2020 Spring Break Intensive

Pro Arte Centre is offering a three-day Spring Break Intensive March 23-25. Designed to keep dancers fit through the Break in preparation for the festival season, three levels of instruction will be provided.

Advanced: (Students with more than 2 years of pointe work):

 

10:30-12:00 Contemporary w/ Mr. Ben

• Monday (Cunningham Technique)
• Tuesday (Floorwork)   
• Wednesday (Graham Technique)

12:00-1:30 Ballet w/ Ms. Bev

Intermediate (Grade 4/5 through Intermediate Foundation):

 

12:15-1:15 Contemporary w/ Mr. Ben

• • Monday (Cunningham Technique)
  • Tuesday (Floorwork)   
  • Wednesday (Graham Technique)

1:30-3:00 Ballet w/ Ms. Bev

 

Junior (Grades 2 /3) – must have previous ballet technique training:

 

1:15-2:00 Contemporary w/ Mr. Ben

2:00-3:00 Ballet w/ Mr. Ben

 

Cost (3 days):

Spring Faculty

Beverley Bagg began her training in both RAD and Cechetti in Johannesburg, South Africa, and has transitioned from a dancer into a master teacher. She was accepted at the Royal Ballet School in London, England, and danced soloist and principal roles with the PACT Ballet Company in South Africa for 15 years. Among the roles she performed were Bluebird and Princess Aurora from The Sleeping Beauty, Odette/Odile from Swan Lake, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Swanhilda in Coppélia, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Giselle in Giselle, Kitri in Nureyev’s production of Don Quixote, and the lead in Balanchine’s Theme and Variations. She has also performed works by renowned choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, John Cranko, Goh Choo San, André Prokovsky, and Sir Frederick Ashton.  Ms. Bagg has a diploma in biomechanics and physiology from the University of the Witwatersrand and integrates this knowledge into her teaching. Since immigrating to Canada, Ms. Bagg has been invited as a guest teacher to various companies and schools in the USA and Canada. She was Ballet Mistress of Ballet BC and Alberta Ballet and has been instrumental in staging Swan Lake and Giselle for South African Ballet Theatre and Washington Ballet.   Spanning over 40 years of a passionate and very successful career as a professional dancer, teacher and coach, Ms. Bagg is able to draw on this experience and offer a rich and insightful approach to teaching and coaching. She establishes an environment of positive energy and demands excellence in a nurturing and inspiring manner.  Ms. Bev currently is Program Director of the Protégé Program at Pro Arte as well as working with Ballet BC, Modus Operandi and Coastal City Ballet.

Ben Cooper began his ballet training at the age of nine and was
accepted to train with The Royal Ballet School under the teachings of Kathryn
Wade, Richard Ramsay, Neil Westmoreland, Steven McRae, Ed Watson, and Hope
Keelan. Mr. Ben attended Trinity Laban CAT Scheme under the direction of Martin
Collins. Mr. Ben studied under many teachers including Lee Smikle (Rambert,
Matthew Bourne) and Stephano Roasato (Merce Cunningham Company). During Mr.
Ben’s time at Laban, he danced with choreographers including Akram Khan, Wayne
Mcgregor, Darren Ellis, and Matthew Bourne. In 2013, Mr. Ben continued his
training at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. Mr. Ben’s main
area of study was Graham under the direction of Dr. Ross Mckim (National Ballet
of Canada). While there, Mr. Ben learned the art of sound and lighting for
dance performance including pieces under the direction of Sir Robert Cohen. Mr.
Ben is undertaking a Masters in Practice of Manual Osteopathic Science, with an
emphasis on helping dancers through injury and rehabilitation.  Recently returned from Calgary where he was
teaching ballet and contemporary classes to junior through advanced levels, Pro
Arte is pleased to welcome him to our faculty.