Companies Nationwide Support the CFB Nutcracker Silent Auction

The Central Florida Ballet is gearing up for its annual Nutcracker Silent Auction, which is a 100% fundraising activity where all monies raised go towards bringing the arts to school's who lack funding for the arts.

The silent auctions will be held before performances of The Nutcracker on December 13 and 14 at the Orange County Convention Center.

Companies nationwide have stepped up to support these educational and outreach programs including 1) FREE In-School performances for students in Orange County serving 1,000+ students per year, 2) highly reduced or free ticket admission for Title-1 Schools and disadvantaged youth groups within the Orlando area to attend a performance at the Orange County Convention Center, and 3) the Children's Ballet Series created specially for our youngest audiences in the Central Florida area.

 Pictured: A group of students meet characters during the Central Florida Ballet's school performance of The Nutcracker.

Companies donating items to the 2014 Nutcracker Silent Auction include:

Arnold Palmer
Atlantis Resort & Casino Reno, NV
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Christopher Anthony Salon & Spa
Cirque du Soleil
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Dance Wear Corner
Euro Day Spa
Family Vacation Trust
First Watch
Garden Theatre
Glazer Children's Museum
Kennedy Space Center
Orlando City Soccer Club
Orlando Science Center
Pier 39
Pink Calyx
Portrait Innovations
Premier Cancun Vacations
PRP Wine International
Ranger's Pet Outpost & Retreat
Southwest Orlando Eye Care
Thirty-One Gifts
Tiny Prints
Whole Foods Market
WonderWorks Orlando
Xtreme Bowling & Karting
Yoga Private Lesson by Shata Ben-Avari
More To Be Announced

The deadline to receive item donations is November 17, 2014. Businesses wishing to donate can do so by downloading the Auction Donation form here and the official letter. Please direct any questions to: Kailey Klopfenstein at kklopfenstein@centralfloridaballet.com or please call 407.849.9948, ext 10.

Plus be sure to mark your calendar for the Central Florida Ballet's auction and performances.

Nutcracker Performances: 
Held at Linda Chapin Theater, Orange County Convention Center (Tickets $24-80)
Ticket link: cfb.interticket.com
Event page: Nutcracker performance page
Saturday, December 13 @ 2pm
Saturday, December 13 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, December 14 @ 2pm

Nutcracker Auctions:
Held in lobby beside the Linda Chapin Theater (free admission)
Event page: Nutcracker auction page
Saturday, December 13 @ 6:30pm
Saturday, December 14 @ 1pm

Hunter Finnegan talks life at Tulsa Ballet

We caught up with Hunter Finnegan to discuss his move to a new city, dancing professionally with The Tulsa Ballet and take a look back at his training at the Ballet Academy of Central Florida (the official school of Central Florida Ballet).

Hunter training at the Ballet Academy of Central Florida in 2010.

#1 At what age did you start training at the Ballet Academy of Central Florida (BACF)?
I started at BACF at the age of 9 right after I quit gymnastics.

#2 What are some of your most memorable highlights during your years training at BACF?
I have to say the highlights for me were the rehearsals for The Nutcracker and recitals. They were very fun and pretty crazy. I always had a great time working with Vladimir Bykov, because he is a really fun person even though it may seem like he is yelling at you all the time.

A flashback to Hunter participating in the World Ballet Competition USA 2010 - where he won the Silver Medal in the Preparatory Category (ages 12-13).

 
#3 What featured roles did you enjoy dancing the most with the Central Florida Ballet professional company and the Studio Company? 
I have to say my favorite roles were Fritz from The Nutcracker and The Wolf from Peter and The Wolf.

#4 How was the transition to Tulsa? Was it tough to leave your family and friends? How do you keep in contact with them? 
The transition to Tulsa was surprisingly very easy. I have been away from home for the past 3 years in Pittsburgh, PA (training at The School of Pittsburgh Ballet Theater) so I'm used to being away from home. I call, text, email and Skype with my family. Thank goodness for technology!

