Fall 2014 Spring Performances a Testament to HARID’s Unique Mission The HARID Conservatory celebrated the close of another successful academic year with its annual spring performances, held May 23, 24, and 25 at Spanish River Community High School’s Countess de Hoernle Theater. This year’s Morris and Elfriede Stonzek Spring Performances featured a lineup of three works that truly offered something for everyone. The program opened with George Balanchine’s stunning and iconic Serenade—a masterwork that personifies Tchaikovsky’s Alex Srb © Alex Serenade for Strings. Expertly staged for HARID by Leslie Peck and meticulously rehearsed by Svetlana Osiyeva, Serenade is breathtaking in its simplicity and glorious in its emotional connection to the score. Marie Tender, a member of the 2014 graduating class, was effervescent in the role of the Russian Girl, while Fiona Dassum’s sublime lines revealed the understated beauty of the classical ballet aesthetic. Andrea Fabbri was a supple and supportive partner for the elegant and sophisticated Nika Jurich, who danced the role of the Waltz Girl. A trademark of Mark Godden’s contemporary ballets is the striking imagery he creates through the inventive use of props, lighting, and gesture. As an educator of young artists, Godden has Alex Srb © Alex Alex Srb © Alex Serenade a knack for providing the students with a new artistic challenge Choreography by George Balanchine © to attack each season he works with them. No Rain, an original The George Balanchine Trust work he choreographed for the school this past spring, makes use of a pedestrian object— the umbrella—but uses this familiar item to evoke the image of a contemporary Seurat painting one moment, and a descending fantasy staircase the next. It is a challenge for ballet dancers to drop their center of gravity and become grounded enough to execute movement such as Godden’s. The HARID students selected to perform No Rain did a commendable job of adapting their technique to portray Godden’s magical world. The Spring Performances closed with Raymonda, Act III – The Wedding, staged by Victoria Schneider and Donald Tolj after Marius Petipa. This grand act from the classical ballet lexicon nicely rounded out the program and was a festive way to showcase HARID’s talented and diverse student body. Sunday’s performance provided an opportunity for Marie Tender to display her Alex Srb © Alex artistic versatility by dancing the role of Raymonda in additionSerenade to . It was also a treat to see Coco Alvarez-Mena and Morgan Froehlich paired together in the first variation of the ballet. These IN THIS ISSUE two spirited ladies had danced together in a previous production 1 Spring Performances and it was a pleasure to see 2 HARID Welcomes their staccato pointe work and precise timing once again. Iago New Faculty Member Bresciani, Humberto dos Reis, 2 Private Foundations and Alexander Sargent gave Provide Support solid performances in the Men’s Dance. 3 Winter Performances In summary, HARID’s 2014 Spring 3 2015 Audition Performances were a testament Schedule Set to the school’s unique mission and contribution to the field of 4 Alumni Updates Srb © Alex professional ballet training. Raymonda The New Academic Year HARID welcomed forty-one young dancers to the new academic year in August. They came from fourteen states across the U.S. (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia), and from Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Italy, New Zealand, and Taiwan. HARID Welcomes New Private Foundations Faculty Member Provide Support In August, HARID was delighted to welcome Mr. Pakri to the ballet faculty. Originally for Students from Estonia, Mr. Pakri is a graduate of the The Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation has funded Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Education Fellowships for selected HARID students since Russia. Following his graduation, Mr. Pakri 2001. This year’s Rudolf Nureyev Education Fellowship danced with Estonian National Ballet as recipients are Iago Bresciani, a junior from Brazil, and a principal dancer and taught partnering Hayden Slaff, a senior from Hackettstown, New Jersey. and technique classes at the Tallinn State Ballet School. During that time, he also The Ruth Nelson Kraft Awards Foundation continues to performed as a principal guest artist at the provide generous support for a number of HARID students. International Ballet Festival in Havana, Cuba; This past August, Meng Fan, Cameron Panesso, Hayden New faculty member, and for the National Theater of Macedonia Slaff, and Rebecca Trionfo were named recipients of Ruth Meelis Pakri in Skopje, Yugoslavia. Kraft Awards. In 1991, at the invitation of then-artistic-director Martin HARID is pleased to have received support from another Fredmann, Mr. Pakri joined Colorado Ballet as principal dancer. foundation this year. Emily Fennell, a junior, has received the Over the next ten years, he