BWW Featured Dance Studio: PERIDANCE CAPEZIO CENTER

Peridance Capezio Center is a leading New York City based dance school that is known to be a home for all styles of dance and for all ages. The teachers are world renowned and the center is a place where toddlers, teenagers, adults and International students from around the world can learn alongside professional dancers. Peridance Capezio Center (more affectionately known as Peridance) is dedicated to offering accessible dance classes of the highest caliber- with over 250 weekly classes for adults and children in a nurturing and professional environment; providing dancers the opportunity to learn and work with acclaimed master teachers and guest artists; giving access to affordable high-quality rehearsal studios and performance spaces for artists to create and perform; all while maintaining a strong national and international presence in the dance education community to positively influence future generations of artists.

Founded in 1983 as the Peridance Center by Igal Perry, the studio was built on the belief that dance has a positive force. This has been the artistic vision that still carries the school forward today. From its early beginnings it was located at 890 Broadway on the sixth floor, until the move to its current location at 126 East 13th Street in January 2010. The studio changed the name to Peridance Capezio Center, after joining in partnership with Capezio/Ballet Makers Inc. in 2007. In its present location, Peridance is housed in a beautiful landmarked building. In it you will find six spacious (and column-free) dance studios, a state-of-the-art 140 seat theater facility, The Salvatore Capezio Theater, as well as a coffee shop and a Capezio Boutique!

The program offerings are many. For adults, the center offers open classes, workshops, intensives, and master classes ranging in styles from ballet to contemporary to hip hop to vogue. The School at Peridance provides classes for youth ages 18 months to 18 years. This includes their pre-professional Peridance Youth Ensemble, the pre-professional Core Program, in addition to weekly recreational classes ending in a yearly recital. Youth summer programs include various intensives such as BLUEPRINT, Teen Intensive, Core Intensive and Winter Intensive where students have the opportunity to work with today's most influential dance artists and educators, increase their artistry, and foster valuable industry relationships.

The Peridance Contemporary Dance Company (PCDC) is a professional dance ensemble that works to provide a creative and intellectually stimulating outlet for high-caliber dancers, choreographers, composers, musicians, and designers. Through their creative collaboration in both dance performance and dance education, the company strives to develop an intellectual appreciation of dance as an art form. This is achieved by offering the public visionary choreography and strongly executed performances, and Community Outreach programs where both PCDC and the Peridance Youth Ensemble go out to public schools to positively influence young people and teach dance.

Peridance is also known for their many dance training programs that attract students nationally and internationally on F-1 visas from across the globe. The 2-Year Certificate program, is a pre-professional program for dancers ages 17-25 who are seriously invested in preparing for a professional career in dance. There are two tracks: the Ballet/Contemporary, which offers training in classical ballet, modern, and contemporary dance; and the Commercial track, which offers training in hip hop, theater dance, contemporary, and jazz to prepare students for careers on Broadway and the commercial dance arena. The Limón program (in partnership with the Limón Institute) is geared towards dancers seeking in-depth training in the Limón technique. And the new PLUNGE program is a weekly seminar course that uses Dance Theater principles to deliver material and performance strategies to enhance each individual dance artist's abilities.

Peridance is a place for dance like no other. This is a community of inclusive and loving artists. It's an amazing place whether you are just starting out, honing your craft, or continuing a life-long love for dance. Everyone is welcome, as many often talk about the warm and positive energy in the atmosphere. There is a certain level of professionalism, combined with the friendly staff that you won't find anywhere else! It's one of those places you can't stay away and just keep going back.

For those who are interested in taking part in Peridance's many program offerings, take note that final auditions for the BLUEPRINT Summer Intensive for ages 17-22, Teen Intensive for ages 13-17 and Certificate Program for ages 17-25 will take place on Saturday, May 20th at 9:30-11:30am, with sign in beginning at 9:00am. Participants must register and pay a $30 fee in advance on their website at www.auditions.peridance.com. The Summer 2017 Programming for Adults 18+ begins the week of June 12th and will consist of BRAND NEW programs such as the Femme Fatale Series taught by a list of inspirational teaching artists with femme flair and the new Improv Jams. Peridance will also be holding their 34th Anniversary Gala, "Arts in Impact," on Saturday, June 10th at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at just $45. For more information, please visit www.peridance.com.

Photo Credit: Broadway Italy, Natale G. Tulipani