City Youth Ballet - Johnson City, TN

The City Youth Ballet of Johnson City will offer an advanced ballet partnering and pas class this fall with instructor, Fernando Moraga, formerly of Ballet Florida, Houston Ballet, and the Pittsburgh Ballet.

A native of Santiago, Chile, Mr. Moraga began his career with the Ballet Folkloric National de Chile. He soon joined Ballet de Santiago as a member of the Corps de Ballet and quickly rose to the rank of soloist. Mr. Moraga joined Houston Ballet in 1997 and went on to be featured in many new works and world premieres. In 2003, he moved on to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and in 2005 he joined Ballet Florida.

The class will be offered Thursdays, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the CYB studios, 3501 West Market Street in west Johnson City. For more information, call CYB artistic director, Susan Pace-White, at 423-434-2195.

Welcome to City Youth Ballet’s Fall 2010 season! Below is our class schedule. Please call our artistic director Susan Pace-White to register (423) 434-2145. Classes begin August 16. Please note, the Johnson City Ballet Academy, the training school for the City Youth Ballet, has been incorporated into the CYB so we are now one organization called the City Youth Ballet.

Mondays:
3:30-4 Hip-Hop/Jazz
4-5:30: Ballet Levels II, III, IV
5:30-7: Beginning Pointe
5-7: Ballet V

Tuesdays:
Pre-Ballet: 3:45-4:30
Ballet I: 4:30-5:30
Jazz: 5:30-6:00
Ballet II: 6:00-7:00
Ballet III and IV: 4:30-6
Ballet V: 6-7:30

Wednesdays
Hip-Hop/Jazz: 3:30-4:00
Ballet III and IV: 4:00-5:30
Ballet V: 4:30-6:00

Thursdays
Beginning Pointe: 3:30-5:00
Ballet II, III, IV: 5-6:30
Ballet V: 4:30-6:30

Fridays:
Open Ballet: 3:30-5
Stretch and Conditioning 5-6:30

A partnering and pas ballet class begins September 16 for Advanced Ballet students.

Five dancers with the City Youth Ballet and its training school, the Johnson City Ballet Academy, performed at the Celebration of Dance, a regionwide production showcasing dancers from local ballet companies and dance studios. The event, hosted by Bristol Ballet, was held at the Paramount Center in Bristol.

Kathryn Kenneson, Gwynn Root, Allan Smith, Taylor Vanders, and Ginny Whaley performed classical variations and an original piece choreographed by ballet instructor Pat Holden. The dancers are students of Susan Pace-White, City Youth Ballet artistic director, and director of the Johnson City Ballet Academy.

The City Youth Ballet will host an audition January 23 for the South Carolina Dance Conservatory’s summer intensive. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. The audition class will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. at the CYB studio, 3501 W. Market Street. Cost is $25 for the class, payable to the consevatory. The intensive is open to dancers ages 11 and up.

The South Carolina Dance Conservatory hosts summer dance intensives in ballet, technique, performance, and jazz. Instructors from the University South Carolina as well as artistic directors and dancers from several major ballet companies lead classes. Video auditions are accepted. For more information, e-mail Marissa Freeman at FreemanM@mailbox.sc.edu

Clara and all her friends from the Nutcracker’s Land of Sweets invite you to spend an afternoon at Clara’s Tea. You’ll enjoy refreshments, watch excerpts from the CYB’s December 12 production of “The Nutcracker” and even dance with Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The afternoon is set for Saturday, November 14, 2-4 p.m., at The Charles, 301 E. Main Street across from Hands On! Museum in downtown Johnson City. Tickets are $7 a person and can be purchased at the door.

Colorful cupcakes, cookies, and punch will be served at tables adorned in pink linens and set with festive Nutcracker dolls. After refreshments, members of the senior and junior companies of the City Youth Ballet will perform some of the ballet pieces from the Nutcracker production. Then, tea party-goers can take the stage with Clara and learn a few dances themselves.

