Friday, November 15,1996
Page 8
The Arts
Ballinger excels with many talents
Carrie Bauer
Staff Writer
Nancy Ballinger, athlete, teacher,
dancer, and a mother of two grown
children, has been a teacher at Brevard
College for 15 years and leads quite a
full life.
Ballinger is a graduate of University
of South Florida with a degree in
Special Education and a minor in Ballet.
At Brevard College she teaches Ballet to
students aged 5 through college level.
Ballinger also teaches aerobic dance,
begirming and intermediate ballet, life-
guarding, swimming, and first aid. This
may seem like quite a schedule for one
t
person, but Ballinger stated that she is,
“quite satisfied with her life as a
teacher.”
Ballinger has been married for 22
years and has a son, Nathan, who is 18,
and a daughter, Allison, who is 20. She
has lived in Brevard for 20 years. She
explained, “I came to teach here because
of the opportunities I had with dancing
and swimming.”
Each day Ballinger’s schedule is
booked. Not only does she teach a
variety of classes, but she also finds
time for herself. She swims 1500-2000
yards, 4 times a week, and runs 4-10
miles, 5 times a week. Ballinger trains
for triathelons in the Summer months as
well. As if that is not enough, she also
volunteers to teach swimming lessons to
handicapped children.
Although Ballinger has lived out
many of her aspirations, she still wislies
to accomplish more. “I would like to
dance more and take more dance classes
on my own,” Ballinger said, “and I
would also like to do more camping,
hiking, and backpacking.”
Nancy Ballinger is an example of
dedication. She is a woman who
possesses numerous talents, and anyone
who takes the time to get to know her
and her capabilities is better off for it.
Students concentrate on their dance moves. The dance
studio has been a popular place for students for many
years. Clanon photo by George Spitzer
Ballinger is taking time out to show her students the
correct dance moves. She has been involved with dance
for several years. Clanon photo by George Spitzer
Art is something to appreciate
Sarah Rogers
Campus Life Editor
As registration quickly approaches,
many students find themselves studying
the class schedule for the Spring 1997
semester in vain. With such a wide
variety of classes to choose from, it is
difficult to know if what you intend to
take will be challenging and beneficial.
Whether you are Monet reincarnate or
totally without an artistic skill, Art
Appreciation is a class that is simply too
good to miss.
Art professor Dr. Janov knows that
while some students are desperately
trying to expand their art history
horizons, many other students are
simply tying to fill an elective
requirement towards graduation.
Therefore, she doesn’t try to give a
semester-long crash course in art.
Instead, she gives short lectures,
frequently shows slides and ends almost
every class with fun and simple projects
that even the most artistically uninclined
is able to handle. Projects include
cutting and pasting, chalk drawing, and
a self portrait collage for the final exam.
While Dr. Janov’s course is a lot of
fun, it also requires studying and a
certain amount of dedication. Without a
doubt, the class is worth the work
because what you learn can be used in
your future regardless of your major or
occupation. As art plays a very
important role in today’s work, it is
beneficial to have a certain amount of
knowledge concerning the subject. So,
whether you feel that you will benefit
from an art appreciation course or not,
consider taking the class for the sheer
face that, inevitably, it will prove to be
helpful one day.