#5 What is a typical day like at Tulsa Ballet?
I have company class from 9:30 - 11 Monday - Thursday and on Friday it's until 10:45. We then get a 15 minute break from class to rehearsals. At every hour we get a 5 minute break due to the requirements of the AGMA union. We have an hour for lunch from 2:15 - 3:15. Then we finish the day at exactly 6:10 except for Friday which we end at 5:55.

Hunter's Selfie sitting in the auditorium for Tulsa Ballet's rehearsal week.

 
#6 What did you learn from the Ballet Academy of Central Florida that has helped you at Tulsa Ballet?
I've learned my technique and discipline at BACF and the ability to learn things quickly.

#7 What surprised you most about dancing at Tulsa Ballet?
The classes are very Russian based. Also, the amount of time to learn ballets is not very long. 

#8 What do you think about your accomplishment of receiving a contract with Tulsa Ballet?
I think it is an honor for me to get hired at Tulsa Ballet. They pick their dancers very carefully so even if I believe that I don't deserve to dance here there is something they see in me that they want for the company.

#9 What is your dream role to dance at Tulsa Ballet? 
I don't have a dream role but I would happy with any principal role or as long as I am performing I will be fine.

The dancing never stops! Hunter in Tulsa - dancing with a friend and famous statue.

ABOUT HUNTER: Hunter Finnegan began his ballet training at the Ballet Academy of Central Florida at age nine. Originally training in gymnastics, he transferred his focus to ballet while also studying Irish dancing. He appeared as Fritz in the Central Florida Ballet's Nutcracker as well as being featured in many soloist roles of CFB productions including those in Peter and the Wolf, 9/11 An American Moment, The Toy Shop, La Vivandiere, and The Ugly Duckling.

He won the Silver Medal in the Preparatory Category at the World Ballet Competition USA in 2010 and was later spotted by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School. He then moved to Pittsburgh in August of 2011 and continued his training for the next three years where he just graduated in May of this year (2014). He then participated in the World Ballet Competition's 2014 International Job Fair in June and was awarded a contract for the Tulsa Ballet's 2014-15 Season.

Six Academy Students Chosen for World Ballet Competition

Six students of the Central Florida Ballet Academy are set to compete in the prestigious World Ballet Competition's annual finals held in Orlando, Florida, USA at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center from June 9 - 14, 2014.

Selected from applicants spanning the entire world, CFB students will be competing in the following categories:  Introductory (age 9-11), Preparatory (ages 12-13), Professional (age 18-24), and Choreography (age 9-24).

The six students selected from the Central Florida Ballet Academy include:

Starting from Top Left:
Elizabeth Cotter of Windermere, age 12
Jasmine Jasper of Orlando, age 13
Aurora Naatjes of Orlando, age 12

Starting from Bottom Left:
Tua Tevaga of Orlando, age 11
Cassandra LeRette of Casselberry, age 16
Kailey Withee of Winter Springs, age 18

The World Ballet Competition is one of the largest and most popular international ballet competitions. For the 2014 finals held in Orlando, participants will be representing Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, Cuba, Ecuador, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Serbia, South Korea, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Taiwan, United States of America, and Ukraine!

All competition rounds are open to the public and held at 5pm daily (June 9-13). The electrifying All Stars of Dance Gala concludes the week-long event on Saturday, June 14 at 7:30pm. This one-night-only performance features international dance celebrities and winners from the competition.  

For information and tickets, visit http://www.WorldBalletCompetition.com or call 407-849-4669.

Central Florida Ballet Remodels Studio Location, Sets Open House Dates

The Central Florida Ballet (CFB) has remodeled its studio location at 3306 Maggie Blvd., Ste B, Orlando, FL 32811 and is set to host an Open House on Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31.

