in the spotlight
Celebrating 50 Years in Dance Norma Shields
T
he Artistic Director of the balletfoundation for the XXI cen- tury and Dance Institute of Dallas, Norma Shields, cele- brates her Golden (50th) Anniversary in the Arts in 2013.
Norma Shields studied Classical Ballet under Yvonne Chouteau and Miguel Terekhov and performed with the Oklahoma City Civic Ballet during their first six seasons. She performed with stellar artists including Maria Tallchief, Marjorie Tallchief, George Skibine, Rosella Hightower, Lupe Serrano, Royes Fernandez, Melissa Hayden, Moselyn Larkin, Roman Jazinski, Yvonne Chouteau and Miguel Terekhov.
Though performing was a love, her artistic journey in the professional world began earlier at the age of twelve when she was asked to direct and teach for a small Oklahoma City studio of 100 students when they lost their teacher. While continuing her own studies, she held that position for two years and then she opened her first studio, L’Ecole de Danse, at fourteen. She sought direction from her high school teachers who mentored her in accounting, business manage- ment, marketing, sewing and costume design for her business. Their own daughters were among her students. World famous danseur, George Zoritch, of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo was her first Guest Artist whom she hired while still in her teens.
The next years, her life was filled with teaching, directing, perform- ing, ministry, as well as studying Business Management, Costume Design, Tailoring, Music and Interior Design. In 1986, she and her husband, Steve, moved to Dallas. In Dallas she had the special privi- lege of being personally coached in Russian technique by Leo Ahonen and Classical Artistry by Soili Arvola. Together they set up the Russian Classical Ballet curriculum and specialized diploma training program for the balletfoundation. Arvola introduced her to Madame Nathalie Krassovska who became her dearest friend and mentor in directing and teaching.
Norma Shields has served on the Board of Directors of the Chamber Symphony of the Metrocrest, Texas State Board of Dance Advisors, and has served as president of Carrollton Music Teachers Association, Dallas Dance Council and Chairman of the National Piano Teachers Guild. She was awarded Carrollton Music Teacher of the Year (1988- 1989), National Honor Roll for Music Teachers (1988-1992), Who’s Who in Executive and Professionals (1999-2000), American Biographical Institute Woman of the Year (2001), International Cultural Diploma of Honor (2001), and recognized by the International Biographical Centre in 2000 for The Nutcracker Opera- Ballet Libretto. She was founder of the first “Artist in Residence” pro- gram for the Arts Council of Oklahoma and “Joining of the Artists” a vision of Ballet Met and the Chamber Symphony of the Metrocrest.
Norma Shields is author of The Discipline of the Arts (©2000), Vision for the Arts for the XXI Century (2000), The Elements of Dance (©2001), The Christian Interpretation of The Nutcracker (©2000), The Nutcracker Opera- Ballet (©2000) and In God I Trust (©2000).
In 2004 Norma Shields was commissioned to write the libretto for a new ballet, The Happy Prince (©2004), by composer, Timothy Brown.
DANCE! NORTH TEXAS a publication of the dance council of north texas vol. 16 •
Pictured: Norma Shields
This spring she will stage the dual world premiere of this new sym- phonic and choreographic work with her daughter, ballerina and business partner, Leia Hardimon.
Her company, the balletfoundation for the XXI century is internation- ally recognized for classical Russian training, the world home of The Nutcracker Opera-Ballet, the annual Classical Ballet Festival in Honor and Memory of Madame Nathalie Krassovska, its vision for the future of ballet, the development of Classique Nouveau works and its ministry and outreach programs. The balletfoundation training pro- gram offers certification for demi–soloists, soloists and ballerinas study as well as men’s classes and a full performance season.
Her school Dance Institute of Dallas, founded in 1989 is a compre- hensive dance school which has received top awards for its training program, performances and impact on the community by the United States Commerce Division.
Norma’s passion is to reach all her students to aspire to higher goals and to take their art and artistic disciplines into adult life equally whether with a career or as a patron. She believes “art is the color of inspiration and creativity” found in a black and white world. She is wife of Steve Shields, mother of Leia Hardimon and Michael Shields and Mimi of two granddaughters, Trinity and Alexa Hardimon.
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www.thedancecouncil.org February 2013 page 5
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