Rock School student Derek Dunn is briefly featured in “First Position,” a ballet documentary about Youth America Grand Prix that began filming in 2010.
Since then, Derek has continued training with The Rock School. Enjoy this video of Dunn performing at The Rock School in 2012.
Choreography by Ashley Canterna.
Violette Verdy, The Rock School’s Artistic Advisor, looks stunning in this photo with Balanchine!Balanchine and the original cast of “Jewels”. Suzanne Farrell as “Diamonds”, Patricia McBride as “Rubies”, Mimi Paul and Violette Verdy as “Emeralds”.
The Rock School enjoyed having Gennadi Saveliev as a guest instructor last week. Mr. Saveliev taught a combined level master class, a men’s class, and coached our male students competing in this year’s YAGP finals coming up next week.
Born in Moscow, Russia, Gennadi Saveliev began his ballet studies at the Bolshoi Ballet School at the age of nine. At 18 he joined the Bolshoi Ballet Grigorovich Company where his repertoire included the Chinese Doll inThe Nutcracker, one of the four cavaliers in Raymonda and the pas de trios in Swan Lake. Saveliev has also danced with the Nevada Dance Theatre, Tulsa Ballet, Los Angeles Classical Ballet and the New Jersey Ballet. Saveliev won the Silver Medal at the 1996 New York International Ballet Competition and was a finalist at the Nagoya Ballet Competition in 1999.
Saveliev joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in January 1996. His repertoire with the Company includes the Bronze Idol, the Head Fakir and the Rajah in La Bayadère, Accordionist in The Bright Stream. the first movement in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, the Lead Mazurka/Czardas Dancer inCoppélia, Conrad, Ali, the slave and Lankendem in Le Corsaire, the pas de deux Diana and Acteon, a leading role in Diversion of Angels, Espada in Don Quixote, Demetrius in The Dream, Henry in Christopher Wheeldon’s VIII, the Pastor in Fall River Legend, the pas de deux Flames of Paris, Albrecht, Hilarion and the peasant pas de deux in Giselle, Gaston in Lady of the Camellias, Lescaut in Manon, Camille in The Merry Widow, the Nutcracker-Prince and the Cavalier in Kevin McKenzie’s The Nutcracker, the Painter in Offenbach in the Underworld, Prince Gremin in Onegin, Sergei in On the Dnieper, a Friend of the Family in Pillar of Fire, the Warrior Chieftain in Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor, Beranger and the Lead Hungarian Dancer inRaymonda, Paris and Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (Romeo’s Farewell to Juliet), Prince Désiré and the Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty, Prince Siegfried, Benno, von Rothbart (Act III) and the Lead Czardas Dancer in Swan Lake, Orion in Sylvia, Lucentio in The Taming of the Shrew, leading roles inBallet Imperial, The Brahms-Haydn Variations, In the Upper Room, The Leaves Are Fading, Les Sylphides, Symphonie Concertante, Theme and Variations and Without Words, as well as roles in Black Tuesday, Clear, The Garden of Villandry, HereAfter, Jabula, Overgrown Path, Petite Mort and Symphony in C. He created leading roles in Rabbit and Rogue and Seven Sonatas.
Saveliev is a member of Angel Corella and Friends and Stiefel and Stars touring companies and is also the founder and artistic director of Youth America Grand Prix, America’s first student ballet scholarship competition.
Saveliev was promoted to Soloist in August 2002.
Mr. Savaliev’s performances at American Ballet Theatre are sponsored by Brian and Darlene Heidtke.
Upcoming Events to Look Forward to at The Rock School!
With Springtime already here and Summer quickly approaching, The Rock School is preparing for so many exciting events. Here’s a look at some of the performances, and competitions happening in the upcoming months.
Youth America Grand Prix NYC Finals are just around the corner. YAGP in-studio previews are being held here at The Rock School!
Wednesday, April 18th, 6:00pm
Saturday, April 21st, 12:30-1:30pm
Studio A (5th Floor)
The previews are open to the public, so come show your support before our dancers compete in the YAGP Finals April 22nd- 26th!
