Imagine Ballet Theatre Sets Danish Masters Summer Ballet Program

This summer, June 20-27, 2015, eager ballet students from across the United States will learn the unique and expressive style of Danish ballet master August Bournonville. The studios of Imagine Ballet Theatre, a ballet company based out of Ogden, Utah, and under the direction of Artistic Director Raymond Van Mason, will host The Bournonville Workshop with the Masters. The seminar, the first of its kind available to dancers in the United States, features master instructors from across Europe. The week-long intensive course is sponsored by Imagine Ballet Theatre, The American Ballet Competition, and The Institute for Dance Education.

Classes will be held daily throughout the week in June from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and conclude on the 27th with a reception and performance. Tuition for the intensive is $850 with limited scholarships available in addition to discounts for dancers who also enroll in the Imagine Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive (more information is available at http://imagineballet.org/summer-intestive/). A limited number of spots are still available for interested dancers or instructors and directors wanting to audit the classes.

The Bournonville technique, developed by August Bournonville of The Royal Danish Ballet, is noted for the natural placement of the body as well as quick and light footwork and choreography. Reflective of 19th Century Romanticism, Bournonville choreography and ballets often place equal emphasis on both male and female performers and the importance of dramatic storytelling through movement and mime. Dancers trained in Bournonville style are known for fluidity and grace which make the movement appear effortless despite the extensive strength and technique needed.

Leading the decorated faculty of Bournonville Masters is Dinna Bjorn. Bjorn has been teaching and coaching the works and techniques of Bournonville since 1975. She has participated in comprehensive international research and reconstructions of the technique. Bjorn began her ballet career in 1964, performing with the Royal Danish Ballet and two years following made her soloist debut. Her teaching career was crowned with her appointment as Artistic Advisor to The Royal Danish Ballet. Bjorn also was the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Dinna Bjorn Dancers, consisting of soloists from The Royal Danish Ballet, which toured extensively throughout the world.

Eric Viudes has served as a guest teacher with many ballet companies, including for the Aspirant classes at The Royal Danish Ballet from 2003-2008. He has been faculty for the Bournonville summer seminars in Tokyo, Japan and in France for the Bournonville à Biarritz, where he continues to serve as Artistic Consultant. Following his graduation from The Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse, in Paris, Viudes joined The Ballet du Rhin and later The Norwegian National Ballet in Oslo, Norway. Here he obtained the celebrated status as a Principal Dancer in a mere two years.

Henning Albrechtsen began his performance career at The Royal Danish Ballet in 1985, and since 1997 has been a member of the school's faculty. He has taught Bournonville technique in Australia, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, Norway, and Spain. From 2000 through 2007, he was the Deputy Artistic Director of The Royal Danish Ballet. In 2007, he completed the one-year Teachers Training Program for former professional dancers at The National Ballet School of Canada and was invited back to be full-time faculty at The Royal Danish Ballet.

Diana Cuni Mancini trained at The Royal Danish Ballet and rose through the ranks from Apprentice in 1991 to Soloist in 2001. She has had numerous roles in Bournonville ballets and has been teaching the technique at The Royal Danish Ballet School since 2013. She taught at the first annual Royal Danish Ballet Summer School in 2013, and has been teaching Bournonville Technique in schools and seminars in Russia, Japan, and France.

Raymond Van Mason created Imagine Ballet Theatre in 2004 to offer unique opportunities to work with professional artists and to foster professional performing experiences. Imagine Ballet Theatre has been recognized with the 2005 Utah Best of State Award for Best Children's Performing Group as well as the Judy G. Mayer Award for Small Groups for their performance in Dance Under the Stars Choreography Festival in Palm Desert, CA. Dancers from Imagine Ballet Theatre have received recognition and scholarships from prestigious ballet companies across the nation such as American Ballet Theatre in New York City, Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, The Rock School for Dance Education in Pennsylvania, Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, and many others.

"ABC (American Ballet Competition) is a competition with a difference. It exposes contestants to international guest teachers thru master classes, coaching/staging sessions and opportunities to be view by dance directors who may award scholarships and apprenticeships to prestigious school in the USA and abroad."

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