Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley

Oleg Briansky to Teach Master Class – Saturday, February 25th!

Oleg Briansky will be teaching a Master Class at the Ballet Guild on Saturday, February 25, 2012, 12:00pm-2:00pm, with a 1/2 hour question and answer session immediately following the class. As both premier danseur and choreographer, Mr. Briansky has performed with such renowned companies as the Ballet des Champs-Elysees, the Ballet de Paris, London Festival Ballet, the New York Metropolitan Opera Ballet, the Munich Opera Ballet, the Teatro Colon of Buenos Aires and the Chicago Opera Ballet. As international teacher and coach, Mr. Briansky has directed principal dancers from the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, the Boston Ballet, and the National Ballet of Canada. He was one of the founders and directors of the Briansky Saratoga Ballet Center summer ballet intensive which was in operation for 43 years, and currently teaches the Briansky Ballet Center summer dance intensive at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts.

The master class is for upper intermediate/advanced ballet students with at least 4 years of training. Limited space available – reserve now.

$35 – Non BGLV students, $30 – Registered BGLV students, $5 – Observers

Click here for Master Class Registration Form.

Youth America Grand Prix Results!

The Ballet Guild is proud to announce that the five students who recently competed in the Youth America Grand Prix Semi-Finals in Philadelphia received excellent scores – Abigail Altemose (Pre-Competitive Division), Natalie Hedrick, Natalie Krupka, and Jillian Sinko (Junior Division), and Rachel Altemose (Senior Division). In addition, Natalie Hedrick has been invited to the New York Intensive, including Master Classes and the Stars of Today Meet Stars of Tomorrow Gala, to be held in April! We congratulate our students on their accomplishments and their dedication to the art of dance!

Paul Taylor Master Class at the Ballet Guild!

We are very excited to announce that the Paul Taylor Dance Company will be performing at Allentown Symphony Hall on Saturday, January 28th at 8:00pm, and will be offering a Master Class at the Ballet Guild on Friday, January 27th, 4:30-6:00pm! The Paul Taylor Dance Company is described as “one of the most exciting, innovative, and delightful dance companies in the entire world” (The New York Times).

Space for the Master Class is limited to 30 intermediate/advanced students, so contact the Ballet Guild to register NOW! Cost for BGLV students is $10, for non-BGLV students $20. The class will be followed by a showing of “Dancemaker”, an Oscar-nominated documentary about Paul Taylor and his company.

Checks payable to “Allentown Symphony” only will be accepted for this class. Contact the Ballet Guild at (610) 865-0353 for further information. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity!

Class Update for Saturday 1/21

Due to the weather, all classes for Saturday, 1/21/12 have been cancelled. Parent observation will take place next Saturday, 1/28/12, for the missed classes.

Youth America Grand Prix Semi-Finals in Philadelphia This Weekend!

The Ballet Guild is pleased and excited to announce that five students will be competing in the Youth America Grand Prix Semi-Finals in Philadelphia from January 13-15. Rachel Altemose will perform in the Senior Division (variation from Coppelia), Natalie Krupka (variation from Paquita), Natalie Hedrick (variation from Fairy Doll), and Jillian Sinko (variation from Don Quixote), will each perform in the Junior Division, and Abigail Altemose (variation from Sleeping Beauty) will compete in the Pre-Competitive Division. We are very proud of all our dancers and wish each of them the best of luck!

Ballet Guild Students Perform In Rioult Dance Company Production!

Ballet Guild students Alex Vogelgesang, Rachel Starr, Emma Meckfessel, Caitlyn Lazzarini, Elizabeth Burke, & Maya Biechlin auditioned and were selected to perform in Rioult Dance Company’s charming production of Fables and Small Steps, Tiny Revolutions, taking place at Zoellner Arts Center on Sunday, January 15th at 3:00pm.  The Ballet Guild dancers, and other local students, will perform along with professional dancers in the production. The performance re-imagines Aesop’s fables as family-friendly modern dance pieces, and “Small Steps” is the story of a boy whose father forbids him from dancing. Tickets may be purchased through the Zoellner link listed below. Bring your family and support these talented Ballet Guild students for this wonderful performance!

Get Tickets Here – Zoellner Arts Center.

Happy New Year!

Just a reminder that all Pre-Professional and Community Classes resume on Monday, January 2nd! We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in the New Year!

The Nutcracker – December 17 & 18!

The Ballet Guild presents the 43rd annual production of The Nutcracker on Saturday, December 17, 2:00pm & Sunday, December 18, 2:00pm. Our wonderful guest artists from New York City Ballet, Jennie Somogyi and Ask la Cour, as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, will be available for photographs at the Nutcracker Tea & Cocktail Party following the Saturday performance. Other guest artists include Lucius Kirst from the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company and Claire Davison from the Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis School of ABT.  The performances are held at Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University. Tickets are $27-$35, and can be purchased by clicking the link below or calling (610) 758-2787. Join us for this beloved holiday classic!

Click for ticket information – Zoellner Arts Center

Nutcracker Tea Party – Get Tickets Now!

The Nutcracker Tea Party & Cocktail Party will be held on Saturday, December 17th, immediately following the 2:00pm performance of The Nutcracker at Zoellner Arts Center! Jennie Somogyi (seen in this photo) and Ask la Cour, guest artists with the New York City Ballet, will be appearing in costume as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier, and will be available for photos with cast members and guests! Many other cast members will be appearing for photos as well. Ms. Somogyi will be autographing 3 pairs of pointe shoes for the raffle, and there will be beautiful baskets, tickets, overnight vacation opportunities raffled to lucky winners, together with party food, drink, and live holiday music! Tickets are available for $15/person through Zoellner’s website or at the Ballet Guild office. Join us for this wonderful holiday event!

Click for ticket information - Zoellner Arts Center

Fabulous Master Class with Juan Carlos Penuela!

The Ballet Guild hosted a fabulous master class this past Sunday, lead by Juan Carlos Penuela of Ballet Hispanico and Alvin Ailey dance companies! Ballet Guild students as well as other Lehigh Valley dancers participated in the two hour class, followed by a 1/2 hour question and answer session. Mr. Penuela is currently the official ballet master of the annual International Ballet Festival of Colombia in South America and with Ballet Hispanico Company and School. Look for photographs of the class in the gallery section of our website, and be sure to join us for future master classes scheduled in 2012!