Monday, November 29, 2010

Peridance Capezio Center's Certificate Program


The Certificate Program


Peridance Capezio Center has a new training program this fall. The Certificate Program is a two-year intensive dance training program for students ages 17-28. It offers students wonderful opportunities including working closely with great instructors and choreographers, bi-yearly performances, and one-on-one mentoring. Students can choose between two unique tracks depending on their professional goals: Ballet/Modern/Contemporary or Commercial/Musical Theater/Jazz.


Program Coordinator Liza Kovacs describes the Certificate Program:


It was with great excitement that Peridance launched the Certificate Program this past August. We were delighted to welcome 16 students from all over the world to join the Peridance family and become the first graduating class of this program.


Since the start of the 2010 Fall semester our CP students have had a wide range of rich and diverse experiences. They have just ended their second weeklong workshop with Helen Pickett, leading them in an exploration of Forsythe-based improvisation technique. It is great to see their progress and deeper understanding of the work since the first workshop. Students who previously approached improvisation with trepidation have shed their inhibitions; students who are particularly interested in choreography are learning a great deal from these enriching experiences and adding to their repertoire of creative choreographic strategies.


Besides the technique classes that are the mainstay of any dancer’s training, the Certificate Program students have benefited from the guest seminar speakers. Anatomist/biochemist Rebecca Dietzel, co-author of A Dancer's Guide to Healthy Eating, gave our students the basics on when and what to eat to maximize physical and mental performance. We hope that she will return to continue sharing her vast knowledge on this hot topic.


We also had the privilege of establishing a relationship with Lakey Wolff, agent extraordinaire, from the talent agency Cunningham Escott Slevin Doherty (CESD); she came to speak about how to best create contacts and build networks and she will return to continue the conversation and help set-up mock auditions.


In the Certificate Program we take time to analyze each dancers’ individual movement patterns, habits, and technique through the use of video: classes were filmed and our students viewed these with the outside eye of and feedback from an expert teacher. This allowed for important exchange on the specifics of dance performance and resulted on improved performance in the studio.


Certificate Students from both the Commercial and the Ballet/Contemporary Track have combined classes such as Improvisation and Composition. They will present works for the Student Showcase next February and we are excited to host their efforts and give them an opportunity to perform and choreograph. In the last month, they have been part of the creative choreographic process in the creation of Igal Perry's Nutcracker, which they will be performing next month.


The Peridance Certificate Program students were also given an exclusive tour of the Library of Performing Arts, learning how to best research dance-specific videos, books, and to look up information. It is very important to us that our students know that such an incredible resource is available to them, to enrich their knowledge of their art form.


The Peridance Certificate Program distinguishes itself through the recognition of students as individuals, each with unique needs, goals, and abilities. Their personalized training is a reflection of this diversity, all the while maintaining and upholding fundamental qualities that are required for a career in dance: discipline, intelligence, dedication, and passion for movement.


-Liza Kovacs,

Certificate Program Coordinator


Who better to consult on the success of the program so far than the students themselves? I interviewed a few of them, asking why they chose Peridance and how they feel it is going so far. This is what they had to say:


“When I read the description, the program sounded like everything I wanted in a training program. When I came it was everything I wanted and more.” –Cara


“I like how our teachers interact with us, they know us by name and they actually give individual corrections.” –Jessica


“We train with the same teacher for a semester, so we get to know them and they get to know us, which allows us to really trace our progress.” –Ayako


“I really like that we can go to Liza and talk to her about anything, even if its not dance related. It makes being in a program away from home a lot easier. Also, the atmosphere is great; when you feel good about where you are, you can dance ten times better!” –Jessica


To register for the Program, visit our website.


Spring 2011 Semester: January 31st - June 24th

(20 weeks of study + 1 week vacation)

Application deadline: November 31st!!


Fall 2011 Semester: August 29th - January 27th

(20 weeks of study + 2 weeks vacation during the Holiday Season)

Application deadline: August 1st


Watch the Certificate Program Students!




Monday, November 15, 2010

Winter 2011 Showcases

Two Up-Coming Showcases at Peridance!

Peridance Faculty Showcase, Winter 2011:
Saturday, February 5th, 8:30pm
Sunday, February 6th, 3:00pm

Peridance Student Showcase, Winter 2011:
Sunday, Febrary 6th, 7:30pm

Take a look at Peridance's last showcase in the links that follow!

Faculty Showcase Highlights from Peridance Capezio Center on Vimeo.


Video features works by: Max Stone, Korhan Basaran, Dana Foglia, Tony Mayes, , Ben Nathan, Julie Bour, Diego Funes, Saba, Joanna Numata, Cecilia Marta, Baila Society, Nelida Tirado, Baba Richard Gonzales, Igal Perry

New Cafe at Peridance!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Baila Society

Check out Baila Society's brand new video!

For information about Baila Society's Classes at Peridance visit our website.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Contemporary Workshop

Nacho Duato Workshop with Africa Guzman

Juan Ignacio Duato Barcia, also known as Nacho Duato, is an acclaimed Spanish dancer and choreographer. He began his dance career with the Cullberg Ballet in Stockholm and has received multiple awards in recognition of his achievements as a dancer and choreographer. In 1990, he was invited to become the Artistic Director of Compañía Nacional de Danza by the Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas y de la Música of the Spanish Ministry of Culture. In July of 2010, he left the Compañía Nacional de Danza after twenty years. This January, he will become the Artistic Director of Russia’s Mikhailovsky Ballet.


This move represents an exciting step for both Mr. Duato and Russian ballet. He will be the first foreigner to direct a Russian ballet company in over a century, the last was France’s Marius Petipa. For Mr. Duato, it will be his first time leading a large classical repertory company. Russian ballet is not known for its malleability and has had a history of ignoring modern dance influences like Mr. Duato’s, in favor of preserving tradition. Vladimir Kekhman, the businessman who took over as Mikahailovsky’s general director in 2007, feels that a strong contemporary influence is exactly what the company and Russian ballet needs.

Peridance’s Nacho Duato Workshop will be taught by Africa Guzman, another Spanish native. Ms. Guzman trained at the “Escuela de Ballet y Danza Española Africa Guzmán” and at the “Escuela del Ballet Nacional de España.” She became a member of Compañía Nacional de Danza in 1988, two years before Duato became the director. She has received many awards for her achievements as a dancer, has also danced with Netherland Das Theater, and has worked with many of the world’s highly acclaimed choreographers. For 20 years, she has been involved in Nacho’s choreographic and creative process. This workshop is an excellent opportunity to both take from a very accomplished dancer and to learn the style and repertory of one of today’s most celebrated dancer/choreographers and possibly the new face of Russian Ballet.


Preregistration for the Workshop is encouraged. Click here to register.


To learn more about Mr. Duato’s move to the Mikhailovsky Ballet read the New York Times article.