Classes:  Students attend classes Monday through Friday, 9:30am-5:30pm. Some days include extended classes.  Generally, students will take four dance classes and a lecture class each day. Dance classes include ballet technique, pointe, variations, partnering, jazz, modern, and men's classes. Lecture topics pertinent to the developing dancer include dance history, terminology, and injury prevention/care. There are also rehearsal times planned during the week for the Intensive Showcase performance at the culmination of the workshop. The program size is limited which allows for classes to be smaller and for students to receive individual attention not available in many other programs.    

Faculty:   Fort Wayne Ballet is fortunate to have visiting master teachers from various disciplines teach our students and this year is no exception.  We are excited to welcome back some familiar faces as well as dance professionals new to our program.

Jeremy Blanton - Ballet, Men's Class, Repertoire, Pas de Deux
Jeremy Blanton began training in his native Memphis, Tennessee. He continued his studies in New York City on scholarship at the School of American Ballet and with Antony Tudor at the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Early performing experiences included seasons with the Robert Joffrey Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. He was Premier Danseur with the National Ballet of Canada for ten years, performing principal roles in ballets by Antony Tudor, George Balanchine, Ninette de Valois, and Erik Bruhn. He also appeared in featured roles for Canadian television, including the role of Prince Charming in the Emmy Award winning production of Cinderella. Upon returning to New York, Mr. Blanton served as Principal Dancer and Ballet Master with the Agnes de Mille Heritage Dance Theatre. His Broadway credits include the 20th Anniversary revival of “My Fair Lady,” Bob Fosse’s “Chicago,” and “Dream Curly” in the Jones Beach production of “Oklahoma!” He has served as rehearsal coach for Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera, and as Personal Assistant to Bob Fosse. He staged productions of “Chicago, A Musical Vaudeville” in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, as well as the bus and truck National Tour. Mr. Blanton was affiliated with American Ballet Theatre II for over a decade as guest teacher, coach, and Associate Director. He was appointed Director of the Joffrey II Dancers in 1991. In 1996 he returned to American Ballet Theatre as Director of ABT Studio Company. He joined the faculty of Southern Methodist University in the fall of 1998, was appointed Associate Chair in the spring 1999, and was appointed Chair in the spring of 2000. Mr. Blanton received the Meadows Foundation Distinguished Teaching Professor Award for the academic school year 2001/2002. Karen Gibbons-Brown - Pointe, Dance History, Terminology, Repertoire

Karen Gibbons-Brown began her training in Columbia, South Carolina under Ann Brodie, Naomi Calvert and Aldolphina Suarez-Moré. She continued her studies at American Ballet Theatre with Maria Swoboda, Michael Lland, Patricia Wilde and Leon Danelian and studied on scholarship at David Howard School of Ballet. Her professional experiences include South Carolina Chamber Dance Ensemble, Ballet Celeste, Bristol Ballet and the Theatre Ballet of San Francisco where she recreated Anna Pavlova’s roles “The California Poppy” and “The Dragonfly”. Ms. Gibbons-Brown considers herself fortunate to have had a few works created especially for her including solos, Pentimento by Jill Eathorne Barr and the role of Anna in Richard Munroe’s work, The Hussar.  She was on the faculty of Virginia Intermont College and served as Ballet Mistress for John McFall as he created his production of The Nutcracker for Atlanta Ballet. In 1985, Ms. Gibbons-Brown founded the Kingsport Guild of Ballet and became the Artistic Director of the State of Franklin Dance Alliance at its inception in 1988. Other dance administrative duties include serving on the Tennessee Association of Dance Board of Directors in many capacities including president, serving on the Performing Arts Panel for the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Dance Grants Advisory Panel for the Indiana Arts Commission. She assumed directorship of Fort Wayne Ballet in August 1998.