FSPA Ballet Conservatory Dancers to Compete at Youth America Grand Prix

Three advanced Ballet Conservatory students from the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) will participate in the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) New England regional semi-finals, to be held at Veteran's Memorial Auditorium in Providence, Rhode Island on February 7- 9. Mikaela Guidice, 11, of Norfolk, Shaina McGillis, 15, of Franklin, and Noura Sander, 13, of Easton, will join the ranks of 5,000 other 9-19 year-old aspiring dancers worldwide to compete in America's oldest and the world's largest student ballet scholarship competition. This year's U.S. semi-finals will be held in 10 states, with international semi-finals in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Japan and Mexico. The YAGP weekend also features workshops with master teachers and will take place at Festival Ballet Providence.

YAGP has since its inception awarded over $2 million in elite scholarships and dance contracts. Alumni are now dancing with some of the most prestigious companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, English National Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet and more. Bess Kargman's award-winning documentary "First Position" followed six YAGP dancers as they competed in semi-final and final rounds of the competition. This year's YAGP Finals will be held in New York City on April 3-8, with the Final Round and Gala Performance on April 9-10. The New England semi-finals are open to the public, with admission free of charge for anyone under age 21 and $5 (cash) for audience members 21 and older. Mikaela, Noura and Shaina are all coached by FSPA Ballet Mistress Cheryl Madeux, who has worked with the three dancers on a weekly basis since late August. Madeux formerly danced with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Hartford Ballet and Joffrey Ballet companies. Her own ballet competition experience includes the National Society of Arts and Letters Ballet Competition, where she was awarded first place at age 15, and the Prix de Lausanne and Paris International Ballet Competitions, where she was a finalist for both.

"Ballet competitions are definitely not for everyone and it was very clear to me that Shaina, Noura and Mikaela had the talent and desire to take on this challenge," notes Madeux. "When I approached them about this opportunity, I emphasized that the experience would be about the process and not the outcome. I have so many fond memories of training with my own teacher in preparation for a competition. Those experiences taught me commitment and responsibility, and absolutely helped me grow as a dancer and individual."

Those are benefits Madeux wishes for Shaina, Noura and Mikaela. Noura says she has aspired to be a professional ballet dancer since she was very little. "As a very young child I was exposed to all types of music and, whether live or recorded, I couldn't help but dance," she notes. "My mom decided to enroll me in ballet classes. I love the gracefulness of ballet and I also love the discipline. It makes you work your hardest and strive to do your best."For YAGP, Noura has prepared the Act III wedding variation from Sleeping Beauty and "The Getaway," a contemporary piece choreographed by Madeux. Along with coachings, Noura trains 12-14 hours per week, including ballet technique classes, lyrical, classical variations, character dance and a stretch and strengthening class. Shaina has prepared one classical variation from the ballet Paquita and one contemporary ballet variation that Madeux has choreographed. YAGP is Shaina's first competition. "I am looking forward to watching and meeting other dancers who have the same dreams as me," she says. "I am also excited to take master classes with all the amazing dancers because they will inspire me to push myself more and more."

Shaina says the process of training for the competition has had its own rewards. "Cheryl has really helped me work on my artistry and musicality," she notes. "I feel very honored and lucky to have such a great teacher working with me so closely. She inspires me when she demonstrates and it helps me set a goal in my mind to work towards."

All three students look forward to the one-on-one rehearsal time with Madeux. "She is the most wonderful person and teacher," says Noura. "The way she teaches and coaches makes everything enjoyable. No matter how challenging the training is, it never seems like work. It is very comforting to have a mentor who has firsthand experience with competitions."

Madeux is very pleased with the growth her dedicated students have demonstrated in the months of training. "I am very proud of their accomplishments, and they have all surpassed my expectations in both attitude and ability" she says. "They have without a doubt improved physically and artistically, but it is so rewarding to see them support each other and to see their fellow dancers supporting them."

The students are excited about the opportunity to learn through the competition experience, from their teacher, peers and guest artists, and each has her own aspirations and goals. "I am looking forward to performing on stage and to the workshops with teachers from different ballet companies," says Mikaela, who will perform two classical variations, one from Sleeping Beauty and the other from La Fille Mal Gardee. "I hope to improve my technique and stage presence. I also hope to meet and make friends with some of the other girls in the competition."

For Mikaela, ballet has encouraged her to become more outgoing and comfortable getting up in front of others. Mikaela describes that her mom signed her up for a ballet class at age 2 because she was very shy and her mom hoped ballet would help her overcome that. "I loved it immediately!" she says. "I have been taking ballet ever since. What I enjoy most about ballet now is working on pointe and learning variations. I also really enjoy being with all of my friends from class. It is so much fun to be with other girls who lIke Ballet as much as I do."

In addition to her core ballet classes, Mikaela takes lyrical dance, classical variations and tap. Shaina, who has trained at FSPA since age 4, takes about 21 hours a week of classes, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and classical variations. The discipline required at this advanced ballet level has instilled in all three dancers some important life skills. "Since I dance so many hours per week, it has taught me a lot about time management," notes Mikaela. "I get straight to work on my homework before class and then get right back to it when I get home to make sure my work and studying are done because it is really important to me to get good grades. I think it also helps me when I have to make a presentation in front of an audience in school because I'm used to being on stage for dance."

While those life lessons and benefits are invaluable, Mikaela is most drawn to dance for the joy of it. "I love everything about ballet!" she enthuses. "It makes me happy. I can't imagine my life without it, so I definitely plan to dance in college and maybe someday dance professionally."Noura, who's training has also included a 2011 two-week intensive at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre Young Dancers' Summer Workshop, says of the art form, "I believe that ballet has taught me dedication: always walk into class and dance with all your heart, not half of it. If you love what you do, stick with it."

Madeux notes that kind of attitude and approach to learning serves the young ballerinas well. "As a professional dancer, I have always appreciated my teachers and all they did for me," she says. "Now that I am the teacher, I realize that, much like a parent, we can only do so much. It is the talent and dedication of the students that will determine their own success. In my mind, these three young ladies have already won."

For more information about FSPA's Ballet Conservatory program or recreational ballet classes at the school, call (508) 528-8668 or visit www.fspaonline.com.

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