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International
Cecchetti Summer Course
As
a 16 year old American girl, I think it is accurate t say that few people
my age get the opportunity to travel around the world. I was recently
invited by my dance teacher to attend the International Cecchetti Summer
Course in Tring, England in August and from the minute I heard the news,
I was ecstatic. Not only was I lucky to be able to visit a country almost
halfway around the world, but also fortunate enough to share my love
for dance with others who were as passionate in its study as myself.
Stepping off an aeroplane into a country you have never visited before
can make you both nervous and excited. There are so many different things
to see and places to go, and of course there is the adjustment to the
native language (although I must admit it is easier to decipher the
speech of the English than say the French). I was truly exhilarated
being in England for the first time - it is a beautiful country, the
people are friendly and it is full of wonderful sites to visit.
I
travelled to England with my dance director, Betty Seibert, as well
as another student from my dance school and dancer from upstate New
York. We travelled to Tring after spending two days in London, where
were very exciting. We got to see the changing of the guards and do
some shopping, and we were also able to see a performance of Don Quixote
by the Royal Ballet and a West End show, My One and Only. Even though
we naturally didn't get to see all there was to see, I was immediately
anxious to start dancing once we arrived on the campus, and just as
I expected, I loved every minute of being at the course. The teachers
and other students were immediately welcoming to us (we quickly became
known to the population of the camp as 'the Americans'), and the classes
we took were both challenging and intense, but very enjoyable as well.
I think it is wonderful that by studying the Cecchetti method you can
go anywhere in the world and be able to take a Ballet class without
becoming confused because the terminology is the same. We were offered
both syllabus and non-syllabus classes, which was very beneficial. This
allowed me to see the styles of the teachers in England compared with
the teachers in America and it was also very interesting to hear different
instructors' views on work that I have studied for years.
Along
with taking Ballet and pointe classes that week, I was also exposed
to other forms of dance. We had Contemporary lessons, which were a wonderful
chance to explore the weight of your body and the way we breathe when
we dance. We also took Spanish classes, which were fun as well because
it allowed us to experience a style that is helpful in developing a
character. And lastly we had the opportunity to study the art of pas
de deux, which is rare in the world of young Ballet students. I have
worked with a partner before, but I liked this experience because I
was able to get used to dancing with people I didn't know well and also
learn the different techniques described by our teacher.
At the end of the week we took all we had learned and put it into a
demonstration for the junior camp and family and friends. I think that
must have been my favourite part, getting to work all week towards the
performance and be able to show off the skills we had developed. Conclusively,
I am so glad that I was able to take in so much from my time in England.
I am so grateful that I had the chance to go because it was easily one
of the most wonderful experiences of my life.
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