Burbank Leader Article
Five Young Dancers Rewarded with Summer Intensives
Intensive Programs Help Build Strength, Connections in Ballet
Imagine dancing eight to 10 hours-a-day, for weeks at a stretch. That is what summer is like for many dance students participating in "summer intensive" programs across the United States. Usually affiliated with professional dance companies such as the Joffrey Ballet or American Ballet Theatre, the summer programs offer students the opportunity to improve technique, learn various styles, and meet professional and amateur dancers from across the country. Dancers say that these concentrated programs are worth the expense.
The Red Chair School of Performing Arts in Burbank is pleased to announce that five of the school’s ballet students: Faye Bosco, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Briggs, Rose Filichia, Lena Harris, and Ryan Sinton, will be attending summer ballet intensive programs across the United States. Each girl had to audition along with many other students in order to be selected for their prospective programs. Auditions were conducted all across the country.
“We are delighted to have so many of our young dancers participate in these incredible summer ballet intensive programs,” states Jennifer Bosco, ABT certified ballet teacher and co-owner of the Red Chair School of Performing Arts. “It is through all of their hard work and dedication during the year that has brought them to this level of proficiency.”
Faye Bosco, a 12 year-old Red Chair ballet student, has been dancing since she was only two. Her mother, Jennifer Bosco, is co-owner of the Red Chair School in addition to being Faye’s favorite ballet teacher. After participating in one of the 18-city nationwide auditions, she was accepted to the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Summer Intensive at the University of Alabama. This three-week program for intermediate and advanced dancers ages 12 to18 features a comprehensive ballet curriculum taught by New York-based ABT Staff and dancers. Faye dances four days a week at the Red Chair with the full unlimited and commercial dance programs. She enjoys ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, modern and hip-hop, however her favorite is lyrical dance. “I love to perform,” says Faye. “I attended an ABT Summer Intensive locally two years ago, but I am really excited to go to Alabama and learn new things through this experience.”
Elizabeth “Lizzy” Briggs, is a 13 year-old dance student who will be attending Burbank High School in the fall. Lizzy auditioned and was accepted to both the Brigham Young University Summer Ballet Workshop in Provo, Utah and the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive at the University of Alabama which she attended last year. She will only attend the Brigham Young Workshop since was chosen to be a member of the Burbank High School dance team that also has a summer training program. The Brigham Young University Workshop is geared toward enriching ballet training for intermediate and advanced ballet dancers aged 11 to 18. Lizzy began dancing when she was very young through the City of Burbank Parks and Recreation programs and has been dancing at the Red Chair for the last four years. She loves ballet, lyrical, contemporary and jazz and attends dance classes five days-a-week at the Red Chair. Lizzy will be staying in dormitories at Brigham Young University for the two week program. “I am hoping to become a better dancer and meet new friends there,” says Lizzy. “Dancing really makes me feel good.”
Another talented Red Chair dance student attending ballet summer programs is 10 year-old Rose Filichia. Rose auditioned at Cal State Long Beach and was accepted to the American Ballet Theatre Young Dancer Workshop in New York City. This two week intensive day program taught by ABT artistic staff, ABT alumni, guest teachers and accomplished pianists including Franco De Vita, Principal of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis School at ABT will be attended by 120 young dancers ages nine to 11. Rose began dancing at age two, but became a serious dancer two years ago. She attends both curriculum and commercial dance classes at the Red Chair four days-a-week. “Ballet is fun and I love being on stage,” says Rose. “I hope to meet new friends at the workshop and to learn a lot. I am excited that my mom will be coming with me to New York too.”
Nine-year-old Red Chair dancer Lena Harris has been dancing since she was three years old when she began taking classes through the City of Burbank Parks and Recreation programs. Lena has done some tap dancing, but has focused on ballet the last two years at the Red Chair School. “I like performing and being on stage,” says Lena. “My favorite class at Red Chair is Miss Barbara’s pointe class.” After learning from a friend about the Oregon Ballet Theatre Summer Program in Portland, Oregon, Lena’s mom, Michelle Harris, researched the program online and Lena decided to audition. Lena attended the audition in Los Angeles and was the youngest dancer among 100 teenager students and adults. These were auditions not only for the summer program, but also those for the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre and the Oregon Ballet Theatre. Lena’s audition went very well and she was accepted to the five week pre-professional program including regular ballet curriculum. The School’s mission is “to provide the highest quality dance training to all of its students.” Her mom will also be staying with her during the program.
Ryan Sinton, a 13 year-old Red Chair ballet student, has been taking ballet classes for about nine years. Ryan enjoys ballet because it is a more structured form of dance and requires great strength. Currently, she attends six classes per week at the Red Chair – two techniques classes, pilates, private pointe lessons, master and contemporary. Ryan auditioned for three separate summer ballet programs, was accepted to two and decided to attend the summer program at the Jillana School in Taos, New Mexico. She was also accepted to the Brigham Young University Program, but because of a timing conflict, could not participate. The Jillana School is an intensive summer ballet program for the young pre-professional. Classes meet Monday through Friday and half a day Saturday with time off for organized activities. “I am excited to learn more about the Balanchine Technique® that the Jillana School teaches, says Ryan. “This technique is a different style of dancing from the ABT which the Red Chair teaches. I also got to meet Jillana, the director of the program, who is amazing. I am trying to become a stronger dancer and hope to continue dancing into high school.”
“We are so proud of all of our dancers at Red Chair who were accepted into summer intensive programs,” states Sylvia Kelman, co-owner and director of business affairs at the Red Chair School of Performing Arts. “At The Red Chair we provide them with the professional discipline to reach these types of goals to be successful. The summer intensive programs offer an incredible learning experience whether they want a career in dance or just the opportunity to learn surrounded by students who have the same focus and passion for dance.”
The Red Chair School of Performing Arts offers a variety of dance and theatre classes from pre-school through adult. For more information, please call (818) 842-5500 or visit on the web at theredchairschool.com.