New Master Class Series with SF Ballet School

San Francisco Ballet School 2014-15 Master Class SeriesIn an effort to share the joy of dance with a wider audience, the San Francisco Ballet School is now offering a new Master Class Series for pre-professional and professional ballet dancers ages 15-25.

 

Each uniquely themed class will be taught in the school’s studios by San Francisco Ballet dancers, ballet masters and teachers. Each two-hour class will begin at 10 a.m. with a 75-minute ballet class in the Christensen Studio at 455 Franklin Street, followed by a workshop on the preselected subject matter.

 

The first master class will focus on “The Art of Mime and Acting in Story Ballets” on Sunday, November 23. It will feature Ballet Master and Assistant to the Artistic Director Ricardo Bustamante and Principal Dancer Sarah Van Patten. They will explore the fundamentals of mime by teaching some of the most beloved mime sequences from the company’s own Nutcracker.

 

The next master class will be offered Sunday, January 11, 2015. Whether you are a student auditioning for a summer program or a dancer on the brink of a professional career, you’ll learn the ins and outs of the audition process and will focus on techniques and tips for a successful audition. School Associate Director Patrick Armand, Ballet Master and Assistant to the Artistic Director Christopher Stowell, and special guest Lola de Avila will lead the class, and their expertise judging school and company auditions will provide a wealth of information to novice and experienced dancers alike. Participants will be expected to bring a resume and headshot to this class.

 

In March 2015, another master class will center on “Contemporary Ballet and Choreography.” Dancers can join Soloist James Sofranko and Corps de Ballet Member Myles Thatcher in an exploration of developing choreography through a hands-on look at Thatcher’s new world premiere ballet for the company, which will have just opened. This exciting, exclusive, behind-the-scenes opportunity is set for Sunday, March 1.

 

Lastly, a master class will be offered on “Romeo and Juliet, a Natural Pas de Deux” on Sunday, May 3 featuring Principal Dancers Vanessa Zahorian and Davit Karapetyan. Participants will learn pas de deux techniques and strategies.

 

While no auditions are necessary to enroll in any of these classes, all participants must have achieved an advanced level of ballet training and all females should be prepared to dance en pointe.

 

For those who are not dancers but wish to observe, a limited number of observer tickets are available. To register as a class participant or observer, visit http://school.sfballet.org. Classes are limited to 40 ballet dancers each time. 

 

Photo by Erik Tomasson.