Charanis Family Website

Father’s Day 2008

jimmyc — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:09:14 +0000

We spent the day at the Botanical Gardens

Gotta love a warm summer afternoon and wonderful kids!

Maia gets quoted in the Wall Street Journal!

jimmyc — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:44:46 +0000

Maia was interviewed last month by Emily Steel in the Wall Street Journal about comments she and I made on the various pointe shoes videos on Youtube. Interestingly enough - Emily shared the same POV as we did on these girls setting themselves up for pain and trouble without proper instruction.

Emily wrote an article on the front page of today’s WSJ about it and quoted Maia!

On Their Toes and Asking for Trouble, Self-Taught Ballerinas Go Online

Since Louis XIV established the Royal Academy of Dance in 1661, formal ballet has never been a self-taught art. Aspiring dancers have been trained under the supervision of professionals. And ever since the pointe shoe was invented in the early 1800s, only girls who had spent three years or so taking lessons ever got permission from their ballet teachers to buy toe shoes.

But now Web videos are shaking loose the rigid hierarchy of the ballet world. Aspiring ballerinas are recording videos of themselves dancing and posting the results for people to look at and critique on the Internet. ….. [content omitted]

……Young dancers usually don’t start putting on toe shoes until the age of 11 or 12. And even when children are ready for toe shoes, they often suffer through lessons with bloody, blistered toes. "My toes are always sore," says 12-year-old Maia Charanis, who dances four days a week with the Dancer’s Studio/Backstage in Alpharetta, Ga

Maia in action…

Atlanta GA

jimmyc — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:56:16 +0000

Here is a map of our area. For those of you headed down here this fall here are the places to go:

View Larger Map

March Madness - Family Events

jimmyc — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:21:59 +0000

Daniel became a Boy Scout, Maia had her Jazz Performance and Sophia continues to Compete in Gymnastics Meets.

Go See the pictures

Maia’s Jazz Performance

jimmyc — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 19:22:26 +0000

Maia’s Company put on another great show this weekend.

Daniel’s Stop Motion Animation

jimmyc — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:22:43 +0000

Daniel has been busy with stop motion video using legos and clay: Go see his YouTube Site

Here is a sample:

Sophia’s First Gymnastics Meet

jimmyc — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:07:55 +0000

2008 Jennifer Evans Invitational Gymnastics Meet - January 12 (day 2)

Sophia was the only 7 year old to compete for Level 3 - so she won all the medals. But that’s okay - this is a story of a very brave young lady doing her best and competing for the first time. We are so proud! She is amazing.

Maia’s Dance Class

jimmyc — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:07:31 +0000

Maia’s Dance Class had Parent Watch Week - Jazz, Ballet and Pointe.Â

Daniel’s Soccer Season

jimmyc — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 02:46:59 +0000

Daniel’s Team made it to the finals - after 9 games they were 8-1-1; great year!!

Slideshow of the season’s games:

Maia and Beth Ready To Pary!

jimmyc — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 22:26:50 +0000

Maia and Beth on thier way to the first of many Bat Mitzvah celebrations!