HAMILTON, Bermuda, October 30, 2006 - The National Dance Foundation of Bermuda today announced that the first PartnerRe Master Class and Teacher Training Series will feature faculty from the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Dance and the Ailey School in New York.

Franco De Vita, Principal of the Jacqueline Kennedy School of Ballet at American Ballet Theatre, Raymond Lukens, also of American Ballet Theatre, and Tracy Inman, Co-Director of the Junior Division at The Ailey School, will teach a three-day schedule of ballet and modern classes.

The first weekend of the PartnerRe Master Class and Teacher Training Series will be held from Friday, November 3 to Sunday, November 5 at the dance facilities of Bermuda High School.

The full series will be presented over three weekends in November, January and April. The classes and workshops will offer more than 350 Bermudian dancers, teachers and choreographers the opportunity to attend classes taught by master teachers representing some of the world's most prestigious dance organizations.

"We are indeed grateful to PartnerRe for making it possible for the National Dance Foundation to offer world-class training to Bermuda's dancers and teachers, free of charge," said Chairman Don Kramer. "This means that any dance student or teacher who wants to study with some of the best instructors in the world can do so, right here in Bermuda."

" PartnerRe supports various initiatives that enrich the local community and this series represents a fusion of local talent - both adults and young - and international influence," said Patrick Thiele, President and Chief Executive Officer of PartnerRe. "We hope that anyone with a passion for dance will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to study with Mr. De Vita, Mr. Lukens and Mr. Inman."

Students and teachers interested in participating in the PartnerRe Master Class and Teacher Training Series should contact the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda at 236 3319 or visit the Foundation's web site at www.dancebermuda.org .

 

The National Dance Foundation of Bermuda, a registered charity and a company limited by guaranty, helps to raise the standard of dance excellence in Bermuda by providing world-class training to the island's dancers, teachers and choreographers.

 

TEACHER BIOGRAPHIES

Franco De Vita, Principal of the Jacqueline Kennedy School of Dance at American Ballet Theatre, made his professional stage debut at age 9 and began his career as a professional ballet dancer at the age of 15. He danced with several European Companies in ballets of the classical repertoire, and by choreographers such as Peter Van Dyk, George Skibine, Antony Tudor and George Balanchine. Also in Europe, he performed in musical comedies and operettas such as Hello Dolly , Kiss Me Kate and My Fair Lady .

When he retired from performing, Mr. De Vita earned teaching qualifications acquiring the Enrico Cecchetti Diploma and the highest teaching degree given by the Italian Ministry of Education through the "Accademia Nazionale di Danza," Rome. He is a Fellow of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, London. In New York City, Mr. De Vita was faculty member at The Ailey School, The Ailey/Fordham BFA program and guest company teacher for The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II. He was company teacher for Hartford Ballet and principal faculty member of the School of Hartford Ballet and the BFA dance program of the University of Hartford; and was part of the task force that revised Hartford Ballet School's curriculum.

Before joining American Ballet Theatre, Mr. De Vita was Dean of Faculty and Curriculum of the Boston Ballet School and company teacher for Boston Ballet. Mr. De Vita has been guest teacher for Virginia School of the Arts, Peridance International, Dance Connecticut , Dance Educators of America, Youth America Grand Prix and for Alberta Ballet Company and School. Mr. De Vita's students have won prestigious international dance competitions including the Prix de Lausanne and have danced in many of the world's major companies such as London's Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The English National Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Boston Ballet. Most of the teachers qualified in the Cecchetti Method in Italy were trained by Mr. De Vita. He is regularly invited to teach at international seminars.

Raymond Lukens is an internationally recognized dance educator and ballet master and currently teaches at the American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet and the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet Company. As a performer he worked with several American and European dance companies. Mr. Lukens has been Director of Boston Ballet II and ballet master for Boston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet and Hartford Ballet. He has taught for American Ballet Theatre, ABT Studio Company, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Juilliard School, The Ailey School and Dance Theater of Harlem. He has taught and has been a judge for international dance competitions and seminars in North and Latin America, Europe, Australia, Japan and South Africa.

Tracy Inman is currently Junior Division Co-Director and Faculty Advisor at The Ailey School in New York. He is a former member of Ailey II, The Jamison Project and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Mr. Inman has performed the roles of Tumblebrutus and Alonzo in two European productions of the Broadway musical "CATS".