American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School at Segerstrom Center for the Arts Presents Teacher Training Intensive in ABT National Curriculum in April 2016

Segerstrom Center's American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School will hold a Teacher Training Intensive in ABT's National Training Curriculum April 2 - 10, 2016. The training will cover teaching methodology for Pre-Primary through Level 3. The seminars will be held in the Center's Judy Morr Theater and will be taught by ABT National Training Curriculum Artistic Director and author, Raymond Lukens. ABT Gillespie School faculty and students will demonstrate techniques. Registration begins December 1 at ABT.org. Teachers interested in learning more about the Training Intensive should visit ABT.org or contact Meghan Love at mlove@abt.org or (212) 477-3030, ext. 1168.

Registration begins December 1 at ABT.org. Interested teachers learn more at ABT.org or by contacting

Meghan Love at mlove@abt.org or (212) 477-3030, ext. 1168.

Center President Terrence W. Dwyer said, "We are very pleased to expand opportunities offered by the ABT Gillespie School. The Teacher Training Intensive increases the school's capacity to be a cultural and educational resource for Orange County, and, especially, our large and passionate community of dance students, teachers and fans."

American Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum, introduced in 2008, was designed and written by Raymond Lukens and Franco De Vita under the direction of ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie and in collaboration with ABT's artistic advisors and the Medical Advisory Board. It is a nine-level program that utilizes a comprehensive set of age-appropriate, outcome-based guidelines to provide the highest quality ballet training to dance students of all ages and skill levels. The ABT National Training Curriculum combines high quality artistic training with the basics of dancer health, child development and elements of the French, Italian and Russian schools of training."As a national ballet company, ABT understands that it has a responsibility to take a leadership role in dance training and dance education in the United States," said Lukens. "To this end, we have developed this ballet curriculum and a teacher training program that are both artistically sound and medically appropriate. Our goal is to provide teachers with the tools and information they need to provide the highest quality training to dance students of all ages and skill levels."

The National Training Curriculum fulfills ABT's mission as America's National Ballet Company in bringing dance to the widest possible audience. While several training methods are soundly in place within the United States, ABT's National Training Curriculum can be used to enhance an existing syllabus and to assist teachers in working appropriately with young dancers. Participants in the ABT Teacher Training Intensive program have the opportunity to become certified in the National Training Curriculum by successfully passing comprehensive examinations.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an acclaimed arts institution as well as a beautiful multi-disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence on all of its stages, offering unsurpassed experiences, and to engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring programs.

Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center is Orange County's largest non-profit arts organization. In addition to its six performance venues, Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School, where students ages 3 - 14 are taught by acclaimed teachers utilizing the renowned ABT National Training Curriculum in studios utilized by the world's greatest dancers and choreographers.

The Center presents a broad range of programming for audiences of all ages, including international ballet and dance, national tours of top Broadway shows, intimate performances of jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family- friendly programming, free performances open to the public from outdoor movie screenings to dancing on the plaza and many other special events.

The Center's education programs are designed to inspire young people through the arts and reach hundreds of thousands of students each year. In addition to the presenting and producing institution Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the 14-acre campus also embraces the facilities of two independently acclaimed organizations: Tony Award®-winning South Coast Repertory and a site designated as the future home of the Orange County Museum of Art.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is also proud to serve as the artistic home to three of the region's major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the Pacific Chorale, who contribute greatly to the artistic life of the region with annual seasons at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

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