5013-17 Fairview Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60615   (630) 971-9751

                       ...ballet training in the Russian style...

                                           Home of  the MIDWEST BALLET THEATRE

                                 About our Instructors

Mim Eichmann, director, ballet instructor: B.F.A. in Ballet Performance and Education, Jordan College of Music at Butler University - opened the Midwest Ballet Academy in 1993.  Many dancers trained by Mim have joined professional ballet companies, have majored in ballet in college, as well as have received scholarships/training at prestigious intensive ballet programs schools such as The School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theatre in New York City. 
 
Greg Begley, guest faculty, B.A. in Dance, Point Park College, Pittsburgh, PA is a former ballet master and featured dancer with Hubbard Street Dance Company, a former principle dancer with Ruth Page Chicago Ballet, and soloist with Pittsburgh Ballet.  He is currently a faculty member with Hubbard Street Dance Company and The Ruth Page Foundation School of Dance, and has trained many professional ballet dancers in the Chicago area.  Mr. Begley will be assisting in the training of our Ballet/Pointe V, Midwest Ballet Theatre students. 

Shannon Brodie, instructor, BFA in Theater – emphasis in Dance, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL is an MBT alumna, who is currently a member of No Mi La Mad, a new Chicago-based professional dance company whose directors seek to blend dance genres from classical ballet to jazz to modern.

Colleen Gandolfi & Marie Meizis, instructors, are MBT alumnae. Colleen is a student at Illinois Benedict University in Lisle and Marie is a student at College of DuPage.  In addition to their many roles danced with MBT, both young women have taught at MBA for the last four years and we’re most excited to have the opportunity to have them to continue teaching for us!

 Kristen Krumwiede, instructor, is a current MBT member and a senior at Downers Grove South H.S.  Kristen began her dance studies with Mim Eichmann and has studied with her for about 10 years.  She brings a thorough knowledge of ballet technique, teaching fundamentals, energy and dedication to her classroom, using an MBA-designed syllabus.    

                                      Year-End Festival

All students enrolled in the Academy perform at a Year-End Festival, which will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 29, with rehearsals from 3-6 p.m. Friday, May 28 (Memorial Day Weekend) at the Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove.  Students begin preparing for the Festival at the start of the Spring Session.  There are no recital fees, costumes, tickets or other costs associated with the program.  The Academy does not participate in dance competitions.

                                        Class Descriptions

PreBallet – children learn simple rhythm & coordination exercises, pantomimes, distinguishing right and left sides, introduction of some ballet terminology and concepts, folk dances, ballet positions, working individually, with a partner and within a group.

Primary Ballet – children continue working to distinguish right & left sides, rhythm studies, some pantomimes and folk dances, continued introduction of ballet terminology, working individually, with a partner and within a group.

Ballet I -  introduction/continuation of ballet concepts and terminology at the barre and center; stretching, strengthening, with more difficult steps & combinations by the end of the school year.

Ballet II,  II-III,  III – progressively more difficult, continuing ballet studies including more attention to strengthening, balance and stretching, terminology, introduction of body shadings, gradual use of  simple adagio, petite allegro and grande allegro in center work. Children will almost always be in a level for more than one year.  By the time a student reaches Ballet III, she should be committed to studying two times per week when at all possible.

Ballet III/IV – students continue with increasingly difficult adagio, petite allegro and grande allegro work, seeking to strengthen their technique with more intricate steps, ‘beats’ and combinations, in preparation for Ballet IV and introduction to pointe work.  Students should be committed to studying two times per week when at all possible.

Ballet IV – most students at this level are also enrolled in Intermediate Pointe Fundamentals, or will be within the coming year.   Students must be enrolled in at least two ballet technique classes per week to begin/continue with pointe classes.

Intermediate Pointe Fundamentals – this class works in a multi-level teaching format, addressing the strengths of dancers from beginning pointe through high intermediate.

Adv. Ballet V/Pointe – an advanced, professionally paced class.

Homeschool Ballet I and Ballet II – taught by Miss Marie Meizis, a homeschooled high school graduate and MBT alumna.  This program works with families who are able to adopt an earlier class time for their children’s training. 

Adult Ballet II – an intermediate level class, intended for adults with prior knowledge of ballet.

Contemporary – a fusion of ballet, jazz and modern dance, utilizing a modern or jazz warmup, including core building and strengthening, with center work incorporating all three genres.  The class is taught by Miss Shannon Brodie, based on the NoMi LaMad dance company classes.