June '10 Arts—Nevada Ballet Theatre Column

SHARE |

The Academy Of Nevada Ballet Theatre Announces
Its Annual Summer Programs:

Creative Dance Camp, Summer Intensive,
Summer Session And Adult Classes

Summer at the Academy to offer exciting new additions including full-day option for Creative Dance Camp, renowned guest instructors Leslie Crockett and Christopher Hird for Summer Intensive and a new Adult Professional Class taught by Donald Williams

N
evada Ballet Theatre’s affiliated school, the Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre, is pleased to announce its annual summer programs: Creative Dance Camp, for ages 3 to 8, with morning, afternoon or a new, full-day option available; Summer Intensive, an extensive three-week training program for students ages 8 to 20; Summer Session with classes for all ages and levels and Adult Ballet classes including the all-new Adult Professional Class, taught by Donald Williams, former Principal Dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem and current performer with Phantom The Las Vegas Spectacular.

Creative Dance Camp—New! Full-Day Option
Monday, July 12–Friday, July 30.
9 a.m.–noon; 1 p.m.–4 p.m.; 9 a.m.–4 p.m..
Ages: 3–8; no dance experience required.
For several years, the Academy’s annual Creative Dance Camp has been a summer favorite for area children. This year, a full-day option is available to accommodate busy working parents as well as students looking for a longer summer dance experience. Children may attend the morning session, the afternoon session, or choose to stay all day. Divided into two age groups, 3–5 and 6–8, all students will participate in Creative Movement, Arts & Crafts, and Storytelling classes and learn basic ballet terminology, positions and movement. In addition, they will design their own sets and costumes that will be used in an end of the week performance for parents and family.

Summer Intensive with Guest Instructors Leslie Crockett and Christopher Hird
Monday, July 12–Friday, July 30.
9 a.m.–noon or 9 a.m.–4 p.m..
Ages: 8–20.
Designed for students who are seriously pursuing the highest quality dance education and training, this rigorous three-week training program now welcomes students as young as 8 years old. With 25 classes per week in Ballet Technique, Pointe/Pre-Pointe (for upper level students only), Ballet History, Repertoire, Variations, Character, Jazz, Modern, Flamenco and Pilates, guest teachers include former San Francisco Ballet dancer and teacher, Leslie Crockett and Artistic Manager of the Boston Ballet School, Christopher Hird.

In addition to Creative Dance Camp and Summer Intensive, classes for all ages and levels will be offered at the Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre beginning on Monday, June 14 and will run through Friday, August 20. New Adult Ballet classes have been added including “Absolute Beginner” Ballet, Intermediate/Advanced Ballet with morning and afternoon classes available and Pilates/Yoga class. In addition, a special all-new Adult Professional Class will be taught by Donald Williams, formerly of Dance Theatre of Harlem and currently a performer in Phantom The Las Vegas Spectacular.

Annual Summer Classes for all ages and levels
Early Summer Session: Monday, June 14–Friday, July 2.
Late Summer Session: Monday, August 2–Friday, August 20.

Adult Ballet
Monday, June 14–Friday, August 20.
NEW! Absolute Beginning Ballet.
Intermediate and Advanced Class—NEW! Afternoon time.
NEW! Pilates/Yoga Class.

Adult Professional Class
NEW! Adult Professional Class taught by Donald Williams.
Thursday 1:30 p.m.–3 p.m., beginning Thursday, June 17–Thursday, August 19.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF NEVADA BALLET THEATRE
The Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre is the official school of Nevada Ballet Theatre and the premier ballet and dance training center of Southern Nevada. Founded in 1979, the Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization guided by a commitment to excellence in classical ballet tradition. Offering training in many forms of dance with classes for students 18 months of age through adult, the Academy is housed in a 36,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, offering the highest standard of artistic education taught by distinguished and world-renowned instructors.

Donald Williams
A Chicago native, Mr. Williams first studied with Larry Long of the Ruth Page Foundation, then accepted a scholarship to Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) in New York City and subsequently joined the DTH Company. He became a principal dancer in 1983 and ended a 27 year company career as Premier Danseur in 2004.

Known for his versatility, his repertoire encompasses ballet, jazz, African and contemporary idioms. He has performed many leading roles including: George Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante, Agon, The Four Temperaments and Who Cares; Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free, Glen Tetley’s Voluntaries and Dialogues; “Lago” in Jose Limon’s Moors Pavane, “Baron Samedi” in Geoffrey Holders Banda. “Albrecht” in Giselle, “Siegfried” in Swan Lake, Le Corsaire Pas de Deux; Dwight Rhodens’ Ave Maria (original cast) and Twist.

Mr. Williams’ teaching credits include Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Cedar Lake Ensemble, Celine Dion: A New Day, Nevada Ballet Theatre and Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater among others.

In 1998, Mr. Williams made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award winning musical “Ragtime.”He was featured in the national tour of “The Phantom of the Opera” and is currently performing with Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular at the Venetian Resort and Casino.

Summer Intensive Guest Instructors

Leslie Crockett
Leslie Crockett received her formative training from her parents, Barbara and Deane Crockett, early members of the San Francisco Ballet. They were also founders of Sacramento Ballet, and were members of the core group that founded the Pacific Region of Regional Dance America. Other influential teachers were Robert Barnett, Alan Howard, and the Christensen’s—Willam, Harold, Ruby and Lew.

Ms. Crockett’s performing years were spent as a principal dancer with both the Sacramento and Pacific Ballet companies, and in two different time periods, as a corps member and then a soloist with the San Francisco Ballet. She also enjoyed several years with the National Touring Companies of “Hello Dolly” and “Mame.”

Ms. Crockett has taught extensively throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and as a guest teacher throughout the United States. She spent thirteen years as a faculty member of the San Francisco Ballet School and is currently on the faculty of the Marin Ballet School, where she has been for the past 14 years. Ms. Crockett was also very honored to be invited to teach at two Regional Dance America festivals. She has had three experiences as the Adjudicator for RDA, judging and putting together the programs for their annual Festivals.

Christopher Hird
As Artistic Manager of Boston Ballet School, Mr. Hird joined the school in 2003 and was appointed Assistant Principal in 2004, Artistic Coordinator in 2007and Artistic Manager in 2009. Mr. Hird teaches students in the Pre-Professional and Classical Ballet Programs at all levels. He has staged Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Coppélia, La Bayadère, Giselle, Sir Frederick Ashton’s Birthday Offering and Les Patineurs for Boston Ballet School’s Ensemble and Boston Ballet’s Summer Dance Program. Mr. Hird is also a Children’s Ballet Master for Boston Ballet’s productions of La Sylphide and The Nutcracker. Mr. Hird is the coordinator of the Summer Dance Program audition tour.

Mr. Hird is originally from London, England and trained at The Royal Ballet School. He danced professionally as part of a company headlined by the international ballerina Sylvie Guillem, touring Europe. He gained a BA (Hons) degree in Dance from University of Surrey (Roehampton Institute) and the Diploma in Classical Ballet Teaching from Canada’s National Ballet School. Mr. Hird has worked as Assistant to the Director for the British Ballet Organization and Assistant to the Development Manager for The Royal Ballet School. He has been a guest teacher at the Cecchetti Council of America’s East Coast Conference, Harvard University (where he also staged the Pas d’action from La Bayadère for Harvard Ballet Company), Ballet Arts Worcester (where he also staged LA Sylphide) Middlesex University (UK), Boston Dance Alliance, Philips Academy, Andover, British Ballet Organization’s Scholarship classes, Canada’s National Ballet School, and Sun King Adult Dance Camps in Richmond, Virginia.