By Kathleen Senger
Special To The Citizen

As students fill their new backpacks with freshly sharpened pencils and notebooks of clean white paper, they eagerly start school with teachers that influence lives and futures. Each of us has a favorite teacher from our childhood and memories of lessons that shaped us into the adults we are today. My favorite teacher is my dance teacher, Madame Velta Cernonok.

I started my ballet training at age seven in Toledo, Ohio after attending a performance of “The Nutcracker Ballet.” Madame was a featured performer and after experiencing the magical world of tutus, pirouettes, and Sugar Plum Fairies, I was hooked!

The lessons I learned from Madame were much more than plies and leaps. She taught us manners (we greeted our teacher with a curtsey and bonjour), grace (stand tall) and discipline. We learned that hard work, perseverance, and sweat accomplished goals. We learned that each person is valuable, talented, and gifted.

Madame Velta trained and danced at the Riga Latvia Opera House. She performed the entire Classical Ballet Repertoire. She lovingly passed on the classical tradition of “Swan Lake,” “Corsiare,” “Coppelia” and “Giselle” to her students. Ballet is an art form passed from teacher to pupil much as the art of storytelling. We knew that Madame had great patience to guide us through the same steps over and over until the skill was mastered.

She taught us the difference between executing a dance step and becoming an artist. She brought out each student’s individual personality, emphasized their strengths, and worked tirelessly to help overcome weaknesses. All of these lessons were taught with love and a passion for the art of dance in an atmosphere that was positive and encouraging.

Madame Velta is a living example of the American Dream. She and her husband immigrated to the United States in 1951 to escape the Soviet Union. They arrived in New York with few possessions, speaking no English. She carried with her talent, courage and determination. Her successes in America included being partnered with some of the leading male danseurs; John Kriza of American Ballet Theater and George Zoritch of Ballet Russe De Monte Carlo.

I was not the most naturally gifted dancer and yet Madame did not give up on me in favor of a more promising talent. Instead she inspired me to work harder, molded my legs and body enabling me to perform with the Toledo Ballet Company. She nurtured my love of dance and encouraged further training on the University level, which led me on the path to teaching. Now as another generation of eager young dancers stand at the barre posed to plie, the gifts Madame imparted to me are passed to future dancers and teachers.

This story has a pleasant twist. I’ve traveled far from Toledo and settled into Peachtree City opening a dance studio and continuing the tradition of the annual “Nutcracker Ballet.” Imagine my surprise when I received an e-mail informing me that Madame had also moved to Peachtree City.

It’s amazing that after twenty-five years apart, we were living about a mile from one another. It has been a thrill and delight to introduce Madame Velta to my students. Her presence at the studio and at our performances preserves the legacy of this fragile art. I return to my roll as student seeking her advice, recounting stories of past dancers, and hoping to record her insights for future generations of dance teachers.

I am so blessed to be re-united and able to express my gratitude for all of the gifts I received from this wonderful teacher and mentor. She has inspired my philosophy and style of teaching dance. The classical traditions of ballet so carefully taught are a treasure.

Thank you Madame for allowing me to share the treasure with my students.

Kathleen Senger is the owner of Peachtree City School of Dance and directs the Peachtree City Civic Ballet Company. All local dancers are welcome to participate in the Company’s annual Fayette County production of The Nutcracker Ballet.

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