From TOLEDO BALLET
Toledo Ballet announced its 2022 summer programs for children ages 4 and above and all ability levels. Toledo Ballet’s summer offerings include regularly scheduled classes, Summer Camps (for ages 4+), and Summer Intensives (for ages 9+) taught by professional dancers and teachers from Los Angeles Ballet, English National Ballet, and more. These week-long Intensives are designed for dancers looking to refine their skills in classical ballet techniques, choreography, and learn more about standard ballet repertoire, including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, and The Nutcracker.Registration is available now to both Toledo Ballet and non-Toledo Ballet dancers by calling 419-471-0049 or visiting toledoballet.com.
“At Toledo Ballet, we take pride in offering our students access to exemplary dancers, choreographers, and instructors throughout the academic year,” says Ann Heckler, Interim Coordinator of Curriculum & Faculty at Toledo Ballet. “This summer, we have a variety of camps and intensives for students of all ages and ability levels. Whether your child has had no formal dance experience or has been studying classical ballet for many years, there is something for everyone. We hope you will join us for a summer filled with dance and fun!”
SUMMER SESSIONS
Toledo Ballet’s Summer Sessions are available throughout the summer for dancers of all ages and ability levels interested in exploring classes in ballet, jazz, tap, and more.
Summer Session I: June 13-July 8
Summer Session II: July 11-29
Summer Session III: August 1-19
SUMMER CAMPS
Toledo Ballet’s week-long dance camps are designed to expand horizons, build coordination, and encourage self-expression. For ages 4+. No formal dance experience required.
Encanto!
July 18-22, 9AM-10:30 a.m.
Young children explore the magic of Encanto in this 90-minute camp that includes a Pre-Primary Ballet class, story time, snack break, mini-performance, and more. For ages 4-5.
Lions, Tigers, & Bears, Oh My!
July 25-29, 9AM-10:30AM
This animal-themed, 90-minute camp includes a Pre-Primary Ballet class each day plus story time, snack break, mini-performance, and more. For ages 4-5.
Dance Exploration Camps
July 18-22, 10:45AM-12:45 p.m.
July 25-29, 10:45AM-12:45 p.m.
Toledo Ballet’s Dance Exploration Camps are for children ages 6+ and will include story time, crafts, and the study of classical ballets and other dance genres.
The Nutcracker Exploration Camp
August 1-5, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In Toledo Ballet’s Nutcracker Exploration Camp, students will learn about the storyline, characters, music, and choreography inThe Nutcracker, concluding with a mini-performance at the end of the week.
“Toledo Ballet’s Summer Camps give young children the opportunity to grow their confidence and explore a variety of dance genres through the guidance of highly experienced teachers,” says Rachel Schultz, Director of Education & Community Engagement for the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts. “These week-long camps are a great way to introduce little ones to the world of dance, expand their knowledge, and have fun!”
SUMMER INTENSIVES
Toledo Ballet’s Junior Intensives are available to Level 2.5 through Level 3 dancers (ages 9+). Additional Summer Intensives are available for dancers Levels 4+ (ages 11+ or with teacher permission). These week-long Intensives will focus on Classical Ballet technique, music, and choreography from the standard ballet repertoire, including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, and The Nutcracker.
Summer Intensive I: July 11-15 led by Debra Norton focusing on Swan Lake.
Summer Intensive II: July 11-22 led by Anaïs Chalendard focusing onSleeping Beauty.
Summer Intensive III: July 25-29 led by Hope Daniel focusing onCoppelia.
Summer Intensive IV: August 20-27 led by Petra Conti & Eris Nezhafocusing on The Nutcracker.
“Our Summer Intensives give our older dancers exclusive training with professionals in the industry, an experience that focuses on advancing strength and technique,” continues Heckler. “We are very excited to welcome all of our guest artists to Toledo Ballet this summer to work with our students.”
Debra Norton holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Western Michigan University (WMU) and has been teaching dance since 1991. She currently teaches at the Ballet Arts School of Dance, Woods Lake Elementary School – A Magnet Center for the Arts, Education for the Arts Aesthetic Education Program, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and more. She holds several student and teacher Cecchetti certificates and in 2016, she successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive and became certified in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Anaïs Chalendard currently serves on faculty at the School of Nashville Ballet where she teaches Levels 5, 6, & 7 and the Professional Training Division. Chalendard joined the English National Ballet in 2008 under the direction of Wayne Eagling where she was promoted to First Soloist following performances in Manon and The Dying Swan. In 2009, she received the “Emerging Dancer Award” after dancing Nikiya’s Death from La Bayadère and has been listed in the “100 Best Dancers in the World” by Dance Europe Magazine. Chalendard has taught summer intensives with Dance Theater International, Allen Conservatory, and Boston Ballet School.
Hope Daniel, former dancer with Michigan Ballet Theater successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum and teaches ballet and various other dance genres. Her students have performed all over the world on cruise ships, in theme parks, on Broadway, and have attended some of the most prestigious institutions, including Julliard, University of Michigan, University of the Arts, Pace University, and Oklahoma City University.
Petra Conti was born in Italy and began her dance career at an early age. She graduated with honors from the National Academy of Dance in 2006 and at the age of 17, she was invited by the Arena di Verona Ballet as an étoile guest to perform her first full length ballet, Cinderella. Conti has danced with many prominent ballet companies around the world, including Mariinsky Ballet Theatre, Bavarian State Ballet Company, La Scala Ballet Company, Boston Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, and more.
Conti has performed alongside many worldwide famous dancers like Roberto Bolle, Ivan Vassiliev, Massimo Murru, and is the recipient of many prestigious awards, most recently the Premio Positano (2018), Premio Capri (2017), Antonio Fini’s “Extraordinary Dancer” Award (2016), among many others. In addition to her extensive performing experience, Conti is passionate about coaching the next generation of dancers and uses her 20+ years of experience and knowledge to mentor aspiring dancers.
Eris Nezha was born in Albania and graduated from Teatro alla Scala Ballet School in Milan, Italy in 2002 and immediately joined La Scala Ballet Company as Principal Dancer. In addition to La Scala Ballet Company, Nezha has danced with numerous other distinguished ballet companies such as Boston Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, and the Great Russian Ballet. He has performed around the world as a Principal Dancer and danced with many famous ballerinas, including Svetlana Zakharova, Natalia Osipova, Polina Semionova, Evgenia Obraztsova, Alina Somova, Ana Sophia Scheller, among others.
Registration for all of Toledo Ballet’s summer programs is available online at toledoballet.com. For more information, call Toledo Ballet’s administrative office at 419.471.0049 or email Rachel Schultz, Director of Education and Community Engagement for the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts at rschultz@artstoledo.com.
