Ellison Ballet Presents Winter Showcase 2012, 12/7 & 8

The ELLISON BALLET, EdWard Ellison, founder/director, will present its Winter Showcase 2012, an evening of romantic and classical ballet masterworks performed by the ensemble of 35 students of Ellison's Professional Training Program, along with guests from major ballet companies (tba). The evening will include excerpts from Giselle, La Bayadere and Bournonville's Le Conservatoire, for two performances December 7 & 8 at 8 PM at MMAC, 248 West 60th Street.

For these performances, fantasy meets reality and, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy's devastation, the Ellison Ballet will donate all donations and proceeds to the Red Cross and other charities assisting the victims of Sandy.

Karina Elver, former longtime member of the Royal Danish Ballet, has staged August Bournonville's Le Conservatoire for the occasion, and the program will also feature excerpts from Giselle and La Bayadere, staged by EdWard Ellison and Erin Forrest.

EDWard EllisON has traveled the world as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and ballet master. A former soloist with the San Francisco Ballet, Ellison has taught for American Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet, Alvin Ailey, and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. He has guest taught at Juilliard and the Joffrey Ballet School, and currently teaches open classes a STEPS, in addition to directing his own school at MMAC. As a ballet master, he has worked for the Boston Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, and Alberta Ballet, and has staged Helgi Tomasson's Nutcracker for the San Francisco Ballet's annual tour.

With love and devotion to his students, his approach is influenced by his close association with such ballet masters as Helgi Tomasson, Irina Jacobson, Marius Zirra, and Larisa Sklyanskaya, to whom he gives special credit for the depth of his artistic knowledge. His teaching is also informed by teacher courses at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Russia and the National Ballet School in Canada.

ELLISON BALLET IN AN EVENING OF ROMANTIC AND CLASSICAL BALLET MASTERWORKS
A Fundraising Event for the Victims of Hurricane Sandy
Friday & Saturday, December 7 & 8 at 8 PM
Manhattan Movement Arts Center, 248 West 60th Street (bet. Amsterdam & West End Ave.)
Tickets: $35 at the door; $30 in advance
$30 at the door; $25 in advance for students/seniors
Reservations: 212.787.1178 or www.ellisonballet.com