Register for Playhouse dance classes
Ballerina Lilia Valieva will teach, assisted by student instructor Chelsea Nye, who had a great success and following last summer in CATS as the white cat Victoria.
The young students who enroll beginning with this session will not be expected to rehearse or perform for the Spring dance production, Dance Magic, but will get a head start on training for Christmas 2004’s Playhouse production of The Nutcracker, the famous Russian Ballet created over 100 years ago at the Kirov in St. Petersburg, Russia. Classes continue for 10 weeks through April 23, with April 2-11 off for Spring Break. These two new classes are in addition to the many classes offered almost year round to grammar and middle school age children, teens, adults, and retirees.
Long recognized by Broadway professionals and national and regional theaters as one of the nation’s best dance and theater training programs, the Playhouse’s Dance and Musical Theater Education Program has become even stronger with the addition of its dance director Eldar Valiev and his wife, Lilia Valieva. Valiev and Valieva are graduates of Russia’s famed Kirov Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg. Now permanent residents of the United States, Valiev and Valieva danced and taught in dance companies in Iceland and South Carolina after their years at the Kirov. They have partnered and soloed in some of the world’s most famous ballets. Now, they have found a “home” in Crossville where both have taught and performed at the Playhouse for five years. Eldar assumed leadership of the dance program in 2003.
“Eldar and Lilia are two of the most uniquely qualified professionals in the nation to teach the foundation skill for all dance training, which is ballet,” said Jim Crabtree, producing director of the Playhouse. “The fact that they trained where the beloved Nutcracker was created means that we are privy to the history and secrets of The Nutcracker which is credited with teaching mainstream America the joy of ballet,” he said.
As professional dancer and ballerina, Eldar and Lilia bring personal experience to classes in partnering, pointe, plus technique for both girls and boys. Their talents are a perfect fit for the Playhouse’s Musical Theater Faculty whose members have National Tour credentials in both theater and opera.
“When I travel to New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago and other places,” said Crabtree, “the Playhouse is always complimented for its exceptional dance and theater training programs. Critics who come to review our plays and recitals always comment on our “homegrown” talent as well as our imported professional talent,” said Crabtree.
“Our Dance and Theater Education Program is not limited to children and teens,” said Crabtree. “Many adults, including retirees, join in our dance and theater education workshops and classes,” he said. The CCP Musical Theater Workshops, “Introduction” and “Advanced,” are taught by CCP Education Director and Professional Dancer/Actress Weslie Webster (“Grizzabella” who sang Memories in CATS). Professioinal Dancer/Actresss Nicole Begue is CCP’s voice teacher and the director of The Wizard of Oz which opens Feb. 12.
Webster was featured in several roles in the most recent National Tour of Carousel, including the lead role of Julie. Begue is a graduate of the UT Opera Theater at UT, Knoxville, and has appeared in leading roles on several Gilbert and Sullivan National Tours, and at the Playhouse as well as Knoxville’s Clarence Brown Company and Bijou Theater. She portrays the leading role of Christine in the Playhouse’s upcoming production of Phantom which opens March 19.
The Playhouse’s Musical Theater workshops and classes involve both song and scene study, and is intended for adults, teens and middle-schoolers age 10 and up, who like to, or think they would like to, sing and act.
Classes are on Saturday mornings beginning Feb. 14. Beginners are welcome.