Middlebury, Connecticut, July 2, 2012- For the fifth year in a row, the Russian American Foundation (RAF) announces a once in a lifetime opportunity for the most talented young dancers, ages 9-14, from all over the world to train with Master Teachers from the internationally renowned Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet Academy for a period of 3-6 weeks at the Westover School in Middlebury, CT.
Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet Academy has produced some of the most famous dancers and choreographers in ballet history such as Natalia Osipova, Alexei Ratmansky, Natalia Semionova, Nikolai Tsiskaridze and many others. At the end of the program, the best students will be invited to train full-time at the Academy in Moscow.
In addition, one male and one female dancer (*selected from NY and CT) will receive a full scholarship from RAF to train at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. This is a unique opportunity for any student to experience the world of professional ballet dancing. A former Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive participant David Hallberg, who made history by becoming the first American dancer to become a permanent member of the Bolshoi Ballet Company, is now an ABT’s principal dancer.
“The opportunity to train with Academy’s master teachers, who have worked with some of ballet’s most famous stars, is a life transforming experience for all participants. This program opens up not only pre-professional horizons, but also students’ cultural and personal horizons,” says Rina Kirshner, Vice President of RAF.
Russian American Foundation was founded to encourage interest and understanding of Russian heritage in the US as well as to promote reciprocal awareness of American customs and culture among global communities in the former Soviet Union. RAF is a member of the US-Russia Presidential Bilaretal Commission, Sub-working Group on Culture. In May 2012, US Ambassador to Russia Honorable Michael A. McFaul stated “The Russian-American Foundation’s continued contribution to cultural, educational, and sports programs in the United States and Russia help foster greater understanding between the people of the United States and the Russian Federation.
