Ballet academy expands vision with new pre-professional dance program
The Nevada Ballet Theatre’s academy is offering a pre-professional dance program to help those looking for instruction in styles of dance other than ballet.
The new program at the Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre, 1651 Inner Circle Drive, is offering diverse classes such as Tumbling for Dance, Extreme Stretch and Improvisation, taught by performers with Broadway, TV and film credits and international teaching experience. The new program also will premiere a competition team.
“Our goal is to provide all ANBT students with an outstanding performing arts education and provide them with the necessary tools to pursue a career in dance or develop a lifelong love of our art form,” said Beth Barbre, NBT executive director and CEO.
Terane Comito, NBT director of education and outreach, said offering more than ballet was something in which students had expressed interest.
“A lot of kids are (fans of) shows like ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and ‘Dancing With the Stars’ and things like that,” Comito said. “The kids really want to explore other styles of dance, so it definitely has been something that I’ve been thinking about for a long time. … I’m really excited that it’s come to fruition.”
Dance instructors come from the Las Vegas entertainment community, including former “So You Think You Can Dance” contestant Tyrell Rolle and Cirque du Soleil performer Jordan McHenry as well as former Cirque du Soleil artists Pendu Malik and Jarrett Rashad and “Jubilee!” performers Crystal Danzer and Jamie Santangelo. Special dance lectures, workshops and master classes are being planned for both the pre-professional dance and pre-professional ballet programs.
The instruction will help prepare students for the commercial dance field — music videos, touring musicals, commercials, television shows, touring with recording artists and dancing in shows on the Strip.
“This has been part of an overall initiative to enhance and elevate our pre-professional ballet program, to add new classes and lectures and special things like this,” said Jenn Kratochwill, NBT director of public relations.
How is instruction different at the academy than at a small studio?
“With us, we really concentrate on our core base, which is ballet,” Comito said. “Most professional dancers will say that they wish that they had more ballet, the ones who work in the commercial field. That’s really the basis of all dance.”
She said instructors have experience on Broadway and working with various celebrities, “so, for us, that would be another difference,” she said. “And you still get the experience of working alongside a professional company and the possibility to be in the ‘Nutcracker’ or various performances we do at The Smith Center.”
Indeed, nearly 30 young dancers from the academy will make their debut as fairies and fireflies in the company’s 43rd season during performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream Act I,” scheduled with “Seasons on Saturday” for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20 and 2 p.m. Sept. 21 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave. Tickets start at $29, plus fees. For tickets, visit nevadaballet.org or call 702-749-2012.
Fall classes are underway. The pre-professional dance program also plans classes for students 3 to 7, including Hip-Hop Babies, Hip-Hop Kids and Jazz/Tumbling Combo. The enhanced pre-professional ballet program will include new packages and the opportunity to enter competitions.
For more information or to register, call 702-243-2623 or email info@nevadaballet.org.
Contact Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 702-387-2949.
