BALLET RECITAL SEASON
The sight of pink tutus has become a rite of spring at Saint Joseph Seminary College. No, it isn't a crazy student ritual but the return of the dance recital season that graces the Benet Hall stage each May and June. Many of the northshore's dance schools utilize Benet Hall theatre as their venue of choice for their year-end dance concerts in which all of their students, from 3 years old and up showcase their talents. "Their cuteness kills me" laughs Kit Friedrichs-Baumann, manager of the theatre, referring to the sight of little girls in sparkly dance costumes adorning the seminary's campus. "The Abbey's theatre has always been a vital part of this area's arts community", continues Friedrichs-Baumann, "and it is the perfect space for children to experience their first-time onstage."
Two northshore dance schools, Apetrei Ballet and Mary Dee's Dance Studio (www.marydeesdancestudio.com), have been renting Benet hall for over 20 years, which is almost as long as they have been in business.
Mary Dee's Dance Studio
Mary Dee Brinkman began her Covington studio in 1978. "At the time", said Mary Theard, proud mother of Ms. Brinkman and manager of the school, "the only other dance school in Covington was Rosemary Hanian's." The early days of her recitals were performed at the former Covington Community center. "Oh my gosh, the stage was a make-shift stage that shook when the girls did the slightest movement". Soon after, Mary Dee discovered the Abbey and she has been returning to the auditorium annually for her dance productions. Mary Dee is a member of Dance Masters of America, which is the oldest organization of professional dance instructors. Through Dance Masters' certification programs, Mary Dee is qualified to teach tap, jazz, ballet, and tumbling. She has a degree in education and she sat on the board of the Louisiana State Arts Council and The New Orleans Ballet. "And guess what else?" asked Mary Theard after she proudly listed Mary Dee's many accomplishments. "Mary was an original member of the New Orleans Saints Dance Team!" She giggled but then became very serious when she said how proud she is of her daughter and the longevity of her northshore dance school. "Can you believe there are over 32 dance schools on the northshore now?" she proclaimed. "I really think that Mary Dee could teach a class in just recital production," comments Friedrichs-Baumann. "She has the whole event down to a science and she puts on a great show!"
Apetrei Ballet
In 1988, new parents and professional ballet dancers, Constantine and Kelly Apetrei, opened a ballet school in Mandeville. The pair had danced professionally with a New Orleans ballet company and then Ballet Dallas. For Kelly, returning to southeast Louisiana was coming home, while Constantine, originally from then communist Romania was still adjusting to his new life in America. Constantine had studied at the famed Bolshoi Academy in Moscow. He had traveled with Fantasio Ballet, the first Romanian ballet company allowed to tour America. At 23 years old, he had defected to America while on tour in Seattle. The short story is that twenty years ago, $80 helped open the doors to what is now one of the most prominent dance schools in our area. The Apetreis now have a professional nonprofit dance company called Ballet Apetrei, which presents "The Nutcracker" at Benet Hall each Christmas. "Kelly and Constantine know Benet Hall better than I do!" states Friedrichs-Baumann. "We love the Abbey" says Kelly Apetrei.
Benet Hall
Both the Apetreis and the other long-time clients of Benet Hall patiently await the future renovations of the aging venue. With the HVAC system finally upgraded and the lobby painted, the next step is to rewire the building for house and stage lighting improvements. "Although there are more and more theatres or performing venues popping up on the northshore, we are still the largest facility with 610 seats (actually 612 but 2 are broken!)", says Friedrichs-Baumann. "There is really something very special about performing in Benet Hall and just coming out to visit the Abbey".
The following is a list of dance companies performing at Benet Hall Theatre this season:
The sight of pink tutus has become a rite of spring at Saint Joseph Seminary College. No, it isn't a crazy student ritual but the return of the dance recital season that graces the Benet Hall stage each May and June. Many of the northshore's dance schools utilize Benet Hall theatre as their venue of choice for their year-end dance concerts in which all of their students, from 3 years old and up showcase their talents. "Their cuteness kills me" laughs Kit Friedrichs-Baumann, manager of the theatre, referring to the sight of little girls in sparkly dance costumes adorning the seminary's campus. "The Abbey's theatre has always been a vital part of this area's arts community", continues Friedrichs-Baumann, "and it is the perfect space for children to experience their first-time onstage."
Two northshore dance schools, Apetrei Ballet and Mary Dee's Dance Studio (www.marydeesdancestudio.com), have been renting Benet hall for over 20 years, which is almost as long as they have been in business.
Mary Dee's Dance Studio
Mary Dee Brinkman began her Covington studio in 1978. "At the time", said Mary Theard, proud mother of Ms. Brinkman and manager of the school, "the only other dance school in Covington was Rosemary Hanian's." The early days of her recitals were performed at the former Covington Community center. "Oh my gosh, the stage was a make-shift stage that shook when the girls did the slightest movement". Soon after, Mary Dee discovered the Abbey and she has been returning to the auditorium annually for her dance productions. Mary Dee is a member of Dance Masters of America, which is the oldest organization of professional dance instructors. Through Dance Masters' certification programs, Mary Dee is qualified to teach tap, jazz, ballet, and tumbling. She has a degree in education and she sat on the board of the Louisiana State Arts Council and The New Orleans Ballet. "And guess what else?" asked Mary Theard after she proudly listed Mary Dee's many accomplishments. "Mary was an original member of the New Orleans Saints Dance Team!" She giggled but then became very serious when she said how proud she is of her daughter and the longevity of her northshore dance school. "Can you believe there are over 32 dance schools on the northshore now?" she proclaimed. "I really think that Mary Dee could teach a class in just recital production," comments Friedrichs-Baumann. "She has the whole event down to a science and she puts on a great show!"
Apetrei Ballet
In 1988, new parents and professional ballet dancers, Constantine and Kelly Apetrei, opened a ballet school in Mandeville. The pair had danced professionally with a New Orleans ballet company and then Ballet Dallas. For Kelly, returning to southeast Louisiana was coming home, while Constantine, originally from then communist Romania was still adjusting to his new life in America. Constantine had studied at the famed Bolshoi Academy in Moscow. He had traveled with Fantasio Ballet, the first Romanian ballet company allowed to tour America. At 23 years old, he had defected to America while on tour in Seattle. The short story is that twenty years ago, $80 helped open the doors to what is now one of the most prominent dance schools in our area. The Apetreis now have a professional nonprofit dance company called Ballet Apetrei, which presents "The Nutcracker" at Benet Hall each Christmas. "Kelly and Constantine know Benet Hall better than I do!" states Friedrichs-Baumann. "We love the Abbey" says Kelly Apetrei.
Benet Hall
Both the Apetreis and the other long-time clients of Benet Hall patiently await the future renovations of the aging venue. With the HVAC system finally upgraded and the lobby painted, the next step is to rewire the building for house and stage lighting improvements. "Although there are more and more theatres or performing venues popping up on the northshore, we are still the largest facility with 610 seats (actually 612 but 2 are broken!)", says Friedrichs-Baumann. "There is really something very special about performing in Benet Hall and just coming out to visit the Abbey".
The following is a list of dance companies performing at Benet Hall Theatre this season:
| May 16 - 17 | Conservatory of Ballet Aviv |
| May 24 - 25 | Ballet Apetrei's Spring Concert |
| May 30 - 31 | Mary Dee's Dance Recital |
| June 2, 4, 7 | Shannon Leigh School of Dance |
| June 13 - 14 | Abundance Academy |
| June 19 - 22 | Gotta Dance |