Sign-ups for Maine State School for the Performing Arts Summer Ballet Workshops Still Open

Workshop placement auditions to be held July 1-3

The Maine State School for the Performing Arts summer ballet camp has openings for area dancers. The workshops run from July 7 to August 15 with guest teachers from New York City Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet.

In addition to ballet technique and pointe instruction, the dancers will also have classes in variations, character, jazz and modern dance.

For the past 10 summers, the Maine School for the Performing Arts (MSSPA), the official school of the Maine State Ballet, has offered an intensive ballet workshops to train serious young dancers in the Balanchine style with world renown guest teachers - this year with Robert Steele and Adam Luders. Adam Luders is a former principal male dancer with NYC Ballet and has taught for the Royal Danish Ballet. Robert Steele was Boston Ballet's premiere principal male dancer for many years.

Dancers from the workshops will have the opportunity to participate in the Maine State Ballet's summer performance of Don Quixote at Merrill Auditorium on Friday, August 15 at 7 p.m. Tickets for Don Quixote will go on sale Monday, July 21. Tickets will be available by calling PortTix at 842-0800, or online at www.porttix.com or www.mainestateballet.org.

Workshop placement auditions for students who do not currently dance at MSSPA will be conducted by Linda Miele and Gail Csoboth at 3 p.m. on July 1, 2 and 3. Mrs. Miele is the company director and has choreographed 18 original ballets for MSB. She received her training from George Balanchine and toured worldwide with the New York City Ballet Company. Ms. Csoboth studied classical ballet in New York City and performed with the American Ballet Theatre.

To schedule an audition, or for more info on the summer camp workshops, persons may call (207) 856-1662 or visit the Maine State Ballet's website at www.mainestateballet.org. Maine State Ballet, established in 1986, has become the leading professional dance company in the State of Maine. Working together, Maine State Ballet and the Maine State School for the Performing Arts encourage students to become active, intelligent young artists who will emerge as artistic leaders in their communities.

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