Maltz Jupiter Theatre Hosts 2015 Cecchetti Council of America, Featuring Brian Andrews, This Weekend

Many people know about the Maltz Jupiter Theatre's Broadway-caliber musicals, dramas and limited engagements.

But did you know that the Theatre is also home to the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Paul and Sandra Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, with a dance program that draws students statewide?

Since 2007, the Conservatory has offered a challenging, innovative and quality theatre experience to students of all ages and abilities. In addition to a full schedule of classes, one program that has grown during the past several years is the educational aspect of dance - particularly the Cecchetti method, a ballet technique and training system devised by the Italian ballet master Enrico Cecchetti.

Led by Broadway veteran Brian Andrews, of Cats and A Chorus Line, the Theatre will host a statewide examination session adjudicated by two examiners from the Cecchetti Council of America national committee (Sandra Glenn and Eleanore Brown) from today, June 12, through Sunday, June 14. A longtime Conservatory faculty member, Andrews is a certified licentiate instructor and past chairman of the Florida Cecchetti Committee.

Approximately 62 students and one teacher from across the state will travel to the Theatre to take their exams, including 20 students personally trained by Andrews through the Theatre's Conservatory. This is the second time the Theatre has been chosen to host the exams.

"Ballet is the classical route of our training, and the Cecchetti method is one of the most rigorous training programs, resulting in highly trained professional dancers," Andrews said. "We are so honored to host the examination sessions here at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre."

The Cecchetti Council of America is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to maintaining the standards and method of ballet training established by Cecchetti. The organization uses a sequence of grades - carefully measured as to degree of difficulty and physical development - and provides a system of accredited examinations to test the student's proficiency within those grades.

"This educational opportunity is a wonderful experience for all dancers," Andrews said. "The attending students will be adjudicated by national examiners, and due to the rigorous nature of the exam, their knowledge and skill set will grow by leaps and bounds. The exams are also good for resumes and provide membership in an international dance organization."

Exciting upcoming camp options at the Theatre's Conservatory include three upcoming two-week Dance Intensive camps for students in grades 6-12 (June 29 - July 10, July 13 - 24 and July 27 - August 7), in which students will spend two weeks dancing, learning exciting new routines and performing. With a flexible schedule that includes optional pre-care and after-care, budding young performers will spend each session learning a variety of dance styles and techniques from Andrews, culminating in unique showcase performances for friends and family.

The Dance Intensives are just three of the popular camps offered at the Conservatory, with themed sessions for ages 4-18 taking place through August. The two largest camp shows will be performed on the Theatre's stage: the Senior Conservatory's Hairspray (June 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m.) and the Junior Conservatory's Disney's Peter Pan Jr. (July 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m.). The musicals will be performed complete with professional production values: sets, costumes, lights, a full orchestra and more. Enrollment fees are all-inclusive, covering all costumes and performance-related costs.

In addition to summer programs, the Theatre's Conservatory offers year-round learning opportunities for kids and adults of all ages, including a busy fall semester filled with musical theatre, acting and dance classes (including ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop), as well as master classes and more. Students in the Conservatory's signature Musical Theatre Production classes will perform in Ever Happily After and Anything Goes on the Maltz Jupiter Theatre stage in April and May.

Registration is now open for summer programs and fall classes. For more information, call 561-575-2672 or visit www.jupitertheatre.org/education.

About the Conservatory - The Maltz Jupiter Theatre Paul and Sandra Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts is a premiere professional Conservatory that offers a challenging, innovative and quality theatre experience to students of all ages and abilities. In addition to a full schedule of classes, the Conservatory's hands-on workshops and master classes offer students an opportunity to learn first-hand from nationally known directors and Broadway performers, agents and local instructors.

About the Maltz Jupiter Theatre - The not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida's preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state's largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws nearly 100,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of more than 7,626 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Paul and Sandra Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and has earned numerous Carbonell Awards, South Florida's highest honor for artistic excellence, including the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence. For more information about the Theatre's upcoming shows and Conservatory, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.

Pictured: The Maltz Jupiter Theatre will host a statewide examination session adjudicated by two examiners from the Cecchetti Council of America national committee from Friday, June 12, through Sunday, June 14. Pictured is a ballet class at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Paul and Sandra Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts. Photo by Linnea Bailey.