Summer Study

Summer Camps

Fort Wayne Ballet's summer camps provide an opportunity for young dancers to participate in a physical activity that promotes coordination, flexibility, discipline and dance appreciation, while providing parents an opportunity to experience the quality dance training provided by our faculty and staff. They are an excellent way for families to discern if dance is an activity their students would want to enroll in for an entire academic year. Summer camps are ½ day movement experiences which encompass 2-3 dance sections each day for one week.

The following summer camps are available:

Spinning Tales Dance Camp for Pre-Ballet Levels

The Spinning Tales Dance Camp will introduce story ballets or other famous “tales” to your young dancer through dance, video and storybooks. Students will have the opportunity to learn dances or pantomime based on these ballets to tell the tale. They will also learn about costumes and history of each ballet with a fun activity to take home each day. Classes are divided according to age and development level.

 

Spinning Tales for Four-Year olds (Students age 4 by 8/1/08)

Dates: June 23-27                                              Times: 10:00–11:30 am                         Tuition: $65

Spinning Tales for Five-Year olds (Students age 5 by 8/1/08)

Dates: June 23-27                                              Times: 9:45-11:30 am                            Tuition: $70

Spinning Tales for Six-Year olds (Students age 6 by 8/1/08)

Dates: June 23-27                                              Times: 9:30-11:30 am                            Tuition: $75

What should my child wear to summer camp?

The dress code allows faculty to observe young dancers’ muscular structure to ensure safe movement.

Female: A pastel plain tank or camisole leotard during their dance class with ankle socks and pink ballet shoes (canvas or leather).
Male: Plain white T-shirt tucked into black sweat or athletic pants, white socks, and black boys’ ballet shoes (canvas or leather).

 

Beginning Ballet I Dance Camp

Students age 7 or above by 8/1/08 with little or NO previous ballet training.

Dates: June 23-27                                              Times: 1:00-2:30 pm                             Tuition: $65

The Beginning Ballet camp is designed for children who have never taken ballet. During their camp experience they will be offered the opportunity to increase muscle coordination, explore the elements of dance, and begin to learn basic technique preparing them for formal ballet training. This learning program enables students to progress into Fort Wayne Ballet’s level IA ballet with confidence. This is perfect for a 7-11 year old exploring his or her interest in ballet.

 

What should my child wear to Beginning Ballet camp?

The Academy of Fort Wayne Ballet follows a dress code including a specifi c style, and color of Mirella leotard by class level. If you anticipate your child continuing ballet training at Fort Wayne Ballet, we recommend that you purchase the “class leotard” for levels Ballet 1A/B, Mirella #207. Otherwise, feel free to where a plain white tank or camisole leotard.

 

Teen & Adult Beginning Ballet

Dates: June 10-July 8 (5 week session)               Times: Tuesdays 6:00-7:00 pm                Tuition: $70
The goal of the program is to expose teen and adults with no prior experience to ballet. Ballet involves the body, mind with creative expression. It is an art form where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the music and enter another world, even if it just for an hour. This 5-week session is a great way to explore this art as a teen or adult learner.

Adult dress code:

Female: Plain dark color leotard (any style), pink tights, pink ballet shoes. Wrap dance skirts or fitted black pants similar to yoga pants may also be worn.

Male: Plain white t-shirt, black pants, white socks, black ballet shoes.

 

Photographer: Dan Church

Please note the above camps will close at 12 students due to class size restrictions. Spaces in classes/camps are filled as registration forms are turned in to the Academy Administrator. If needed, a waiting list will be created, but once a camp or classes closes, there is no guarantee a space will open. If you have any questions, please call the Academy Administrator at 260- 484-9646.

If your dancer is not currently enrolled at Academy of Fort Wayne Ballet, but has had previous ballet training, please call the Academy Administrator to see which continuing camp or class she or he may be eligible for.  You can reach us at 260.484.9646.

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Summer Continuing Classes

Like math and reading skills, progress gained through the academic year will dissipate through the summer and the dancer will need to "catch up" at the start of the next academic year. Summer Continuing classes are very  good ways for transfer students to take a placement class if they are considering enrolling into Academy classes.

Summer Continuing Camps Classes are held for the following levels:

Photographer: Dan Church

Fort Wayne Ballet's Summer Intensive program offers serious dance students a concentrated educational opportunity which focuses on classical ballet training, while also offering other dance forms to help create versatile dancers in today's contemporary dance culture. Under the supervision of Summer Intensive Director, Jeremy Blanton and Executive/Artistic Director Karen Gibbons-Brown, well-known master teachers focus on students' growth and development during this three week program.

