| David and Kathryn Simpson Proudly Present the: Indianapolis Youth Ballet Company A non-profit organization dedicated to the enrichment of young people and development of a deep love for the performing art of ballet. |
Mission Statement:
To provide young people, who have a love for ballet, with a memorable and artistically
fulfilling experience that will enhance their self esteem and encourage a lasting love for the performing arts.
Guiding Principles:
To provide young people, who have a love for ballet, with a memorable and artistically
fulfilling experience that will enhance their self esteem and encourage a lasting love for the performing arts.
Guiding Principles:
- To provide a creative environment, treating each other with respect and dignity.
- To develop enthusiasm for the performing art of ballet.
- To provide a program as close to that of a "professional" ballet company but without the strict
regiment required for the professional. We believe there should and can be a balance for children in
this art.
Founder/Director Kathryn Simpson, 30 years of teaching experience in the Indianapolis
area. *Kathryn Simpson was a dance major at Ball State University and studied under Madame Elena Imaz de
Bourgeot, principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet Company. Kathy was a founding member of The Ball State
Ballet Society. She studied with Helen Charisse (cousin of Cyd Charisse"Singing in the Rain"). She has taken class with
Al Gilbert (from the movie "The Jolson Story") and Jack Copeland at Jordan College of Dance. Miss Kathy has studied
voice, piano and modeled with Act I Modelling Agency of Indianapolis. In the 1980's she co-directed a local children's
television show "The All Star Kids" .But her most outstanding mark in the dance world was with her dance school, Tippy
Toes School of Dance (one of largest in Indiana). She has been able to do what most dance teachers have found nearly
impossible - to instill the love of ballet in nearly every single child that has passed through her school. Her students have
won numerous awards in dance such as Prelude finalists, Miss Dance Indiana, Dancer of the Year, State Fair Winners,
and various dance competition titles. Her daughters Ashley Manship and Scharmaine Lakstins (co - directors of IYBC
and Tippy Toes) were both accepted in the gifted and talented programs in dance at college level while still in high
school. Many of her students have gone on to study dance at college level and have become performers and dance
teachers themselves! All love dance because of her encouragement and motivation!
area. *Kathryn Simpson was a dance major at Ball State University and studied under Madame Elena Imaz de
Bourgeot, principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet Company. Kathy was a founding member of The Ball State
Ballet Society. She studied with Helen Charisse (cousin of Cyd Charisse"Singing in the Rain"). She has taken class with
Al Gilbert (from the movie "The Jolson Story") and Jack Copeland at Jordan College of Dance. Miss Kathy has studied
voice, piano and modeled with Act I Modelling Agency of Indianapolis. In the 1980's she co-directed a local children's
television show "The All Star Kids" .But her most outstanding mark in the dance world was with her dance school, Tippy
Toes School of Dance (one of largest in Indiana). She has been able to do what most dance teachers have found nearly
impossible - to instill the love of ballet in nearly every single child that has passed through her school. Her students have
won numerous awards in dance such as Prelude finalists, Miss Dance Indiana, Dancer of the Year, State Fair Winners,
and various dance competition titles. Her daughters Ashley Manship and Scharmaine Lakstins (co - directors of IYBC
and Tippy Toes) were both accepted in the gifted and talented programs in dance at college level while still in high
school. Many of her students have gone on to study dance at college level and have become performers and dance
teachers themselves! All love dance because of her encouragement and motivation!
Ashley Manship with dance partner
Brandon Sudler in "Coppelia" 2007
Brandon Sudler in "Coppelia" 2007
Are Gaynor Mindens suitable for beginners?
Definitely. What's important is that the shoe fit very well and that the stiffness of the shank and box be appropriate for the dancer's strength and size.
Gaynor Mindens come in five different stiffnesses.
Gaynor Mindens are especially beneficial for beginners because they promote proper alignment and correct technique. They minimize "sickling" and
"winging", bad habits that can lead to injury. (See Question #2)
Finally, Gaynor Mindens are lined with soft, cushy materials. They are very comfortable. Painful pointe shoes can be so discouraging that many girls
stop enjoying ballet class and give it up altogether. Yes, ballet is hard and sometimes painful but a great deal of the discomfort associated with
pointework is preventable.
