Festival Dancers performing with the Music School Festival Orchestra in the 5,000-seat, open-air Amphitheater.
School of Dance / Welcome
June 23–August 12, 2012
School of Dance Application | Financial Aid Application
The Chautauqua Ballet program, under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, is well known for the unique opportunity it affords students to study with master teachers within a small studio environment. The faculty at Chautauqua will often help place students into major companies throughout the U.S. through their many contacts. An important part of the program is the possibility for young dancers to perform (with live music) in the 5,000-seat Amphitheater.
The School of Dance facilities include four large teaching and rehearsal studios — the Carnahan-Jackson Studios. The dancers are housed in a well-supervised dormitory which is adjacent to the studios. The summer of 2009 saw the completion of new buildings which house the costume shop as well as faculty/staff housing. The center core of the Carnahan-Jackson Studios has been reconfigured to provide for enhanced administrative and production offices as well as proper locker rooms for both professional and student dancers.
The ballet curriculum at Chautauqua is designed for talented students who wish to pursue careers as professional ballet dancers. Intensive training in classical ballet will be continued in rehearsals leading to performances. All classes feature live music. In spite of a rigorous schedule of classes and rehearsals, students will have ample time to enjoy recreational activities at Chautauqua including symphony concerts, professional ballet company performances, Friday Night specials and any number of recitals and lectures at no extra cost.
“The chance to dance in Chautauqua has been one of the most beneficial in my career. It has helped me to find confidence in myself as an individual artist and has shown me what living the life of a dancer really means. The people, place and all of the treasures of Chautauqua have contributed so much in my training as a dancer. My passion for dance has grown immensely because of it. I would never trade my summer here for anything.”
Sarah Grace Lee, Apprentice Dancer 2011, School of American Ballet
Contact Us
Sarah Malinoski-Umberger, Coordinator of Student Services
Chautauqua Summer Schools of Fine & Performing Arts
One Ames Avenue - PO Box 1098
Chautauqua, NY 14722
Phone: 716.357.6233
Fax: 716.357.9014
email: dance@ciweb.org
