City Youth Ballet - Johnson City, TN

City Youth Ballet will join First Friday festivities in downtown Johnson City with a series of performances at The Charles Building on Main Street. First Friday is a monthly arts and music festival featuring artists throughout the region.

The CYB performances will showcase the work of our local ballet dancers and excerpts from the CYB’s productions. On Aug. 7, CYB will show excerpts from its spring performances of “Snow White” done in conjunction with the Johnson City Ballet Academy, the CYB’s training school.

“These performances are a way to bring ballet to the people of Johnson City who have supported us for so many years,” says Susan Pace-White, CYB’s artistic director. “We can introduce ballet to some and get the word out about our work in the arts.”

The Charles Building is located across from Hands On! Museum and just a few doors down from the Nelson Fine Art Gallery, the epicenter of the First Friday activities. For more information, contact Susan Pace-White, CYB artisitic director, 423-434-2195.

The City Youth Ballet welcomes in late July and early August two outstanding guest instructors in ballet and modern. All dancers are invited to attend classes.

Marvin Askew, executive director of the Buffalo (NY) City Ballet and a long-time guest instructor and performer for the City Youth Ballet, will lead classes July 20-24, 11-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3 p.m. Cost is $20 a class.

Mr. Askew began his training under the tutelage of Karl Singletary, founder of the Buffalo Inner City Ballet School. He has been awarded numerous scholarships from prestigious institutions, such as the American Ballet Theater, the New York City Ballet, and the Alvin Ailey Dance Center. A former member of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Maryland Ballet and Capital Ballet, Mr. Askew has appeared as guest artist with many regional ballet companies.

Marcus Hayes, an assistant professor of dance at Austin Peay State University, will lead classes 3:30-5 p.m., July 31; 10-11:30 a.m. and 1-2:30 p.m. on Aug. 1; 1:30-3 p.m. on Aug. 2. Cost is $20 per class.

Mr. Hayes, a graduate of Mills College with a Masters in Fine Arts, has danced and choreographed professionally with the Without Shoes Modern Dance Company and has taught dance technique for the University of Wisconsin-Extension, Rockford College, and the School for the Rockford Dance Company.

All classes will be held at the City Youth Ballet’s studios on West Walnut Street in the Burlington Park South Mall. The mall is located off of West State of Franklin Road near the Krogers and Zaxbys. For more information, call Susan Pace-White, CYB artistic director, at 423-434-2195.