2010 Summer Workshops

Explore excellence in dance education this summer with one of the finest workshops on the East Coast.

Summer Workshop Registration

Senior Workshop  (completed)

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Junior Workshop Levels 1-3 Dates July 26th – August 6th Registration Fee: $25 | Tuition: $200 Total: $225 Events will be Ocean Breeze and Skating   **Still enrolling at this time!

Extended day care: $45 per week

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Petite Camp Ages 5-6 Dates August 9th – 13th Registration Fee: $25 | Tuition: $100 Total: $125

**Still enrolling at this time!

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For registration please stop by our office or call us at: 757-548-2122

Summer Workshop (Senior)

Ballet technique, pointe, character dance, Jazz,hip hop, breakdancing, lyrical, conditioning/stretch are all offered during the Senior Workshop.

Academie de Ballet and Dance Centre is happy to announce their new summer workshop is expanding this year. Because many of our students have received scholarships to universities, joined professional companies, and are in dance ministries, we are expanding our program to better equip our students. This year, we will add four guest instructors to the senior workshop that will lengthen the teaching period to 27.5 hours of instruction per week! We are also adding a pre-professional level for high school graduates that are pursuing dance professionally. The junior workshop is for dancers that have already completed levels one, two, three, or three/four in classical ballet training. It will include ballet technique, pre pointe for those deemed ready, jazz, lyrical, conditioning/stretch, and character dance. This year an after- camp care option is available for pickup before 5:30pm(addition fee applies).

 Our summer workshops can help you to become strong in your technique, increase flexibility and strength, experience diversity with other dance forms, understand musicality, and learn about the art of choreography. It can help you advance to the top of your dance class. Each year, students throughout the country come to our summer workshop for training.

 We have found there is a wide variety of ability in summer workshop students. Our goal is to train each dancer in a manner that addresses their individual needs. There is counseling and training to help overcome those areas of dance that are most difficult for them.

 It is essential that students in levels 1 thru 6 continue training during the summer if they wish to maintain what they have accomplished during the year. They will also experience more dance styles and receive instruction from a variety of teachers.

 All applicants must currently be in dance training and be able to dance five hours daily, five days a week. Each student will be evaluated for class placement. We hope that your dance experience with us will be positive physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We look forward to the summer with your child.

 Our World-Class Teachers

 We are blessed again this year to have Elena Petrovna Bendel, 1974 graduate of Moscow Choreographic School. Ms. Bendel joined the famous Stanislavsky Moscow Opera Ballet Theatre where she performed principal roles in Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Paquita, Esmeralda, Chopianna, Les Sylphides, and many others. She has toured with the Company to many countries such as Spain, Brazil, Venezuela, Hungary, Greece, Israel, Taiwan, and the US. Ms. Bendel was an integral part of Masterworks’ production of Hadassah. We are grateful for her expertise. Ms. Bendel has a great deal to offer our students and we look forward to her training them in the Senior Workshops.

  Melissa Moore is a North Carolina native. She has 38 years dance experience and has taught for the last 23 years. Melissa is Director of the Associate Arts Program at Academie de Ballet. Melissa has been with Academie for 12 years teaching intermediate to advanced levels of Jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, and acrobatics. She also teaches Dance Composition in the Senior Summer Intensive. Much of Melissa’s training has been in NYC and on the West Coast. She was certified to teach by Dance Masters of America in 1986 and performed with the Carolina Dance Masters Protégés. She has taught in both private and public schools and is a circuit judge for dance competitions. Melissa strives to offer an education that will allow our students to pursue a professional dance career, if they so choose, while making the class enjoyable for all. Melissa, husband Ron, and daughters Ashley and Rachel reside in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Andrei Yemelianov received his training at the Kiev Choreographic Institute in the Ukraine. He has danced with the Jewish Independent Theater and Donetsk Ballet, and in the US with Richmond Ballet. Locally, he has performed in Masterworks’ production of Hadassah, One Nation Under God, The Christmas Gift, and The Play for four years. Andrei has most recently choreographed and performed in “Lily and the Gypsies.” He is currently Ballet Master at Academie de Ballet and has prepared many students for their careers in dance. He and his wife Natalia live in Chesapeake, Virginia and have two young children.

  2010’s Guest Teachers

 Sandra Balestracci has maintained her high standards of excellence in dance education for over 45 years. She has received the coveted “Outstanding Teacher Award” at the International Youth America Grand Prix Dance Competition in 2002, 2005, and 2008. Ms. Balestracci’s dance studies began in Boston, Massachusetts under the tutelage of film legend Harriet Hoctor. Her training continued in New York City, at the American Ballet Theater School. She credits Professor Mario Ignisci, Ana Roje, Sulamith Messerer, Mme. Nemtchinova, and Mme Swoboda. At the age of 19, Ms. Balestracci’s career began with her debut as a soloist with Radio City Music Hall Ballet Company. For over 25 years, she was principal soloist with many of America’s major opera and ballet companies, including New York City Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Miami City Opera. She toured extensively with concert ballet companies throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and South America. Ms. Balestracci has released numerous ballet recordings since the 80’s, with Elaine Chelton Mastrogiacomo, principal pianist with the New York City Ballet, Sophie Velberg, principal pianist with American Ballet Theater, and Rodney Hazen, principal pianist at numerous ballet schools in NYC. Today, Ms. Balestracci is co-director of the Eastern Virginia School of Performing Arts and Artistic Director/Choreographer for the American Youth Ballet Company in Williamsburg, VA. 

   Ryan Warren has been dancing since he was 7 years old and has trained all over the nation from Dallas’ The Centre, to Los Angeles and New York at The Millenium and Broadway Dance Center from the nations top choreographers. He began teaching at several studios in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, including the DFW Performing Arts Conservatory, and has choreographed for the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders for five seasons. Ryan has received many awards for his individualistic style including “Best Choreography” at the 2007 Star Light National Competition, was featured in a 2007 Pepsi commercial, and was a backup dancer for country sensation Carrie Underwood. Ryan is currently teaching hip-hop for the convention Dance Revolution and is also partnered with an all hip-hop convention, Urban Legends, along with Nick Zborowoski and Jeremy Keeton. Ryan recently graduated from Dallas Baptist University where he has a degree in Psychology and Biblical Studies. Ryan gives all the glory and thanks for his dancing career to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Anthony Guitierrez comes to us from Arizona. He has been a featured breakdancer in many concerts and showcases. We are so excited to add such a talented teacher to our staff! You will love his smile and encouraging words!

For registration please stop by our office or call us at: 757-548-2122