On Saturday, April 21st, The Rock School Students will be performing at the 4life International Convention at the Philadelphia Convention Center. More information can be found on their website. http://freedom12.4life.com/
The Rock School’s 21st Annual Scholarship Benefit, ROCK IT TO THE MOON! is set for Friday May 4th and is being held at The Independence Seaport Museum at 6pm. The benefit performance will feature a unique collaboration between The Rock School and The Curtis Institute, now in its 4th year. A world-premiere ballet choreographed by Justin Allen, a Rock School faculty member and alumni, featuring Rock School students and set to an original score composed by The Curtis Institute’s Milton L. Rock Fellow, Katerina Kramarchuk and performed by Curtis Institute students. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at http://therockschool.org/benefit_gala
On May 11th, The Rock School dancers will perform selected pieces from the hit Broadway play, Westside Story at The Mann Center for Performing Arts. All performances will be accompanied by The Curtis Symphony Orchestra. The Gateway to Europe concert is FREE, but does require reservations to be made in advance. Reservations can be made online at http://www.curtis.edu/performances/curtis-symphony-orchestra/
The Rock School dancers will return to The Mann Center May 19th to perform in this year’s Philadelphia on Parade. The performance highlights the diversity of world music with a line-up that includes classical, gospel, spoken word, jazz, rhythm & blues, funk, and rock, global dance ensembles, dance workshops, and a crafts marketplace. Admission is FREE with reservations made online at http://philadelphiaonparade2012.eventbrite.com/
2012 Haverford Exchange!
The Rock School students put on quite a performance at the Haverford School. The entire auditorium was impressed by the athleticism and skill exhibited by our dancers. After the performance, selected Haverford School students were paired off with Rock School students and spent the day in school together.
The following week The Rock School enjoyed their bi-annual exchange from The Haverford School. The visiting students certainly learned what it takes to be a ballet dancer. After class the students enjoyed a well deserved meal together in the R-Cafe. You can watch the boys refining their dance technique on our youtube channel. www.youtube.com/rockschooldance
It is with regret and sadness that we share the recent news.
Polina Kadiyska, a 22-year old student from Bulgaria had been studying ballet at The Rock School for three years. Polina was a beautiful dancer on her way to a wonderful professional career. While she lived in The Rock School’s residence location at the Marine Club her first year, Polina had been living on her own for the past two years.
To the best of our knowledge, Sunday morning between 4:00am and 5:00am Polina was struck by a drunk driver who ran a red light. The driver was arrested for DUI, leaving the scene, and other related causes including aggravated assault.
Polina was in a coma at the ICU at Jefferson Hospital. The Directors and Polina’s loved ones stayed at the hospital until her parents arrived from Bulgaria around 1:30 this morning. Polina passed on a few hours later.
Our hearts and love go out to Polina and her family. She was a beautiful person in every way.
Please check back for more information on a memorial service. We are collecting any flowers, cards, or kind words for Polina’s family on the 2nd floor by the elevator under her photo.
Thank you for all of your love and support throughout this horrible tragedy.
Congratulations to former Rock School student/teacher Gleidson Vasconcelos!
Mr. Vasconcelos will be performing at the Joyce Theater in New York City with Ballet Arizona this week from February 22-26, 2012! Ballet Arizona is making their Joyce Theater debut with the production of Ib Andersen’s “Play.”
Gleidson Vasconcelos is a talented young dancer/teacher who is gifted in both arenas. Among his credits are Cuban Classical Ballet, Principal Dancer. New Jersey Ballet, Guest Artist, Company Member, Royal Winnepeg Ballet. He won the Gold Medal at World Ballet Competition. Silver Medal, YAGP Finals, New York. Rudolf Nureyev Award. Best Male Dancer Russian Pointe Ballet Competition.
The photos above are from Mr. Vasconcelos teaching and dancing with The Rock School.
Congratulations and Merde!
Rock Center is looking good!
