When one hears the word Ballerina what comes to mind? Elegance, grace, and beauty!? That is precisely what is displayed in the Toledo Museum of Art’s latest exhibition Degas & the Dance!
As my little ballerina and I entered the Canaday Gallery we were greeted by Degas’s Little Dancer of Fourteen Years. The 38-inch tall figure cast in bronze depicts Marie van Goethem, a student in the ballet school of the Paris Opéra and it sets the perfect tone for the exhibition.
We enjoyed walking around and admiring the sculptures, painting, and pastels (especially my favorite, The Dancers which just so happens to be located in my favorite Museum, wink, wink) but what really captivated my little ballerina’s attention was the section of the exhibition that illustrated archival material and gorgeous costumes from the Toledo Ballet’s “Nutcracker” productions.
And finally the pièce de résistance of the exhibition, in an adjacent gallery there is an actual dance studio!! Complete with music, ballet barre, dance floor and mirrors, the only thing missing is YOU!!
That’s right; you get to be a ballerina! Don’t know the moves? Have no fear; there are instructions on the wall. And you can even try to pose as Degas’s bronze sculptures. My little ballerina had an absolute blast!!
But the fun didn’t stop there! Afterward we made our way downstairs and happened upon this awesome little artistic interlude.
Then we were off to the TMA Family Center where they offer FREE art projects for children 1-12 that coincide with certain programs and exhibits at the Museum as well as an awesome cognitive play area! (Click here for days open, hours, and themes for the Toledo Museum of Art’s Family Center). Degas must have really inspired her because she chose to paint a ballerina.
After all that painting she was a bit parched and thankfully since the exhibition was FREE and the Family Center was FREE we didn’t feel the least bit guilty stopping for lunch at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Café.
And we might have hit up the gift shop and I might have purchased an adorable little ballerina for my adorable little ballerina, I couldn’t help myself, the price was right!!
Since we got a taste we can’t wait to go back for more!
We are marking our calendar for….
The Toledo Ballet Open Rehearsal (Admission is FREE)
(Oct. 16th, Oct. 23rd, Nov. 6th, Nov. 20th, Dec. 4th, Dec. 18th, & Jan. 1st)
6:45pm-8:30pm in the Canaday Gallery
Watch dancers from the Toledo Ballet rehearse excerpts from one of the upcoming productions including, “The Nutcracker”!
The Great Art Escape: Dance in the Peristyle (Admission is FREE)
Dec. 26-Jan. 3, 2016: 2 p.m., Peristyle
The Toledo Museum of Art comes alive during its annual winter celebration The Great Art Escape, including the following dance performances at 2 p.m. in the Peristyle:
Dec. 26: Ardan Academy of Irish Dance
Dec. 27: El Corazon de Mexico Ballet Folkloric
Dec. 31: Aegela Centers for Middle Eastern Dance
Jan. 1, 2016: Aha! Indian Dance
Jan. 2, 2016: Toledo Jazz Orchestra with swing dancers
Jan. 3, 2016: Toledo Ballet, Awkward Girl
And last but not least The Toledo Ballet’s, The Nutcracker ($49 and up, Perfect Christmas Gift for all ballerinas at heart!) at Stranahan
Dec. 12th 2:00pm
Dec. 12th 7:00pm
Dec. 13th 2:00pm
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see”. Edgar Degas
What will you see? Please share via #DegasatTMA
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 