Photographer: Margaret Distler

Classes:

Students attend classes Monday through Friday, 9:30am-5:30pm. 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 on Saturday, August 2, 2008. 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.

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.

Sabrina Madison-Cannon received her professional training as a scholarship student at National Academy of Arts and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. As a soloist with the Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco), Ms. Madison-Cannon worked with such renowned choreographers as Talley Beaty, Milton Meyers, Elisa Monte, Michael Peters, Gene Hill Sagan, and Lynne Taylor Corbet. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in dance from the University of Iowa and a certification in Pilates®. Ms. Madison-Cannon’s teaching experience includes faculty positions at Southern Methodist University, the University of North Texas, and the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts. Her choreography has been presented for the International Choreographers Showcase in Barcelona and Madrid, the New York International Fringe Festival, the American College Dance Festival, and the International Association for Blacks in Dance Conference. Ms Madison-Cannon is currently an Assistant Professor of Dance in the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri in Kansas City teaching: modern dance, jazz, Pilates®, dance history and composition. 

Nikolay Todorinov - Music Analysis
Nikolay Todorinov graduated the Academy of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria and holds a masters degree in piano performance from Indiana University School of Music, Bloomington. His artistic career includes great numbers of solo recitals of works by Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Liszt, Debussy, Franck, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. As a soloist of Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra he performed concerts for piano such as Beethoven no. 3 C minor, Mendelssohn G minor, Mozart E flat Major, Tchaikovsky no 1. He spent twelve years teaching piano at the School for Gifted Children, Sofia and Music School in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. His students won local and international piano competitions (Schumann, Aaron Copland) and some of them are currently enrolled in colleges and conservatories in Bulgaria and USA, with music scholarships. Nikolay joined Fort Wayne Ballet in 2005.

Linda Maybarduk - Ballet & Dance History
Ms. Maybarduk was born in New York City and raised in Orlando, Florida.  Educated at National Ballet School in Toronto, she was a first soloist with the company.  When Rudolf Nureyev became associated with National Ballet of Canada, they danced together and grew to be close friends.  Nureyev stayed with Maybarduk whenever he was in Toronto, her sons were as close as nephews and her daughter was his godchild.  Ms. Maybarduk is now retried from her dance career and lives in Toronto with her husband and children.

Faculty Is Subject To Change.

Housing:

Fort Wayne Ballet resident students are housed in supervised dormitory-style housing. Dedicated bus transportation takes students to all scheduled events. Meals are provided by local caterers and are focused on providing dancers with the nutritional fuel they need to maintain a demanding dance schedule. We can accommodate special eating needs, as well. Social activities are also included in the program, and include a minor league baseball game, picnic and pool party, visit to the renowned Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, and a shopping/movie trip to a local outdoor mall. Housing and board fee is: $1,000

Photographer: Margaret Distler

Tuition:

Tuition is $1,100 for 25-29 classes per week.

Fort Wayne Ballet has limited full and partial scholarships for the 2008 Summer Intensive workshop. All students who audition are considered for these merit-based scholarships. There is no application process; Fort Wayne Ballet will notify scholarship recipients in their acceptance letter to the program.

 

 

Audition:

2008 Summer Intensive Audition Tour

Atlanta Ballet (The Centre For Dance Education)	January 20, 2008	12:00-2:00pm
Ballet Etudes (Mesa Location)	January 26, 2008	11:30-1:30pm
Louisville Ballet	February 16, 2008	5:30-7:30pm
BalletMet	February 17, 2008	1:00-3:00pm
Fort Wayne Ballet	February 24, 2008	2:00-4:00pm
Kansas City Ballet	February 23, 2008	12:00-2:00pm

To audition, students must be 12 years of age during the 2008 Summer Intensive. There is a registration fee of $15. Dancers will have time to complete registration materials prior to the audition class. Women should wear a black leotard with hair up in a bun. Male dancers should wear a white t-shirt and black tights. No photos or resumes are required. Audition results will be mailed within one month of audition. Mr. Jeremy Blanton or Ms. Karen Gibbons-Brown will teach all audition classes.

You may also send in a video tape audition as an option. Video auditions should be no more than 10 minutes in length to include barre work, pirouette, petit allegro, and grand allegro. Please send video and $15.00 audition fee to: 324 Penn Ave. Fort Wayne, IN, 46805 Attn: Summer Intensive. Your video would need to arrive here by 6/1/08 so the Artistic Staff can review it and inform you of their decision regarding your acceptance to the program. 

To receive more information about the Academy's educational opportunities, contact info@fortwayneballet.org

 

 

 

*If your dancer is older than 7 years and has had ballet experience, please contact the Academy Administrator for the appropriate summer camp.