Pre-Professional Study with the Madison Ballet Takes Heart and Commitment

 

By Jill Swenby

 

 

This year they will perform the Nutcracker, Peter Pan, a spring ballet concert, and a performance for families. In addition, they practice 10 hours on weekdays and 5-10 hours on weekends. If it sounds like a professional dance schedule, then Madison Ballet is doing something right.

 

The Pre-Professional program at the Madison School of Ballet http://www.madisonballet.org/ has a simple goal: to prepare young dancers for a professional career in dance.

 

With extensive rehearsals and professional performances at the Overture Center for the Arts http://www.overturecenter.com/, the Pre-Professional program is a real time commitment. Many dancers that enter it are in their late teens, some early twenties. Although the Madison Ballet encourages students to take day classes, they have designed the program so that it is easy for dancers to come after school.

 

Gretchen Bourg, a faculty member and school registrar at MB, points out that the pre-professional program has a “very solid ballet core.” The required classes for dancers in this division include 5 technique classes, pointe, variations, modern and pilates/core classes.

 

In essence, the program is designed to be the closest experience to a professional dance career that young aspiring dancers can have. In the end, Gretchen notes, some decide not to go on to professional careers.

 

“It’s not for everyone,” says Gretchen, “Dance can be a fantastic lifelong recreational experience. It’s a difficult career.”

 

Because of its difficult nature, Gretchen believes it is imperative that the dancer really be committed to the program. It is not beneficial if the parent wants the child to dance, but the child is not interested. Madison Ballet allows prospective dancers to come in and experience some of the program before they commit to it.

 

In its first year having a professional dance company, Madison Ballet has become an even greater opportunity for prospective dance professionals. Rather than having to send teenagers to New York to get a professional experience, they can meet and work with professional dancers in Madison, Wisconsin. Not only do they get some exposure, but they also have the opportunity to audition for the company once they’ve completed their training.

 

Getting into this division is the same as getting into a show; students must audition. Gretchen says that with the audition process they are looking for technical ability, commitment, and physical aptitude. Ultimately, Artistic Director W. Earle Smith makes the final say on which dancers make the cut.

 

Mr. Smith has more than two decades of dance experience, and he’s taught numerous workshops and master classes on the Balanchine style. Along with Mr. Smith, Gretchen says that the teachers at Madison Ballet come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some are classical ballerinas, while others have a strong background in modern dance.

 

Besides the varying teaching styles, the Pre-Professional division also goes to master classes and nutrition classes.

 

“We’re doing what we can to make their experience well-rounded,” says Gretchen.

 

For more information on the Madison Ballet Pre-Professional Division visit http://www.madisonballet.org/ or call (608) 663-8956.