01 & 14 (224)Public Comment
From:
Raina Tsuda <
Sent:
Monday, April 26, 2021 8:13 PM
To:
Public Comment
Cc:
Anaheim Ballet
Subject:
Anaheim Ballet
Attachments:
AB Letter.pdf
Raina Tsuda, DAOM, LAc, CMT
Dear Mayor Sidhu and Council Members,
Anaheim Ballet (AB) has been a treasured arts presence in Anaheim since 1997. 1 have been
involved with AB since 1998 in various capacities, as a dancer, instructor, nutrition consultant /
lecturer and a board member. Anaheim Ballet is more than dance!
I have come to realize that everything I need to succeed in life I learned from ballet. I began
taking ballet classes when I was seven years old and continue to take classes today. The most
rewarding part of my dancing career with Anaheim Ballet was performing at elementary schools
and being able to urge kids to find something that they are passionate about and work hard at it.
The most frequently asked question by the kids was, "don't dancers get nervous on stage"?
Being able to emphasize to them that practicing and being prepared, makes things come
naturally so that dancers did not get nervous onstage. The same philosophy can be applied to
schoolwork and test taking. Talking to the kids made me realize all the valuable things that I
learned from ballet and helped make me a successful adult.
• Respect — respect for teachers, other dancers, others' personal space, the accompanist,
and for your partner
• Discipline — proper etiquette, appearance, attending class and rehearsals even when
you do not feel like it, and being on time or even early to prepare yourself
• Focus — being "present" in class so you can learn things very quickly
• Work hard — you must work hard to achieve your dreams; nothing in life is easy
• Commitment — you must commit 100% to achieve your goals
• Have fun — you must enjoy what you are doing, otherwise take a step back and re-
evaluate why you are doing it
• Passion — it must come from our heart and soul and when it does everyone knows
• Life's not always fair— life is full of obstacles; it is about how you rise from those
obstacles and what you learned from that experience
• If you fall, get right back up — keep on going; people will remember how you got back up,
not how you fell
• Practice, practice, practice — if you are well prepared than you can just enjoy your time in
the spotlight, rather than being worried and nervous about how things will turn out
I hope you can understand the importance and positive influence dancing has on youths. The
Anaheim Cultural Arts Center (the current home of the Anaheim Ballet) is slated to be
demolished without plans for a new Cultural Arts Center or home for the Anaheim Ballet. If the
City demolishes this architecturally unique building, you will be removing the only Cultural Arts
Center in the City and displacing the City's treasured arts organization. It is best for the
community, and especially for our underserved youth, that Anaheim Ballet remains in its current
accessible location!
Please vote in support of the Cooperative Agreement with Anaheim Ballet. Thank you for your
time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Dr. Raina Tsuda, DAOM, LAc
Anaheim Ballet Board of Directors