Welcome to our new website - and check back often; updates are on the way!January 2012: James Gallagher
I couldn’t tell you when the first time I went to Paulette’s Ballet Studio was, but I was certainly very young and I don’t think I have much recollection of it. I am Paulette’s grandson. I never went there to dance. I played hockey and lacrosse, I’d go to see my grandmother.
Recently, I went back for the first time in probably ten years. Before I say anything, I’ll warn you that I don’t know enough about dancing to critique any positions. I slouch far too much to judge someone for posture and the last time I touched my toes with straight legs was in 8th grade.
So, I can’t speak to the dancing, but I can speak to what I saw. When I was inside the room, and class was going on, I’d watch someone, as they tried to leap or twirl. First, they had to wait in line. As they’d wait in line, they would laugh or whisper to their friends, but then they’d have to dance. Instantly, I’d see their face change as they focused. Right in front of my eyes, shedding the piled layers of their day, until the only thing that remained was the dancing. Then they’d finish. Their eyes would change and they’d laugh until it was time to dance again. Each time they’d go, the laugh or talk would come later and leave sooner, until they’d just dance. Then, when they weren’t up, they’d be testing their posture or curling their toes, slowing down a grand movement into each small component until they had it and when they did, they’d move on to the next piece of the whole.
In this pursuit of technique, musical and beautiful, people are required to be a little better than they are most other times of the day. There’s no counterfeiting dance. It can’t be done, unless it’s done fully. Everyone there knew that and worked towards the fullness. With each attempt, each exhausting attempt, they would pull themselves closer to the dance they all saw in their heads. Or so I imagine. I’ve never danced before. I just watched. As my grandmother does now, helping them get a little closer to the dance they all have in their heads. I think getting to that dance is worth something.
Cars don’t go faster because of dance, and stomachs aren’t full because of dance, but it’s important. It gives people value and my grandmother sees that. She sees that life is something that should be enjoyed, watched, and participated in because it directly affects our happiness and our understanding of the world (even if it doesn’t change our car’s mileage.) Looking at her always reminds me, not only that it’s worth striving for something bigger but that the striving, the work, and the effort are as much the reward as the grand end. Each small victory, even if it’s only a textbook arabesque tells us that we can do what we couldn’t before.
So I start to understand why she would say, “Good spin, but straighten your back or you can’t hold it”, when I couldn’t really see a difference at all, because getting something done well is an end in and of itself. Every well executed spin or arabesque is the basis of the grand thing that we can only hope to touch, or the basis of each a dance number, that rattles your heart, or where the dancers seem to float above the ground. Those movements and expressions are only a string of small things done the right way. My grandmother pursues the grand and small alike, so that we both know, and can hopefully get to the dance that we see in our heads.
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September 2011: Bridget Rouhan Wess
When I was a student at Paulette’s, the studio was my safe place – where I could express myself and where my love of dance was shared by my peers (and my amazing sister, Alyssa). I fell in love with the studio from the moment I stepped foot in the door and by my senior year of high school I was taking all the classes offered to me, assisting eight classes and teaching two of my own classes at the Medfield school. I could get not get enough of the studio! I went to every summer intensive, performed on two cruises, participated in every performance opportunity offered and found myself taking advantage of every Paulette’s event possible. The annual concert was always the highlight of the year – spending countless hours at the theatre, rushing around for quick changes, getting nervous and anxious before leaving the wings and feeling a fleeting rush of adrenaline onstage.
Although I was sad to leave Paulette’s after graduating high school, I was excited to continue my journey as a dancer. I went on to get a BFA in dance performance with a concentration in ballet from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. During school and after graduation, I had many performance opportunities including being chosen as a member of the inaugural Celtics Dance Team. Over the years, I have discovered that the one thing I love more than dancing is teaching dance. Three years ago I asked Paulette to give me as many classes as she could and I have been teaching about seventeen classes a week between the Medfield and Newton studios ever since. As a member of the faculty, I love sharing my knowledge of and passion for dance. More importantly, I like being a part of creating an environment where my students feel safe, inspired and have the opportunity to make life-long friends. The concert is still the highlight of the year – spending countless hours at the theatre, rushing around to make sure I get to see all of the dances, getting nervous and anxious sitting up in the balcony and feeling pride at the accomplishments of my students.
I am incredibly lucky to be able to do what I love five days a week. To be surrounded by a brilliant faculty and talented students has been the icing on the cake. Being a part of this dance family and legacy is something I truly treasure and feel a world of gratitude for.
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February 2011: Paulette’s Parliament by Larry Chafetz, Robert Mayer and Eddie Shammay
We would usually make our way over to Starbuck’s alone, a bunch of parents looking for some quiet time, while their children were at Paulette’s. Once we were there, the three of us began to gravitate to each other. Maybe it was casual acquaintances or familiar conversation, but we began to look forward to our Saturday meetings. At first our wives didn’t understand our sudden interest in dance, but once they started talking to each other, they realized that these Saturday mornings had taken on a life of their own. This is the origin of “Paulette’s Parliament.”
