Kirov Academy of Ballet

Kirov Academy of Ballet
Location
Washington, D.C. United States of America
Coordinates
Information
Type	Ballet school
Established	1989 (1989)
Opened	1990
Campus size	1.2 acres
Website	http://www.kirovacademydc.org

The Kirov Academy of Ballet (formerly the Universal Ballet Academy) is a ballet school in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to prepare students to become the next generation of classically trained ballet dancers through the principles and aesthetics of the Vaganova method of Classical Ballet taught at the Vaganova Choreographic Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia. Concurrently, students pursue a multi-faceted academic program including the core subjects and the arts, each furthering the objectives to build a solid educational foundation, and to create, cultivate, and prepare the student for life as a professional artist. The proactive resident life program supports the Academy’s mission as it strives to refine and broaden the student’s experiences through constructive cultural, artistic, and creative endeavors that support the development of professional dancers.

Its internationally recognized faculty teaches aspiring young dancers from all over the world in the Vaganova method. Such training has produced many of the 20th and 21st century’s most exceptional dancers and choreographers, including Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Rudolf Nureyev, Alla Sizova, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Natalia Makarova, Diana Vishneva, George Balanchine, Natalia Osipova, Daniil Simkin, Alina Somova, and Svetlana Zakharova.

History

Founded in 1989, and opening its doors in 1990, the Kirov Academy of Ballet is the epitome of world-class ballet training. Serious students from around the world attend this institution to prepare for a professional career in classical ballet. Our internationally recognized faculty teaches aspiring young dancers using the methodology of the St. Petersburg-based Vaganova Ballet Academy, the most famous and influential classical ballet school in the world with a legacy more than 270 years old. The Vaganova Ballet Academy and its unique training method has trained the world’s most famous dancers,. The Kirov Academy of Ballet (KAB) exists to continue that legacy in the United States and make it relevant to today’s dancers. Each year KAB places more than 75% of its graduates with professional dance companies around the world, while other KAB graduates choose to further their education at universities with prestigious dance programs.

Program

Kirov Academy’s ballet curricula are based on the eight levels of the internationally renowned Vaganova Training Syllabus, a notated and progressive training program. Originally developed by Agrippina Yakovlevna Vaganova over one hundred years ago, this method combines the best elements of the French and Italian schools, and infuses it with the dramatic soulfulness of Russian character dance, the performance aesthetic of the Kirov Ballet (now the Mariinsky Ballet). The Vaganova method of training is characterized by epaulement, or the stylized turning of the shoulders and body; core strength, which lends itself to stability of the torso and back; and powerful precision of movement in the legs and feet. This fusion of the three training elements leads to harmonious coordination of the body and continuity of movement in the dancer.

The Kirov’s philosophy is twofold:

• Vaganova training gives dancers the ability to adapt to ANY style of dance, from Hip hop to Cechetti;
• Vaganova training, while faithful to the “official” Vaganova/Kostrviskaya/Pisarev syllabus, embraces training for contemporary ballet in addition to all elements of classical dance.

A well-trained Vaganova dancer possesses the technical proficiency and individual artistry to thrive in today’s competitive professional ballet world. Hence Kirov Academy’s lengthy list of graduates who perform for the world’s most esteemed ballet companies.

Year-Round Program

The Kirov’s fully accredited ballet and academic year-round program is the only training program of its kind in the United States. The Kirov’s core ballet curriculum includes classes in classical ballet technique, pointe, pas de deux, men’s technique, pilates, repertoire studies, partnering, character dance, historical court dance, music art history, ballet history and body conditioning. Make-up and professional photo shoots are provided for all students. Performances opportunities are offered through the Kirov’s Spring and Winter Performance Series, open to the public. The majority of the students in the year-round, pre-professional Academy program board at the school, while the remaining year-round students live locally and commute. Enrollment is by audition only.

Summer Intensive Program

The Kirov’s Summer Intensive program is the gateway to the year-round program. The five-week summer session is open to students 10-18. Dormitory space on and off-site is provided for the Summer Intensive students.

Pre-Academy Programs

The Kirov’s Pre-Academy Programs for ages 2–14 provides a step-by-step approach to instilling a solid foundation of classical ballet, along with character building qualities including focus, a strong work ethic, determination and self-esteem.

The Early Preparatory Program (ages 2–6) introduces children to their first steps. Children develop a love for dancing and an understanding of music, establishing a foundation for the Preparatory Program which follows.

The Preparatory Program (ages 6–14) begins training in the Vaganova technique of classical ballet, offering proper development in preparation for continued studies in the full-time academy.

Pre-Professional Program

In September 2014, the Kirov began a new Pre-Professional Program. Advanced training is offered for graduates of the Year-Round Program and other ballet academies in a variety of skills ranging from ballet technique to theater production and pedagogy to choreography.

Facilities

The Kirov is located on a 1.2 acre campus in northeast Washington, D.C., near The Catholic University of America. The 50,000 square foot gated facility features modern dormitories, four rehearsal studios and a flexible multipurpose space, 300-seat theatre, classrooms, computer lab, full kitchen and cafeteria, dance library, recreation room, exercise room and locker rooms with hot tubs.

Performance series

The Washington area public looks forward to the Kirov’s spring and winter performance series, held in the academy’s 300-seat auditorium. Annually, the six performances serve more 1,800 people, including student performers, family members, children (including from underserved populations), and ballet aficionados of all ages.

Community partnerships

Over the years, the Kirov has reached out to underserved youth in the Washington metropolitan area through partnerships with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Girls on the Run, Class Acts Arts, and the William E. Doar, Jr. Public Charter School for the Performing Arts, to name a few. The Kirov firmly believes that the knowledge, discipline and beauty found in classical ballet, whether through attending a performance or through actual instruction, can transcend, albeit briefly for many, the societal ills that too many children in the D.C. area face.

The school partners with other arts organizations, performing at the National Gallery of Art, the Phillips Collection, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home, among others. Through alums, the Kirov will participate in “The One I Feed”, a charity event benefiting Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Division of Allergy and Immunology.

The Kirov opens its doors to other dance companies, especially for auditions. In 2014, more than 600 local dancers attended auditions in its studios for Debbie Allen’s upcoming tour.

Notable graduates

The Kirov’s most notable accomplishment is its ongoing ability to train more than 3,000 of the world’s finest ballet dancers, who have gone on to perform with such professional companies as American Ballet Theatre, The Royal Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet, to name a few.

Graduates of The Kirov Academy of Ballet include Sascha Radetsky, Rasta Thomas, Michele Wiles, Danny Tidwell, Tyler Nelson, and Maria Bystrova.

External links and sources

• Official website