Raising my daughter here in Bismarck, ND, I didn’t know anything about dance training. I thought she was getting good training and really didn’t expect her to continue into college. When she did, the frustration of not having the level of quality training available came out in college auditions. She was finally accepted into Western Michigan University and now holds a degree in dance. Though she has moved on to other things, the discipline, grace, and appreciation for the art form that she gained from years of dance lessons has successfully carried her through life.
In 1997, I started a studio to provide quality dance training for the children of Bismarck. When my daughter entered college I decided to turn it over into a non-profit so the good work would be continued. Unfortunately, they decided to go a different direction, they started a dance company and brought in professional dancers. Their main concern was not training new dancers, so I decided to leave in 2000.
In 2002, an instructor of dance, whom I had met in 1998, moved to town and was looking to get back into teaching after having a baby. We got together and she started teaching a few students that I knew were looking for a new dance studio in town. We officially started a business in 2003 and in 2007 we went nonprofit and got our 501(c)(3) status.
The goal of this new studio, A Leap of Faith Dance, is to provide a quality dance education to any child who has the desire to dance. We have been using the stage area of my church and are in need of our own space. Another church in our area is going to build a new building and will be selling the old one. I have copies of the blueprints and it could accommodate 4 – 40 X 40 studios with several other rooms for offices, classrooms, and possible staging areas for small performances. We would like to start classes in related performing arts so children who don’t necessarily want to become dancers can experience other aspects of dance such as: hair styling and makeup for stage presentation; set and prop design and construction; costume creation; backstage management; dance photography; notation; French vocabulary; lighting and sound; etc. I have several other arts groups interested in occupying the space and joining us in this endeavor of creating a Performing Arts Centre.
I have worked in all aspects of dance from doing the books to teaching for absent instructors to creating costumes and sets through my 20+ years raising my daughter in dance. I am the daughter of an artistic mother and an architect father so my growing up has always included involvement in the arts. I took a few ballet classes in high school, college, the first year of my marriage, and during my daughter’s years in classes.
My instructor/choreographer was raised dancing, has a degree in Dance with emphasis in teaching from Virginia Intermont College, and has been teaching for over 20 years. Several of her former students have gone on to successful careers in dance.
Dance colleges provide great opportunities for aspiring artists to hone their skills and further their ambitions, but where do these fine students come from? They come from small and large communities all over the world where they first started dreaming about becoming dancers. Bismarck is one of those small communities.
Together, we continue to provide a quality dance education so our graduating students will be able to get into their choice of colleges, dance companies, etc. We want to pass this love of dance on to the successive generations. Helping up and coming dancers through quality training is the best way for other dance organizations to continue to grow.
As my daughter grew up in dance, I always cried when I saw her dance. I got around it by always staying busy backstage and seeing her perform from the wings. I still have to keep busy behind stage because seeing the joy and excitement of all our (my) dancers makes me cry. I am so proud of all of them!
Jan Joersz Executive Director A Leap of Faith Dance PO Box 4004 Bismarck, ND 58502-4004
1977 – 1979 Private Dance Studio, Fargo, Ballet Class
1979 – 1980 YMCA, Minot, Ballet Class
1981 – 1983 Moorhead State University, Moorhead, Aerobic Dance Classes
Education:
1976 – 1977 Bismarck Junior College, Bismarck, Music Major
1977 – 1979 North Dakota State University, Fargo, Music Major / Home Economics Minor
* If you would like more specific information about Jan’s dance or work experience, please contact Jan Joersz.
Resume of Rosemary Price-Beauclair
EDUCATION:
University of North Dakota -Grand Forks, North Dakota (First year MA completed at Graduate School Theater Arts Dept.)
Virginia Intermont College- Bristol, Virginia Degree: BA- Major in ballet with emphasis in teaching (1986)
Puerto Rico School of Dance- Ponce, P.R.
TRAINING:
* Trained with many professional dancers from 1982 through 1994.
CAREER RELATED EXPERIENCE:
Dance Teacher and Choreographer: A Leap of Faith Dance Studio- All levels of Ballet and Jazz- 2002-present Choreographer and Ballet Mistress: Compania Ballet Teatro de Puerto Rico- 1987- 1999
Grant Proposals researched and presented for Ballet Teatro of P.R.- 1995-99
P.R. School of Dance- Administrator 1995-99
All levels of ballet- Summer 1984; 1986-1999
P.R. School of Dance- All levels of Jazz and Modern Dance-1989-1999
Fray Pedro Ponce de Leon, School for Deaf Children- January 1998-1999
Bismarck Dance Centre- Master Class Kinderdance. Master Classes in Jazz: Beginners thru Advance- July 1998
Centro Sor Isolina Ferre: Ballet beginners, intermediate and Kinderdance- Aug. 1986-1997
Fontecha Modeling School: Beginners Jazz- 1987-88
YMCA, Grundy, VA: Kinder dance and Intermediate Ballet-1986
Virginia Intermont College Dance Department; Physical Education Ballet Beginners- 1985-86
Demonstrator for Bristol Ballet Center with branches at: Whitesburg, KY- 1984-1985 Marion, VA- 1985 Rogersville, V A- 1983
Rosemary performed in many different performances while growing up, going to college, and teaching professionally. She also began choreographing performances in 1986 and continues to choreograph.
* If you would like a complete list of her past training, performances, or choreography, please contact Rosemary Beauclair.
Please stop by again. Thank you for your interest!