Each year as Paulette’s new classes began, our enthusiasm for our daughters’ dance grew and we decided that ballet was not enough! They needed tap, modern, hip hop, anything that was taught consecutively on Saturday mornings. The girls would be dropped off and we would make our way to Barry’s Deli to discuss politics, religion and solve all the problems of the world.
About three years ago we were faced with a catastrophe: one of the girls decided that she didn’t want to dance. This brought panic. Her father went to work immediately, so she understood the virtue of dance training and how talented she was. Eventually, she saw how important this was (to all of us), resumed her training and needless to say, loves going to Paulette’s!
These Saturday morning parliaments have become the center of our social week. Work and commitment occupy the weekdays, but Saturday morning we know we can take time together. We all have family in Israel and whenever they plan a trip to visit the US, all the grandfathers and uncles can’t wait for our Paulette’s Parliament get together. One of our fathers lives in Brookline and is often present. Once he told us to always remember, “This is what life is all about”, a few hours with friends and family, good food and good conversation.
After the first end of the year performance, none of us could get over what the girls had learned and the all around quality of the production. We were hooked and made a pact that we were committed to the next fifteen years of Paulette’s! We officially formed Paulette’s Parliament. Six years later, we are as dedicated and committed to our daughters and our time together. Thank you Paulette.
Larry and his daughter, Tal
Eddie and his daughter, Nicole
Robert and his daughter, Adi
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September 2010: The Fish Family
(Amy and Hayley Fish – Concert 2008)
AMY FISH – NIKKI AND HAYLEY’S MOM
When Paulette asked if I would write something for her Paulette’s Ballet Studio website’s blog, I thought, “what could I possibly write about?” My daughter Hayley, 15, has been dancing at Paulette’s since she was five and my daughter Nikki, 11, has been dancing at the studio since her “Mom And Me” classes when she was 18 months old! I have so many memories and experiences from Paulette’s studio, where would I possibly start? I’ll start with my oldest, Hayley.
Hayley loves, more than anything in the world, her classes at Paulette’s. She has said on numerous occasions that walking into Paulette’s Ballet Studio is as comfortable as walking into her own home. She feels that seeing all her dance friends is like seeing her family…her dance sisters. She loves these amazing girls and after a hard day at school , Hayley cannot wait to unwind and blow off steam at the studio with her favorite people.
After dancing four days a week for so many years she is now dancing at her new school, Milton Academy, in their special performing arts dance program. Many freshmen try out for this amazing program and are told to not be upset if they don’t get chosen, as most dancers don’t get in until they are at least sophomores. But Hayley, with all her technical training by Paulette, not only made this program but was given solo parts in the big winter concert as a freshmen….no easy feat. She feels strongly that the training she’s had all these years at Paulette’s helped her tremendously, and thanks Paulette so much for inspiring her and encouraging Hayley’s passion for dance.
My daughter Nikki is a strong, muscular athlete. She loves her lacrosse, soccer, and most of all, her dance classes. Paulette’s dance classes help Nikki with her skills as an athlete and as a dancer. When Nikki was seven years old, she was asked to have a solo as “Angelina Ballerina” in the Spring Concert. She was so excited! Dance has given Nikki confidence, poise, and wonderful self esteem. She started dancing in the Mom And Me classes with Donna Greymont when she was eighteen months old and hasn’t stopped dancing since. When Paulette really pushes Nikki, Nikki knows that Paulette is only trying to bring out her very best and Nikki understands that hard work truly pays off.
Every year, since I entered Paulette’s Ballet Studio, I have been a backstage/volunteer mom in the Spring Concert. I have witnessed not only the tremendous growth of my own girls, but I have personally watched all the girls grow into not only beautiful dancers, but beautiful young women. The experience backstage is like no other. Watching the girls helping each other backstage during a near catastrophe before the curtain opens, whether it’s a costume tearing or a shoe buckle breaking, is truly wonderful to witness. The bond that the backstage moms have after so many years together is equally as wonderful to experience. I wouldn’t trade the last eleven years backstage with all these terrific girls and their amazing moms for anything in the world!
What I truly find the most amazing at Paulette’s Ballet Studio is the fact that Paulette, who has been teaching for over 50 years, knows every dancer as an individual and what is best for her regarding her dancing. I am amazed each and every year when Paulette comments on my girl’s dancing with such detail! How can she know each individual dancer and their strengths and weaknesses when she teaches so many dancers? This is exactly what makes Paulettes Ballet Studio the special place it is: Paulette.
She cares about each and every dancer and wants the very best for her….always.
