Scranton Civic Ballet Company Offers Free Classes

SCRANTON, PA – January 21, 2019 –- Scranton Civic Ballet Company encourages new, potential and current student dancers in the community to attend complimentary ballet classes on Saturday, January 26, 2019 for ages 12 to 19, and Saturday, February 2 for ages 3 to 11 at the studio, 234 Mifflin Avenue, Scranton, Pennsylvania. During this free-to-the-public event, the Company and its founder Miss Helen Gaus will officially welcome Julio Alegria as Assistant Director. Alegria joined the Scranton Civic Ballet Company in September, 2018.

On January 26, classes for attendees age 12 -19 will be hosted as follows: Beginners, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Intermediate & Advanced, 3:30 to 5 p.m. On February 2, classes for attendees ages 3 to 6 will be hosted from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. and for ages 7 to 11 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.  Instructors and staff will be available to answer any questions at the free-to-the public events. Classes will be available for children ages 3 through 19 at the welcoming and inclusive dance community for dancers of all skill levels.

Alegria was born and raised in Mexico City and received his  training  from  the  National  Arts  Center  and  the  Centro  de  Educacion  Artistico  Frida  Kahlo.  Upon moving to the United States, he entered the Joffrey  Ballet School’s  training  program  on  scholarship  and  has  also  studied  at  the  Boston  Ballet  School,  the  Banff  Center  for  the  Arts  in  Canada,  Ballet  Hispanico,  Ballet  Academy  East,  and  Ballet  Austin.  He has danced for companies and choreographers in Mexico, Canada, Europe, and the United States, including Dance Theater of Harlem, Alabama Ballet, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Gelsey Kirkland Studio Company, Eglevsky Ballet, Atlantic City Ballet, Merce Cunningham Trust, Ardentia, Bronx Opera Company, and Compañia Nacional de Danza (Mexico City).

Alegria has studied with such famed instructors and choreographers as  Gelsey  Kirkland,  Eleanor  D’Antuono,  Cheryl  Yeager,  Darla  Hoover,  Nadege  Hottier,  David  Howard,  Luis  Fuentes,  Peter  Frame,  Richard  Bowman,  and  Fabrice  Herrault.  Previously, he taught ballet at the Dwana  Smallwood  Performing  Arts  Center  in  New  York  City  and  oversaw  the  DSPAC’s  public  school  outreach  program,  teaching  daily  after-school  ballet  classes  to  underprivileged  children.

“This afternoon of dance offers an opportunity to see all we have to offer,” said Miss Helen Gaus, who founded The Scranton Civic Ballet Company in 1978. A non-profit organization focused on dance education and performance, the Company aims to educate its members and the public in the art of dance, while bringing the talents of well-known artists, choreographers, and master teachers into northeast Pennsylvania for students as well as audiences.

The professional standard of instruction at the Scranton Civic Ballet Company is focused on achieving a disciplined technique centered on strength, flexibility coordination, grace, musicality, body alignment and poise. Two annual major performances are full-scale theatrical productions showcasing all aspects of the performing arts and the creations of local artists as represented in costumes and sets. All dancers are invited to participate in both annual productions.

The resume of the Scranton Civic Ballet includes the first modern ballet performed and presented in Scranton by a resident dance company; Scranton Civic Ballet was the first company in the area to become a member of Regional Dance America. To learn more about the 501©3 non-profit organization, visit www.scrantoncivicballet.com or call 570-343-0115.