Local Ballet Students Trained

With American Academy Of Ballet

Seven students from Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet (NCCB) were accepted into and recently attended American Academy of Ballet’s Summer School of Excellence, held at SUNY’s Purchase, N.Y., campus. The students included Jennifer Agius, Lauren Bauer, Mary Siroky, Jacqueline Hoolehan and Alexandra Hamar of Newtown, Tory Senete of Brookfield, and Maya Walton of Danbury.

The students were required to audition for acceptance into the program.

“It takes a lot of hard work to prepare for an audition,” said NCCB artistic director Jennifer Johnston. “My students prepare by building their endurance and technique in class before auditions. I am extremely pleased that they had the opportunity to take part in this particular program, where curriculum emphasis and primary focus for training is technique, repertoire, pointe, pas de deux, variation, character, and Spanish dance classes.”

The American Academy of Ballet’s summer program is under the artist direction of Mignon Furman, a master teacher and director, who holds auditions in various states across the country in January and February. Students who are accepted into the program are assessed and placed in classes according to their ability, in levels that will further challenge them. During the program they receive six weeks of intensive ballet training.

“I believe that my students should expand their horizons through programs such as this, where they have the opportunity to train with world-renowned teachers in the classical ballet work,” said Ms Johnston. Instructors have included Violette Verdy, director of Paris Opera Ballet; Sean Lavery, assistant to Peter Martins of New York City Ballet; Lucia Kuimova of Pacific Northwest Ballet; Olga Dvorovenko of American Ballet Theatre; and Brian Loftus, director of dance for the Arts Education School in London.

“To gain knowledge from world renowned teachers is the impetus behind dance students expanding their unique character and individuality,” said Ms Johnston. “Every dancer faces challenges to overcome, but in order to succeed you must compete within yourself, study hard and learn all you can.”

Classes at NCCB are for ages 4-18. The curriculum followed is the Vaganova method. Additional classes offer Russian character and variations and pointe. To visit a class or for further information, call Ms Johnston at 426-9299.