(Hayley Fish – Concert 2010)
HAYLEY FISH
This past season at Paulette’s marked my eleventh year of taking classes at the studio. When thinking about what to write for this month’s blog, I honestly did not know where to begin. I remember the first day at five, when I walked into Paulette’s. How intimidating it was! I was sitting in the changing area, watching, while all the advanced, older dancers rushed by, eager to get into class; that day feels like just yesterday and now, at almost sixteen, I am one of those girls! The true excitement I get every day in school while thinking about my afternoon at Paulette’s, is a feeling that is indescribable. Paulette’s has not just been a place for me to go in my afternoons to dance, but has been a haven where I can forget everything that happened that day and just let loose and have fun. Along with the memories and friends I have made at Paulette’s, I have also learned a vast amount about how I should hold myself and the qualities I know I need to have in order to be a good person.
Last year was my first year at my new high school, Milton Academy. I did not know anyone at the school, but the lessons Paulette’s has taught me became apparent. Skills, that take a lifetime to achieve, were helping me without my realizing it. I was easily able to walk right up to someone, and introduce myself: Confidence and self-esteem. Paulette, along with the other faculty at Paulette’s, has given me so much support and encouragement throughout my life, that I feel confident with myself. Which leads to my being outgoing: Since I was a little girl I have always been the loud and talkative one, but only to the people I knew. But on that first day of school, I learned that I was able to go up to anyone and start a conversation with him/her. Lastly, Paulette’s has given me many role models to show what poise and grace really look like. The way that people carry themselves when walking through the front door, is effortless. I have learned that having grace does not just show on the dance floor or at the bar, but shines through when you are in a nerve racking or uncomfortable situation. Grace comes from within, and the countless hours of ballet training has taught me to be a graceful person, wherever I go. Looking back, I understand how nerve racking the first day of Milton Academy was for some people; people who had no experience in having to put his/her self out there. I, on the other hand, found that day very enjoyable due to what I have learned at Paulette’s.
Paulette’s has given me many things pertaining and not pertaining to dance that I can use for the rest of my life. The technical aspect of Paulette’s is the reason why it is such an advanced studio, in every style and genre of dance. This past year, while at my first year at my new school, I had heard about the “Milton Academy Dance Concert” countless times. When hearing about it, I learned that it was impossible for freshman to make it into the show, due to the fact that the more advanced, and experienced upper classman usually filled all the spots. Because of the training and technically advanced classes at Paulette’s, I tried out for the dance concert, and created a spot for myself in a significant amount of dances! I know that my accomplishment of making it into the dance concert would not be possible if I did not have the training that I was given at Paulette’s., Paulette’s has taught me many things not only about the dancing and performing world, but about how I want to be and live as person throughout my life. The goals that I have for myself, as well as the unconditional love and support I am given by the faculty and my friends, is what encourages me to step through the Paulette’s door every day.
(Hayley and Nikki Fish at Nikki’s Pre-Ballet Performance)
NIKKI FISH
I started dancing at Paulette’s Ballet Studio when I was only 18 months old in the Mom and Me class. Starting out so young, I didn’t realize then that Paulette’s would have such an impact on my life. Each class I took, I would point my toes until they hurt and leap until my legs were perfectly straight. Most importantly, my dancing progressed more and more each day. I tried my hardest to think a couple steps ahead when practicing each of my dances so I would be fully prepared. When my mom got a call from Paulette asking if I would like to do a solo, I was only seven. I realized how lucky I was to have this amazing opportunity. When I found out that I had to memorize and perform a paragraph from “Angelina Ballerina” in front of a huge audience, I was terrified. I didn’t want to let Paulette down by not being able to memorize the words, but at first I didn’t think that I had the patience and discipline to memorize the piece. From then on, every car ride, short or long, until I went to bed each night, I would practice the English-accented verse! I still can recite it today. I was so excited to go to class on Saturdays, where I practiced my solo in front of the four and five year old class. I vividly remember seeing each little girl’s face light up as I showed them my solo. The highlight of that time, however, was watching Paulette’s smile, each time I performed for her. This memorable time in my life will stay with me forever! The experience taught me that hard work and commitment can lead to succeeding in whatever you may do. Whether it’s speaking to a crowd in a foreign accent, or studying for a big math test, you just have to remember that everything will pay off in the end. Now, three years later, I’m still dancing at Paulette’s and am loving it more then ever! Paulette’s Ballet Studio has taught me not only amazing dance skills, but also life lessons and experiences that I will carry with me throughout my life. I have no idea what my life would be like with out Paulette’s Ballet Studio. My experiences here will stay in my heart forever!
(Nikki Fish – Concert 2010)
If you would like to contribute to next month’s blog, please e-mail Paulette: Paulette@paulettesballetstudio.com
