Moscow Ballet Dance Intensive

During the first week of August, in two thousand eleven, the Moscow Ballet Summer Intensive program graced the campus of Knox College and the stage at the Orpheum Theatre in Galesburg.
Students and teacher alike said they were inspired by their experiences at a program that brought together grade school and high school dancers, local dance instructors and Knox College dance students and faculty with ballerina Nataliya Miroshnyk of the Moscow Ballet. The weeklong series of classes and workshops, on the Knox campus, culminated in a Dancers' Showcase at the Orpheum Theatre.
The young students enjoyed a daily class schedule that included ballet with Nataliya Miroschnyk a soloist with the Moscow Ballet, daily morning Yoga classes with Sally Scott, a local yoga instructor, and a series of educational workshops with Arlene Smith of Dancers Studio and Kathleen Ridlon, Assistant Professor of Dance and Coordinator of the Center for Community Service at Knox College.
Students at both pre-pointe and pointe levels worked every day with Miroshnyk, who provided training throughout the U.S. in the Vaganova Method as part of Moscow Ballet's 2011 Summer Intensives.
This Intensive program is designed to serve up to 40 youth from Galesburg and the surrounding areas giving the young dancers an unprecedented opportunity to work with a world-class ballet instructor. They received valuable lessons from all the instructors as well as the motivation to continue to grow in the performance arts.
A Dance Intensive Committee consisted of Kathleen Ridlon, Arlene Smith, Kate Francis, executive director of the Orpheum Theatre and Paige Roetter, box office manager of the Orpheum theatre. Their efforts were rewarded with grants from Arts Midwest and a Destination College Grant from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
Additional funding and staffing was organized from the Orpheum Theatre, Moscow Ballet, as well as students, alumni, faculty and staff from Knox College. Several Galesburg Community organizations also assisted with the program.
As a result of their tireless efforts, students attended the sessions at no cost. The priceless experience they received will be fondly remembered for years to come. Perhaps, one day, one or more of the young dancers will grace the stage and enchant audiences around the world.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Ballet
• Galesburg Illinois
• Dancing