Known for training and nurturing the ballet stars of tomorrow, the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Ballet Academy East schools today announced their second annual Choreographic Exchange performance series to happen June 9 in New York City and June 20 in Pennsylvania. As the culmination of the schools’ choreography workshop, the performances showcase selected works created and performed by young students. This unique exchange program between two illustrious schools leads the vanguard in the field’s expansion of ballet education. (Scroll down for performance details.)

“The Choreographic Exchange deepens the schools’ commitment identifying and nurturing young choreographic talent,” says Alan Hineline, director of artistic programming at CPYB, guest faculty member at BAE, and director of the CPYB + BAE Choreographic Exchange program for both organizations. Alan spends one-on-one time with the students to teach them the basic tools of choreography and helps them translate their visions into beautiful works. “Both CPYB and BAE provide young dancers the opportunity to explore choreographing in a comfortable, nurturing environment during their respective choreographic workshops.”

For both students and choreographers, the program provides a whole other level experience with the creative and educational process. For the young choreographers, they have the opportunity to see their ballets grow and morph through the interpretation of a new group of dancers subsequently expanding their purview of their work and understanding of their own dancing. Simultaneously, they further expand their leadership skills including problem solving, collaborating, and creative thinking. For the young performers (ages seven to 19), the Choreographic Exchange provides a platform for them to learn to use their classical technique as a means to express themselves artistically. “The choreographic experience has taught me that I can actually take my thoughts and ideas and, through communicating with my dancers, can create a ballet,” explains 17-year old BAE student/choreographer Anatalya Piatigorsky. Most importantly, the experience reminded me to believe in myself.

As part of CPYB’s Summer Ballet Series performances June 19 - 22, 2019, in Pennsylvania, CPYB students will premiere Lost Lake for Violin and Strings by BAE’s Piatigorsky. The ballet portrays a group of young dancers experiencing the joys of music and dance. “I want my dancers to dance for the love and enjoyment of it,” says Piatigorsky. “I wanted to create a ballet to remind dancers why they dance.”

As part of BAE’s Encore performance on June 9, 2019, in New York City, the BAE Pre-Professional Division students will premiere Circumstance by 18-year old CPYB student Christopher Thompson. “This has been an extremely valuable experience for me,” says Thompson. “Being able to choreograph my own piece allowed me to gain a new perspective on how to look at dance and helped me learn how to communicate better with my peers.” Also on the program is an encore of BAE’s Choreographic Workshops pieces by BAE students including the aforementioned Lost Lake for Violin and Strings. The BAE and CPYB Pre-Professional Divisions are celebrated for producing technically strong and artistically expressive dancers who are sought after for their professionalism and ability to adapt to a broad range of styles demanded of today’s dance professionals. BAE alumni include Ariel Rose and Petra Love (Miami City Ballet), Siobhan Howley (Pennsylvania Ballet), Hannah Marshall (American Ballet Theatre), and Erica Pereira (New York City Ballet), and CPYB alumni include Ashley Bouder and Alexa Maxwell (New York City Ballet), Simon Hoke and Aran Bell (American Ballet Theatre), Noelani Pantastico, Leta Biasucci, Abby Jayne DeAngelo (Pacific Northwest Ballet) and Lia Cirio (Boston Ballet).

About Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet

Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet is a celebrated leader in the world of classical ballet. Embracing an attitude of lifelong learning more than 60 years ago, Founding Artistic Director Marcia Dale Weary envisioned a school where children would have the opportunity to receive exceptional ballet training. Today CPYB is the nation’s preeminent school of classical ballet with an international reputation for training young men and women. The school’s renowned teaching methodology couples performance opportunities with innovative educational initiatives, an esteemed faculty, and a proven syllabus — all in an environment that promotes the acquisition of the life skills crucial to a child’s development.

Thousands of young people have passed through Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s acclaimed studios. CPYB alumni continually occupy top positions in the leading ballet companies from San Francisco and Miami to New York, London and beyond. Through the organization’s threefold mission – to inspire, educate and enrich – the legacy of Marcia Dale Weary and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet redefines the art form, preserves its history and shapes its future. cpyb.org

About Ballet Academy East

With a vision of inspiring dancers of all ages and levels to achieve their greatest potential, director, Julia Dubno, founded Ballet Academy East (BAE) in 1979. Today BAE is New York City’s leading center for complete ballet education, internationally recognized for its exceptional training. The school’s Young Dancer, Pre- Professional and Adult Divisions nurture students’ physical and emotional well-being, build technical skills, and develop artistry. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Darla Hoover BAE’s Pre-Professional Division offers comprehensive ballet training with professional-caliber performance opportunities to prepare students for success in the dance world. BAE’s proven syllabus creates technically strong, artistically expressive dancers who adapt easily to the broad range of styles required of today’s professionals. balletacademyeast.com

Performance Details

BAE Encore

Sunday, June 9, 2:00 p.m.

Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 West 55th Street, New York City, NY 10019
Tickets: $30. Tickets go on sale June 2, 2019. TO purchase, visit BAEnyc.com.

"Circumstance"
Choreographed by Christopher Thompson (CPYB student)
Composed by Claude Debussy Petite suite, L. 65: En bateau and Claire de Lune

"Motion in Time"
Choreographed by Madison Buchholtz (BAE student)
Recomposed by Max Richter – Composed by Antonio Vivaldi

"Lost Lake for Violin and Strings"
Choreographed by Anatalya Piatigorsky (BAE student)
Composed by Oliver Davis

"Betwixt"
Choreographed by Gwen Vandenhoeck (BAE student)
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Music performed live by Sharon Yamada (violinist, New York Philharmonic) and fellow musicians TBA

CPYB Summer Ballet Series

When: Thursday, June 19 - 22, 2019, 6:00 p.m.

Where: Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, 222 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101

Tix: $20-35. To purchase, contact CPYB at 717.245.1190 or visit cpyb.org.

"Lost Lake for Violin and Strings"
Choreographed by Anatalya Piatigorsky (BAE student)
Composed by Oliver Davis

"Circumstance"
Choreographed by Christopher Thompson (CPYB student)
Composed by Claude Debussy Petite suite, L. 65: En bateau and Claire de Lune

For artist interviews, ticket requests and all other media queries, contact

Ballet Academy East: April Thibeault, 212.861.0990, april@amtpublicrelations.com

Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet: Kelly Derbes, 717.245.1790, derbes@cpyb.org.