Dance with ABT's William J. Gillespie School at Segerstrom Center in 2016

Segerstrom Center for the Arts has announced that the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School is accepting new students for the second half of the 2015 - 2016 school year. As well as applications for the 2016 Spring Sunday Intensives.

2016 Mid-Term Enrollment: Students ages 3 - 8 may enroll in the second semester of the 2015 - 2016 school year, which begins on January 4, 2016. Deadline for enrollment is January 17, with January 18 being the latest date to begin classes.

Sunday Intensives: Day-long sessions are being offered to students ages 12 - 18 on February 28, March 20, April 17, May 22 and June 5, 2016. Intensives are designed for intermediate and advanced dancers, and include specialized training for young women and men in Technique, ABT repertoire, Pointe work, Character and Body Conditioning. Tuition is $100 per class, with a minimum sign-up of three of the five Intensives.

For more information about the ABT William J. Gillespie School at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, to enroll in classes or other programs or to learn more about the scholarship program, visit SCFTA.org/ABTGillespieSchool, call (714) 556-2122 ext. 4100 or e-mail ABTGillespieSchool@SCFTA.org.

American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School at Segerstrom Center for the Arts provides the highest quality ballet training consistent with the stylistic requirements of ABT and to provide dancers with a rich knowledge of classical technique and the ability to adapt to all styles and techniques of dance. The school incorporates ABT's National Training Curriculum, a comprehensive set of age-appropriate, outcome-based guidelines consistent with the best practices in the fields of sports psychology, child/adolescent development, nutrition and training. The teaching methods include elements of the French, Italian and Russian schools of training and include classical ballet technique, pointe, boys class, character and body conditioning. Classes focus on building a solid foundation in ballet technique with an emphasis on proper placement and safe progressions of movement while remaining sensitive to the needs of younger dancers.

American Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum is a unique methodology introduced in 2008 and designed and written by Raymond Lukens and Franco De Vita under the direction of ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie and in collaboration with ABT's artistic advisors and the Medical Advisory Board. It is a nine-level program that utilizes a comprehensive set of age-appropriate, outcome-based guidelines to provide the highest quality ballet training to dance students of all ages and skill levels. The ABT National Training Curriculum combines high quality artistic training with the basics of dancer health, child development and elements of the French, Italian and Russian schools of training.

The National Training Curriculum fulfills ABT's mission as America's National Ballet Company in bringing dance to the widest possible audience. While several training methods are soundly in place within the United States, ABT's National Training Curriculum can be used to enhance an existing syllabus and to assist teachers in working appropriately with young dancers. Participants in the ABT Teacher Training Intensive program have the opportunity to become certified in the National Training Curriculum by successfully passing comprehensive examinations.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is unique as both an acclaimed arts institution and as a multi- disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence on all of its stages, offering unsurpassed experiences, and engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring programs.

Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center is Orange County's largest non-profit arts organization and owns and operates the 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall and intimate 250-seat Judy Morr Theater, which opened in 1986, and the 2,000-seat Rene?e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, which opened in 2006 and also houses the 500-seat Samueli Theater, the studio performance space and Boeing Education Lab. A spacious arts plaza anchors Segerstrom Center for the Arts and is home to numerous free performances throughout the year as part of Segerstrom Center for the Arts' ongoing Free for All series. The American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School at Segerstrom Center which opened in 2015.

The Center presents a broad range of programming for audiences of all ages, including international ballet and dance, national tours of top Broadway shows, intimate performances of jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family- friendly programming, free performances open to the public from outdoor movie screenings to dancing on the plaza and many other special events. The Center's arts-in-education programs are designed to inspire young people through the arts and reach hundreds of thousands of students each year.