Florida Teen Selected for Training Spot with The Sarasota Ballet

When former international ballet star Jean-Hugues Feray decided to open his own dance school in Jupiter in early 2009, the Keavy family noticed. They recognized Feray immediately from his years dancing professionally with the original Ballet Florida and were one of the first families to enroll their then-4-year-old daughter Clare in dance classes at his new school. Their daughter quickly fell in love with ballet, and today - after 13 years of training with Feray at his now-renowned Paris Ballet and Dance - Clare, now 17, has earned a coveted trainee spot at The Sarasota Ballet on Florida's west coast.

"I am so proud that one of Paris Ballet's very first ballet students has earned such a prestigious training spot with a major ballet company," Feray said. "It's wonderful to see one of my students come full circle like this. Clare is incredibly motivated and talented, and I can't wait to see where her professional career takes her."

Founded in 1987, The Sarasota Ballet is a full resident professional ballet company with an expansive repertoire that has earned international acclaim. With rave reviews in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Dance Europe and Dancing Times, The Sarasota Ballet has been invited to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, at City Center and The Joyce Theater in New York City, among others. The Sarasota Ballet's Trainee Program offers talented students a well-rounded curriculum designed to prepare them for their next steps in their dance careers.

"The Sarasota Ballet's repertoire is really amazing," Clare said. "I'm really excited to start dancing with the Trainee Program and am so grateful for this incredible opportunity to begin my professional career here in Florida."

Cast as Clara at age 9 in Paris Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker, Clare said she knew then that she would pursue a career as a professional ballerina. In eighth grade, she began training through Paris Ballet's Paris Ballet Conservatory, an elite accelerated training program for students preparing for professional dance careers. She has spent the past four years averaging about 20 hours per week of rigorous dance training with Paris Ballet. Clare has excelled academically, too; she completed her schoolwork (through Florida Virtual School's flex program) at such an accelerated pace that she graduated high school a full year early this month.

"It's been great growing up with Mr. Jean as my mentor," Clare said, referring to the name many students call Feray. "He has guided me every step of the way and has taught me so much. His training has given me the best opportunities and prepared me for the next steps in my career."

In addition to the role of Clara, other favorite roles through her years with Paris Ballet have included the Sugar Plum Fairy, BLACK SWAN, White Swan, Cinderella's Fairy Godmother and dancing the famed pas de deux from Le Corsaire and pas de trois from Swan Lake. She has attended summer programs in France at the Stage International de Danse in Arcachon and the Paris Opera Ballet School, as well as Paris Ballet's summer and winter intensives, and has placed annually in the famed Youth America Grand Prix international ballet competition. She also received offers from Nashville Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet, but ultimately decided The Sarasota Ballet was the best fit.

This summer, Clare will head to Sarasota, where she has earned a full scholarship to The Sarasota Ballet's summer program before starting the trainee program in the fall.

And her family is exceptionally proud.

"The training that Clare has received at Paris Ballet has been incomparable," said her mother, Christi Keavy. "Jean-Hugues Feray's dedication and instruction enabled Clare to get a world-class dance education right here in Jupiter. Clare has received numerous scholarships through the years, has had her pick from prestigious trainee programs and is now on her way to a professional career - all because of the amazing training and mentorship she received at Paris Ballet and Dance and the Paris Ballet Conservatory."

Clare can be seen performing at the Kravis Center during Paris Ballet's final performance of the season on June 11 at 7:30 p.m.: a mixed bill end-of-year showcase featuring ballet, modern, contemporary, neoclassical, jazz and tap.

"I'd love to invite everyone to attend our June performance at the Kravis Center to see our incredible students perform, including Clare and other seniors who are starting their professional careers," Feray said. "It's a wonderful opportunity to see our students on stage locally before they join professional ballet companies or colleges with renowned dance programs."

Tickets to Paris Ballet's June performance at the Kravis Center are currently on sale; all tickets are $35. The performance will take place at the Rinker Playhouse. For tickets and more information, call the box office at (561) 832-7469 or visit Kravis.org.

About Paris Ballet and Dance
Paris Ballet and Dance was founded in 2009 by Jean-Hugues Feray, a native of France and former principal dancer with many international companies, including Ballet Florida and National Ballet de Marseille. Located in Jupiter, Fla., the school offers world-class dance training for students starting at age three. With a stellar reputation for quality, exceptional master classes and top-notch training in ballet, jazz, tap and modern, the school draws 100 students per year from as far as Vero Beach, Lake Worth Beach and Wellington. The school is also home to the prestigious not-for-profit Paris Ballet Conservatory, an elite accelerated training program for students preparing for professional dance careers. For more about Paris Ballet and Dance and its Conservatory, call (561) 308-8377 or visit www.parisballetdance.com.

Pictured: Clare Keavy of Paris Ballet

Photo Credits: Janine Harris