CFB Selects Students for Summer Intensive

This Saturday, January 14 marks the annual audition for the Central Florida Ballet's Summer Intensive Dance Program. This intensive ballet-focused program provides formal Russian classical ballet training for local and out-of-town students. "We find our dancers improve their classical technique significantly over the duration of this program for several reasons." says Diane Withee, the CFB School Director.

Photo By: Virginia Trudeau & Deedee Sherman

For one, our Russian style of training is known as one of the most difficult, but rewarding in the dance world. The Central Florida Ballet's Founder & Executive Director, Vasile Petrutiu, and Artistic Director, Vladimir Bykov, are primary instructors of the Summer Intensive and both were trained in national elite ballet schools under the Vaganova (Russian) style.  Furthermore, students are able to focus their whole day on just dance during the summer term. Meaning they have ample time and energy to perfect their dance vocabulary while learning new steps. The Advanced level students have a full day of classes Monday-Friday.

A typical day begins at 9:00am with ballet technique followed by pointe and variations. Then after a one hour lunch break students continue with classes in complimenting dance styles such as modern, jazz, character, lyrical, yoga or repertoire where they learn a ballet presented in a final performance for family and friends at the end of the session. Plus each week different workshops are given discussing dance-related topics including dance history, acting, stage make-up and hair, and nutrition. Since opening in 2000, the CFBA's exemplary training method is shining brighter than ever..Recent Alumni of the Central Florida Ballet Academy and Summer Intensive include:

• Sasha De Sola, Corps de Ballet with San Francisco Ballet
• Joanna Schmidt, Graduate Program at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater
• Meredith Harrill, Trainee with Joffrey Ballet
• Kristin Mitchell, Pre-Professional Program at Boston Ballet
  
• Arielle Martin, Professional Division at the School of Pacific Northwest Ballet
• Hunter Finnegan, Student at the School of Pittsburgh Ballet Theater 

For more information on the CFB Summer Intensive Dance Program visit the official website page here or call 407.849.9942.