Acton School of Ballet

Master Class Week

Master class WEEk

August 19-23, 2024

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About the Program

This one-week intensive (August 19-23 for 2024) provides the serious student with insight and inspiration from former and current professional dancers. Master classes are an excellent way to make breakthroughs in your understanding of the art form, to grow both technically and artistically, and to approach fall ballet with confidence.

Three enrollment options are available: Morning Program, Full-Day Program, and Master Class Trio (flexible three morning program for advanced students aged 14+).

Click here to register now!

For questions, email us at Master Class Week.


Schedule

Morning Program:
8:45 am Check-in
9:00-9:30 am Yoga or Stretch
9:30-11:00 am Ballet Technique
11:15 am-12:15 pm Pointe/Mens Class/Workshops

Afternoon (Full Day Students):
12:15-12:45 Lunch Break
12:45-2:00 pm Repertoire
2:00-3:00 pm Coaching (Pirouette Class, Arabesque, Battu Class, Proper Use of Turnout, Port de Bras, etc.)
3:15-4:30 pm Student Choreography

Placement will be determined by the faculty on the first day of classes. Specific schedules will be determined by level placement.

Eligibility

We accept students aged 11* to 18 with at least three years of ballet training.

*Age 11 with the Director’s permission.


Tuition - In Person

Morning Program $425
Full Day $675 Master Class Trio $260. Choose any three mornings. Open to students age 14+.

Note: $50 Non-refundable deposit required to hold spot.

Sibling discount: $25 off the tuition of the second child


Dress Code

Girls: Black leotard (any style), pink tights, pink ballet slippers and skirt (any color) for Pointe. Ladies who are on pointe should bring pointe shoes each day.
Boys: White close fitting tee-shirt or leotard, black tights with dance belt, and white or black shoes with white or black socks.
ALL: Warm ups may be worn for morning yoga/stretch, but must be removed before technique class unless a student has an injury.


Guest Faculty

Cheryl Madeux, a Connecticut native, received her training at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts under the direction of Sharon Dante and Donna Bonasera. She has enjoyed a long professional career, dancing with such venerable companies as the Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and principal dancer with the Hartford Ballet under the direction of Kirk Peterson. Madeux performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe and has been coached by such ballet luminaries as Igor Youskevitch and Eleanor D’Antuono. Among her early accomplishments, Madeux was awarded first place in the National Society of Arts and Letters Ballet Competition at the age of 15, as well as a finalist at the III International Ballet Competition in Paris and the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland. She was later recognized by the White House Commissions Program for excellence in academics and dance and was awarded a Level One Presidential Scholar in the Arts. As an educator, Madeux has been a guest teacher and coach for many ballet institutions across New England. In 2005, she became ballet director at Franklin School for the Performing Arts and assisted in developing their conservatory ballet program, as well as choreographing and directing many of their full-length ballet productions. In 2009, she successfully completed her certification in the ABT National Training Curriculum for Primary through Level 7 & Partnering and was later appointed to the prestigious Board of Examiners for the curriculum. In addition, she became a summer faculty member for the ABT Young Dancer Program and ABT summer intensives, as well as an assistant instructor for the NTC teacher certifications. Madeux currently continues her work with FSPA and ABT, and resides in Wrentham, MA with her husband and two children.

Cheryl Madeux, a Connecticut native, received her training at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts under the direction of Sharon Dante and Donna Bonasera. She has enjoyed a long professional career, dancing with such venerable companies as the Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and principal dancer with the Hartford Ballet under the direction of Kirk Peterson. Madeux performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe and has been coached by such ballet luminaries as Igor Youskevitch and Eleanor D’Antuono. Among her early accomplishments, Madeux was awarded first place in the National Society of Arts and Letters Ballet Competition at the age of 15, as well as a finalist at the III International Ballet Competition in Paris and the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland. She was later recognized by the White House Commissions Program for excellence in academics and dance and was awarded a Level One Presidential Scholar in the Arts.

