Mission Statement
The positive effects of higher self esteem, improved posture, development of talent, grace, stress reduction, self expression, physical conditioning and the pure joy of movement are benefits of dance training that we witness daily in each student. Everyone is offered the same high quality of training regardless of their ultimate motivation. Some students may go on to professional dance careers, some incorporate their dance experiences into an improved quality of life, some are motivated by the discipline to apply it to other areas, some become enlightened audience members, but all have the same shared experience of excellent dance training. We offer three options for those who wish to study ballet at PPAC:
Open Program
The open program is designed for students who would like to experience ballet classes without committing to the rigors of a demanding dance schedule. The student can take as little as one class per week.
Standard Program
The standard program is designed for students who would like to study classical ballet technique with a smaller time commitment. A certain number of classes per week will be required depending on the student’s level.
Pre-Professional Program
The Pre-Professional Program is designed for committed students who desire to become proficient in classical ballet. Your teachers will evaluate you and recommend a schedule of classes. These students will participate in a special Spring Performance (TBA).
Workshops and Master Classes
From time to time, guest teachers will be brought in to teach different but complementary styles of dance. These may include ballet, character, modern, or others. Pre-professional students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all of these opportunities.
Check the Ballet News link for the latest on Mr. Comelin’s scheduled visits.
Students enrolled in any class where Mr. Comelin is the guest teacher, will be required to pay an additional $75 for every two-week session in addition to their normal monthly dance fees. Fees are non-refundable if you miss class. Mr. Comelin’s classes are mandatory for students in the pre-professional program
Important Information
Open and Standard students must select classes with the OC code (open class). Check the class codes carefully to see if the class you have selected will participate in the recital in June. We recommend that at least one of your classes be involved in the June recital.
Although there are exceptions, each level is designed for two years of study. Students taking fewer classes per week will take longer to become proficient in the material presented during the year.
All students must be evaluated for placement. It may take up to 3 or 4 weeks to completely design your schedule and place you in the correct levels. All pre-professional students must have all classes dropped or added approved by their teachers.
Elective classes can be any other type of class offered at PPAC. In some cases, the “elective” can be another ballet class.
Ballet Faculty
Kelly Roberts, Susan Schwartz, Joe Nugent, and Caroline Atkinson.
And Returning This Year:
International Choreographer, Master Teacher, and Guest Artistic Advisor PPAC Ballet Department,
Jean-Paul Comelin
Jean-Paul Comelin joined the Paris Opera Ballet in 1956 and went on to dance with London Festival Ballet, the National Ballet of Washington and the Pennsylvania Ballet as a ballet master of the Stuttgart Ballet in 1980; artistic director of the (now) Ballet Arizona in 1984 and artistic director of Ballet du Nord in 1991. In 1993 Mr. Comelin left his position as artistic director of Ballet du Nord to pursue a career as a freelance choreographer and master teacher.
Mr. Comelin has choreographed nearly 100 ballets including The Nutcracker, Firebird, Cinderella, Coppelia, Ramonda, Sleeping Beauty and Giselle. Besides the Pennsylvania Ballet, the National Ballet of Washington, the Milwaukee Ballet and Ballet Arizona, in the United States, Mr. Comelin’s ballets have been in the repertoires of many major regional ballet companies. Internationally, his ballets are in the repertoires of the National Ballet of Canada, The Australian Ballet, The Zurich Ballet, the Hong Kong Ballet, and many others.
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