Ballet Arts students attended ABT Day at Rutgers, where American Ballet Theatre (ABT) and the Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts (MGSA) presented their 5th Annual ABT Day on Saturday, March 2.
Since 2014, Rutgers MGSA has been designated as one of five ABT Certified Schools in the United States. The establishment of an ABT Certified School at Rutgers MGSA ensures comprehensive training in ballet pedagogy for all Rutgers MGSA dance faculty, including student exams to evaluate teachers and students, refresher courses and mentorship.
As part of the training partnership between ABT and Rutgers MGSA, ABT Day gives students and families the opportunity to attend master classes and special workshops with ABT Studio Company Artistic Director, Sascha Radetsky, ABT Studio Company Ballet Mistress, Petrusjka Broholm and ABT Artistic Advisor of Educational Outreach, Richard Toda, along with esteemed Rutgers faculty and staff.
The Ballet Arts School in Emerson follows ABT’s National Training Curriculum (NTC), a specific curriculum divided by age, which combines scientific principles with elements from the classic French, Italian, and Russian schools of training.
The program promotes discipline and creativity while encouraging each child to reach their highest potential. Classes focus on building a solid foundation in ballet technique with an emphasis on proper placement and safe progressions of movement while remaining sensitive to the developmental needs of young dancers at every level.
After a day filled with master classes and fun workshops, the students were treated to a delightful performance by The American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in the Loree Dance Theater.
The dancers of Ballet Arts will present their own performances this coming weekend. “Paquita & Peter and the Wolf,” Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, May 19 at 2 p.m. at River Dell Middle School, 230 Woodland Ave., River Edge; “Peter and the Wolf” on Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m.; and “An Evening of Dance: Mixed Bill” on Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m. at The HacPac, 102 State St., Hackensack.
Ballet Arts students Tessa Klein, Madeleine Krieger and Kayla Mickovich were accepted and will be attending ABT’s Summer Dance Program, Kathleen Hahn received a scholarship to attend SAB’s summer program, and Naomi Roth was accepted and will be attending Boston Ballet’s summer program.
Ballet Arts is now accepting registration for Summer Princess Camps for young budding dancers, as well as a Summer Dance Intensive for the serious dancer who wants to refine their technique and artistry.
For more information on performances or summer dance programs, contact Ballet Arts at (201) 970-7690 or BalletArtsNJ[at]icloud.com. Ballet Arts is located at 207 Kinderkamack Road, Emerson.