Classical Ballet Education For Ages 10-13
Ellison Ballet is thrilled to announce the expansion of the year-round Professional Training Program to include the new Preparatory Level for serious young dancers ages 10-13. These students will receive a minimum of 15 hours per week of world-class training from highly-qualified, renowned masters of the craft. This exclusive opportunity offers dedicated students the chance to build the strong classical foundation necessary to prepare them for the upper levels of the program, and, ultimately, a professional classical ballet career.
About the NEW Preparatory LevelAge Requirement: Open to male and female students ages 10-13. *Exceptional 9-year-olds may be considered. Click for Audition Information Class Location: Creative Cultural Center at St. Veronica 149 Christopher Street, New York, NY 10014 Weekly Class Schedule: Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri: 4:30-7:30pm Saturdays: 11:00am-2:00pm Curriculum: The Preparatory Level's exceptional Vaganova-based training includes:
*Pointe shoes are not required for students auditioning for the Preparatory Level, though young ladies should bring their pointe shoes to the audition if they have begun pointework. School Calendar: September 2023 - May 2024 Tuition: TBD with several payment options available |
Photos: Header Photo: EB students Ela Sevillia, Cassandra Longville, Viktoria Papakalodouka. Top & Above Left - Teacher Eva Janiszewski with student Lisa Kamiya. Above right & Below - Elisabeth Beyer and Viola Pantuso as young students at Ellison Ballet. Elisabeth is now a member of American Ballet Theatre; Viola is now a member of The Royal Ballet. Below Right: Former Ellison Ballet students Juliette Bosco (12) and Theophilus Pilette (14) - 2nd Place YAGP Finals NYC. Performance photos (c) VAM and Ashlyn Mae Denise.
Faculty
Eva Janiszewski | Classical Technique, Pointe, Variations, Character Eva Janiszewski has had the honor to study with great classical artists throughout her career including Gelsey Kirkland, Elena Sherstneva, Vera Solovyeva, Nikolai Levitsky, Yekaterina Mikhailovtseva, Irina Kolpakova, and Lyubov Fominich. After graduating from the Gelsey Kirkland Academy, Ms. Janiszewski became Gelsey Kirkland’s first Principal Character Artist in her company, and performed leading roles in various ballets. In the following years, Ms. Janiszewski studied intensively in St. Petersburg Russia with Yekaterina Mikhailovtseva, while taking class with the Yacobson Ballet. She then went on to freelance and perform with several companies, including a guest performance with Open World Dance Foundation, where she danced the Character Mazurka in Misty Copeland’s premiere of Cinderella. Eva Janiszewski has taught at numerous schools in the United States as full time faculty as well as summer faculty, including Gelsey Kirkland Ballet, The Hartt School, Joffrey Ballet Character Program, and Forrest Academy of Ballet New York. In 2016, Ms. Janiszewski started Eva Janiszewski Ballet, a school in NYC for young gifted artists. Her students have since won the gold medal and Jury distinction awards in the solo and ensemble categories at several competitions in the United States. In 2023, Ms. Janiszewski received the Outstanding Teacher award from both Youth America Grand Prix and National Ballet Competition, in addition to the Outstanding School award from NBC. Ms. Janiszewski is thrilled to be a part of the Ellison Ballet Faculty. |
Ursula Verduzco | Contemporary
Ms. Verduzco is a freelance ballet and contemporary Dancer and Choreographer born in Mexico and residing in NYC since 1997. She danced featured roles with companies including Ballet Austin (as a student), New York City Opera, Benjamin Briones Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, Staten Island Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre, Connecticut Ballet, Some Dance Company, Veracity Dance Theatre, New York Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre in Westchester, Ad Hoc Ballet, Ballet Neo and Designated Movement Company among others, performing in classical and contemporary repertoire. She was honored to appear in Dance Magazine as one of the dancers highlighted in their July 2010 issue, “Race & The Next Generation.” As a choreographer she has created several commissioned works throughout the years for Ellison Ballet, Youth America Grand Prix, Benjamin Briones Ballet, Staten Island Ballet, Nomad Contemporary Ballet, Periapsis Music and Dance, Neville Dance Theatre, Columbia Ballet Collaborative, and CounterPointe, as well as for the Cuban dance company Danza Libre. She created original work for the UK film company "More than a Londoner's" short film project. In 2018, she was commissioned to create a piece for the 28th Anniversary of Cuban company Danza Libre and was invited to participate at the Grand Prix Vladimir Malakhov in Holguin Cuba with it. She was commissioned a second time to create an original work for Danza Libre in 2020 to be premiered at their 30th Anniversary Gala. She is the Founder and Director of The Latin Choreographers Festival, an initiative that was born to support the work, vision and background of Latin choreographers that reside anywhere in the world, and had a successful run from 2008 to 2012, celebrating its 5th Anniversary. She has choreographed through the years, winning solos and ensembles at NBC, YAGP, and other ballet competitions, and was awarded the Outstanding Choreographer Award at YAGP 2023. |
Facilities
Classes of the Preparatory level of the Ellison Ballet - Professional Training Program are held at the Creative Cultural Center at St. Veronica's, located in a beautiful neighborhood at 149 Christopher Street in New York City.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Covid-19
Will precautions be taken regarding COVID-19?
At present, there are no Covid-19 protocols in place. Covid protocols will be implemented accordingly if mandated by local, state, or federal authorities OR if the Ellison Ballet administration deems it necessary at the time of the program.
Do students have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to attend the Ellison Ballet - Professional Training Program?
At this time we are not requiring students to be vaccinated. During the registration process, students will be asked whether or not they are vaccinated in case this information should become relevant before or during the program. Students who are vaccinated will be asked to submit their vaccine records.