As an educator, Madeux has been a guest teacher and coach for many ballet institutions across New England. In 2005, she became ballet director at Franklin School for the Performing Arts and assisted in developing their conservatory ballet program, as well as choreographing and directing many of their full-length ballet productions. In 2009, she successfully completed her certification in the ABT National Training Curriculum for Primary through Level 7 & Partnering and was later appointed to the prestigious Board of Examiners for the curriculum. In addition, she became a summer faculty member for the ABT Young Dancer Program and ABT summer intensives, as well as an assistant instructor for the NTC teacher certifications. Madeux currently continues her work with FSPA and ABT, and resides in Wrentham, MA with her husband and two children.

Cheryl Madeux

Margaret Kueffler trained with Acton School of Ballet and Koltun Ballet Boston. Margaret has been dancing professionally with Atlanta Ballet II for the past two years. She will be training with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater this year. Margaret has taught for Acton School of Master Class Week 2021 and she is looking forward to joining us again this summer!

Margaret Kueffler

Lorraine Chapman danced professionally with Eliot Feld Ballets/NY and Ballet British Columbia as well as for several Boston-based choreographers including Amy Spencer, Richard Colton, Diane Arvanites, José Mateo, and Marcus Schulkind. As a choreographer she has received several grants and has created works for numerous venues. She officially formed LCTC in 2002 (www.lorrainechapman.org) and her awards include three NEST grants from NEFA, a Live Arts Boston Grant and a Brother Thomas Fellowship from The Boston Foundation as well as being featured in Dance Magazine as one of "25 To Watch". She received her training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and L'Ecole Superieure De Danse Du Quebec as well as from Boston veterans Frances Kotelly and Samuel Kurkjian. She teaches at the Northeast School of Ballet, Urbanity Dance, and Ballet Arts Centre of Winchester where she is the co-director of their Emersion program.

Lorraine Chapman danced professionally with Eliot Feld Ballets/NY and Ballet British Columbia as well as for several Boston-based choreographers including Amy Spencer, Richard Colton, Diane Arvanites, José Mateo, and Marcus Schulkind. As a choreographer she has received several grants and has created works for numerous venues. She officially formed LCTC in 2002 (www.lorrainechapman.org) and her awards include three NEST grants from NEFA, a Live Arts Boston Grant and a Brother Thomas Fellowship from The Boston Foundation as well as being featured in Dance Magazine as one of "25 To Watch". She received her training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and L'Ecole Superieure De Danse Du Quebec as well as from Boston veterans Frances Kotelly and Samuel Kurkjian. She teaches at the Northeast School of Ballet, Urbanity Dance, and Ballet Arts Centre of Winchester where she is the co-director of their Emersion program.

Mary Thompson grew up in Marshfield, Massachusetts where she trained with Maureen Ruff, as well as at the Boston Ballet School. She continued her training as a Ford Foundation Scholarship student at the School of American Ballet (SAB). While a student at SAB, Mary performed solo roles in the Annual Workshop Performances, and was fortunate to have studied with Alexandra Danilova, Suki Schorer and, most intensively, Stanley Williams, whose classes enormously impacted her understanding of ballet technique, and have greatly influenced her teaching. Mary was selected to join Makarova and Company, directed by Natalia Makarova. She then continued her performance career with the Berkshire Ballet, Ballet Michigan and Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre (JMBT). Mary’s roles from the classical repertoire included Aurora, Swanhilda, Pas de Quatre (Grisi), Peasant Pas de Deux, Le Corsaire Pas de Deux, Cygnets, and Sugar Plum Fairy. She also danced works by George Balanchine, Anthony Tudor, Loyce Houlton, Gus Solomons, Francis Patrelle, and originated many roles choreographed by Jose Mateo.For over 25 years, Mary has taught and coached dancers of all levels, beginner through professional, in the Boston area. Mary has been an Adjunct Professor at Dean College as well as guest teacher for The Harvard Ballet Company, and the Izmir Ballet in Turkey. Mary is delighted to have the opportunity to continue her relationship with the Acton School of Ballet, where she has taught on occasion throughout the past year.  

