Jan's Dance Studio

About our Qualification for Nationals at Showstopper and Applause National Talent Competitions:

http://www.sj-r.com/ourtowns/chatham/x1798427813/Jan-s-Dance-Studio-s-Dazzlers-qualify-for-Showstopper-finals 

About our overall win at Chicago Competition and weekend Convention “Jump”:
http://www.sj-r.com/ourtowns/chatham/x536399030/Teen-trio-from-Jan-s-Dance-Studio-takes-home-third-at-JUMP-competition-in-Chicago

About our Student Marissa winning the State Fair Talent Competition:
http://www.sj-r.com/ourtowns/chatham/x1837753354/Illinois-State-Fair-Talent-Competition-Johnson-wins-12-and-under-dance-division


About our performance at the IL State Fair: Plus Youtube link
http://www.sj-r.com/ourtowns/chatham/x1837737941/Jans-Dance-wows-crowds-at-Illinois-State-Fair

About our spring show at the Hoogland:
http://www.sj-r.com/ourtowns/chatham/x1260734400/Cirque-Du-Danse-comes-to-town

1/1/2011- State Journal Register:

First Night Springfield participants have blast

http://www.sj-r.com/carousel/x1458583895/First-Night-Springfield-participants-have-blast?img=2

David Spencer/State Journal-Register
Flying Solo" was one of many dances performed by some of the 25 company dancers known as the JDS Dazzlers as part of afternoon First Night Springfield performances at Springfield High School on Friday, Dec. 31. The JDS Dazzlers are based at Jan's Dance Studio in Chatham.
    
First Night Springfield’s decision to go with an early evening fireworks display was a big hit with Esther Vogel and her two granddaughters, ages 5 and 9.

“They loved the fireworks,” Vogel said. “Our kids usually don’t get to see the fireworks because we go home. They really enjoyed that.”

This year’s First Night fireworks display was moved to 6:30 p.m. so that more families with young kids could enjoy the show. The display lasted about 20 minutes, and despite some rain in the area, went off without a hitch, said Penny Wollan-Kriel, acting director of the Springfield Area Arts Council.

“The fireworks were fabulous. I have never seen so many kids down here,” Wollan-Kriel said. “For the kids and their families, it was wonderful. I think our decision to go with 6:30 fireworks was right on the button.”

After the fireworks, the Hoogland Center for the Arts was full of families checking out the different entertainment acts. The Hoogland was one of six downtown venues that hosted evening events for the 24th annual event.

At the Hoogland, the First Night celebrants could see Irish dancers, performances by the Springfield Ballet and a variety of musicians.

In the H.D. Smith Gallery at the Hoogland, Vogel’s granddaughters and other kids were busy with a special art project using round stickers.

The round stickers were different colors, and the participants were using them to paint a picture.

“They are really enjoying that,” Vogel said.

As of 8:30 p.m., Wollan-Kriel could not say how many people had attended First Night.

First Night events began at Springfield High School in the afternoon.

There were a total of 37 performances, and 13 were groups or individuals who had never before performed at Springfield’s First Night. That was nine more performances than last year.

“We added five performances in the dining room of the Hoogland, and we added three in the lower level of the Old State Capitol, and we added one more at (Grace Lutheran) Church,” Wollan-Kriel said.

John Reynolds can be reached at 788-1524.

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Chatham has American Girl fever
12/30/2010: State Journal Register

http://www.sj-r.com/ourtowns/chatham/x1733655468/Chatham-has-American-Girl-fever?img=10

Kevin Tremain
Gretchen Burghart, a local actress, was the special guest speaker for the day. Burghart has appeared in the Broadway productions of, "Fame," and "Legally Blonde."

 
CHATHAM – If you have a little girl then you’ve probably heard of the new craze surrounding the American Girl. The Chatham Area Public Library held an American Girl event featuring Rebecca, one of the many entities of the American Girl brand, today. Forty girls turned out to the event that sold out of seats faster than you can say, "Bitty Baby."

Wednesday’s event featured Rebecca Rubin who, according the American Girl website is, “a girl growing up in New York City in 1914, Rebecca celebrates treasured traditions passed down through her Russian-Jewish family. With a little creativity, Rebecca learns how to stay true to her heart as she follows her dreams in the big city.” Rebecca also has dreams and aspirations to become an actor, a fact that played out as the theme of the day.

The afternoon included a brief history lesson on Rebecca, the viewing of a short viewing of a silent film classic, “Teddy at the Throttle,” crafts, prizes, and a special guest appearance by Gretchen Burghart. Burghart is a local actress who has appeared in several Broadway productions including a musical rendition of the popular movie, “Legally Blonde," and "Fame." 

