By Staff
CLASSIC POSE Project Ballet Meridian is committed to stimulating greater public awareness of ballet. The project is under the direction of Gina Sharman of Meridian. Classes are taught by Hedi Khursandi, who has 22 years of experience in ballet. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Penny Randall / staff writer
Dec. 22, 2002
Watching a room full of young ballet dancers in black leotards and pink tights glide across the floor is enough to bring Gina Sharman to the verge of tears.
Sharman is living a dream.
After spending the past two years planning to start her own ballet school, she did just that when Project Ballet Meridian began offering dance classes in October.
Sharman said she wants to bring awareness of the beauty and art of ballet to Meridian, something she thinks has been overlooked in the city.
And Sharman believes she has found the perfect person to teach students ballet.
Hedi Khursandi, who has more than 20 years of professional experience in ballet, travels from Birmingham, Ala., every Saturday to teach the 30 young ballet students.
Extensive experience
Khursandi is a graduate of the Arts Educational School in London. He has been in the United States since 1990 when he took a job as an instructor with the Orlando Ballet in Florida.
He began teaching at the School of Fine Arts in Birmingham in 1996 and is now with the Danzante Conservatory, also in Birmingham.
Khursandi said he teaches his students that ballet requires discipline. He wants them to learn to love the art of the dance.
Khursandi believes the class is good for the students because it gives them a basic understanding of movement that they can use in all other forms of dance.
Student reaction
The students in Project Ballet Meridian seem to be pleased with their teacher.
And the parents are also pleased with the classes.
Eleven-year-old Brittney Davis summed up the class with two words.
WHANT TO GO?
What: Ballet classes
When: Saturdays, 4:30p.m. and 6:15 p.m.
Meets: Damon Fitness Center at Meridian Community College
Cost: $50 per month
For information: 483-9269 or 917-9269
Level I: Ashley Ross Chisolm, Nicole Covington, Sara Creel, Becca Denney, Alex Hicks, Cynthia Howarth, Laura Huff, Julia McCarty, Mary Ann McCarty, Molly McCarty and Mallory McDaniel.
Level II: Alexa Chisolm, Olivia Chisolm, Alexa Covington, Summer Creighton, Taylor Cumberland, Brittany Davis, Sarah Fair, Jennie Fisher, Jamie Henderson, Juliet Howarth, Sarah Margaret Huff, Abby Long, Haley Merrill, Aleda Moore, Hallie Majure Phillips, Victoria Poole, Heather Richardson, Molly Sanders, Nichole Sanders, Jamey Sharman, Taylor Thompson, Mary Lela Valentine, Allyson Webb and Charlotte Williams.