Marblehead School Of Ballet Celebrates 47th Anniversary And Launches 2018-2019 Season

The Marblehead School of Ballet (MSB) celebrates its 47th anniversary this fall with a new season of classes for 2018-2019, beginning on Monday, August 27. Classes are offered to children, teenagers, and adults of all levels at the school's studio, located at 115 Pleasant Street, in picturesque Marblehead, Massachusetts.

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 -- 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. Director Paula K. Shiff teaches the adult ballet classes, all favorites with students, on Thursday morning and Wednesday evening.

Students may register any time. Private lessons are also available for dancers preparing for a special event such as a wedding or another occasion, college auditions, cross-training for a sport, working on alignment and coordination, or seeking additional instruction. To register for a class or further information, visit www.marbleheadschoolofballet.com, call 781-631-6262, or send an e-mail to msb@havetodance.com.

Dancers come from near and far to study at the school. Students 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 in Massachusetts. Others attend from out-of-state, including Maine, Florida, Texas, New Hampshire, Vermont and countries such as France and Italy.

The MSB's graduates continue their dance studies at some of the most prestigious ballet companies worldwide, including Eliot Feld, Alvin Ailey, Houston Ballet, Metropolitan Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Lemon Dance Company 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.

Celebrating its 47th year, the Marblehead School of Ballet, founded in 1971 by Paula K. Shiff, 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 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.

Photo Credit: Marblehead School of Ballet