Ridgefield School of Dance Students Hone Technique Over Summer

**News Release Submitted by The Ridgefield School of Dance**

RIDGEFIELD, CT. — It’s been an active summer for The Ridgefield School of Dance with many of its dancers participating in Summer Dance Intensive programs with respected and internationally renowned dance companies.

Following their passion for dance, many were accepted into prestigious summer dance programs after undergoing a rigorous audition process to compete for highly sought after spots that challenge dancers to perfect their technique and artistry.

Packing their pointe shoes and dance bags, close to a dozen local dancers headed off to attend programs, including Chautauqua Ballet Intensive, Audrey Carr, Nola Hargrove and Lily Skirkanich from New Canaan, Pound Ridge and Ridgefield respectively; School of American Ballet (SAB), Nola Hargrove and Lily Skirkanich; American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Skirkanich; Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB), Camille Baum of Ridgefield; Orlando Ballet, Lilly Lopane of Katonah; Miami Ballet, Nola Hargrove; and New England Ballet Theatre, Olivia Basile of Redding, Allie Bouleris and Allegra Groth of Ridgefield among others. Dancers attending summer dance camps and theater programs included Zoe Keenan and Annabel Lee of Ridgefield.

Attending the summer intensives offered by The Ridgefield School of Dance from Ridgefield were Baum, Skirkanich, Keenan, Isabella Madden and Bouleris along with Lauren Minor from Wilton and Hargrove. Joining the summer intensive program was alum and professional ballerina and RSOD/RHS grad Claire Cordano, who is currently performing with Ballet Quad Cities in Iowa.

These dancers have been committed to dance since they were the youngest of ballerinas with many starting at The Ridgefield School of Dance when they were as young as three. They all have performed in the studio’s Nutcracker and spring performances, most recently in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in June. Most of the dancers participating in this year’s Summer Dance Intensive programs pursue an exhaustive schedule of classical ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance.

Alison Brown, director of The Ridgefield School of Dance, explained that each dancer has a love of and commitment to dance that carries through in their presentation not only on stage but in class. “These dancers work incredibly hard during the year and it is a testament to their love of dance that they dedicate their summers to perfecting their art,” she said. “When you watch these dancers in class and on-stage you can see in their bodies and faces, their passion for dance.”

The Ridgefield School of Dance will start its fall season on Wednesday, September 7. For more information, visit www.theridgefieldschoolofdance.com or call 203.894.5957.

**News Release Submitted by The Ridgefield School of Dance**