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:
Photos: Dynamics of Dance at Gesu 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.
Photos: Dynamics of Dance at The Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 some photos from The Rock School’s visit to The Philadelphia School:
Want to see more photos? Check out The Rock School’s flickr page for more photos.
Guest Teacher: Sergio Torrado
Sergio Torrado is a regular guest teacher here at The Rock School! You may recognize Mr. Torrado from his role in the oscar nominated film Black Swan that won Natalie Portman an academy award for best actress. Mr. Torrado played the black swan aside Ms. Portman.
Enjoy some photos of Mr. Torrado teaching our students in our studios:
Since the beginning of his professional career, Mr. Torrado has danced lead roles in classic ballets both in Spain and in the United States, including Basilio in Don Quixote, Albretch in Giselle, and the pas de trios in Swan Lake. Torrado’s Balanchine works include Sanguinic in The Four Temperaments, Allegro Brillante, Ballo Della Regina, Serenade, Emeralds in Jewels, and the Prince and Snow King in The Nutcracker. He has also performed in many ballets by contemporary choreographers like Peter Martins’s The Waltz Project, Hans Van Manen’s Grosse Fugue, and others by Helgi Tomasson, Christopher Wheeldon, Jerome Robbins, Yuri Possokhov and Mark Morris. Mr. Torrado has received several awards, including First Prize in the 1st International Competition of Zaragoza in Spain in 1997, Silver Medal at the 3rd International Competition of Havana, Cuba, and The Promising Young Dancer Award at the Dance Festival of Vignale, Italy. In June 2003, he performed the pas de deux from Giselle and the Grand Pas in Classic at the Gala for Stars from San Francisco.
Alumni News: Zhao Wan Ting Gets a Corps Contract with San Francisco Ballet
Former Rock School student Zhao Wan Ting, originally from Beijing Academy, now with San Francisco Ballet School has just been offered a Corps contract with San Francisco Ballet!From a parent, “The list went up as to who is being given SFB Corps contracts for next season and Wan Ting’s name is on it.”
Photos of Wan Ting while she was here with us in Philadelphia:
Merde, and Congratulations!
Resident Outing: Curtis Institute Student Recital
We took our resident students out for the evening to attend the 52nd student recital offered by the Curtis Institute on Wednesday, March 2 at 8p.m. in the Field Concert Hall. Our students experienced an evening filled with Camille Saint-Saëns, Luigi Boccherini, Franz Liszt, Max Bruch, and Karl Pilss. It was an opportunity to see the talented young musicians at the Curtis Institute, but we also saw it as an important occasion for our students to see other pre-professional artists their own age.The Curtis Institute and The Rock School have a lot in common. Both schools prepare young artists for professional careers. The Rock School in ballet and the Curtis Institute in music. For the third consecutive year, The Rock School and the Curtis Institute will be collaborating for The Rock School’s Annual Gala Benefit on April 30th.
During the Gala Benefit, an original composition written by a Curtis student is coupled with original choreography by The Rock School. This year, young composer Gabrielle Smith from the Curtis Institute will be composing original music to be choreographed to by Rock School teacher and Rock West Principal Teacher Jennifer Wheat.
We’re looking forward to seeing the Curtis students again at our Gala Benefit on April 30th, but we also can’t wait to get some free time from rehearsals to attend another student recital!
Enjoy some photos of our students with Curtis Institute students/performers:
In the News: Derek Dunn invited to perform in YAGP workshop at the Guggenheim
Rock Dancer Derek Dunn was invited to perform during YAGP’s first ever workshop entitled, “How Judges Judge” that was held at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The workshop was recorded and is available to watch online here.
Derek performed choreography by YAGP’s very first Grand Prix winner in 2000, Ashley Canterna.
Behind the Scenes of the Summer Intensive Program: Classes and Rehearsals
Below are photos from some of our rehearsals and classes where our students and faculty are hard at work to perfect every technique, variation and step.
*Click to Enlarge
Faculty teacher Sarah Cooper demonstrates for her students
Director Stephanie Spassoff helps her students perfect their technique
Ballet Mistress Mariaelena Ruiz demonstrates and laughs with her students 
The Rock School alumna Kara Hanretty, now a dancer at Ballet Arizona
Jennifer Wheat, Principal Ballet Teacher at Rock West, makes sure students know their places for their performance on stage.
