MMAC Announces Manhattan Youth Ballet Summer Intensive Auditions, 3/6

Manhattan Movement & Arts Center announces auditions for Manhattan Youth Ballet's Summer Intensive at the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center at 248 W. 60th Street, NYC (between Amsterdam and West End Avenues) in the Lincoln Center area. Auditions will take place on Sunday, March 6, 2011 from 1:30pm to 6:40pm. Auditions for ages 8-9 from 1:30-2pm, ages 10-12 from 2:30-3pm, ages 13-15 from 3-4:30pm, ages 16 and up from 4:30-6pm. The Summer Intensive will take place from August 15 - September 2, 2011. Registration will take place beginning at 12:45pm in person.

Manhattan Youth Ballet offers a comprehensive three-week Summer Intensive in August to prepare dancers to return to their year-round programs. With an international faculty from the Paris Opera Ballet, New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and The Kirov Ballet, as well as with contemporary classes and pilates, each student will receives an extremely well-rounded experience to improve both technique and performance. There will be an end-of-program performance at the state-of-the-art Manhattan Movement & Arts Center for family, friends and invited industry guests. Modeled after the great schools of Europe, this pre-professional program is the only one of its kind in this country. Former students of Manhattan Youth Ballet now dance with American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Washington Ballet, Nederland Dans Theatre and Complexion among others.

Dancers should arrive at least 45 minutes prior to your audition time to register. There is no dress code for the audition class. Dancers should dress as they would for any ballet class. Girls ages 13 and older should bring their pointe shoes. All applicants must submit a completed application, available at www.manhattanyouthballet.org, and must bring a headshot and photo in first arabesque. The audition fee is $40 (cash only). The cost for the three week performance intensive is $1500. Financial aid and merit scholarships are available. One and two week non-performance options are also available.

About Manhattan Youth Ballet
Manhattan Youth Ballet (MYB) is a non-profit organization committed to providing the highest artistic quality of instruction and dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the art of dance within the local community. The Company is committed to providing the opportunity to experience ballet to audiences who might not otherwise have that chance.

Since moving to its new home at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center in September 2008, over 2,500 New York City school children have participated in lecture demonstrations and/or been Manhattan Youth Ballet's invited guests at full-length performances. This year MYB has strengthened its Outreach program by partnering with the Police Athletic League. Manhattan Youth Ballet also hosted the benefit Healing for Haiti, which raised over $50,000 for the Haiti relief effort.

For more information about Manhattan Youth Ballet, visit www.manhattanyouthballet.org

About Manhattan Movement & Arts Center
Manhattan Movement & Arts Center was developed by Rose Caiola as the home of the Manhattan Youth Ballet, a graded, pre-professional ballet academy and performance company. Ms. Caiola, a former dancer and actress, founded the academy in the fall of 1994 as Studio Maestro at 48 W. 68th Street, and today serves as the youth ballet's executive artistic director.

The school is modeled after the European academies and adheres to the French School of classical ballet technique. Under the direction of Francois Perron, managing artistic director, the Manhattan Youth Ballet has acquired a reputation for excellent teaching in an intimate and individually supportive environment. The school's graduates have danced professionally with American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Ballet de España, San Francisco Ballet and Complexions.

As the ballet academy grew, the search for a larger space inspired in Ms. Caiola a highly personal vision of a studio and theater complex that would encompass all aspects of dance education and performance.

mmac opened its doors in June 2008, occupying a dramatic bi-level space within The Element, a luxury high-rise condominium. In addition to the Manhattan Youth Ballet, mmac's studios and theater host daily adult dance and fitness classes, the mmac Kids program, summer intensive programs, as well as an array of performances and special events.

For more information about mmac, visit www.manhattanmovement.com.