1: todd bolender center for dance & creativity
The student dancers have arrived and the former Union Station Power House has become their new home for the next few weeks. From the moment they first walked in and saw the light fixtures that used to be operating coal shoots, remnants of 103 years of history were evident.
These past six years, Kansas City Ballet has been thrilled to call the Bolender Center home—the Summer Intensive attendees will soon feel the same. With seven studios, including the 180-seat Michael and Ginger Frost Studio Theater, there is plenty of space to enjoy their time here.
2: Dance Faculty
Throughout the five weeks with KCBS, Kansas City Ballet faculty and guest teachers play a significant role in the students’ overall experience. Students are really breaking out of their normal routines and getting exposed to different teaching styles.
Guest teaching artists for summer 2017:
Karin Averty, Former Paris Opera Ballet Premiere Danseuse
Laszlo Berdo, Former Boston Ballet Principal Dancer
Tina LeBlanc, Former San Francisco Ballet Principal Dancer
Iliana Lopez, Former Miami City Ballet Principal Dancer
Connor Walsh, Houston Ballet Principal Dancer
Kansas City Ballet faculty include:
Devon Carney, KCB Artistic Director
Grace Holmes, School Director
Kristi Capps, Ballet Master
Parrish Maynard, Ballet Master
Anthony Krutzkamp, Second Company Manager
Kimberly Cowen, Upper School Principal and Youth Ballet Director
Sean Duus, Full-Time Faculty
Racheal Nye, Full-Time Faculty
Dmitry Trubchanov, Men’s Program Coordinator
Paula Weber, University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory Dance Chair
David Justin, University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory Dance Faculty
Sabrina Madison-Cannon, University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory Dance Faculty
Tobin James, University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory Dance Faculty
And all classes during the program will be accompanied by Kansas City Ballet School Pianists and Accompanists.
3: Meeting Fellow Students
Of the more than 180 students for 2017, more than half stay in the dorms at the Kansas City Art Institute and the University of Missouri—Kansas City. The remaining students are a mix of KCBS students and others from the region and beyond. Many of the program attendees have traveled to the Kansas City Ballet from 33 different states acros
s the country, two even journeyed from Bulgaria. With such a variety of backgrounds but the common thread of ballet, these dancers are sure to connect with each other.
4: Exploring Kansas City
While visiting Kansas City, there are plenty of exciting attractions for the students to explore in their free time including watching the 2015 World Series Champion Royals play, cheering on the Sporting KC soccer team, attending KC Dance Festival at the historic Folly Theater, taking in a musical outdoors at Starlight Theatre and more. Enthusiasm for true blue KC is sure to take hold.
And last not but least the reason the dancers are here at Kansas City Ballet…
5: Dancing, Dancing, Dancing
Kansas City Ballet’s Summer Intensive will not only help students grow as a dancers, but as people as well. With the warm, passionate atmosphere at the Bolender Center, dedicated dancers will feel at home. From the variety of classes, faculty, and the beautiful facility, the Summer Intensive program will be five weeks well spent. Let’s dance!
Good luck, dancers!