Even highly trained dancers are better aligned in Gaynor Minden, according to a study at the Exercise Science Department at the University of
Massachusetts, Amherst. Proper alignment is crucial for ballet technique, for correct muscular development and for protecting the joints from injury.
Forces to the ankle during vigorous dancing can reach 10 times body weight, misalignment can transmit these potentially injurious forces to the
medial/lateral ankle structures. Kinematic analysis of the dancers’ ankles showed that sickling is reduced and subjects stand straighter in Gaynor
Mindens than in traditional shoes.
See Full Report Worthen, L et al., “Biomechanical Issues in Ballet: Alignment at the Ankle in Pointe Shoes,” Performing Artists Medicine Association,
proceedings of Annual Meeting, 1997.
Ng, G. et al., “F-Scan Evaluation of a Revolutionary Pointe Shoe Design,” Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine 14th Annual Scientific
Seminar, 1999.
Cunningham, B.W. et al., “A Comparative Mechanical Analysis of the Pointe Shoe Toe Box,” American Journal of Sports Medicine 26(4):555-561, 1998.
Superior Motion Control, Weight Distribution, and Stability.
Researchers from the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine also studied issues of stability and alignment, in this case using a
pedabaragraph. Gaynor Minden again proved superior to other shoes and was shown to have a 38% greater useable platform area.
Greater Impact Absorption.
In addition, the Temple University team assessed shock absorption, using advanced F-Scan technology, which enabled them to detect actual
pressures to specific areas of the foot during dancing. Again, Gaynor Minden proved superior. All subjects in the Temple University studies were
professional dancers.
Much Better Durability.
A study at The Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory of Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, published in the American Journal of Sports
Medicine, evaluated the durability of various brands of pointe shoes using a machine that simulates relevé. Gaynor Minden was still going strong
after 248,000 relevé cycles. The others didn’t come close.
Definitely. What's important is that the shoe fit very well and that the stiffness of the shank and box be appropriate for the dancer's strength and size.
Gaynor Mindens come in five different stiffnesses.
Gaynor Mindens are especially beneficial for beginners because they promote proper alignment and correct technique. They minimize "sickling" and
"winging", bad habits that can lead to injury. (See Question #2)
Finally, Gaynor Mindens are lined with soft, cushy materials. They are very comfortable. Painful pointe shoes can be so discouraging that many girls
stop enjoying ballet class and give it up altogether. Yes, ballet is hard and sometimes painful but a great deal of the discomfort associated with
pointework is preventable.
Even highly trained dancers are better aligned in Gaynor Minden, according to a study at the Exercise Science Department at the University of
Massachusetts, Amherst. Proper alignment is crucial for ballet technique, for correct muscular development and for protecting the joints from injury.
Forces to the ankle during vigorous dancing can reach 10 times body weight, misalignment can transmit these potentially injurious forces to the
medial/lateral ankle structures. Kinematic analysis of the dancers’ ankles showed that sickling is reduced and subjects stand straighter in Gaynor
Mindens than in traditional shoes.
See Full Report Worthen, L et al., “Biomechanical Issues in Ballet: Alignment at the Ankle in Pointe Shoes,” Performing Artists Medicine Association,
proceedings of Annual Meeting, 1997.
Ng, G. et al., “F-Scan Evaluation of a Revolutionary Pointe Shoe Design,” Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine 14th Annual Scientific
Seminar, 1999.
Cunningham, B.W. et al., “A Comparative Mechanical Analysis of the Pointe Shoe Toe Box,” American Journal of Sports Medicine 26(4):555-561, 1998.
Superior Motion Control, Weight Distribution, and Stability.
Researchers from the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine also studied issues of stability and alignment, in this case using a
pedabaragraph. Gaynor Minden again proved superior to other shoes and was shown to have a 38% greater useable platform area.
Greater Impact Absorption.
In addition, the Temple University team assessed shock absorption, using advanced F-Scan technology, which enabled them to detect actual
pressures to specific areas of the foot during dancing. Again, Gaynor Minden proved superior. All subjects in the Temple University studies were
professional dancers.
Much Better Durability.