 Photo by: David McKee, Graphic Design: Eva de Luigi

The Open House will offer studio tours, opportunity to view Academy classes, and prize giveaways including tickets to the upcoming World Ballet Competition and it's thrilling All Stars of Dance gala performance - enter to win simply by taking a tour of the studios. Plus everyone will receive exclusive discounts on registration! Find more information on the official website by clicking here.

CFB has resided in their current location since 2008, however the recent remodel makes the studio feel like a new home. "I am very pleased with the results. Dancers will have more space to relax before and in between classes, plus we have more space to house our costumes and props during the year" says CFB Founder and Executive Director, Vasile Petrutiu. "It makes the location feel more open and inviting".

The plan for remodel included:

1) Building a loft space to house costumes and props
2) Building an additional dancer's lounge area
3) Tiling and adding new fixtures in all of its dressing room areas and bathrooms
4) Expanding the men's dressing room


"I love the new renovations, I think it makes the studio more complete. Now the other students and I have more room to relax, and I love the floors! I give it a 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you to everyone that helped and made it possible." - CFBA Student, Jasmine Jasper.

"I'm very impressed, fantastic job" - Adult student

"The dancers are really enjoying the new space, its brought renewed energy to the atmosphere" - Vladimir Bykov, Artistic Director

"It feels more open and inviting, and dancers have more space to chill out between classes" - Vasile Petrutiu, Founder & Executive Director

View Select Photos of the Central Florida Ballet 
Academy's remodeled facility here:

Women's Dressing Room Area after the remodel (with new tile and benches)

Remodeled Hallway leading to Dancer's Lounge and Studio 3

New Lounge for Dancers (brand new space)

 Men's Dressing Room after remodel

Studio 1 

Studio 2

Studio 3

The Central Florida Ballet is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization with a mission is to entertain, educate, and inspire through the universal art form of dance. Innovative ballet productions and educational programs are the keystones of the Central Florida Ballet, with national recognition from CNN Headline News, USA Today, and the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. Each year, this professional ballet company presents the highly acclaimed World Ballet Competition and All Stars of Dance. It's affiliate school, the Central Florida Ballet Academy, is an award-winning school with students annually winning top titles at area competitions and receiving scholarships worldwide.

CFB Student, Aurora Naatjes, Receives Special Mention from WBC OPEN in Romania

 
Photo by: Ovidiu Matiu, Aurora Naatjes performing Variation from Flames of Paris

March 24, 2014 - Aurora Naatjes, age 12, traveled to Sibiu, Romania to compete in the World Ballet Competition OPEN 2014 from March 20-23. A student of the Central Florida Ballet Academy, she was the only competitor in her age category representing the United States of America!

She placed 4th in the first day of qualifying rounds and was selected to compete on the finals day at the: WBC OPEN Excellence Award Contest.

At the Award Ceremony, she received an "Honorable Mention" in the Introductory Category - the largest category in the competition.

She ended her trip to Romania with a feature in the WBC OPEN's Gala of the Stars where Aurora performed her contemporary "Empire State Of Mind" to a full house!

View Aurora's award and other winning competitors at http://www.worldballetcompetition.com/wbc-open/winners/2014-winners.html 

For information or to schedule a trial class at the CFB Academy, please call 407-849-9948, ext 10 or visit http://www.centralfloridaballet.com

CFB Hosts Auditions for Harid Conservatory and Hartt School

We are pleased to announce that The Central Florida Ballet will be hosting auditions this month for the following schools below. Each audition will be held at CFB Studios located at 3306 Maggie Blvd., Suite B, Orlando, Florida 32811.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22

Hartt School's Summer Intensive Audition

"From Studio to Stage" led by Angel Corella

Registration begins at: 1:30pm

Auditions begins at: 2pm

Click here for more info

 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16

The Harid Conservatory's Summer Intensive Audition

Registration begins at: 11am

Audition begins at: 11:30am

Click here for more info

Location of Auditions:
Central Florida Ballet Studios, 3306 Maggie Blvd, Suite B, Orlando, FL 32811