Press Release
The Charleston Gaillard Center is delighted to announce that in addition to presenting the free performance of ABT Across America on Saturday, July 17th, we will also offer two master classes led by American Ballet Theatre dancers. The Gaillard Center's Education & Community Program continuously seeks out opportunities to engage students of all experience levels with world class performers. On July 17, Lowcountry students will have two opportunities for unparalleled dance instruction.
ABT dancers, Abbey Marrison and Carlos Gonzalez, will first lead an Intermediate and Advanced master class designed for students ages 13 to 18, with at least three years of training. An introductory class for students ages 7-12, who are new to dance or those interested in trying dance, will be held from 12:30pm-1:30pm. Both classes will take place on the stage of the Martha & John M. Rivers Performance Hall. Space is available for 25 dancers for each class.
Sterling deVries, Director of Education for the Charleston Gaillard Center, notes, “We are honored to give students of the Lowcountry the opportunity to participate in master classes with the esteemed American Ballet Theatre artists. It is important to us to offer classes to those who may have not danced before and perhaps spark a love of dance. ABT's time in Charleston serves as an exciting springboard for the community to fall in love with dance.”
Furthermore, patrons attending the evening performance of ABT Across America may arrive early at 5pm to have the unique opportunity to view ABT's on-stage warm-up before the full performance.
The Charleston Gaillard Center will present ABT Across America for an outdoor performance at The Citadel's parade ground, Summerall Field, at 7:30pm. Repertory for ABT Across America will feature Lauren Lovette's La Follia Variations, a work for eight dancers set to music by Francesco Geminiani, Jessica Lang's Let Me Sing Forevermore, a pas deux blending ballet and jazz vocabulary set to songs sung by Tony Bennett, Darrell Grand Moultrie's Indestructible Light, a celebration of American jazz music, and a classical pas de deux from ABT's extensive repertoire.
Support for this program is made possible by generous donors who have committed time and resources to the Charleston Gaillard Center's Dance Initiative.
Intermediate and Advanced Master Class
