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Prima Ballerina, Uliana Lopatkina, Performs at Yale

On October 14, 2015, NHB students had the privilege of attending a special event at Yale School of Music Morse Recital Hall in which Ukrainian prima ballerina, Uliana Lopatkina, performed. Upon graduating from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg, Ms. Lopatkina enjoyed a wondrous career dancing with the company of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, where she was named principal dancer in 1995. The performance celebrated three of Russia’s greatest ballet legends: Anna Pavlova, Galina Ulanova and Maya Plietskaya, and featured Ms. Lopatkina in pieces ranging from Swan Lake and Chopiniana to The Dying Swan. Also featured was Andrey Ermakov, who joined the Mariinsky Ballet in 20015 upon graduating from the Vaganova Academy. NHB thanks Yale University for generously sponsoring and making this event possible! Photos: (c) 2015 Michael Marsland.

NHB Takes NYC!

On Saturday, September 26, 2015, thirty-four NHB students, faculty and chaperones boarded a 5:39 a.m. train bound for NYC and enjoyed a fantastic day at Lincoln Center with the New York City Ballet.

After grabbing a sleepy breakfast at Grand Central Terminal, the students excitedly travelled uptown to the Rose Building where they were given access to NYCB’s Company changing rooms and participated in a challenging 1.5-hour ballet technique class taught by NYCB Soloist, Antonio Carmena, who we learned knew NHB Faculty Member, Jeremy Cox, as they studied together at the School of American Ballet. The beautifully appointed, spacious 8th Floor studio featured large windows framing the NYC skyline and an impressive grand piano played by a talented accompanist. Many students were amazed to catch a peek of Justin Peck roaming the hallway.

After class, the group soaked up the gorgeous sunny weather by eating lunch outdoors near the fountains that welcome visitors to the theater. Then, NYCB Principal, Ask la Cour, warmly greeted and provided NHB students with a private tour of the theater, stage and backstage area. The group had the opportunity to learn about the dancers’ schedules, see costumes and sets up close, observe the tech crew preparing for the performance, pose for photos, and even watch Daniel Ulbricht, who taught a master class at NHB last year, and Antonio Carmena, who taught the students that morning, warming up for their respective leading roles in Swan Lake.

The students visited the gift stand and proceeded to their seats in the Third Ring of the Koch Theater, where the entire cast of Swan Lake, including: Tyler Angle, Sara Mearns, Megan Fairchild, Tiler Peck, (the aforementioned Mssrs. Ulbricht and Carmena) and many others dazzled the audience with their spectacular dancing.

It was a long but magical day, which all will remember for a lifetime. Thank you to the dedicated and patient NHB faculty and chaperones and everyone at NYCB!

Photos: (a) Mr. Carmena teaches NHB students technique class; (b) Students and faculty pose with Mr. la Cour on stage at Lincoln Center; (c) Up close look at Swan Lake costumes; (d) Outside the stage door; (d) Waiting for the curtain to go up.

Deanna Seay to Teach Master Class

We are delighted to announce that former Miami City Ballet Principal Dancer, Deanna Seay, will teach a Master Class on Monday, October 12, 2015, from 5:45-7:15 pm for NHB level 7 & 8 students in Danspace, 70 Audubon Street, New Haven.

Deanna Seay Bio —

Deanna Seay began her ballet training at age four in Jacksonville, Florida with Marta Jackson. After her family relocated to Virginia, she continued her studies at the School of the Richmond Ballet with Patricia Dodd, and then later with Christine Busch. She went on to attend the (University of) North Carolina School of the Arts as a scholarship student, training with teachers such as Fanchon Cordell, Robert Lindgren, Duncan Noble, Susan McCullough, Joan Saunders, Melissa Hayden, Frank Smith and Melinda Lawrence. In January of 1989, she received a Level 3 award at the Arts Recognition and Talent Search sponsored by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. She graduated from (U)NCSA in May of that year and then joined Miami City Ballet as a member of the corps in August, 1989.

Ms. Seay danced with the Miami City Ballet, under the direction of Edward Villella, for twenty-one years, becoming a Principal Dancer in 1998. She was featured extensively throughout the repertoire in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, Frederick Ashton, and Anthony Tudor. In addition to working closely with Mr. Villella on many roles, she also worked with coaches such as Bart Cook, Maria Calegari, Violette Verdy, Pat Neary, Suzanne Farrell, Susan Pilarre, and Susie Hendl, and in 1999 was chosen to work with Maria Tallchief for the Balanchine Foundation Interpreter’s Archive. Dedicated to preserving Balanchine’s key roles as interpreted by their originators, the Balanchine Foundation filmed Ms. Seay being coached by Ms. Tallchief in the principal female role of Allegro Brillante.

Ms. Seay began her teaching career while still a member of the Miami City Ballet, teaching in both the winter and summer programs. After retiring from performing in 2010, she began her association with the Boston Ballet School as a member of the summer faculty for SDP Newton. In the Fall of that same year, she joined the Cary Ballet Conservatory in Cary, NC as the Ballet Mistress, and became the Artistic Director of the Cary Ballet Company in 2011. She and her family relocated to Boston in 2014 after being invited to join the full-time faculty at Boston Ballet School.