The School of Ballet Theatre Company will hold it annual open house on Aug. 15.

Ballet IV students. Photo credit: Walt Jedziniak

Submitted

The School of Ballet Theatre Company (SBTC) is pleased to announce its open house for the 2021-2022 academic school year on Aug. 15, 2021.

From 11 a.m.-2 p.m., SBTC welcomes new families and students to join its faculty and staff for this annual event. In addition to meeting the faculty and staff, new students and families will have the opportunity to tour BTC’s state-of-the-art facility and learn more about SBTC’s 2021-2022 training program and class offerings.

During the open house from noon-2 p.m., SBTC will hold placement classes for prospective students to allow the artistic staff and faculty to evaluate new students and determine the appropriate level for them in SBTC’s upcoming school year. Dancers ages 8-11 should register for the noon-12:45 p.m. placement class, and dancers ages 12 and up should register for the 1-1:45 p.m. class. Registration can be found on Ballet Theatre Company’s website at https://www.dancebtc.org/open-house.

SBTC Open House. Photo credit: Walt Jedziniak

The School of Ballet Theatre Company (SBTC) is the official school of Ballet Theatre Company (BTC), offering classes for students ages three to adult, from beginner to advanced levels. Its carefully-constructed curriculum emphasizes strong technique, proper alignment, musicality, and expression. Through a faculty of distinguished professionals, its ballet instructors incorporate the best of the French, Italian, and Russian training methods in a nurturing and supportive classroom environment that fosters the development of young artists. Whether SBTC’s students dance for fun and exercise, or because they dream of becoming a professional dancer,  SBTC’s curriculum prepares students physically and mentally to embrace their next adventure, cultivating discipline, friendships that will last a lifetime, and an appreciation for the art form.

In addition, the students share a facility with the professional company, enriching each student’s experience by allowing them to observe those dancers in classes, rehearsals and performances. Students are also offered opportunities to perform with the professional company in productions such as Stephanie Dattellas’ “The Nutcracker.”

Auditions for The Nutcracker. Photo credit: Tracy Dorman

BTC’s 2021 community audition for its annual production of “The Nutcracker” is scheduled on Sept. 11, 2021 with callbacks on Sept. 12, 2021. Dancers ages 6 and up are eligible to audition. More information and registration will be released soon.

 SBTC provides a comprehensive dance education through four distinctive training divisions: The Children’s Division, The Student Division, The Adult Division,  and The Junior Corps de Ballet. SBTC’s class offerings begin with classes for 3-year-old children and continue through to classes for adults. In addition to Ballet and Pointe, SBTC is thrilled to include Jazz, Variations, Contemporary, and Dance Conditioning in its 2021-2022 class curriculum. SBTC will offer all in-studio classes with a remote option to accommodate families who still wish to train at home. 

For advanced dancers looking to train at a high caliber and gain professional dance experience, BTC provides additional training and performance opportunities through its Junior Corps de Ballet in affiliation with SBTC. This elite group is by audition only (scheduled on Aug. 21, 2021, click here for details), and the selected dancers and apprentices rehearse repertoire, are given several performance opportunities, and are exposed to choreographic processes with BTC’s Artistic Staff and guest artists. Members are invited to train weekly alongside BTC’s newly-inaugurated professional company, and may also be considered for the opportunity to dance alongside professional dancers in large stage productions.   

As SBTC continues to navigate the pandemic, SBTC will mandate masks for all students, staff, and faculty as we return to in-person instruction for the safety of all.  We do anticipate that as public health guidelines change to reflect the evolving status of the pandemic, we will reassess our guidelines as appropriate. Anyone who fails to adhere to these protocols will lose privileges to participate in studio classes, no exceptions. If you do not feel comfortable with these protocols for an in-studio dance experience, SBTC will continue to offer a remote option for your dancer. However, please note that in-studio class instruction is preferred for the continued development of all students.

Classes for the upcoming school year will begin on Sept. 8, 2021. SBTC’s school year runs for 32 weeks concluding with its annual Student Showcase which integrates all classes and levels in a unique theater performance. Dancers and families who wish to learn more about the open house and SBTC’s upcoming 2021-2022 academic school year should visit its website at https://www.dancebtc.org/2021-2022-school-year.

The Compton Studio at BTC. Courtesy photo

For any additional questions, please contact School Administrator, Sydney Hitchell at [email protected].

Ballet Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. It is supported in part by Ron and Nancy Compton, The State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development/Office of the Arts, The Greater Hartford Arts Council, The Maximilian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, The George A. and Grace L. Long Foundation, The Ensworth Charitable Foundation, The Edward C and Ann T Roberts Foundation, Laurel Graphic Design, Cricket Press and We-Ha.com.

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