Luminary Theater Director to Teach Drama Class at Marblehead School of Ballet

The Marblehead School of Ballet (MSB) welcomes prominent playwright, poet, and theater director Dace Micāne-Zālīte to the staff. Ms. Micāne-Zālīte, founder and director of the Children’s Theatre, Ribeja Mute, in Latvia, will implement and teach the school’s new drama class beginning in January.

“Drama and dance are very closely related. The Marblehead School of Ballet has a long history of exposing students to the various art forms -- acting, music, mime, and others to expand their horizons and integrate them into their dancing and different areas of their lives. We are excited to welcome Dace Micāne-Zālīte as our new drama teacher this winter,” said Director Paula K. Shiff.

The ten-session drama class runs from January through March at MSB, located at 115 Pleasant Street in Marblehead, Massachusetts, culminating with a final performance on March 29. Two sessions will be offered with students, ages seven to eight, meeting on Mondays, beginning on January 12, and students, ages nine to 11, meeting on Tuesdays, with the first class on January 13. For a complete schedule, requirements, and class fees, call 781-631-6262 or send an e-mail.

Among her accomplishments, Ms. Micāne-Zālīte was a Special Research Fellow in 2008 and 2009 at the Yale University School of Drama. Her play, Where to Find Shambhala, was nominated and received national recognition at the One Theatre World 2013 convention in Cleveland, Ohio in May 2013. She is the recipient of the Worldwide Free Latvian Association Cultural Fund Award for her play and artistic expertise and a member of the International Association of Theater for Children and Young. Since August 2012, Micāne-Zālīte has lived with her family in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

“My vision and goal is to teach drama and theater art as a process of fun and creativity for the young generation! Acting is a form of art with the goal of harmonizing the emotional world of a person, while developing communication skills and fostering the growth of imagination. This helps to strengthen the student’s personality and individuality and to free the actor’s body, allowing the student’s language, stance, voice, and balance, together with other students, to find joy and the many valuable discoveries in the learning process of theater art,” explained Micāne-Zālīte.