Alegria Dance Studios enjoys successful summer program ahead of July winter school

This year from January 17 to 21, Alegria School of Ballet in Sydney held another successful summer school.

Directors Hilary Kaplan and Archibald McKenzie had a busy start to the year. The pair spent the first two weeks of January in Bejing, conducting the final module of the RAD Professional Dance Teachers Diploma. They then flew home to teach at their own summer school before returning to China for the teachers’ examinations.

“This was the first time this course was being conducted in China, so it was a privilege and honour to be there,” said Hilary.

Due to the fact they had to fly to Beijing immediately, Hilary and Archie decided this year not to hold the traditional studio showing at the end of the summer school. However the five-day programme was a great success, with students showing considerable improvements, and most importantly, having fun.

The summer school was split into three levels, with capped numbers in the classes, which allowed for individual correction. The faculty included top quality teachers, such as Joshua Consandine, Dale Pope, Shelley Moore, Paul Saliba, Emily Gilfillan, Ellie Swiatkiwsky, Emma Moran, as well as Hilary and Archibald. Students enjoyed a variety of classes, including classical, repertoire, pas de deux, contemporary and jazz.

Amongst the local and interstate students, was Stella Byers from New Zealand. Stella was the winner of Alegria’s summer school junior scholarship from the Alana Haines competition 2015.

During the summer school, Alegria student Brayden Gallucci was being coached daily for his appearance at the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland. He departed for the competition at the conclusion of the summer school and went on to become a finalist, receiving numerous offers with full scholarships to some of the most prestigious company schools in the UK, Europe and USA. He also recently won the Advanced 1 1st prize at the RAD Isobel Anderson Awards and was runner-up in the Senior Cecchetti Medal Awards.

Another of Alegria’s students, Jessi Seymour (pictured) recently won the prize for Most Outstanding Dancer at the Isobel Anderson Awards, and was awarded the medal for the Intermediate level in the Cecchetti Medal Awards 2016.

Alegria School of Ballet looks forward to a winter school in July, as well as its next summer school in January 2017.