All proceeds from the afternoon will help offset production costs for “The Nutcracker,” set for December 12 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at the Veterans Administration Memorial Theater. Tickets will be available at Clara’s Tea and at the door.

Free parking for this event is available behind Nelson’s Art Gallery at State of Franklin Road and Colonial Way. The parking has been donated by URA Associates.

For more information call (423)434-2195

The City Youth Ballet will host classes Sept 10-12 and Sept 24-26 with Janet Hana Park, a former member of the Sun Hee Jang’s Ballet Company with the Korean National Theater. Classes are open to dancers ages 10 and up.

Classes will be held at the City Youth Ballet’s studios, 3501 W. Market Street, September 10 at 3:30 and 5 p.m.; September 11 at 3:30; and September 12 at 11 a.m. She returns September 24-26 for another set of classes. Classes are $20 each for non-CYB members. For more information, call the City Youth Ballet at 423-434-2195.

Ms. Park was born in Ashland, Ohio and after age 6 was raised in the Republic of Korea. She started her dance training at age 9, and later graduated from Kae-Won High School of Art. In 2009, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Dancing (classical ballet) from Sae-Jong University, Seoul, Korea, one of the finest schools of performing arts in Korea.

She received a Certificate of Qualification of Ballet Teaching from the Korea Association of Dance Leaders in 2008. She was a instructor of Yi-Reh Dance Academy in 2007-‘08, and became a leading instructor teaching at Bun-Dang International School in 2008. Ms. Park was a member of Professor Sun Hee Jang’s Ballet Company at the Korean National Theater in Seoul and appeared in performances of FAUST and CARMEN, and also performed in PRAYER and COUNTRY MARKET OF KOREA at Khabarovsk, Russia in 2000.

Ms. Park has earned numerous awards including the Special Gold prize in Ballet by the Korea Association of Dance Leaders. Ms. Park moved to Buffalo, New York, in January, 2009, and joined the Buffalo City Ballet. Ms. Park will be working with the City Youth Ballet and its training school, the Johnson City Ballet Academy, this year in association with Marvin Askew of Buffalo City Ballet and through the generosity of Stanley and Christy Dunbar.

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.

The City Youth Ballet of Johnson City brings to stage April 19 at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. another of its popular Lollipop Series with the presentation of excerpts from “Cinderella.” These petite classical ballets are geared for children’s audiences and feature the City Youth Ballet’s junior and senior companies.

This ballet opens as Cinderella, portrayed by CYB senior Christa Rockney, tends to her chores and dreams of going to the royal ball. She then encounters her fairy godmother, portrayed by Rose Johnson, who magically transforms her rags to a beautiful gown and sends her off to the ball.

Villagers, Allen Smith and Kathryn Kenneson, rejoice in this transformation of Cinderella with a pas de deux. Also, senior members, Edith Dunbar, Taylor Vanders, Hannah Dunbar, and Julie Dunbar, portraying seasons of winter, spring, summer, and fall, join the celebration of Cinderella with additional variations that are part of the full-length ballet and performed to the classical music of Russian composer, Sergei Prokofiev.

In the scene at the palace ball, ballerina fairies, Maggie Hensley and Ginny Whaley, welcome Cinderella. CYB’s junior company portrays evening stars that shine and dance around the ball. The performance ends with Cinderella dancing as a princess.

“These Lollipop ballets can be enjoyed by the young and young at heart,” said CYB artistic director Susan Pace-White. “We strive to present ballet in a way that children can appreciate its artistry while being immersed in the magic of a fairy tale.”

“Cinderella” will be presented at the Charles Building, 308 E. Main Street, in downtown Johnson City across from Hands On! Museum. General admission is $5 a person. Tickets can be purchased at Bear ‘n Friends, Party Central, or at the door. All proceeds will benefit the CYB’s operations and outreach in the community.

For more information call (423) 434-2195 or visit the CYB website at www.cityyouthballet.wordpress.com.