Pennsylvania Ballet Announces Training Intensive

Two of this country's most highly regarded classical ballet institutions, Pennsylvania Ballet and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, will introduce an artistic collaboration entitled Beyond Technique, August 3-16, 2008 at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet's state-of-the-art studios in Carlisle, PA. Pennsylvania Ballet's Artistic Director Roy Kaiser, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet's Founder and Artistic Director Marcia Dale Weary, are pleased to announce the inaugural summer of their distinctive dual intensive, designed to extend the usual boundaries of dance training.

In many ways, the inception of the Beyond Technique collaboration was predestined. "It is the fulfillment of a dream I have had for a long time," says Barbara Weisberger, Pennsylvania Ballet's Founder, who will serve as Artistic Advisor of the program. In addition to the long-standing respect between the two Pennsylvania-based companies, their most inherent tie can be traced to the sustained relationship between Marcia Dale Weary and Ms. Weisberger, which began when she was Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet's first guest teacher nearly a half-century ago.

Founded in 1963 by Balanchine student and protégée Barbara Weisberger, Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the nation's leading ballet companies. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the Company's annual local season features six programs of classic favorites and contemporary works.

Over the past 52 years Central Pennsylvania Ballet has grown from a small local dancing school to an internationally renowned classical ballet school and student performing company. Today, with studios in the historic Barn and the nearby Warehouse, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet continues to provide exceptional dance training for beginning to career-entry level dancers, not only from Central Pennsylvania but from across the United States and other countries around the world. Many students from Weary's extensive roster have gone on to professional careers, including Principal Dancers Zachary Hench, Ashley Bouder of New York City Ballet, Noelani Pantastico of Pacific Northwest Ballet and Tina Le Blanc of San Francisco Ballet, among others.

The Beyond Technique intensive seeks those special career entry-level dancers, ages 14-21, who are soundly trained in classical ballet, interested in other dance forms and arts disciplines, and inspired by the opportunity to apply their training in a vigorous choreographic setting. Chosen dancers will be invited to join the members of Pennsylvania Ballet II, who will be in residence throughout the program.

During the two-week intensive, those selected will attend morning technique classes that concentrate on ballet, pointe, men's class, partnering, and modern dance. Afternoon and evening activities will focus on Learning Ballet Repertory: from the late 18th century to Balanchine and beyond; Movement, Music and Dance-Making; Looking at Dance: history and performance; and the setting of an original ballet on the Beyond Technique group of dancers by Matthew Neenan, Pennsylvania Ballet's Choreographer In Residence.

The full day schedule will be led by a distinguished faculty, guest artists and other leaders in the dance field, including: Ruth Andrien, Elizabeth Aldrich, Carol Bartlett, William DeGregory, Robert Greskovic, Rafael Grigorian, Tamara Hadley, Darla Hoover, Roy Kaiser, Marcia Dale Weary, and Barbara Weisberger. -- www.paballet.org