Orlando Ballet School recently made updates to its curriculum that will enhance the learning experience for its students. A press release sent from the Orlando Ballet on July 30 states, “Orlando Ballet School has made exciting new additions to continue the upward trajectory of the organization and better serve its dancers, community, families and staff. These changes include a new influx of talent, an expansion of the school’s curriculum and programs, and a stronger partnership with the professional company.”
The ballet school has a new interim director, Phillip Broomhead. He has taken the place of Dierdre Miles Burger (who was the director for the past eight years) and has chosen to live closer to family in Jacksonville. Broomhead will be taking the initiative on Orlando Ballet’s American Ballet Theatre and the Jacksonville Summer Intensive. Some of his accomplishments include being the principal dancer with The Royal Ballet and Houston Ballet, Houston Ballet’s ballet master, and his involvement with Youth America Grand Prix. Broomhead’s goal now is to work alongside Robert Hill, who is the artistic director of the Orlando Ballet.
In the press release, the outgoing Burger says, “I’m honored to have overseen such a wonderful school and worked alongside the talented artists and the exceptional faculty. Orlando Ballet is entering into a fantastic new chapter after an incredibly successful year of performances; I am confident the school will continue to bring superior training to all that love to dance. I wish the organization tremendous success in the years to come.”
Broomhead is not the only addition to the team. They also added new talent to their faculty, including Yan Chen as principal academy teacher, Chiaki Yasukawa as principal teacher, and Shannon Blust as the director of contemporary programs and manager of south campus.
Yasukawa will be head of the Academy Prep Program at the South Campus and will teach at the Central Campus as well. She is an Orlando Ballet company dancer and has performed 17 seasons with them.
As for Chen, she will be instructing the upper levels of the school. She was previously Orlando Ballet School’s ballet master and made a thriving career for herself in American Ballet Theatre and The Washington Ballet.
Blust will be centered at the Dr. Phillips location and has 43 years of experience under his belt. He has even performed on Broadway. Blust will be in charge of the new classes being offered at the Central and South campuses. Orlando Ballet says that new classes will include “Jazz/Stage Film, Tap, Musical Theater, Floor-Barre®, Young Men’s Class, Pilates, Contemporary, BeMoved®, Latin Cardio, and Hip Hop.”
Hill, the artistic director, says he is excited about these new updates. Even he has been putting more of his time toward the school, teaching and coaching in addition to being a director. “I like referring to our mission statement. We aim to educate and enrich, entertain through the highest quality of dance. I kind of stayed plugged into that mission,” says Hill.
The Orlando Ballet will have an opportunity to flex its talents at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center on Oct. 12-14. The performance called Carmina Burana will be playing for the third time. Hill says it is a spectacular show with a full orchestra in the pit with up to 200 singers in the choir.