Burghart, similar to the featured doll Rebecca, lived in New York, before coming back to central Illinois to become a teacher. She now teaches at Jan's Dance Studio in Chatham. During her visit to the library she ran the girls through several routines and warm ups that actors normally do to hone their skills and prepare themselves prior to a performance.

Joyce Evans, the CAPL children’s activity director, in conjunction with the children's activity coordinator, Vickie Armstrong, and several volunteers hosted the event.

“We’ve held the event for the past several years during the Christmas season, and we feature a different doll each year. It’s very educational for the kids because each doll comes with a series of books, and each book has a section, in the last few pages, that have historical facts about the time period that the doll is from,” Evans said.

Rebecca is part of a historical series that also includes such characters as Molly McIntire and her friend Emily who live during World War II (Molly awaits the return of her father from his tour of duty), Kaya “Magpie” who has neglected her family to compete in a race, Josefina Montoya who is, “overjoyed when her mother’s sister, Tía Dolores, comes to live on the family rancho,” and many others.

One of the draws of the American Girls is that they are interactive. The American Girl website  features online games, quizzes, jokes, in depth character bios, a fan gallery, and numerous opportunities to purchase additional material such as magazines, books and movies, all of which are very kid friendly.

All of the books included in the historic American Girl series are available at the Chatham Area public library.

For more information about the Chatham Area Public Library or to check out upcoming events at the library click here.
 

Copyright 2010 The State Journal-Register. Some rights reserved

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Radio City Rockette Alina Williams a hit at Jan’s Dance Studio

Jenn Pointer/The State Journal-Register
Dancers from Jan's Dance Studio and Kinner & Co. Dance Studio learn a routine Sunday, October 3, 2010, during the master class with Alina Williams at Jan's Dance Studio in Chatham. Alina Williams is a member of the Radio City Rockettes.

http://www.sj-r.com/ourtowns/chatham/x1459139344/Radio-City-Rockette-Alina-Williams-a-hit-at-Jan-s-Dance-Studio

THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
Posted Oct 04, 2010 @ 11:00 AM
Last update Oct 04, 2010 @ 11:12 AM

CHATHAM – Students ages 10 and under from Jan’s Dance Studio and Kinner & Co. Dance Studio participated in a master dance class with Radio City Rockettes dancer, Alina Williams, Sunday, Oct. 3, at Jan’s Dance Studio in Chatham.

Williams has been a Rockette since 2005.

“Most of our dances are tap or character,” Williams said. “I’ve never had the exact same line twice.”

Williams has performed with the Cincinnati and Dayton ballet companies, and as a dancer and magician’s assistant in the Las Vegas production of “Spellbound.” She also performed with Greg Gleason in “Gleason Magic,” and in the production of Siegfried and Roy’s “Darren Romeo.”

Williams also worked for Celebrity Cruise Lines as a dance captain and assistant choreographer, and has appeared on “Dancing with the Stars,” the “Ellen Degeneres Show,” and in country music videos with John Rich. She will be in the upcoming movie directed by Shana Feste, “Country Strong.”

She was a Ballerina Barbie in an industrial performance for Dollar General.

“There’s always work for dancers,” said Williams, whose talents surpass professional dance. “I grew up in a musical family. I play piano and the harp. I still love music."

Williams was not the only experienced dancer at the studio Sunday. Jan Burghart, co-owner of Jan’s Dance Studio, studied at the Stone and Cameron School of Ballet in Chicago, Broadway Dance Center in New York City and the Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood. She choreographs and performs at the Springfield Muni and the Springfield Theater Center at Hoogland Center for the Arts.

Burghart’s daughter, Gretchen, who became a partner in the business in July, recently signed a contract for the first national Broadway tour of “Legally Blonde” and will play the role of Enid Hoopes. She was in the national tour of “Fame: The Musical,” the west coast tour of ”Cabaret” and in an off-Broadway production of “On the Town.”

Also in attendance was Kathy Kinner, owner of Kinner & Co. Dance Studio in Springfield. She is secretary of the Southern Association of Dance Masters.

Students from Jan’s Dance Studio will perform Williams’ choreographed dance at their annual holiday show Dec. 18-19 at Lewis Memorial Christian Village.

Jennifer Pointer can be reached at 788-1511 or jennifer.pointer@sj-r.com.

Q & A with Alina

The dancers had the opportunity to ask Alina Williams questions.

Q. Are you married?

A. “Yes, I am married.”

Q. What is your favorite dance?

A. “Prelude to Soldiers.”

Q. How old are you?

A. “A woman never reveals her age, but you have to be over 18 to be a Rockette.”

Q. What shows will you be in?

A. “Providence, Rhode Island and Boston.”

Q. How tall do you have to be to be a Rockette?

A. “5' 6" and 5' 10 1/2" tall”

Q. Is it hard being a Rockette?

A. “We rehearse six hours a day. The way you practice is the way you will perform.”
 

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