Greenwich Ballet Academy Announces Master Class with Principal Dancers from American Ballet Theatre

GREENWICH, Conn. - April 24, 2013 - PRLog -- Greenwich, CT – Greenwich Ballet Academy (GBA) (http://greenwichballetacademy.org/) instructor Mr. Yuri Vodolaga (http://greenwichballetacademy.org/about-greenwich-ballet-academy/our-faculty/yuri-vodolaga/), recent winner of the Outstanding Teacher's Award at last month’s Youth American Grand Prix ballet competition, announces a special Master Class to be taught by two world class ballet artists.

On Monday, April 29th, Natalia Osipova (http://www.abt.org/dancers/dancer_display.asp?Dancer_ID=230) and Ivan Vasiliev will visit Greenwich Ballet Academy. From 5:30-8:00pm they will teach a Master Class to levels 4-8 students and coach a rehearsal of excerpts from La Bayadere, the production at the core of the school's repertoire for its June Graduation Gala performance to be held on June 15th.

A Master Class is when a prominent professional dance artist visits for a class or series of classes to teach advanced students. Such opportunities are rare and special for students. Osipova and Vasiliev are two of the top principals at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), and are presently at the height of their careers, frequently selling out their performances.

“We are thrilled for our students,” says Vodolaga, “since such exceptional performers are infrequently available to teach. Such opportunities are one way that we try to prepare our students to perform ballet at the highest levels.”

The GBA, which nurtures talented young students toward careers in professional ballet, has a history of bringing in legendary dancers, such as Allegra Kent, Leslie Browne and Irina Dvorovenko, to teach Master Classes at the Academy.  Now included on that list will be Ms. Osipova and Mr. Vasiliev who are among the world’s foremost artists in classical ballet today. They are presently principal dancers for the American Ballet Theatre, the Royal Ballet and the Michailovsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Vasiliev first appeared as a guest artist with American Ballet Theatre in 2011 and was named a Principal Dancer with ABT in September 2012.  Among his numerous awards, he received Grand Prix at the International Dance Open Festival in 2011.  Osipova made her first appearance with American Ballet Theatre as a guest artist in 2009 and her awards include the Grand Prize at the Prix de Luxembourg International Ballet Competition in 2003, two Golden Mask awards (2007 & 2008) and in 2008 she won both the Leonide Massine's Positano Dance Award and the Benois de la Danse Award as Best Female Dancer.

“This special Master Class is a great follow-up on last month’s accomplishments at the Youth American Grand Prix Semi-Finals,” said Vodolaga. “We just want to keep the momentum going to assure our students have the skills and stage experience they need to achieve their dream of being professional dancers.”

Last month, along with Mr. Vodolaga’s Outstanding Teacher Award, three GBA dancers place high enough at the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) Semi-Finals to advance to the Finals in New York City with one dancer receiving the highest honor available at the regional level.  The YAGP is the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition that awards over $250,000 annually in scholarships to leading dance schools worldwide.

The special Master Classes are being funded by the GBA and will only be available to registered GBA students.  Limited seating, however, will be available for any wishing to watch the class at the GBA studios located at 181 Westchester Avenue, Suite 306, Port Chester, NY.  Those who wish to reserve a seat should call 914-305-4377.

About Greenwich Ballet Academy

The Greenwich Ballet Academy is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) institution that nurtures talented dancers, ages 4-21, toward careers in classical ballet and contemporary dance with a unique emphasis on the Russian Vaganova method of instruction. GBA is the only school in the lower Fairfield and Westchester County area to offer this specialized type of training.

The professional faculty also provides classes in modern and character dance, and contemporary ballet. Small classes, taught by renowned professionals, ensure that each student is given the personal attention and instruction needed to reach her/his ultimate potential. The Academy takes great care in directing each of its students on an individual path toward excellence.

Our goal is to make classical ballet and contemporary dance accessible to any talented child with a dream of being a professional dancer, and to give each student an opportunity to acquire the needed skills and stage experience crucial to her/his future in dance.

GBA students have earned accolades at international ballet competitions and have joined professional ballet companies. For more information on performances and training, please visit the GBA website: www.greenwichballetacademy.org.

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