Marblehead School of Ballet's Summer Session Kicks Off Next Week

Dance, exercise and have fun this summer at the North Shore's Marblehead School of Ballet (MSB) in Marblehead, Massachusetts. This cultural hub has a full line-up of enriching classes that will appeal to people of all ages. The new session runs from June 22 to August 15. Visitors and tourists to the North Shore are welcome to attend and take an open class.

Through quality education, personal attention, customized lessons and working with people to reach their goals, dancers at all levels and ages will find something of interest at this dance oasis on the North Shore. During the summer, open classes are available weekly in ballet, variations, modern, jazz, repertory pointe, stretch and strength, pilates and more. For children, ballet and creative movement classes are offered to meet their needs. Students may register for a complete session or attend on a rolling basis.

The partner dance series covers ballroom, fox trot, swing, Latin, Argentine Tango and salsa classes. The summer session also features master classes in floor-barre and musical theatre taught by guest teacher Julie Pappas Smith. Pappas Smith, a senior Zena Rommett Floor-Barre instructor, received a BFA from The Boston Conservatory of Music majoring in Musical Theatre. Her extensive credits include performing on Broadway in A Chorus Line, Beauty and the Beast and Showboat directed & choreographed by Tony Award winners Harold Prince and Susan Stroman.

"The seasoned and avocational dancer will find high quality training at Marblehead School of Ballet. We work with each person to assess individual dance and exercise goals! The internal mechanics of the body are emphasized and not the superficial aspects of style, bringing the dance to a higher level. The school provides a very strong foundation emphasizing proper technique, including correct alignment, body mechanics and musicality," said Director Paula K. Shiff, recipient of Salem State University's 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts.

Dancers come from near and far to study at the school. Students attending 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.

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