In 2012, Tacoma City Ballet created the Junior Company. Young dancers, age 8-12, join with the Tacoma City Ballet Senior Performing Company and perform in all three productions of the regular season. The founding Children’s Ballet Theatre Company members were selected from within the Tacoma City Ballet school ranks, and performed alongside older dancers in the sold-out run of Storybook Ballet Theatre performances in May. New members will be inducted for the 2012-2013 performance season beginning in September.
In order to be eligible for membership in the Children’s Ballet Theatre Company, dancers must be enrolled in the Tacoma City Ballet School and must attend the Children’s Ballet Theatre Workshop during TCB’s Summer Intensive. As part of the training for the Junior Company, dancers in this workshop will be coached on choreography, performance techniques, and theatre etiquette. Dancers participating in this additional training will gain valuable skills while being groomed for future acceptance in the Performing Company.
Throughout the regular season, Junior Company members will rehearse for their roles in The Haunted Theatre, The Nutcracker, and Storybook Ballet Theatre while studying the art of classical ballet with Tacoma City Ballet’s skilled instructors. These children will also have the benefit of monthly master classes with Tacoma City Ballet Artistic Director, Erin M. Ceragioli each spring. By encouraging these young dancers to indulge their love of classical ballet at an early age, Tacoma City Ballet will mold a new generation of performers imbued with the traditions of Miss Jan Collum’s Performing Company.
Registration is now open for the 8-week Summer Intensive, running Monday, July 9th through Friday, August 31st. In addition to the Children’s Ballet Theatre Workshop, the Summer Intensive program offers concentrated study in Classical Ballet, Pointe, and Conditioning for dancers aged three and up.
