Across the Floor
Changes at MYB
In May, François Perron, former managing artistic director of Manhattan Youth Ballet, announced the launch of his French Académie of Ballet, a pre-professional training program inspired by his own training at Paris Opéra Ballet. Perron hopes to provide students with a strong foundation stressing simplicity and elegance, from which they can adapt to different styles of choreography. The NYC-based school will offer two summer intensive courses, Aug. 15–19 (advanced) and Aug. 22–Sept. 2 (intermediate and advanced), with guest teachers from POB and American Ballet Theatre, in addition to courses in Pilates, jazz, and modern. Its year-round program begins this fall.
So who will take over at the helm of MYB? The school announced in June that Daniel Ulbricht, New York City Ballet principal (see cover story, June 2008), will step into the role of artistic advisor, working in collaboration with founder Rose Caiola. Brian Reeder and Karen Lacy will also join the faculty (Reeder as choreographer-in-residence). Natalia Boesch, Erin Fogarty, Marina Stavitskaya (see “Teacher’s Wisdom,” July), and Deborah Wingert, among others, remain as faculty members. Ulbricht, of course, will also be teaching. See www.manhattanyouthballet.org and www.frenchacademieofballet.org.
AileyCamp Expands
A new branch of AileyCamp has sprouted in Newark, NJ. For over 20 years, the full-scholarship day camp, a program of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, has been reaching urban students across the U.S., harnessing the power of movement to foster self confidence, creative expression, and critical thinking. The Newark program (a joint effort between AAADT, Newark public schools, and New Jersey Performing Arts Center) is one of 10 AileyCamps around the country this summer. It brings together 100 middle-school students for six weeks of ballet, Horton-based modern, jazz, and West African dance classes, with a final showcase on Aug. 10 at NJPAC’s Victoria Theater. See www.alvinailey.org.
