Pre-Professional Intensive
Pre-Professional Intensive (Ages 9-11, and 12-17, or ESB Ballet 3 and up)
Monday August 5 - Friday, August 9, 2024
Register Here!
Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet Pre-Professional Summer Ballet Program provides unparalleled training by our prestigious faculty and guest faculty. As a summer student, you will experience a program focused on the whole dancer while advancing your strength and technique. Our program is designed to nurture dancers spiritually, mentally as well as physically. Each day begins with hymns and songs on the green in front of our studios and an inspirational message from faculty and guest artists. Build your confidence as a dancer through our comprehensive curriculum that brings together the finest in technique and artistry. Class Offerings include: Ekklesia repertoire, pointe, variations, modern, partnering, contemporary, and more! The program ends with a free performance on the final day.
Guest Artists
We are excited to announce the guest artists for this year's Pre-Professional Summer Intensive: Claire Mazza and Alejandro Ulloa of East Coast Contemporary Ballet!
Claire Mazza
A native New Yorker, Claire began her dance training at the School of American Ballet where she was chosen by Madam Dudin to study at the age of nine. While being immersed in the Balanchine style, she studied privately with Francois Perron in order to focus on the classical French technique and attended Studio Maestro (currently Manhattan Youth Ballet) under his and Deborah Wingert’s direction. Claire also received scholarships to attend prestigious summer programs at the Boston Ballet School and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. As a child, Claire had the unique opportunity to perform with New York City Ballet in their productions of "The Nutcracker," "Firebird," "Coppelia," and "Mozartiana."
Upon graduating and after having performed with the Manhattan Youth Ballet Studio Company, Claire launched her professional career and has danced with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montreal, Brooklyn Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Richmond Ballet, Morales Dance, Staten Island Ballet, St. Peter’s Dance Company, Dances Patrelle, Cello Pointe, and was a soloist with Connecticut Ballet for many years. Claire is currently a soloist with New York City- based company Ballets With a Twist and Kathryn Posin Dance Company. Her repertoire spans classical to contemporary works, and she recently had the pleasure of performing as a principal in Balanchine’s "Who Care’s?" and starred as Titania in "A Midsummer Night’s Dream."
She has also been seen dancing in television productions such as Kings, Royal Pains, and Elementary. In addition to her thriving dance career, Claire has been featured as a model in Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, Italian magazine “Donna,” Kike Calvo’s National Geographic table book “World of Dances,” and in Joe McNally’s Nikon print advertisement.
Claire has been teaching dance to students ages three to eighteen for the past ten years, and is currently the Director of the Darien Arts Center Dance Academy.
In 2019, Claire co-founded East Coast Contemporary Ballet.
Alejandro Ulloa
A native of Nicaragua, international freelance artist Alejandro Ulloa began his dance training at the Escuela Nacional de Ballet de Nicaragua under the direction of maestro William Herrera, and launched his professional dance career with the Compañía Ballet de Nicaragua where he quickly became a principal dancer. He was later invited to be part of the contemporary company Danza Contemporánea Universitaria UNAN-Managua. In 2015, Alejandro and Maestro Herrera launched the first-ever ballet and neoclassical ensemble at the Nicaraguan University, where Alejandro became the Cultural Promoter for the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, as well as Director for the “Taller de Líneas Clásicas.” Later that year, he also became co-producer, teacher, and choreographer for Compañía Ballet de Nicaragua, as well as a ballet and contemporary teacher at the Escuela Nacional de Ballet de Nicaragua.
Alejandro’s vast repertoire has ranged from classical to contemporary works, as he has worked with a plethora of directors and choreographers. He has appeared as a guest artist for Gainesville Ballet, Danse Etoile in Costa Rica, Island Moving Company, Neglia Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre, Connecticut Ballet, Lydia Johnson Dance, among others. He has also participated in many festivals, such as Jacob’s Pillow Festival in Lenox, Massachusetts, APAP Festival in New York City, Bitef Theater and Terazije Theater in Serbia, the International Ballet Gala in Nicaragua, the 50th anniversary of Universidad de Campeche-México, the 20th Anniversary of Fundacion Ballet de El Salvador, and Great Friends Dance Festival in Newport, Rhode Island among others. In addition, Alejandro was an integral part of the Art and Science Unite as Psychological Treatment in Adults and Youth Workshop, developed by the Yale Hispanic Mental Health Clinic, and in 2016 he was awarded the “Artist of International Projection of the Year'' by the Nicaraguan Artist Association.
