Michelle Sperry, the artistic director and founder of the Wilton-based Fleur de Lis Dance Academy, has launched Connecticut Theater Ballet (CTB) to provide dancers interested in pre-professional training with advanced dance classes.
These new CTB classes are designed to prepare dancers for auditions for competitive summer intensive acceptance, roles in professional dance company performances, pursuing dance scholarships in college and professional stage careers in dance. “While Fleur de Lis Dance Academy offers a wide range of classes for younger children and beginning dancers, we want to be able to grow with our more experienced and serious dancers, and offer them greater opportunities to develop technique and better performance quality,” Ms. Sperry explains.
Fleur de Lis Dance Academy is now the official dance school for Connecticut Theater Ballet at 1 Danbury Road in Wilton. CTB will utilize this new facility offering three spacious light-filled studios with state-of-the-art marley flooring, a private dressing room, study area, costume fitting room which houses hundreds of professional stage costumes, a dance apparel and shoe store, and family lounge with a view of one of the dance studios.
Instructors for CTB classes include current professional ballerinas, dancers with national and international training and experienced teachers with college and advanced-degrees. CTB utilizes the American Academy of Ballet syllabus including graded exams and Performance Awards and offers classes in Classical Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Lyrical, Broadway, Jazz and Hip Hop, Contemporary Ballet and Tap. All local dancers are encouraged to audition for CTB’s annual Nutcracker performance in November 2015 and its spring Ballet, which is Cinderella to be performed in May 2016.
Ms. Sperry notes that the discipline, commitment and focus required for dance has benefits for dancers beyond the studio. “Utilizing the discipline and focus required for advanced dance training, our dancers continue to achieve top honors in their middle and high school academics, excel at prestigious summer intensives, and attend top universities and graduate schools, exuding confidence and determination for success," she explains.
FDL and CTB are proud to be sponsored by Encore Youth Company, the 501(c)3 non-profit organization offering full and partial scholarships to dancers who otherwise might not be able to afford pre-professional dance training. For more information about Connecticut Theater Ballet, Fleur de Lis Dance Academy and Encore Youth Company, visit EnrollBallet.com or contact Ms. Sperry at 203.210.7155 or michelle@fleurdelisacademy.com.
Photo
Front from left to right
Ronia Clarence (Wilton), Gabriela Vejarano (Norwalk), Mariana Vejarano (Norwalk)
Back from left to right
Rebecca Szabo (Norwalk), Esha Iyengar (Wilton), Isabella Sperry (Weston)
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