Degas Dancers: Chicago Ballet Students Twist, Twirl and Jump!

Joanna Goddard — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:55:51 +0000

While in Chicago, we tiptoed into an advanced class at the Academy of Dance, the official school of the Joffrey Ballet. The dancers were stunningly gorgeous, and when they rehearsed scenes from Paquita and the Nutcracker, our hearts leapt, too…
The students, ages 17 to 20, are “trainees,” who are all preparing to join ballet companies. (A few whispered to us that they were hoping and praying that the Joffrey would choose them but that they’d be happy dancing anywhere.)
Here, the students rehearse the Russian Dance from the Nutcracker. Beautiful jumps and turns!
Next summer, the Joffrey is launching an exchange program with the American Academy of Dance in Paris, so their students can study in the City of Light.
The trainees dance from 1pm to 6pm every day; the girls put “ouch pouches” in the toes of their pointe shoes to keep their feet from getting sore.

Bravo! xo

(Photos by Anna Wolf)

Experience PARISIENNE » ballet class

Degas Dancers: Chicago Ballet Students Twist, Twirl and Jump!