Alejandro is currently a member of East Coast Contemporary Ballet, Ballets with a Twist and Kathryn Posin Dance. He is also a dance instructor for the Darien Arts Center and New England Academy of Dance.
In 2019, Alejandro co-founded East Coast Contemporary Ballet.
Spiritual Life
At Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet, our aim is to love and serve all. We want to welcome you, wherever you may be in your personal faith journey. The intensive each day begins with prayer and a reflection on God. Personal stories of love for God and neighbor are shared and we encourage dancers to use dance to share that love in their community.
Advanced Program Fees (ages 13 - 17, or ESB Ballet 6 and up. Dancers must have at least two consecutive years en pointe to dance in the Advanced Program.)
Early Registration Fee (Before April 1): $50
Late Registration Fee (April 1 and after): $75
Tuition Installment 1 (due at time of registration and is non-refundable): $250
Tuition Installment 2 (due by May 5, 2024): $250
Total: $550 (Early Registration) or $575 (Late registration)
Intermediate Program Fees (ages 9 - 12, or ESB Ballet 3-5)
Early Registration Fee (Before April 1): $50
Late Registration Fee (April 1 and after): $75
Tuition Installment 1 (due at time of registration and is non-refundable): $200
Tuition Installment 2 (due by May 5, 2024): $200
Total: $450 (Early Registration) or $475 (Late registration)
Submissions
-Registration must take place online at the following link: Register Here
-Non-refundable first payment of $250 (Youth Program) or $200 (Junior Program) paid online at time of registration. This fee can also be mailed as a check.
- Second payment of $250 or $200 due in full by May 5, 2024.
- These payments are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
Payment Options
Card: Pay online at Registration. Payment must be linked to a debit or credit card. Email admin@ekklesiaballet.org for assistance.
Check: All checks should be made out to Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet. There will be a $25 charge for all returned checks.
You may submit your check by mail (see address below) or bring to the studio with your application.
Make checks out to:
Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet
381 Main St, Middletown, CT 06457
Cash: All Fees must be paid in US dollars only.
Click here to register for the Ekklesia Summer Intensive!
Sample Schedule
Advanced Program
9:30-10:15 am: Devotions
10:15-10:30 am: Break
10:30-12:00 pm: Ballet Class
12:00-12:30 pm: Pointe/Men's Allegro
12:30-1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00-2:15 pm: Contemporary
2:15-2:30 pm: Break
2:30-3:00 pm: Moving Dialogue
3:00-5:30 pm: Repertoire
Intermediate Program
9:30-10:00 am: Devotions
10:00-10:30 am: Break
10:30-12:00 pm: Ballet Class with pre-pointe and boy's jumps
12:00-12:30 pm: Lunch
12:30-1:00 pm: Variations
1:00-1:30 pm: Dance Making
1:30-1:45 pm: Break
1:45-2:45 pm: Contemporary
2:45-3:30 pm: Repertoire
Outdoor Performance
A performance is held at the end of the one-week Intensive. This performance will be held outside on ESB’s very own outdoor, open-air stage. This performance is a time where all students participate in presenting Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet repertory and special guest choreography learned during the Intensive. Family and friends are invited to join us! The outdoor performance is free of charge.
Housing
Housing: ESB does not provide housing for the intensive. Here is a list of hotels in the area:
The Inn at Middletown
Wesley Inn and Suites
Quality Inn Cromwell - Middletown
Springhill Suites by Marriott Hartford Cromwell
Restaurants/Grocery Stores in the area:
It’s Only Natural restaurant
It’s Only Natural Market
Perk on Main
Mondo Pizza
Illiano’s Ristorante
Salsa’s 3 Mexican Grill
Stop and Shop
Aldi
Dress Code
Ballet Class attire for Females: Leotard color of choice. All ballet classes require pink full-length tights and pink ballet or pointe shoes. Please wear a solid black leotard for the performance on Friday.
Ballet Class attire for Males: White t-shirts, black leggings or black bike shorts, and black or white ballet shoes with matching socks.
Contemporary and Modern class attire for both Male and Females: black shorts with no tights. Contemporary requires tan canvas ballet slippers and Modern is with bare feet.
Register Here!