BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Brooklyn Ballet’s first International Summer Intensive is taking place through July 23 at St. Francis College and in the company’s newly inaugurated studio space at The Schermerhorn in Downtown Brooklyn.
The Summer Intensive has evolved as Founding Artistic Director Lynn Parkerson and Brooklyn Ballet Conservatory Director Caridad Martinez envisioned a program with the capacity to expand Brooklyn’s presence in the international dance scene, while offering exclusive professional training to students in the borough and beyond.
“But we didn’t have enough space,” said Artistic Director Lynn Parkerson. “We need at least two studios.”
When the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office heard about the intensive, they immediately thought of St. Francis College as an ideal partner to meet the space needs of the workshop. St. Francis is conveniently located just a few blocks from Brooklyn Ballet’s studio.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Brooklyn Ballet to the campus of St. Francis College,” said Tim Houlihan, vice president for academic affairs. “We are all looking forward to the Summer Intensive and to future collaborations.”
About the Workshop
The intensive serves students ages 8 through adult and is the first ballet workshop of its kind in the New York area. An important aspect of the workshop is the Cuban Ballet methodology as developed by Caridad Martinez, a former principal dancer with the National Ballet of Cuba.
The workshop includes Technique, Pointe, Pas de Deux, Variations, Choreography and Yoga. Martinez will be joined by Pedro Ruiz, Matthew Powell, Bianco Alonso, Brooklyn Ballet Artistic Director Lynn Parkerson, and faculty member Megan Brunke.
In addition to professional level technique classes led by world-renowned instructors, offerings will include open rehearsals in Downtown Brooklyn and a culminating performance by workshop participants on Thursday, July 22.
Making Ballet Accessible
The cost of the intensive is low, $500 to $900 for three weeks of incredible teaching by esteemed faculty. In addition, as the workshop grows the Ballet’s summer intensive will aid in Brooklyn Ballet’s mission to highlight Brooklyn’s place on the international stage and contribute to cultural tourism in the borough.
he program will also provide opportunities for further community outreach, chiefly through performance of classical and neo-classical repertory learned during the intensive. Public performance is an essential component in Brooklyn Ballet’s intimate relationship with the community.
The summer workshop will feature a culminating performance on Thursday, July 22, which will include excerpts from prestigious repertory by George Balanchine, new works, and the classics.
To ensure that the summer intensive adheres to the company’s stringent commitment to making dance accessible to everyone, Brooklyn Ballet will provide scholarship opportunities for talented students who demonstrate financial need in order to curtail the costs of attending the workshop. Professional dancers can take the workshop for 50 percent of the tuition cost.
For more information about the upcoming summer intensive, call (718) 246-0146 or visit the web site www.brooklynballet.org.
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