Dancing Machines
When I was younger and less practical, I had very high aspirations for my future. First, I would take piano lessons and achieve reasonable recognition for my talents before the age of 30. If that didn’t pan out, I would immediately learn to dance in such a way that the outcome would be similar to that of Jennifer Beals in Flashdance.Sadly, after many years of changing my mind and deciding that I did NOT like physical activity and realizing that I was too impatient to learn to read music, I came to the conclusion that my future lay elsewhere.
Nowadays, I live out my childhood fantasies by attending dance performances and recitals. One of my favorites is a free annual event at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
The Classical Ballet Training Program Showcase takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 13 in Ferguson Hall. This year’s performance reflects the dedication of the program’s young dancers. The show demonstrates their versatility as they perform a repertoire of classical ballet, flamenco and contemporary dance. In addition, the students perform pieces with special guest artists Julio Montano and Osmany Montano of the Tulsa Ballet.
The performance also features special guest Septime Webre, artistic director for the Washington Ballet, who has choreographed an exciting Latin-flavored piece that premieres at the Showcase.
The Classical Ballet Training Program is under the direction of Haydee Gutierrez, an instructor at the top of her field. Her former students now dance in the American Ballet Theatre in New York, The New York City Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet and Miami City Ballet. Gutierrez’s students have also received scholarships to the School of American Ballet in New York, Stuttgart Ballet in Germany, The Joffrey, San Francisco Ballet Theatre in New York, Houston Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
For more information about the ballet training program offered for ages 7 to 18, visit The Center’s website at www.tbpac.org. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827).
This article appears in Jun 10-16, 2004.
