KIMBO EDUCATIONAL - Key Persons
ANDREY KLEMM - born on April 30, 1967. He trained at the Bolshoi Ballet School in Moscow, from which he graduated with honors. He presents an inspiring master class rich in content, capturing and demonstrating the technique, musicality and artistry that is required to accomplish the detailed ballet routines set at the bar which progresses through center work, jumps and pointe work. SYLVAIN DURAND is a choreographer who, with the help of ballet master, ANDREY KLEMM has created original melodies which are jazzy, passionate and inventive for each exercise of a ballet class
BOB KIMBLE, 2/23/24-6/18/07, founder of Kimbo Educational, started his dance career at the age of 5, when he was a precocious performer at his Kindergarten class. He studied dance first in his local town and then on to New York. He joined the chorus of Something For the Boys with Ethel Merman in 1943. However, before long they lowered the draft age, so Bob's Broadway career was shortened when he joined the Navy where he served until the end of the war.
After the war, Bob enrolled in college and at the same time, opened a dance school in his mother's basement. He earned the reputation as a gifted dance teacher specializing in children's instruction. Bob quickly outgrew his mother's basement and relocated to the town center. In 1954 he was invited to teach at a Dance Educators of America convention in New York. He had 3 homemade practice records with him, but when he finished his class everyone wanted to buy the records. Names and orders were taken and Kimbo Records was born.
A step back - he met Gert in 1948 and they married in 1950. Gert quickly became part of the business. Jeff was born in 1951 and Jim arrived in 1956. The dance schools continued to grow along with Kimbo Records. Bob was kept very busy touring the US teaching at dance conventions and promoting his dance records.
Dance your way into the real spirit of Christmas. David Plumpton features past hit tunes and current favorites, well-loved carols, fun songs and pop classics. 34 unrepeated piano melodies for a complete inter. Ballet class.
Constance Reynolds was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Ms. Reynolds trained at the Royal Ballet and the British Ballet. She served as ballet mistress of Edinburgh University and director and principal dancer of the Edinburgh Children's Ballet. She came to Scranton, Pa. in 1940 to become director of dance at Marywood College.
Ms. Reynolds founded Ballet Theatre of Scranton and was a member of the Royal Academy of Dance in London; the British Ballet Organization; Dance Educators of America; and a founder of the National Academy of Ballet.
Tchaikovsky wrote the best parts of "The Nutcracker," But Constance Reynolds made the ballet a Scranton Christmas classic.
Born in North Yorkshire, David is widely regarded as one of the foremost dance accompanists in the UK. In a Career spanning over 25 years, he has worked with some of the finest and most respected teachers and choreographers of his generation. Based in his home County, David is currently engaged as both company and school accompanist with Northern Ballet Theatre, additionally for the Northern School of Contemporary dance, as well as the Royal School's Associate programme.
David has worked with such international artisits as Darcey Bussell CBE and Jonathan Cope. An extensive list of leading teachers for whom he has played includes Deborah Bull CBE, Dame Beryl Grey, Gillian Lynne CBE, Marguerite Porter, Patricia Ruanne D. LITT. D.E., Marion Tait CBE, David Ashmole, David Bintley CBE, Sir Anthony Dowell CBE, Wayne Eagling, Christopher Gable CBE, Kevin Haigen, Niall McMahon, David Nixon OBE and Wayne Sleep OBE.
He has accompanied the Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Scottish Ballet, New Adventures, Rambart Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Theatre, New English Contemporary Ballet and the Mark Morris Dance Group. Additionally he has collaborated on education projects with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Northern Ballet Theatre.
Dennis Buck has been music director of Kimbo Educational since 1974. Mr. Buck has composed and arranged music for children of all ages. His accomplishments include well over 120 CDs for today's early childhood market as well as a multitude of exercise and dance programs.
Dennis toured the US as the musical director of the US Army Soldier Show and taught workshops thoughout the US, Israel and Italy as music director of ESIPA (Empire State Institute of Performing Arts).
He was a pianist for American Ballet Theatre and accompanied Baryshnikov, Nureyev, and Marakova.
He has played on 10 original cast albums and conducted "42nd Street" on Broadway.
Boundless enthusiasm combined with a no-nonsense, articulate approach to teaching several forms of dance---this is the way Gertrude Hallenbeck's students would describe their outstanding teacher. Hallenbeck bestowed her gifts on young dancers at her Albany, NY school for over 50 years.
The Hallenbeck School of the Dance, one of America's longest-established, was founded in 1920 by Gertrude's father, Oscar J. Hallenbeck, and his sister, Helene Hallenbeck Barnard. Standards were high at the school, reflecting Gertrude Hallenbeck's own excellent background of training: School of American Ballet; the Vilzak-Shollar school; many summers at Jacob's Pillow where she worked with such artists as Agnes de Mille, Brontislava Nijinska, Mikhail Mordkin and Anton Dolin. As well as many of the greatest masters in jazz and tap, such as Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, and Brenda Bufalino.
Gertrude Hallenbeck states her philosophy clearly in the school brochure: "As dance educators we feel that the training of dancers demands a single standard-excellence! We are honored and privileged to be entrusted with the training of a dancer-whether working toward professional goals or simply toward dance as an educational and recreational part of life. Gertrude passed away in 2005 at the age of 85.
Kimbo was founded in 1958 and is based in Eatontown, NJ. Widely accepted as the #1 children's educational music company, Kimbo specializes in music and movement, with an emphasis on providing musical resources for early childhood. With over 350 titles, Kimbo's award-winning line of CDs and DVDs offer a creative and fun way for kids to learn. We believe that learning through music is a playful approach that makes learning more memorable and motivating.
The late Bob Kimble, and his wife, Gert Kimble, founded Kimbo Educational over 55 years ago after successfully launching and marketing a dance record company. Branching out to the educational market in 1958 was a natural extension of the work they were already famous for. Today, Gert and sons, Jim and Jeff, continue the long-established tradition of excellence. Gert is the Company C.E.O., Jim serves as Kimbo's President, and Jeff is the Company Vice President.