Variations Workshop - Don Quixote

Class Description

This workshop will focus on "Cupid" from Don Quixote. Some previous ballet experience is recommended. This workshop is intended for advanced beginner to intermediate level dancers. Our Summer Ballet Variations Workshop teaches specific solo roles from classical repertoire, focusing on mastering choreography, artistic expression, and performance quality. These workshops involve adapting famous, technically demanding solos from various famous ballets to suit a dancer's level, focusing on artistry and characterization. Introducing Kate Kelley: Kate Kelley is a ballet instructor and dance historian born in Massachusetts. She danced professionally in New York City and toured internationally. Kate grew up at her mom’s school, the Diane Kelley Dance Studio, until she was thirteen where she trained in a variety of genres of dance and competed all over the country. At thirteen she was accepted to the ballet program at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts outside of Boston, where she studied through high school. Kate then moved to New York City to attend the Joffrey Ballet School as a pre-professional student. In New York, Kate went on to study under and work with many teachers and choreographers including David Howard, Nancy Bielski, Andrea Miller, Sidra Bell, Jill Johnson and many others. She appeared in advertisements for brands such as Puma, Dolce & Gabbana, and Downy; and she toured in Europe with independent Israeli choreographer Lior Shneior. Concurrently with her performance career, Kate has taught genres from ballet to improvisation for two decades to students aged three through adults at dance studios and ballet schools throughout New England, Chicago, and Eugene, OR. She enjoys teaching students who are new to dance, seasoned professionals, and everyone in between whether they are training for competitions, auditions, performances, exercise, or recreation. As a teacher, Kate is dedicated to inclusive approaches, student-centered instruction, and equitable education for all learners.