A study at The Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory of Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, published in the American Journal of Sports
Medicine, evaluated the durability of various brands of pointe shoes using a machine that simulates relevé. Gaynor Minden was still going strong
after 248,000 relevé cycles. The others didn’t come close.
| The Indianapolis Youth Ballet Company 2009 - 2010 Promotions: Principal Dancers Valerie Rockey Alexa Connell Hannah Sego Madisyn Mandelbaum Carlie Dick Soloists Mikayla Esslinger Savannah Smith Jessie Pollard Baileigh Isaacs Featured Company Dancers : Maggie DeWitte Teran Hood Shamilah Jermison Heather Yapelli We are proud to announce our new Artistic Director, Miss Scharmaine Lakstins. |
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| Indianapolis Youth Ballet "Cinderella" 2009 Season Soloists pictured above Fall: Valerie Rockey, Summer: Alexa Connell, Winter: Allison Yapelli, Spring: Hannah Sego |
| Scharmaine Lakstins and Ashley Manship in "Swan Lake" 2005 |
| Swan Lake Company & Technique Audition Results Odette: Alexa Connell Odile: Valerie Rockey Black Swan: Madisyn Mandelbaum Black Swan: Hannah Sego Black Swan: Carlie Dick Garden Party Soloist: Jessie Pollard Spanish Soloists (Soloist): Mikayla Esslinger,Baileigh Isaacs Hungarian Soloist: Savannah Smith Featured Garden Party Dancer: Maggie Dewitte Featured Mazurka Dancer: Teran Hood Pas de Quatre Swans: Shamilah Jermison, Jessi Pollard, Baileigh Isaacs, Heather Yapelli Pas de Deux: Alexa Connell, Madisyn Mandelbaum, Carlie Dick, Hannah Sego, Mikayla Esslinger, Savannah Smith, Baileigh Isaacs, Jessie Pollard Maggie DeWitte,Teran Hood,Shamilah Jermison,Heather Yapelli The 24 White Swans: Teran Hood, Heather Yapelli, Sarah French, Baileigh Isaacs, Hannah Sego, Mikayla Esslinger, Shamilah Jermison, Haley Welch, Tanna Carpenter, Maggie DeWitte, Christine Leimberger, Madisyn Mandelbaum, Kayla Lane, Erin Curtiss, Jessi Pollard, Angel Gaskin, Carlie Dick, Grace Bowling, Savannah Smith, Megan Staats,Kelsey Wjockic, Morgan McTargette Hungarian Dancers: Alex Witt, Lauren Straber, Marissa Selvidge, Missy French, Morgan Hunt Neapolitan Trio: Mackenzie Smith, Dayna Feller, Camryn Mandelbaum Garden Party Children: Kimberly Shortridge, Olivia Smith, Abby Boni, Kelsie Clayton, Casey Davis, Annie Gowan, Willow Kapke, Blake Lyons, Janna Tuttle, Erin Connell Polish Mazurka: (Group One) Caron Esslinger, Lilly Handy, Emma Brown, Grace Nuhfer, Lily Scellato, Rose Scellato, Bethany Hartman, Alana Young, Abby Ledbetter, Meghan Koleszar, Amanda Goins, Kaylee Stickels, Elena Eberwine, Brynn Lemasters, |
| Cinderella 2009 Winter Soloist Allison Yapelli and technique students |
| Master Class Series with Janice Barringer Friday September 17th 4:00-5:15 Pointe Students Master Class ($25) 5:15-5:45 Question and Answer (for paying observers) Book Signing Saturday September 18th 9:00-10:15am Pointe Student Master Class ($25) 10:30-12:00 Pointe Student Audition (no charge) 4:30-5:45 Technique Student Master Class ($25) 5:45-6:15 Question and Answer,(for paying observers) Book Signing 6:30-7:30 Technique Student Audition (no charge) If you would like to take a master class, the cost is $25. If a pointe student wishes to take both master classes the cost would be $50. If parents wish to observe in the observation chairs the cost is $10 per Master Class. Please email Miss Ashley tonight to reserve your spot ashleytippytoes@sbcglobal.net It is free to just come to the audition. In the pointe audition, beginner and lower intermediate pointe students will be dismissed at 11:00 (ask your teacher what level you are before arriving to the audition). Most of the decisions made that day will concern the advanced pointe students. But please come if you are interested in being in an extra part. |