Marblehead School of Ballet Celebrates 45th Anniversary and Launches 2016-2017 Season

The Marblehead School of Ballet (MSB) celebrates its 45th anniversary this fall with a new season of classes for 2016-2017, beginning on Monday, August 29. Classes are taught at the school's studio, located at 115 Pleasant Street, in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Range of Classes

With a motto of quality education, individual attention and working with people to reach their goals, seasoned dancers, avocational and up-and-coming dancers of all ages -- children, teenagers, and adults -- will find a range of opportunities available to meet their interests at this dance oasis on the North Shore. The MSB provides weekly classes in ballet, pointe, and variations; pre-ballet and creative movement; modern and jazz; repertory; pilates, stretch and strength; and partner dancing with ballroom, fox trot, swing, Latin, Argentine Tango and salsa. A special feature is the new adult ballet class added to the fall schedule on Thursday morning from 10:30 a.m. until noon taught by director Paula K. Shiff.

Milestone Year

The MSB's 45th year is a milestone anniversary for the studio. “This is a season to celebrate and provide experienced and aspiring dancers of all ages -- children, teenagers, adults, and seniors -- with professional, quality training emphasizing the internal mechanics of the body and proper technique, such as correct alignment, body mechanics and musicality. The Marblehead School of Ballet looks to the future to introduce and develop ballet in a new generation of artists, who will perpetuate this art form and the disciplines related to it," said Shiff, recipient of Salem State University's 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts, who trained at the Boston Ballet, continued her studies in New York City at the American Ballet Theatre and the Martha Graham Studio, and performed with the Boston Ballet Company.

Students may register any time. Private lessons are also available for dancers preparing for a special event, college auditions, or seeking additional instruction. For the new class schedule and further information, visit the school online, call 781-631-6262, or send an e-mail to msb@havetodance.com.

Students Drawn Worldwide

The MSB graduates have continued their dance studies at some of the most prestigious ballet companies worldwide, including Eliot Field, Alvin Ailey, Houston Ballet, Metropolitan Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and Ballet de Lorraine in France, among others. Alumni have graduated from leading postsecondary institutions, such as the Boston Conservatory of Music, New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Johns Hopkins University, University North Carolina School for the Arts, and University of Utah, and pursued careers in a range of fields globally.

Dancers come from around the globe to study at the school. Students attending the MSB are drawn from the surrounding cities and towns of Beverly, Boston, Boxford, Danvers, East Gloucester, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lynn, Manchester by the Sea, Marblehead, Melrose, Nahant, Reading, Revere, Rockport, Salem, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wakefield Wenham and Winthrop. Others come from out-of-state, including Maine, Florida, Texas, New Hampshire, Vermont and countries such as France and Italy.

The school has earned a wide reputation for the excellence of its training and integrity of purpose. Classical ballet forms the core of teaching with particular emphasis on correct alignment and development of strength and agility. The sheer pleasure of dance and of music is always central to the classroom experience.

The basic graded program for children includes classes in ballet technique with advanced work in repertoire and pointe. The school also offers a modern dance department, classes for young children in creative movement and classes in improvisation and technique for the older student. A full range of adult classes is offered.

MSB is home to the North Shore Civic Ballet Company (NSCB). The NSCB gives concert performances and a variety of educational programs for schools; all are suitable for different age groups and levels of development

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