Ellison Ballet Celebrates 10 Years
In 2004, as dancers waited in the hallway for their usual morning class at Steps on Broadway in New York City, they could catch a glimpse of teacher Edward Ellison privately coaching individuals in a small studio near the reception desk. From that handful of students, the former San Francisco Ballet soloist formed Ellison Ballet in 2005, a small, selective pre-professional school that in 10 short years has grown into a full-time program complete with year-round housing and three summer intensives—and an impressive list of alumni.
Ellison’s students have joined the rosters of the Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and Staatsballett Berlin, among others, and are frequent finalists and winners of international ballet competitions. “He really helps with all the details, especially how to connect to your partner,” says current student Juliette Bosco, who recently won first place in the Junior Division and the Pas de Deux Award at the 2015 Youth America Grand Prix finals in NYC.
No one is more surprised at how quickly the program took off than Ellison. “In this information age, word travels so fast with a click of a mouse,” he says. “I think it also became very attractive because people understood that not everyone could get in—which in a way, attracted more talent at auditions.” He also credits the curriculum’s commitment to the Vaganova method. “I believe in it wholeheartedly as a very logical and strong foundation for a dancer to spring from,” he says. “The dancers are able to become versatile because they have such a strong base.”
Current students and alumni are gathering together for Ellison Ballet’s 10th Anniversary Celebration May 15 and 16 at Symphony Space in NYC. The program includes a one-act Carmen, as well as excerpts from ballets such as Flames of Paris, Grand Pas Classique and Esmeralda.
Ellison Ballet student Juliette Bosco, photo by Rachel Neville Photography
