Performing Artists  is an informative online magazine for southern artists. Geared toward every day performers, PA’s goal is to help various artists make a living in a field they love.

Scroll down to find helpful insights for Actors, Dancers, Musicians, Models, Writer, and Visual Artists.

Actors

Helpful Sites:

http://www.atlantaperforms.com/   http://www.sag.org/   http://www.love2act.com/

Headlines: 

Memorial Planned For Singer Isaac Hayes

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=9ddc0b7f-57e8-4357-b130-03b8339d3674&rss=59

MEMPHIS, TN-Born in the rural poverty of a sharecropper's family on August 20, 1942, in Covington, Tennessee, Hayes rose to artistic success as an accomplished Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award winning composer/musician, paving the way for his fellow African Americans in the arts and entertainment world. As well as being a published author, actor and radio personality, Hayes is a coronated King of Ghana in western Africa. Instead of a palace, he built an 8,000 square foot educational facility as he felt that education and literacy is the key to a successful life.

He is survived by his wife of three years Adjowa Hayes, and their two-year-old son Kwadjo Hayes. ten children-Jacqueline Fields, Felecia Hayes Fisher, Veronica Hayes, Vincent Hayes, Melanie Hayes, Nikki McGhee, Heather Hayes, Isaac Hayes III, Darius Caston and Lillian Bryant-14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The family issued the following statement: "We are overwhelmed with the outpouring of support and love from Isaac's dear friends, colleagues and fans from every corner of the world, and we thank each and every one of them for their kind thoughts and prayers. While he was an iconic figure to many, to us he was husband, father and friend. We will ever miss his love, wisdom, humor and the familiar comfort of his voice."

To celebrate Hayes' constant support of the Stax Music Academy and his Stax Records Legacy, the Hayes family, in lieu of flowers requests that donations be sent to the Stax Music Academy in Memphis, made out to Soulsville, 926 E. McLemore Avenue, Memphis, TN 38106. Please specify "In memory of Isaac Hayes."

Dancers

Helpful Sites:

 www.TheNightlyPlanet.US   http://www.aris-dance.com/   http://www.discountdance.com/index.php  

Headlines:

Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Dancer Earnings

Median hourly earnings of dancers were $9.55 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $7.31 and $17.50. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $6.62, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $25.75. Annual earnings data for dancers were not available, because of the wide variation in the number of hours worked by dancers and the short-term nature of many jobs—which may last for 1 day or 1 week—make it rare for dancers to have guaranteed employment that exceeds a few months. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest number of dancers were as follows:

Theater companies and dinner theaters               $15.28

Other schools and instruction                             $11.71

Other amusement and recreation industries         $8.58

Drinking places (alcoholic beverages)                  $7.76

Full-service restaurants                                    $7.13

Median annual earnings of salaried choreographers were $34,660 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $21,910 and $49,810. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,710, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $64,070. Median annual earnings were $34,460 in other schools and instruction, a North American Industry Classification System category that includes dance studios and schools.

Dancers who were on tour usually received an additional allowance for room and board, as well as extra compensation for overtime. Earnings from dancing are usually low because employment is irregular. Dancers often supplement their income by working as guest artists with other dance companies, teaching dance, or taking jobs unrelated to the field.

Earnings of dancers at many of the largest companies and in commercial settings are governed by union contracts. Dancers in the major opera ballet, classical ballet, and modern dance corps belong to the American Guild of Musical Artists, Inc. of the AFL-CIO; those who appear on live or videotaped television programs belong to…..

Visit http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos094.htm for the full article and updated information for 2007 wages.

Studio Dionne, School of Dance and Music

www.studiodionne.com

Studio Dionne, School of Dance and Music, will begin its Children's fall program August 11. Our dance program continues with classes in Ballet, Jazz/Hip-Hop, Tap and Capoeira and a NEW class this season - Tweens Jazz/Hip-Hop specially designed for 11-13 year olds.

Our music program offers classes for the very young in Music Awakening and Introduction to Music as well as private lessons in Piano, Voice, Guitar and Violin.

All students including returning students must be registered to participate in the new season. Classes are filling up. If you have not already done so, please register as soon as possible to ensure placement.

There will also be an Open House Saturday, August 2 from 2-4pm. This is an ideal time for students moving up into new levels to meet their new teachers. You may also be fitted for shoes and order new dancewear to have for the first class. Feel free to bring family and friends who may be interested in touring our school.

For full details visit www.studiodionne.com. To register call 404/877-0005 or visit the school.

Breaking Into and Succeeding
as a Choreographer

 by Jennie S. Bev & Leslie Poston – www.stylecareer.com

Dancing and music are in your blood. You cannot live without them. Above all, you're creative. Whenever you close your eyes, you could see all those dancers on a stage performing the routines that you created last month. 

For quite some time, you've been contemplating to become the person behind all those dances and performances. Tap, jeté, pás de deux or grapevine are second nature to you, after all.

