They Dance Toward Perfection

The art of ballet has been resurrected into the spotlight recently with the release of the film Black Swan. The movie, which has been regarded as a surprise breakout by film critics worldwide, has been nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It has also earned $171.4 million as of Feb. 13.  That’s not bad for a film that was produced on a very limited budget in an entertainment industry preoccupied by sequels, remakes and comic-book adaptations. It’s also not a bad thing for ballet itself, a form of dance that seems to have gotten lost among the myriad of reality television shows that put both amateurs’ and celebrities’ Samba skills and Tango talents to the test. 

While these seemingly snazzier types of dance have been pushed into the forefront lately, it all comes back to classical ballet. Just ask the experts.

"Dance forms such as jazz and modern evolved from the art of ballet. The most successful jazz and modern dancers are trained in classical ballet," says Josie Singer, Executive Director of the in Media, whose life's passion is the art of ballet.

"Ballet is a combination of athletic ability, discipline and grace. It is an ethereal and aesthetic art form where the body expresses a story. It teaches poise, coordination, confidence and self-discipline. It provides the body with strength, flexibility and balance," says Singer.

Singer, who has lived in Media for 26 years, was on a mission to find a high-caliber classical dance studio for her daughter more than a decade ago. After scouring the Philadelphia area, she found herself at a Russian academy in Northeast Philly, where she met Denis Gronostayskiy and his wife, Anastasia Babayeva. The couple spent their late childhood and adolescent years training at the famed Bolshoi Ballet School in Moscow, Russia.  

Bolshoi Ballet School is more than 200 years old, and produces the crème de la crème of the ballet world. Competition is fierce, and only the fortunate few are accepted. Once enrolled, the students, ages nine to 18, go through rigorous dance training, coupled with an academic curriculum as well. Bolshoi Ballet School is regarded as one of the most elite, influential dance training facilities in the world. Graduates are invited to stay there to teach, or move onto other ballet companies worldwide.

Gronostayskiy and Babayeva made a choice to tour the world, from Europe to Asia, and across the U.S. Eventually they planted roots in this area, and since 2001, have shared their invaluable experience and knowledge with students from throughout the Delaware Valley and beyond.

Gronostayskiy and Singer made a decision in 2001 to open the Academy of International Ballet. Singer says creating a school in her home region ensures the fine art of classical ballet is available to students in Delaware County. She points out classes are available for a wide range of ages and abilities, for both girls and boys.

"The Academy offers training for all levels, from toddlers to adults, beginners through professionals. We have people into their 40s and 50s. Many of them danced when they were younger, while some are new to ballet," says Singer. "What's good is that whether you’re taking a class for enjoyment, or to learn to perform professionally, you are learning from the beginning. It's not eclectic ballet instruction. It's a tried and true curriculum."

Currently, there are 100 students enrolled, and new students are welcome as long as there is room in the class. The majority of the school’s students are from Delaware County, but some hail from King of Prussia, New Jersey and Lehigh County. Students have the option of taking one class, to 10 classes per week. Classes include ballet, jazz, modern and character dance. In addition to group classes, they offer private instruction, as well as international competition training.

There is an additional five-week program for older students in the summer. Students may take one week, or all five weeks. The training is intense, with days of practice running from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with a lunch break built in.

The Academy participates in two major competitions each year. In 2010, it received the Outstanding School Award at the Youth Dance Festival of New Jersey. Several students also earned individual awards there. At the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGB), which is the largest international ballet competition, many of the Academy’s students placed in the top spots in the Philadelphia regional round. Those students will move onto the finals in New York City in March, and have also been invited to perform in YAGB’s Gala event there. They’ll perform alongside top dancers from all over the world, including China, Japan, Brazil and Portugal.

Kelsey Tierney, an eighth grade student at , is one of the Academy’s top dancers who will be heading to New York City. She placed in the top 12 in the Philadelphia regional competition. The 13-year-old says she’s excited to dance amongst world-class dancers, and says ballet is her passion.

"I started at age 7. I love ballet. It’s my favorite thing to do. The school helps me to improve. My favorite thing about ballet is how graceful I can be, and how I can work toward perfection," says Tierney. (Stay tuned to Media Patch for a Whiz Kid feature story on Tierney next week).

Fellow student, McKenna Sing, a fourth grader at , is also YAGB bound for the finals and the Gala. Sing, 10, shares Tierney’s love of the dance.

"I like that I can stretch and become more flexible. I like to dance how I feel," says Sing.

For Sing, Tierney, and their classmates going to perform in New York City, it is undoubtedly the chance of a lifetime. Singer points out that being in actual performances has so many benefits for the students.

"It enhances students’ confidence and teaches them not to only interact with other students, but also with professional dancers and the audience," says Singer.

Every year, each student at the Academy has the opportunity to experience performing on stage during a recital. This year’s will be held on June 3 at Neumann University.  

The Academy is also the official school of International Ballet Classique (IBC), which is a non-profit corporation, and the first and only ballet company in Delaware County. Gronostayskiy is Artistic Director of IBC, and Babayeva is IBC’s Ballet Mistress. Both are Master Instructors at the Academy as well.

IBC presents the Nutcracker each December at Neumann University, performs a classical work in the spring and hosts ballet festivals. IBC also offers lecture demonstrations throughout the region.

"IBC’s mission is to foster classical ballet performances and preserve the art of ballet, and help provide a new generation of dancers to reestablish the art. There aren’t many places to see classical ballet performance, such as Coppelia and Giselle, unless you go into Philadelphia or New York City," Singer says. "Under the artistic direction of Gronotayskiy, IBC has been able to present a number of full length ballets."

Gronostayskiy is pleased with his students, many of which have gone onto receive scholarships at dance colleges and win awards.

"I like helping kids develop as dancers. I see several that are quite good, and a number of them are succeeding, and graduating into the professional world," Gronostayskiy says.

He says teaching the boys is challenging, but also rewarding.

"The boys learn structure and learn the art. It takes a very long time to become good, and they have to enjoy it," Gronostayskiy says.

Babayeva shares her husband’s sentiments, and says what gives her the most gratification is working with the students to help them develop their fullest potential.

"I share their joy each time they begin to master a difficult combination and feel proud of the amount of work  a student dedicates to become successful. My hope for the future is the success of our students, because that is the success of the school," says Babayeva.

The trio is working for one unified goal, which is to inspire students to become the finest dancers they can be, to preserve the classical method of ballet, and to bring the world of ballet to a wide and diverse population.