performed numerous classical and first Edward Villella Award, generously funded by Flossy’s contemporary roles, including Albrecht in Giselle, the title role in Dream Foundation. George Balanchine’s Apollo, Basilio in Don Quixote, the principal male in Balanchine’s Rubies, and Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake. Mr. Pakri was also a frequent guest performer in Estonia and Japan. In 1998, he performed as a guest artist with the Martha Graham Dance Company in the role of the Husbandman in Appalachian Spring at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Mr. Pakri retired from dancing in 2001 and, for the next five years, served as ballet master of Colorado Ballet. In 2005, he received critical acclaim for staging The Sleeping Beauty for the Company. In 2006, Mr. Pakri joined the faculty of The Royal Ballet Upper School in London, England, where he remained until August 2013. During his tenure, Mr. Pakri’s students won prizes at the Youth America Grand Prix and Young British Dancer of the Year competitions. He also served as a guest teacher at Estonian National Ballet and numerous other schools. Prior to joining HARID’s faculty, Mr. Pakri was ballet master at Houston Ballet. Florida Youth Dance Gala Dancers Entertain at YMCA On February 7, HARID will participate in the Florida Youth Again this year, on October 25, HARID’s dancers delighted dozens Dance Gala at the Duncan Theater in Lake Worth. The of children at the Peter Blum Family YMCA Halloween Party by mission of Florida Youth Dance Gala is “to celebrate and performing the famous zombie dance from Michael Jackson’s showcase the superbly talented dancers of Florida’s leading Thriller. The YMCA performance, which requires several weeks of dance academies”. For more information and tickets, visit rehearsal to prepare, has become an annual, community-service http://www.floridayouthdancegala.com. tradition for HARID’s students. Page 2 | Fall 2014 | The HARID Conservatory | 561.997.2677 | www.harid.edu | [email protected] Winter Performances, December 13 and 14 HARID’s Winter Performances are scheduled on December 13 and 14 at the Countess de Hoernle Theater. Both performances will begin at 3:00 p.m. This year’s program will include an excerpt from Esmeralda; the Mazurka from Coppelia; a modern-dance premiere choreographed by Danielle Armstrong; and HARID’s holiday tradition, The Nutcracker, Act II. Tickets are $30 and $25 (half price for children and full-time students), and are available at 2285 Potomac Road in Boca Raton (9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. weekdays) or by telephone at 561- 998-8038. You can also purchase your tickets online at www.harid.edu/performances. The Countess de Hoernle Theater is located on the campus of Spanish River Community High School, 5100 Jog Road, just north of Yamato Road. The Nutcracker, Act II, Alex Srb photo © Please join us for HARID’s Winter Performances! Recruitment Time is Students Enjoy Trip to Approaching Miami City Ballet On October 10, HARID’s students enjoyed a memorable visit It will soon be recruitment season again at HARID. This January to Miami City Ballet’s facilities in Miami Beach. There, they and February, the ballet faculty and director will conduct Summer watched artistic director Lourdes Lopez teach company class School auditions in eighteen cities across the United States: and then peeked in on a rehearsal of Romeo and Juliet. After Los Angeles CA, January 9 lunch, MCB wardrobe director Haydée Morales treated the San Francisco CA, January 10 students to a fascinating tour of the Company’s wardrobe Denver CO, January 11 department. The behind-the-scenes look at company life was Kansas City MO, January 16 a great experience for the dancers. Charlotte NC, January 17 HARID dancers outside Miami City Ballet Atlanta GA, January 18 Minneapolis MN, January 23 Chicago IL, January 24 Pittsburgh PA, January 25 Boca Raton FL, January 31 Tampa FL, January 31 Orlando FL, February 1 Boston MA, February 6 New York NY, February 7 Washington DC, February 8 Houston TX, February 13 Tulsa OK, February 14 Coppell (Dallas) TX, February 15 Audition locations and times may be found at www.harid.edu/auditions. Student Outreach Performances Reach Fourth and Fifth Graders On December 10 and 11, hundreds of school-age children will enjoy The Nutcracker, Act II. HARID’s Student Outreach Performances offer an entertaining and educational experience for fourth- and fifth- grade students from South Palm Beach County Schools. The performances, held at the Countess de Hoernle Theater, are provided at no cost to the students and their schools. [email protected] | www.harid.edu | 561.997.2677 | The HARID Conservatory | Fall 2014 | Page 3 Alumni Updates Jenna Gooden (2013) has joined Houston Ballet II. Hannah Wood (2013) has also joined Houston Ballet II. Itzel Hernandez (2012) has joined Milwaukee Ballet II. Kristen Patrick (2012) has joined Ballet Austin II in Texas.