Tuuvi City Ballet Company performance set for July 27

TUBA CITY -- The Tuuvi City Ballet Company is in full swing this summer with the ballet school offering a summer intensive program held at Moenkopi Day School and the company in rehearsals for its summer show on July 27 at Grey Hills Auditorium.

The company's artistic director Sonja Vold-Sockyma has a full-time job running the ballet school, choreographing and directing the company and finding time to teach classes in the schools through out Tuba City and Moenkopi. She is currently working with the Tuba City High School football team giving them a stretch class twice a week.

"The football team at Tuba City High School is an exceptional group of young men training everyday, like dancers never taking anytime off other than the scheduled family vacation. I am so honored to work with these students who at first were very worried I was going to teach them and now they tell me and their coach ballerinas are tough!" said Vold-Sockyma. "The fact that these young men are learning how difficult dance is and the amount of strength a dancer must have is the best education I could hope for. When they become the fathers and working people of Tuba City, it will be with personal knowledge that they can send their child to ballet school remembering what they learned and how much their attitudes have changed towards dance."

The pre-school at the Tuba City High School is receiving classes from Vold-Sockyma four days a week. Twice a week the 4-6 graders in the summer school program at Moenkopi Day School have class and are working on an original script by Vold-Sockyma for a theatrical presentation in the fall.

Not only did Vold-Sockyma perform professionally for eight years, she has trained dancers for 20 and brings her expertise to the reservation. The dancers in the ballet program train from two to 12 hours a week and are required to wear the designated uniform of a black leotard and pink tights and pink ballet shoes. Recently eight dancers from the ballet 4 class received pointe shoes and have begun their training to go on their "toes".

"Ballet is a very long-range plan that involves training, dedication and determination. This program is not a year of let's see if it happens. It is total commitment on my part as well as the parents and students, and my goal is to be here for generations to come". said Vold-Sockyma.

The ballet school is 90 percent Native American children and adults with classes offered from the ages of 3 to the aspiring adult who wants to exercise through dance . The summer program ends July 29 and the fall session will begin in August. For more information, call 283-5570.

Donate to nhonews.com Report a Typo Contact
Most Read