UA/American Ballet Theatre Team Up For Fourth Dance Intensive & Gala

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama department of theatre and dance and the world-renowned American Ballet Theatre are once again teaming up to host some of America’s finest young dancers on the UA campus as part of the Summer Dance Intensive, July 9-28.

The three-week residential workshop, sponsored by the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) and UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, is now in its fourth year and is one of only three American Ballet Dance Intensives in the country. Besides UA, only Detroit and Los Angeles offer ABT Intensives outside of the Theatre’s New York City location.

Representing more than 38 states across the country, the participants — including junior high school, high school and college students — were selected in auditions held in 18 cities this past spring. They are taught by ABT members, guest artists and UA dance faculty members.

In 1997, The University of Alabama was chosen by ABT for the first summer intensive to be held outside of New York or in partnership with a university. Through this partnership, promising young dancers can and have achieved the highest level of dance training with ABT’s renowned summer program and strong correlating academic curriculum of dance studies.

The American Ballet Theatre is the nation’s premiere dance company. Founded in 1940, the company has been the home of many of the world’s greatest dancers, including Natalia Makarova, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Cynthia Gregory. ABT is known internationally for establishing the American identity for ballet through works choreographed by such artists as Agnes de Mille, George Balanchine and Twyla Tharp. Today it continues to be the destination of choice for the world’s most accomplished dancers.

The ABT Intensive at UA will offer a comprehensive dance curriculum including classes in technique, pointe, pas de deux, men’s classes, jazz and modern dance, and variations. Classes will also be taught in nutrition, injury prevention, career planning, yoga, and dance history.

The Intensive will conclude with two Gala Performances on July 27 and 28 at the Moody Music Concert Hall on the UA campus. Both performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 each and are available the week of the performance in 155 Rowand Johnson Hall on the UA campus between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of each performance. Only cash or personal checks will be accepted as a form of payment.