Alexandra Politz 15 ~ Glenda Brown Choreography Project
Alexandra Politz began to dance soon after taking her first steps. She has danced under instruction for 13 years, the last 7 with Academy of Dance Arts in Allen, Texas. Her current focus includes pointe, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, tap and hip hop, as well as attending workshops and extra classes when her schedule allows. Alexandra has been asked to be an assistant teacher at her studio - a role she loves. She enjoys working with younger dancers and shares her love of dance with youthful exuberance.
As a member of the Dallas Repertoire Ballet company, she looks forward to performing in their annual holiday production of “The Nutcracker.” Over the past 7 years she has performed many roles in “The Nutcracker” including “Snowflake”, “Candy Cane Princess” and most recently “Spanish Chocolate Soloist’. She has been a member of Academy of Dance Art’s Competitive Company for 6 years and is currently a member of the Senior Team.
She attended the Joffrey Elite Ecole Summer Ballet Intensive in 2009 and The Jillana School Summer Ballet Intensive in 2010. While at Jillana, she particularly enjoyed the opportunity to further her training in the Balanchine method of ballet. This summer she plans to attend The Glenda Brown Choreography Project in Kansas City, Missouri.
Alexandra strives to fulfill her dream of dancing professionally. She knows she has much to learn and is opened minded, determined and committed to succeeding. Having the opportunity to attend a summer intensive and further her dance education will assist her in achieving her goals.
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My experience at the Glenda Brown Choreography Project in Kansas City, Missouri was an amazing opportunity that inspired, challenged and enabled me to grow as an artist. I approached the two week program with high expectations of what was to come. I am pleased to say those expectations were superseded. I took classes in pointe, ballet, Latin jazz, and modern. The incredible teaching staff included Glenda Brown, Caesar F. Barajas, Thom Clower, Paula Weber and Lyn Wiltshire. The small group sizes encouraged a more personal connection with the teachers, choreographers and fellow dancers. The teachers were hands on, gave one-on-one feedback and challenged me to reach greater levels of technique and performance.
My favorite part of the Glenda Brown program was the opportunity to perform a new piece each night. Each day the choreographers were given a new assignment with a random selection of music. Once the choreographers chose their dancers, they designed the choreography, taught it, refined it and rehearsed it. Each performance was ready to perform on stage within three hours of our learning it. Each session was stressful and exhausting, but also exciting. I enjoyed the challenges brought forth by this experience. One of my most memorable moments was performing with Charles Martin of Kansas City Ballet a pas de deux, “Sleeping Beauty” choreographed by Artistic Director of Ballet Quad Cities, Courtney Lyon. The last night culminated with the final performance. It was so much fun to perform one last time the best routines of the two weeks with all my new friends.
I know my experience this summer will greatly benefit me as a dancer now and in the future. I learned so much from the teachers, choreographers and other dancers. Along with improving my technique, I broadened my performance abilities, became more comfortable with both new genres of dance and different choreographer’s styles and grew as a person.
Thank you so much to Dance Council of North Texas and Glenda Brown for providing me with this scholarship and wonderful summer experience, one that I will never forget and one that will help me reach my goal of dancing professionally.