dancemom101

I know that Skylar Brandt and Sterling Baca, both ABTII dancers last year, are now in the Corps (Sterling as Apprentice). Brittany DeGroft became an Apprentice in February 2011.

A description of the Studio Company (including current roster of dancers) is now listed under Education & Training on the ABT website. Partial info: American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company, formerly ABT II, is a classical ensemble made up of 12 dancers of outstanding potential. The mission of ABT Studio Company is to train young dancers (ages 16-20) in preparation for entering American Ballet Theatre’s main Company or other leading national and international professional ballet companies. The program serves as a bridge between ballet training and professional performance. Training Under the Artistic Direction of ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School Principal Franco De Vita, members of this pre-professional training program will participate in an extensive schedule of classes and rehearsals including classical ballet technique, pointe, partnering, men’s technique, character, modern, variations, mime and acting, dance history, ABT’s National Training Curriculum, Pilates and men’s strength training. Workshops in composition, nutrition, women’s health, stress management, injury prevention and audition preparation are also included in the curriculum. Choreography ABT Studio Company dancers will work closely with members of ABT’s Artistic Staff and guest faculty to learn ABT repertoire and other masterworks by noted choreographers including George Balanchine, Marius Petipa, August Bournonville, Antony Tudor, Paul Taylor and Jerome Robbins as well as emerging classical and contemporary choreographers. Performances Dancers in ABT Studio Company will gain performance experience through residencies, cultural exchanges and regional touring. All ABT Studio Company dancers will learn Alexei Ratmansky’s The Nutcracker and a select group of dancers will apprentice with ABT’s main Company for performances of The Nutcracker at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Outreach In order to reach the widest possible audience, ABT is dedicated to developing the next generation of audience members. Participation in outreach programs for children and other selected groups is an important part of the ABT Studio Company mission. ABT Studio Company acts as ABT’s principal outreach arm by participating in educational and outreach programs throughout New York City and beyond. Current ABT Studio Company To view the current roster for ABT Studio Company, click here. http://www.abt.org/education/stu_co_dancers.asp Faculty ABT Artistic faculty members for this program will include: Kevin McKenzie, Franco De Vita, Harriet Clark, Olga Dvorovenko, Susan Jaffe, Susan Jones, Irina Kolpakova, Jessica Lang, Clinton Luckett, Raymond Lukens, Kate Lydon, Clarice Marshall, Nancy Raffa, Lupe Serrano and Martine van Hamel. Schedule ABT Studio Company dancers will train at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT Monday through Friday from 10:00am-5:30pm, with additional class on Saturdays. Alumni More than half of the dancers in ABT’s main Company started their career in ABT Studio Company, including Principal Dancers Herman Cornejo, David Hallberg and Cory Stearns. Dancers from ABT Studio Company have also gone on to join such notable companies as Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Houston Ballet, Staatsballet Berlin, The Washington Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Alberta Ballet and The Royal Ballet.

Thanks. It is a huge loss. Disappointing.

Why is Isaac Stappas retiring?

Agreed, this statement would most likely not have been made a year ago, but I, too, am glad for any positive press that Ringer gets; she deserves it.

there are some beautiful photos of Ms. Ringer and Benjamin Millipied in the March issue of Elle. http://www.elle.com/Fashion/Fashion-Spotlight/Benjamin-Millepied-Black-Swan?cid=sm_pr_Millepied

So sorry! I think it's wonderful that through his affiliation with Misty Copeland, Prince (the singer!)has extended these funds to ABT for their educational programs.

See article: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/02/prince-targets-arts-education-with-250000-gift-to-american-ballet-theatre.html

Cornejo/Reyes have their first performance this evening (second, Sunday evening).

Have read posts re less than stellar thoughts of Gomes/Part, but for my 'part' (no pun intended!), I think they are divine together. Also think that Marcelo just oozes charisma and has wonderful acting ability whereas to me, Hallburg is more straight-laced with a different type of stage presence. Looking forward to seeing Cornejo/Reyes interpretation.

I was in attendance. There were only a few empty seats. I was told it was basically sold out.

Yeah, I'd love to see these too. But perhaps some of them will show up in the schedule if ABT does a Fall 2011 season at City Center. I hope so. But we may have to see if they do another season of Nutcracker in NYC at the end of 2011, that might interfere with a season at City Center just weeks earlier. ABT has a five year commitment for the Nutcracker at BAM, but hopefully, they will still be able to do the usual Fall season prior to that (next year).

Apparently, Gillian will be accompanying Stiefel to NZ, though perhaps not on a full time basis. See following link which notes she will keep her affiliation with ABT--though the extent of which remains to be seen. I think if ABT loses her it will leave a huge hole. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/enter...-rock-star-pair

Got our tix today for December 22 (Gomes & Part). Sad to see that some of our favorites, Cornejo and Reyes, are only scheduled to dance twice in the lead roles. To prior poster's comment, likewise Philip Perez may resemble a young Marcelo Gomes. Believe we saw him dance in Sylphide and a few other ballets over the last two years. Am told he is also JKO. Looking forward to the performances! ABT website shows additional renderings of costumes/characters. Apparently there will be a "bumble bee." in addition to the Spanish Dancer, Rat King, etc.

I just received my card as well and plan to purchase tix.