Greenwich Ballet Academy Presents June Gala performance With A Silent Auction

GREENWICH, Conn. - May 20, 2014 - PRLog -- The award-winning Greenwich Ballet Academy (http://www.greenwichballetacademy.org) (GBA) continues its tradition of excellence in dance training with a moving performance of Paquita, on Saturday, June 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., in the beautiful Massey Theater in the Wallace Performing Arts Center at 200 North Maple Avenue in Greenwich. A silent auction featuring a selection of wonderful items will also take place between performances and during intermissions. All students will be performing, with Maria Jose Esquivel of Stamford dancing the lead. Maria most recently danced the Snow Queen pas de deux in GBA's highly acclaimed December 2013 performance of the Nutcracker.

The Greenwich Ballet Academy, recently voted Fairfield and Westchester Counties best ballet program by Serendipity Magazine, offers highly specialized training, emphasizing the Russian Vaganova method of instruction. The highly successful program gives students the ability to study classical ballet alongside and study under recognized professionals.  Several of its students have gone on to become successful professional dancers.

"Our talented students have achieved the pinnacle of grace and beauty with their hard work preparing for this incredible performance," said Yuri Vodolaga, GBA artistic director. "Working alongside professional performers, our students have quickly learned the joy of ballet, learned the discipline necessary for a successful performance and are prepared to transform the audience's imagination for a fascinating look into the Napoleonic occupation of Spain and the romantic life of the young Gypsy girl, Paquita."

The dramatic ballet takes place in Spain during Napoleon's occupation, and features Paquita, a young Gypsy girl who later discovers that she is of noble birth, and is able to marry her love, a young French officer. The academy will also perform divertissements that showcase their talent.

Paquita, first performed by the Paris Opera Ballet in 1846 and then in Russia in 1847 by the Imperial Ballet of St. Petersburg by Marius Petipa, the first work staged in Russia by Petipa. Petipa produced a revival of the ballet in 1881, and some pieces of that revival remain a cornerstone of traditional ballet repertory today.

All pre-academy and academy students will be performing; older Early Prep students will also perform at the 2 p.m. show. The performance caps off a full season of hard work by the students, and will be the final performance before they advance to the next level. Tickets are available at the Greenwich Ballet Academy (http://www.greenwichballetacademy.org) website. Early patron tickets for donors may be obtained by calling the office at 914-305-4377.

About Greenwich Ballet Company

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 provide classes in modern and character dance, and contemporary ballet. 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.