Date: Fri 07-Nov-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

snapshot-Marsha-Ismailoff-Mark

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT: MARSHA ISMAILOFF MARK

Occupation: Classical ballet teacher, artistic director and choreographer.

Our upcoming production of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker ballet features 70 dancers

from Newtown. We'll be giving four performances at Bethel Middle School on

December 13 and 14.

This is our 11th year and it's really a big event. We have some wonderful

international guest artists. The Rat King, for example, came from Russia.

Anyone interested in ordering Nutcracker tickets should call 203/825-4004.

How long in Newtown: We moved here from Ridgefield in 1961 and built our home

off Mount Pleasant Road in 1972.

At first I was teaching at Edmond Town Hall, but when my home studio was

finished I was able to have the non-wax soft wood floors and sub floor that

dancers need.

Family: My husband, Bob, and I have three children: Bob, William and Stacy,

and we have two granddaughters living in Florida.

Pets: Our little dog, Bogart, is a Bijon Frisse.

Hobbies: I love to cook, draw and paint.

Biggest change: Thirty years ago there was no pressure for women to have a

career. Ballet, for me, was always more of an outlet. I grew up doing it,

loving it, dancing "for pleasure," and I was lucky to be able to build my

teaching career from my home.

Personal philosophy: If you love the arts, try to follow your instincts and

find a way to include them in your life - perhaps through artistic design,

taking photographs or working in dance therapy.

I feel sorry for young people now because they don't have the time we used to

have, to explore and search. Education is so expensive that people feel they

must go right out and find a job with a huge paycheck.

What seems to be happening is that later in life, people are changing careers,

finding something to do that they love and where the financial gain may not be

so great.