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February WAGG to show off hearty footwork
Ballet demonstrations and insights will take center stage at February’s WAGG to support a new dance floor for local dancers
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WINFIELD — The February Winfield Area Grateful Gathering (WAGG) will feature a performance from Elizabeth's Academy of Classical Ballet dancers based in Ainsworth as well as education from owner and instructor Elizabeth Billups.
Elizabeth Billups is a former professional dancer who saw a need for modest Christian classical ballet training in the southeast Iowa area. She began dancing at just seven years old and found a love for ballet.
After studying dance at the University of Illinois, an enthusiastic Billups began teaching and performing in Philadelphia. After that, her career took her to Portland where she found a deeper interest in choreography and teaching.
Billups experience includes 25 years of teaching experience and for the last 18 of those years, she has taught ballet dancers in the Washington area.
She chooses appropriate Russian-based ballet curriculum and teaches 18 classes a week, from pre-ballet through pointe. Her classes also include tap, lyrical, and tumbling as well as adult tap and ballet. During the summer, the academy provides classes in character and ballroom dancing.
Around the holidays dancers under Billups’ instruction perform an annual Nutcracker ballet. They also put on a Spring Show.
Nearly five years ago Billups followed her passion for teaching and choreography and opened her very own Academy in Ainsworth.
Elizabeth’s Academy of Classical Ballet dancers currently dance on a floor that was donated a few years ago by the Washington Community Theater. The floor was in their props barn and had several tears and cracks. Unfortunately, the floor undergoes regular retaping due to the large holes and rips.
Donations from the Feb. 22 WAGG event will go toward replacing this floor. Billups will share about ballet history, why ballet dancers started wearing pointe shoes, and how tutus are made and her students also will provide a few dance demonstrations. This February WAGG event will begin at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Winfield with a time for fellowship after.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
