Marshall Ellis Dance School to Hold Auditions for New Elite Training Program

Marshall Ellis Dance School is holding auditions on Aug. 4 for its new Elite Training Program, a rigorous full-time opportunity for students ages 8-18 who aspire to a career in dance.

The Elite Training Program will launch in September 2017 and run through June 2018. It will admit just 15 students in its first year and will provide an intensive, personalized and positive ballet training experience for its dancers. It fills a clear need in the region by providing expert pre-professional training in the arts- and enterainment-oriented Central Florida community. The weekly daytime schedule includes 22 hours of dance, more than other similar programs in the area. Elite Training Program students also have access to unlimited evening and weekend drop-in classes, workshop series performances, and local and regional dance festivals.

There's no fee to audition, and dancers should bring a headshot plus photos of a first arabesque and tendu a la second. Those en pointe should bring pointe shoes. The audition will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 at ME Dance School, 1300 La Quinta Drive, Orlando, Fla. 32809. ME Dance is partnering with Florida Virtual School and has designed its training schedule to support students' academic success.

The Elite Training Program is guided by school founder and owner Marshall Ellis. Ellis has trained, traveled and danced around the world, performing soloist and principal roles in Europe, Asia and the United States. He joined Orlando Ballet under the direction of Fernando Bujones, and he performed in a range of roles from corps de ballet to principal dancer. He became a principal equity performer at Walt Disney World Resort and performed the principal ballet role in the Cirque du Soleil show La Nouba.

The Elite Training Program will be under the leadership of Program Director Rachael Riley, previously a soloist with Omaha Theater Ballet and member of the Grand Rapids Ballet Company, where she danced featured and principal roles. During her time with Grand Rapids Ballet, Riley appeared in the U.S. and internationally as a principal guest artist and served as resident choreographeR. Ellis founded ME Dance Company in 2012 and opened ME Dance School two years later. The Elite Training Program is his next step in providing dancers with opportunity to cultivate their talent and artistry to the fullest potential. For more information about ME Dance School and the Elite Training program, prospective students should visit medanceschool.com or email classes@medanceschool.com.

http://marshallellisdanceschool.com/me1