for many years and we will miss her very, very much.  We hope you got to say goodbye to "Ms. Karen".  Ashley Schlachter will be replacing Karen as the pre-ballet teacher on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Brandon Addicks will be teaching the beginner jazz class on Wednesdays.

FOUND AT THE AUDITORIUM AFTER THE 2008 RECITAL - A 35mm camera and case with two rolls of undeveloped film.  Please contact the studio if you are missing your camera from the day of the recital.

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     It's hard to believe that Claire Allen has graduated from SUNY Purchase this May.  Wow!  She auditioned and was selected from hundreds of applicants to become a member of Yuri Zhukov's new group of nine dancers performing a new piece in San Francisco.  They are hoping for funding to continue the group past the summer to form a new company.  What a wonderful opportunity for Claire to be part of something so new and exciting.  We couldn't be more proud.

     We had quite a few visits from alumni during the month of December, 2007.  Claire Allen, Ashley Schlachter, Cortney Wesley, Alice Holland and Cassie Pana all came by the studio at one time or another on their break from college.  Everyone looked healthy and happy.  It's hard to believe that Claire Allen will be graduating from SUNY Purchase this spring.  She will be busy auditioning for various dance companies the next few months.

     Daniel Mantei (Keene) returned to American Ballet Theatre in New York in December, 2007 after a short stint at The National Ballet of Canada.  At last report, he is very happy to be back living and working in New York City and ABT.

      Mr. Ozsoy had an eventful first week in New York during the summer of 2007.  On Tuesday night, he got tickets from Daniel Mantei to ABT's performance of Romeo & Juliet.  He's so happy he got to see Daniel perform again with ABT before he moves on to the National Ballet of Canada at the end of July.  On Wednesday afternoon, he accompanied 30 students from Joffrey Ballet School's summer program to a seminar and lecture on George Balanchine, after which the group got to go to a performance of New York City Ballet to see first-hand Mr. Balanchine's choreography.  Mr. Ozsoy also attended a different New York City Ballet matinee program on Saturday afternoon.  On Saturday night, he was lucky enough to get tickets to the second round of the New York International Ballet Competition.  While backstage, he ran into Donna Davis, mother of former student Elizabeth Davis who is now attending Fordham University in New York.  Well lo and behold, Elizabeth was working as Assistant to the Coordinator for the competition and there were squeals of delight when her mother called her to tell her to come backstage for a surprise.

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           Daniel Keene was one of the dancers at a Night of Stars Gala in Mobile, Alabama on November 1, 2003 with other members of ABT.   Also on the bill was Rasta Thomas, among others.  August 2003 -- Daniel Keene will be dancin' with the big boys come October.  He was awarded a contract with American Ballet Theatre in New York beginning in October, 2003.  Daniel will continue with ABT's Studio Company until October.  Way to go, Daniel.  We couldn't be more proud of you!! 

     Our Level V-VI students performed with Louisiana Dance Foundation at LA:  Dance Alive! at the historic Strand Theater in Shreveport, Louisiana on Saturday, May 3, 2003.  It is always a thrill for our kids to be able to perform with Carol Anglin and her company.  Mr. Ozsoy is an artistic advisor to Louisiana Dance Foundation and is on faculty at their summer intensive workshop.

     March 2003 -- Another update on Daniel -- He is now traveling to Belfast, Ireland and London, England with ABT II.  That is the studio company for American Ballet Theatre in New York.  We wish Daniel and the company  well in their travels.

     We ran into a long-absent student, Lauren Lettenmaier.  She is attending UTA and is still dancing.  She is performing with a jazz group in the Dallas area and is still as sweet as ever.

     November 2002 -- Daniel Keene came in town for Thanksgiving for only two days.  Of course, while he was here he talked Mr. Ozsoy into giving him a class.  It's an addiction.  Daniel has been performing all over New York with ABT II and will be dancing with Hartford Ballet in their Nutcracker this season.

     Our teacher, Debbie Brynteson, has moved with her husband and the twins to Denver, Colorado.  Our kinder and elementary students will miss her very much, as do the staff and the other students at the school.  Debbie has been a part of Ozsoy's everyday life for several years.  She has been a tremendous help to all of us.  We wish the family the best of luck in Denver.

     Ashley Stirrat, a former student, is getting married during the Thanksgiving weekend.  We wish her a long and happy marriage!  Congratulations.

     January, 2002 -- Mr. Ozsoy has just returned from a triumphant trip to Turkey where he taught master classes and coached dancers at the Ankara State Ballet Company where he danced as a principal dancer.  The dancers loved him and he had a great time seeing the new generation of dancers and he was quite impressed.

     December, 2001 -- Daniel Keene came in for the holidays from London where he is a scholarship student at the Royal Ballet School.  He is still as impressive as when he left here for Great Brittain in July.  His time home was too short and he didn't get to spend enough time with Mr. Ozsoy who was in Turkey when Daniel got home.  To the delight of his former classmates, Daniel taught two classes while Mr. Ozsoy was gone.  The studio is still in one piece, so I guess they enjoyed it.  He is returning to London on January 5 to begin rehearsals for "Swan Lake" with the Royal Birmingham Ballet Company.  He also danced in their "Nutcracker" before coming home for the holidays.  It seems London agrees with him and he is enjoying his time there.

© 2003 Ozsoy School of Ballet