Wait a minute, isn't a choreography career so hard to break into? You might think that you're no Martha Graham nor Alvin Ailey (perhaps not even a Paula Abdul), but the myth of choreography as the unattainable dream is completely false. 

More than ever before, people are fascinated by dancing. Almost all video clips and life shows have background dancers. There are also so many dance schools and studios at every street corner. 

The latest TV show frenzy Dancing with the Stars is a good example. For instance, as soon as Kelly Monaco won this reality TV competition, she became an inspiration for young girls and teenagers to develop their dancing skills. Yet many didn't credit the "master behind those glam," the choreographer.

This exciting phenomenon shows that behind every performance, there is a single individual who made this happen. Behind every successful dancer is also this individual. He or she is a choreographer.

A choreographer is the "composer" of musical and other rhythmic performances, which are mostly dances. However, today many "choreographers" do more than choreographing dance performances.

From those simple runway walks by super (and not-so-super) models to those artistic kung fu fights performed by Ziyi Zhang, David Carradine, Keanu Reeves and Jet Lee, all need the help of one or more choreographers.

Now do you need to live where those Broadway shows and movies are produced? Fortunately, this notion has long gone. You don't need to live in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco or Chicago just to survive.

You can live and work as a choreographer wherever you are, including in smaller cities, as long as there are:

·         Production houses (videos and advertisements)

·         Corporations (working as a corporate choreographer)

·         High schools and colleges (working as cheerleading choreographer or dance teacher)

·         Sport teams (working as cheerleading choreographer)

·         Night clubs

·         Cruise ships

·         Hotels and resorts

·         Fitness gyms

·         Stunt events

·         Acrobatic troupes

·         Circus troupes

More importantly, you don't need to get educated at expensive dance schools, like Julliard, either. Depending on the type of dance you'll be choreographing, there are tons of community resources for you to learn from (some of them are even free). 

The key is choosing the type of choreography that you're completely passionate about and familiar with. For instance, if you're good with modern jazz dance, focus on it. Be the best in the field by learning continuously. 

Today, breaking into as a choreographer is easier than before. With sufficient preparation on what you're going to encounter, you should be able to break into and succeed in this growing field with confidence. StyleCareer.com Breaking Into and Succeeding as Choreographer contains most, if not all, the information needed to secure your first gig. It also prepares you to begin your own studio or troupe. 

If dancing and choreographing are in your blood but you prefer not to plunge into traditional choreography, there are many avenues to consider (these are called "alternative choreography"): 

·         Choreography for the Disabled

·         National Cheerleading Competition Routine Developer

·         Broadway and Off-Broadway Production Choreographer, Choreography for Theater 

·         Stunt Choreography 

·         Choreography for Television, Choreography for Music Videos

·         Choreography for Dance Competitions 

·         Choreography in Nightclubs and Revues

·         Cruise Ship Review Choreography

·         Island Resort Revue Choreography

·         Choreography for Concert Performers

·         Teaching Choreography at the Secondary or College Level

·         Choreography in Theme Parks

·         Choreography and Acrobatic Acts

·         Choreography and Fitness 

**for entire article visit http://www.stylecareer.com/choreographer.shtml

Copyright © 2003-2008 All Rights Reserved

Afton Institute, LLC

Ballroom Dance Community

PO Box 3522
Alpharetta ,GA 30023
Phone: 678-982-3496

http://www.ballroomdancecommunity.org/

E-Mail: contactUs@BallroomDanceCommunity.org

Are you interested in meeting people, getting connected, and learning how to dance, all in one "step"? Then come join us for our Beginner and Intermediate Ballroom Dance Classes or our Ballroom Dance Practice Parties, Formals, and Fundraisers.  

We have four community locations to choose from - each with group classes and practice parties:

Duluth at Perimeter Church

Decatur at Decatur/Dekalb YMCA 

John's Creek at John's Creek Baptist Church

Oglethorpe University

The Ballroom Dance Community serves to develop friendships and relatedness, promotes health and fitness, and reaches out to a diverse group of Atlantans by introducing them to the possibilities of dance and of being valued as a community member through quality and fun dance instruction, entertaining social dance events, and community building service projects.

Lotus Dance Studio :

Where the spirit of Dance Blooms

http://www.lotus-studios.com/home.htm

It is the goal of Lotus Dance Studio to create a dancer's ambiance that allows a student to flourish and enjoy the educational experience.  This is how the spirit of dance blooms...

Lotus Dance Studio is located in the University Area of Charlotte, NC, minutes from UNCC, I-485 and I-85.  The studio will host primarily bellydance instructional classes, group lessons, specialty workshops, and private lessons.  We desire to expand to include other forms of dance in the near future.

LDS proudly supports ALL bellydance instructors and dancers in our community.  We believe that if we join forces, we all succeed.  LDS was established to extend peace and harmony to all dancers involved.  We look forward to dancing with you for years to come.

Contact Information:
Address - 1001  E WT Harris Blvd Suite W, Charlotte NC 28213
Phone:  704.510.5075