The Rock School has recently displayed new signage around the building! Large-scale posters featuring some of our breath-taking dancers can be seen outside the elevator on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors of Rock Center. With so many amazing and talented students, The Rock School is proud to watch their hard work in and out of the studio. The Rock School could not be more pleased to display the extraordinary talent of our dancers. Be sure to take a moment and see the new signage displays as you step off the elevators!
2nd Floor
3rd Floor
4th Floor
5th Floor
Former Rock School student Beckanne Sisk dancing the lead role in Ballet West’s full length “Don Quixote!”
Beckanne Sisk began dancing with The Rock School when she was 13 years old! She first came during a Summer Intensive and then joined the residence and Rock Academics program. Sisk graduated as a four year Rock Academics graduate in the class of 2010.
Beckanne returned to The Rock School to study and train last summer, and we hope to have her back in our studios again soon.
Congratulations Beckanne and Merde! Everyone here at The Rock School is so proud of you!
Be sure to read this review of Ballet West’s Don Quixote in the Salt Lake Tribune!
Former Rock School student Taylor Stanley to debut as Romeo in New York City Ballet’s “Romeo & Juliet” on February 18th and 22nd with Erica Pereira!
Stanley began dancing with The Rock School at the age of three in his hometown of West Chester at sister school Rock West. He joined Rock Center in Philadelphia when he enrolled as a Rock Academics student in 2007.
Check out some photos of Taylor dancing during a visit to The Rock School! Rock School Ballet Mistress Jennifer Wheat has literally watched Stanley grow as a person and dancer since she taught Stanley at both Rock Center and Rock West.
Stanley has worked hard within NYCB and the speed at which he has moved up within the company has been impressive. He began as an apprentice in 2009, and then in 2010 he was offered a contract to join the corps de ballet of NYCB. Stanley almost immediately began to dance in debut Soloist roles, including Christopher Wheeldon’s “Polyphonia.”
Congratulations Taylor! You deserve all the best, and all of us here at The Rock School are so proud of you and delighted to hear about your success! Merde!
The Rock School introduces a new class beginning Fall 2011: Urban Dance | Extreme Movement, a part of Rock Dance Project. This video is a sneak peek of what to expect from the new program. This new program won’t affect current classical ballet students, but is simply an addition to The Rock School’s dance offerings and another option for our students.
VISIT therockschool.org/rdp for more information about class schedule & tuition.
URBAN DANCE carries the spirit and technique of Hip Hop, while taking influence and incorporating other dance styles and accompanying genres of
music. It is a bridge between the many places that dance is found in a
bustling city whether on screen, stage, in the street, house or club. Familiar styles and techniques can be mixed or transformed, even new dance forms created.
EXTREME MOVEMENT encompasses skills from sports that involve tremendous feats with the body, primarily without apparatus. Extreme Movement focuses on skills from martial arts
tricking, capoeira, free running, break dance and tumbling. Skills and maneuvers from these disciplines are incorporated uniquely into dance choreography and performance.
URBAN DANCE | EXTREME MOVEMENT is part of ROCK DANCE PROJECT, which creates opportunities for individuals with different education and specialities to perform and learn together, while also providing an excellent starting point for new comers in the experience of dance and athletics.
QUESTIONS? Please email us at RDP@therockschool.net with any inquiries specific to our Urban Dance | Extreme Movement class or Rock Dance Project.
Dance instruction in Urban Dance | Extreme Movement brought to you by Philadelphia’s own Vince Johnson.
Photos: Dynamics of Dance at Andrew Jackson School
The Rock School’s outreach program, RockReach, visits participating schools throughout the metropolitan area to demonstrate and present classical ballet and contemporary dance. RockReach calls these school visits “Dynamics of Dance,” during which student dancers from The Rock School get to share their love for dance with young students all over the city of Philadelphia. Rock School Faculty member Gabriele Guma lead the dancers through barre work and warm ups in front of the students at the Gesu School. Guma also explained some of the history of ballet to the young audience and opened the floor for a Q&A after The Rock School students performed. Enjoy photos from The Rock School’s visit to Andrew Jackson School below:
