Student Opportunities

January 18, 2011

Train With Carreño
Summer intensives run by name dancers have long drawn students hoping to catch a little stardust. This August, aspiring professionals can study with American Ballet Theatre’s Jose Manuel Carreño. The soon-to-retire principal has partnered with Sarasota Ballet CEO Robert de Warren to create the Carreño Dance Festival in Florida.

The program places a strong emphasis on performance skills. Students will take many of their classes on the stage of the Sarasota Opera House, forcing them to feel their lines without the mirror and project past the “fourth wall.” On most days, classes are open to the public so that students can practice being in performance mode. The intensive finishes with three concerts where students will dance alongside top international guest artists. Find audition details at carrenodancefestival.com. —Kristin Schwab

YAGP’s New Job Fair
Starting this year, Youth America Grand Prix will host a series of special audition classes for finalists looking to join a professional company. The Job Fair takes place on March 23, directly after the New York finals. Finalists from previous seasons can also participate for $25. See yagp.org. —Jennifer Stahl

Summer Study Scholarships
Need help covering the cost of your summer intensive? Dance Council of North Texas will award 30 scholarships totaling over $27,000 to exceptional young dancers this year. Dancers ages 13 to 21 can apply (even if you aren’t from Texas) and the money can be used at any summer intensive. Scholarships are awarded based on both talent and passion. Apply by February 9 at thedancecouncil.org. —JS

Fouetté To A Full Ride
New York City Dance Alliance is offering a new perk for finalists: the chance to win a college scholarship. Last year, NYCDA partnered with Marymount Manhattan College and University of the Arts in Philadelphia to award $500,000 in scholarships. This year, executive director Joe Lanteri hopes to bump that number up to $1,000,000, and already has added Point Park University to the 2011 roster. He’s raising additional funds through the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation, which includes a partnership with Radio City, a benefit at The Joyce Theater and a fundraising campaign in dance studios across the country. For more, go to nycdance.com and DanceU101.com —JS

Ballet’s Newest Competition
Varna, Lausanne, Jackson…and Boston? This spring, the city hosts the first ever Boston International Ballet Competition, founded by Valentina Kozlova. BIBC will challenge competitors to stick to their variations’ official choreography. “Dancers have a limited rep to choose from,” says Kozlova, “and they aren’t allowed to make changes just so they can do fantastic tricks.”

Apply by:
February 1
Dates:
May 12–16, 2011
Divisions:
Senior (ages 19 to 25), junior (15 to 18) and student (13 and 14)
Open to:
Students and professionals
Rounds:
Seniors and juniors compete in three classical and two contemporary rounds; students have two classical and one contemporary round. Contemporary choreography is by Margo Sappington for the women and Edwaard Liang for men.
Judges:
Mikko Nissinen, Violette Verdy and Septime Webre, among others
Prizes:
Gold, silver and bronze medals, a grand prix, the “Maris Liepa Prize” for artistic excellence, scholarships and a contract at The Washington Ballet Studio Company.
Website:
bostonibc.org
—Charlotte Stabenau