Joffrey Ballet School Sets 2015 Summer Programs

Joffrey Ballet School, a world-renowned dance center offering the most versatile and highest quality training, announces the addition of four brand new

summer programs: Musical Theater, Tap Spectacular, Character Dance and the Joffrey World Dancer Tour to their summer intensive offerings. With its biggest audition tour ever, students at over 100 locations across the globe will have the opportunity to tryout. The year- round school in New York City produces the world's largest summer training program with locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Denver, Miami, Georgia, Florence Italy, and in Russia with the Bolshoi Ballet featuring industry-leading faculty. Program directors include Desmond Richardson, Davis Robertson, Josie Walsh, Michael Blake, Jo Matos, Matthew Prescott, Larisa Calero, and Alice Alyse.

"At the Joffrey Ballet School, we are determined to continue to provide intimate and focused training for all our students. Because of this focus in quality education, the Joffrey Ballet School and their summer programs continue to grow exponentially every year," says Executive Director Christopher D'Addario. "In order to accommodate this growth, whilst still holding true to our foundation in quality education, we are launching four brand new summer intensives, as well as bringing you new, top-rate program directors."

With three shows in three weeks, the Joffrey Musical Theater Intensive, directed by Matthew Prescott, will partner with three Broadway musicals including Wicked and Phantom of the Opera. The students will learn choreography inspired by the shows while working with actual cast members and get tickets to see the performances on Broadway! With its foundation grounded in strong technique, the Musical Theater Intensive in New York City is Joffrey's first triple-threat program. Students will start each day with ballet and musical theater while also studying voice, acting, makeup and stage combat.

Also joining the Joffrey summer intensives in New York City will be Character Dance directed by Larisa Calero. Like all Joffrey programs, students will have foundation in ballet, pointe and partnering. They will also learn character pieces from classical ballets and study international dance styles such as Flamenco, Indian, Irish, Tango and others. This program is tailored to the

needs of the dancers that want to be versatile and competitive, for the dancers that want to go above and beyond in their dance education and looking for longevity in their dance carrier.

Joining the Joffrey programs in Miami this year, will be the one-week Tap Spectacular, directed by Jo Matos. Joffrey's first all-tap program, students will study tap history from the contemporary tap masters, as well as, classes in Soft-Shoe, Clogging, Buck and Wing, Classical Tap, Class Acts, Jazz Tap, Hoofing, Rhythm Tap, Broadway Tap and Funk Tap. A tap improvisation class will encourage students to experiment with their own movement and sound ideas. Small classes will provide the students individual, personal attention, directed corrections and the opportunity to pick the brains of the tap masters. The week will culminate with a student production titled, Great American Dance Movies.

The Joffrey World Dancer Tour is the first program of its kind. Starting at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York and touring across Europe, students will study at some of the world's most prestigious ballet schools. This program is designed for only the most dedicated dancers looking to expand their horizons and will give the participants a truly international experience. Four years of pointe experience is required. Dates and details to be announced.

With the option to either participate in a live class with a Joffrey Ballet School instructor or send in a video audition, prospective students are judged on their technique at the barre with exercises such as plies, tendues and degages. Fee for auditioning is $40 for U.S. auditions.

Joffrey Ballet School will award $2 million dollars of scholarship funding this year. Merit based scholarships are available and distributed based on a students audition-criteria includes technique, artistry, potential, musicality and tenacity. The school also distributes a limited number of financial aid scholarships. Those seeking a merit or financial aid scholarship should contact the school directly for more information.

A list of Joffrey Ballet school audition tour locations can be found at

joffreyballetschool.com/audition-dates-and-locations.

Summer Intensive Programs

Ballet

New York City - Directed by Davis Roberston
NYC Pre-Professional - Directed by Davis Robertson Joffrey San Francisco - Directed by Josie Walsh Joffrey South Georgia - Directed by Alice Alyse Joffrey Denver - Directed by Davis Robertson

Jazz and Contemporary

New York City - Directed by Michael Blake
NYC Joffrey Experience - Directed by Michael Blake - faculty from Joffrey national intensives including three Joffrey program directors
Joffrey Southwest Dallas - Directed by Desmond Richardson
Joffrey West Los Angeles - Directed by Josie Walsh
Joffrey South Georgia - Directed by Alice Alyse
Joffrey Miami - Directed by Jo Matos

Other Disciplines

NYC Musical Theater - Directed by Matthew Prescott NYC Character Dance - Directed by Larisa Calero Miami Tap Spectacular - Directed by Jo Matos

International Intensives

Joffrey World Dancer - TBA
Florence, Italy - Scuola di Danza Hamlyn Moscow, Russia - Bolshoi Ballet

Youth Intensives

New York City - Directed by Jo Matos - ages 8.5-14
Joffrey South Georgia - Directed by Alice Alyse - ages 10-13 NYC Dance Camp - Directed by Jo Matos - ages 3-7

Photo credit: Lois Greenfield. Courtesy of Joffrey Ballet School

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