FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Moscow Ballet Brings Unique Children's Program to Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre, Dec. 14 and 15
Local children and student dancers will learn movement, ballet, creativity, and more with Moscow Ballet professional Russian dancers!
Svetlana Todinova teaching young students Nataliya Miroshnyk, leading a New Horizons class
For high-resolution images: http://www.nutcracker.com/promo
Contact: Sally Michael Keyes JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING 413-499-1733 x21
Justine Murphy JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING 413-499-1733 x14
(Berkshires, Mass.) Dec. 4, 2012 – Moscow Ballet is bringing two special programs to local area youths at Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre on December 14 and 15, underwritten in part by the Hippodrome Foundation Inc. This unique opportunity offers children and teens a true appreciation for culture and the arts through exclusive time with professional Moscow Ballet dancers.
On Friday, December 14, 2-4 pm, Moscow Ballet will present its New Horizons–A Children's Program for Life for nearly 40 students from the Booker T. Washington Middle School for the Arts, part of the Baltimore City Public Schools. Students will learn guidelines for daily warm-ups and exercises to do at home as well as daily nutrition guidelines. They will also work one-on-one with Moscow Ballet dancers in a Russian social dance class in the lobby of the Hippodrome Theatre. Later that evening, participating students will watch these professional dancers performing the same beautiful and amazing moves on stage in Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker, helping the students to realize that they, too, could aspire to such grace and skill. Created to combat the obstacles hindering children's awareness of the potential contributions they can make to their communities, including lack of exposure to culture and inadequate funding for school arts programs, New Horizons provides children and teens the opportunity to enhance creative expression and health through unique, hands-on experiences in the performing arts.
On Saturday, December 15, 10:30 am-12 noon, Moscow Ballet will offer a Master Class for dance students ages 11 to 18, on the Hippodrome stage. A Moscow Ballet dancer will lead the intensive ballet class. Following the class, students will leave for lunch and return for the matinee performance of Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker.
HFI [Hippodrome Foundation, Inc.] is so grateful to the Moscow Ballet for giving back to the Baltimore community. A master class with their dancers is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Olive Waxter, Director of the Hippodrome Foundation.
New Horizons–A Children's Program for Life—Moscow Ballet's New Horizons is a "three-pronged" program that is rooted in the performing arts, addressing diet, exercise, and creative expression through hands-on experiences with Moscow Ballet dancers. Children are immersed in interactive activities developed for Moscow Ballet by prima ballerina Cynthia Gregory in "Ballet is the Best Exercise" and nutritionist Deborah Phillips. The program also introduces children to creative and aesthetic appreciation of performing, awakening a sense of their own creative abilities.
Hippodrome Foundation Inc.—A non-profit organization established in Baltimore, MD in 1976, the Hippodrome Foundation works to maximize community access to the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center through free outreach and educational programs. The organization's mission is to increase understanding and appreciation for all aspects of the performing arts. The Foundation presents the Broadway in Baltimore series, among many other programs and events that engage community members of all ages.
Moscow Ballet's 20th Anniversary Great Russian Nutcracker overflows with spectacular and award-winning principal dancers; a company of 40 women and men; Christmas Tree that grows to 5 stories tall; playful 10-foot tall silk puppets; 200 all-new, hand-made costumes; and falling snow. Russian cultural elements include a Troika styled sleigh escorted by Ded Moroz (Father Christmas) and Snegurochka (Snow Maiden) and 9 hand-painted backdrops by Valentin Federov, set to Tchaikovsky's complete Nutcracker Suite score. For 20 years Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker performances have introduced the finest Russian ballerinas and danseurs to audiences across North America. Great Russian Nutcracker – 20 years of acclaim, 20 years of soaring holiday spirit! www.nutcracker.com
Follow us! Facebook facebook.com/MoscowBallet Twitter @MoscowBallet Pinterest pinterest.com/moscowballet
