State Street Ballet Young Dancers
Training for a career in dance
State Street Ballet Young Dancers is a pre-professional program founded to provide young dancers with the discipline and perforrning experience necessary for a career in dance. Dancers audition to be in the Young Dancers company, train in the school, and audition for apprentice or extra roles in productions of State Street Ballet. Directed by Allison Gustafson and Nicole Comella, the Young Dancers present an annual Spring Choreography Concert, performing works ranging from classical to contemporary.
The group participates annually in Regional Dance America / Pacific, performing works set by contemporary choreographers. In 2009, the Young Dancers performed As If To Nothing, choreographed by Dana Young, and received Honors credit for the fourth year in a row. In May 2010, the group will perform and train at RDA / Pacific in Spokane, Washington; and in June 2010, selected company members will perform at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Missippi.
About the Directors
Allison Gustafson
After receiving her BA in Foreign Languages from Southern Methodist University,
Allison Gustafson earned her MA in Sociology from the University of Arizona.
Her strong belief that a dance studio should provide a healthy environment
where both learning and personal growth can occur stems from her academic
research concerning the connection between the environment of the dance
studio and a dancer's self-esteem. She has many years of experience teaching
ballet to all levels of children and adults. Currently, she is a Certified
Instructor for American Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum in
Primary through Level 5, and the chair for Regional Dance America / Pacific.
In addition, she continues her work as a college level professor of Sociology.
Nicole Comella
Nicole Comella received her training mainly from California Ballet, New
West Ballet, San Diego City Ballet, and United States Inter national University
(San Diego, CA) where she received a BFA in Dance. She has performed throughout
California, as well as Utah, Mexico, London and Taiwan. In 1994, she became
a founding member of State Street Ballet, dancing principal roles for six
years, as well as teaching in the school. She is a Certified Instructor
for Americal Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum in Primary through
Level 3. Since 2001, she has been the Assistant School Director for Gustafson
Dance, Summer Mini Camp Director, and Co-Director of State Street Ballet
Young Dancers. She has been sharing her love of ballet as an instructor
for over 20 years.
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