photo credit: Mikki Schaffner
Our most recent interview was with Catherine Batcheller, the Academy Dean of the Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy. The Otto M. Budig Academy is the pre-professional ballet academy affiliated with the Cincinnati Ballet that offers excellence in classical training in a nurturing and disciplined environment while providing professional placements and opportunities.
The Academy has both nationally and internationally recognized instructors who are experienced and passionate about teaching and who love to work with students and watch them grow. They offer a strong base in classical ballet which includes pointe, variations, pas de deux class, mens’ class and modern, but they also offer the older levels exposure to Contemporary Ballet and Composition classes. The Academy is also proud to be one of the only schools in the country that offer regular classes in Horton Technique; a modern technique that is helpful in building core strength in ballet dancers. In the past the Cincinnati Ballet has performed several of Horton’s works, which had earned the company national recognition for keeping some of his historic works alive. For the younger students, they offer Musical Theater and Jazz and for older students the Academy has a strong Adult program as well. There are various performing opportunities throughout the year for these students and at the end of the year there is the final performance that showcases all levels. They also have the direct connection to the Cincinnati Ballet Company. This connection offers students opportunities to audition and perform in company productions, which is an exceptional experience for young dance students. Being able to watch the company rehearse as well, is very inspiring for our students.
Catherine says her proudest moment during her coaching career is probably a couple of years ago when she was working with one very talented and young student that she was preparing for the YAGP (Youth America Grand Prix). There was a rehearsal where she had to keep herself from visibly tearing up as she watched the artist he had become and the technical ability he had attained through the process.
Photo Credit:Peter Mueller
The biggest mistake Catherine sees dancers make is dancing with tension in their neck, shoulders and wrists. This blocks the flow of energy through the body as well as blocking the natural momentum of the movement they are trying to execute. Take turning for example; when the neck is restricted and the shoulders up and involved with the arms and neck, the turning motion is blocked and slowed down. The student feels tense and struggles as a result with each turn attempted. When students learn to release the tension in their necks (and continuing to breathe is always helpful!) and keep their shoulders in correct placement and hold their arms from underneath rather than lift them from above, the turn will start to fall into place as the released and clear spot is the key to the turn. Or the petite allegro: many students tense their wrists and arms in jumps and it simply blocks the opposition in their bodies as it pulls them more to one side or the other due to the in balance in tension in their arms and makes the execution so much more tiring for them!
Photo Credit:Peter Mueller
Catherine’s goals for this school year are to continue to grow the academy and ensure that their students are receiving the best training possible and in a positive, hands on environment. She is always looking for additional performing or interactive events for their students to be involved with as well.
She was inspired to take the studio over and lead it because she is passionate about training young, aspiring students and inspiring them to achieve more both in and out of the studio. It is an opportunity to infuse the love of dance in these students that will hopefully follow them their whole lives as dance enthusiasts or as professional performers!
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy or Catherine Batcheller.
If you would like to learn more about Cincinnati Ballet, check them out on their website at https://www.cballet.org.