Mary Thompson grew up in Marshfield, Massachusetts where she trained with Maureen Ruff, as well as at the Boston Ballet School. She continued her training as a Ford Foundation Scholarship student at the School of American Ballet (SAB). While a student at SAB, Mary performed solo roles in the Annual Workshop Performances, and was fortunate to have studied with Alexandra Danilova, Suki Schorer and, most intensively, Stanley Williams, whose classes enormously impacted her understanding of ballet technique, and have greatly influenced her teaching. 

Mary was selected to join Makarova and Company, directed by Natalia Makarova. She then continued her performance career with the Berkshire Ballet, Ballet Michigan and Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre (JMBT). Mary’s roles from the classical repertoire included Aurora, Swanhilda, Pas de Quatre (Grisi), Peasant Pas de Deux, Le Corsaire Pas de Deux, Cygnets, and Sugar Plum Fairy. She also danced works by George Balanchine, Anthony Tudor, Loyce Houlton, Gus Solomons, Francis Patrelle, and originated many roles choreographed by Jose Mateo.

For over 25 years, Mary has taught and coached dancers of all levels, beginner through professional, in the Boston area. Mary has been an Adjunct Professor at Dean College as well as guest teacher for The Harvard Ballet Company, and the Izmir Ballet in Turkey. Mary is delighted to have the opportunity to continue her relationship with the Acton School of Ballet, where she has taught on occasion throughout the past year. 

 

Mary Thompson

Lorraine Chapman

Joseph is on the faculty of Boston Ballet and Northeast School of Ballet. He has served as Director of Portland Ballet’s Summer Dance Program and has taught master classes and workshops at ballet schools across the country. Mr Jefferies is an award-…

Joseph is on the faculty of Boston Ballet and Northeast School of Ballet. He has served as Director of Portland Ballet’s Summer Dance Program and has taught master classes and workshops at ballet schools across the country. Mr Jefferies is an award-winning choreographer creating over 30 works for companies including Ballet Memphis, Miami City Ballet, Peoria Ballet, Ballet Trockadero, Harid Conservatory, Ballet Yuma and Walnut Hill School for the Arts. He has won the RDA Emerging Choreographer scholarship twice and had his work selected and performed for New York City’s Ballet Builders Showcase and for the RDA National Convention in Montreal, Canada. As a professional dancer, Mr. Jefferies was a member of Ballet Memphis dancing the lead roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppelia and Cinderella. As a member of Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo he toured the world performing in over 25 different countries.

 

JOSEPH JEFFERIES
BALLET


Director

Kathryn came to Acton School of Ballet from Walnut Hill School where she served as Director of the Community Dance Academy for 14 years. She was also the Founder and Director of Walnut Hill’s popular Youth Summer Dance Program. She was a member of t…

Kathryn came to Acton School of Ballet from Walnut Hill School where she served as Director of the Community Dance Academy for 14 years. She was also the Founder and Director of Walnut Hill’s popular Youth Summer Dance Program. She was a member of the faculties of Pittsburgh Youth Ballet and the American Academy of Ballet in Buffalo, NY, and spent five summers on the faculty of Chautauqua Institution. Ms. Stark received her dance training at North Carolina School of the Arts, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, and as a child in Pittsburgh with Jean Gedeon and Eduard Caton. She danced professionally with Ballet Met in Columbus, OH and was a principal dancer of Southern Ballet Theatre (now Orlando Ballet) where she performed roles including “Lisette” in La Fille Mal Gardee and lead roles in Balanchine’s Valse Fantasie and Allegro Brilliante.

 

KATHRYN STARK
BALLET