An Insight into CPYB
Have you ever heard of the professional ballet school Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB)? If you live in Europe, probably not. But if you live in the US, you most likely will know them. Since I had the opportunity to study there for a short while, I wanted to give you an insight into one of the most successful ballet schools in North America.
It all
began in 1955, when Founding Artistic Director Marcia Dale Weary opened up the
Barn Studios in Carlisle Pennsylvania. It quickly grew from a small local dance
school to one of the top ballet schools in the US. They even have their own
company which performs throughout the year. A highlight is George Balanchine's
"The Nutcracker", which the school shows in December. The nice thing
about CPYB is that they will teach any student who really wants to dance. You
don't have to have the perfect feet or body. Just the desire to learn and work
very hard. And they have great success with that approach; today over 100 of
their alumni are dancing with professional companies around the world. The training is very intense. You have
class Monday through Saturday. Most days one has at least three classes in a
row without a break. Saturday is the most challenging day; it starts at 9 am
and ends at 6:30 pm. Some students have as much as seven classes with two
half-hour breaks. They structure the schedule very well so that you can get
through the day. But by Saturday evening, the only thing you want to do is go
to bed and sleep. During the classes they focus on every detail of technique,
but also on artistry and presence. One repeats the same exercises many times to
achieve the perfection that is needed in this challenging career. The lower
levels have tap (to practice rhythm), pointe and of course ballet. Upper levels
have additional repertoire and pas de deux, but no tap. Once in a while they
will have useful seminars on nutrition, pointe shoes and other dance related
topics. These are held by CPYB faculty or professional guest instructors.
Every
student is seen as an individual and is respected as a person. They are willing
to guide and help the young dancers where ever they can. When you have a
question or concern, one can go and speak with the faculty. They always have an
open ear for their dancers.
Students
are mostly on their own to find a place to live. CPYB provides a housing list,
with different host families and apartments near the school. But the rest is
up to the student.
Every
summer they have a large 5-week summer ballet program which attracts students
from around the world. In August they also have a short 2-week program which
most kids attend to get back "in shape" before the school year starts
in September. Both programs are created for a wide range of dancers, from
beginner to professional. The classes are held at the Barn Studios, the
Warehouse Studios and, if more space is needed, in Dickinson College Studios.
I would
definitely recommend CPYB for pre-professional ballet training. One just has to
know that the days are long with many classes and, in the beginning, all
students are placed in a low level. They want to ensure that everyone has the
same strong basis on which to build. That could mean that you are in class with
kids that are much younger than yourself. Level is based on ability not age.
Sometimes it is hard to see the six-year-old dancing next to you, doing the
exercise perfectly correct, while you are struggling. One has to try to keep
one's focus on one's goal. It's not always easy, but with desire, endurance and
the right attitude, many aspiring dancers can strive at CPYB. And that could
very well lead you to a contract with a professional company, anywhere in the
world!
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| The Barn Studios |
