"What's the Pointe" by Guliana Lacerenza, graduate of the School of Canadian Ballet Theatre
Academy students speak about their experience at the school
Sarah Clark
HER STORY:
Sarah Clark, a student of the Academy of Ballet and Jazz, was born in Thornhill and started studying ballet at the age of four.
She attended The Academy of Ballet and Jazz and was quickly taken under the tutelage of the Academy's Director, Nadia Veselova-Tencer (Director of STARS OF THE 21ST CENTURY)
Sarah has caused a sensation in the international ballet scene because of her artistry, elegance, and top marks at Youth Grande Prix international ballet competition in New York.
Marina, Director of the Bolshoi Ballet School, then invited her to audition for the school, one of the oldest in Russia.
Clark was one of thousands to audition, and the only accepted student from the western hemisphere.
All in all, this was not only an honor for Sarah Clark, but also her family and teachers.
She was one of the first young Canadians to be accepted to the Bolshoi School,
and at the age of 15 she was the youngest in her class.
Leia Saltzman
HER STORY:
Leia Saltzman was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, however,
she moved with her family to Toronto at the age of two.
She was introduced to her teacher, Nadia Veselova Tencer, when she began studying
ballet with the Academy of Ballet and Jazz at the age of ten, and has been dancing
with the school ever since. She has also spent four summers in New York at the
Joffrey Ballet School summer program.
Leia was accepted to the Academie de Danse Classique Princess Grace in Monaco
with a full tuition scholarship. Furthermore, Marika Besobrasova, the director of the school,
has invited her to dance in a Gala Tribute to Rudolph Nureyev that took place in Monaco on March 17, 2003.
Leia was very honored and excited to be a part of such a prestigious event,
especially since her teacher, Nadia Veselova Tencer, performed in Toronto's Nureyev Gala several years ago,
and now Leia will be following in her footsteps and performing in Nureyev gala in Monaco.
She is now a member of Toronto's Canadian Ballet Theatre,
where her teacher serves as Artistic Director. As a member of the Canadian Ballet Theatre,
Leia has danced solo roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, La Bayadere, and Giselle.
Some of those performances have been school shows, others, performances of Canadian Ballet Theatre
with guest artists from the Bolshoi Ballet or American Ballet Theatre.
Järvi Raudsepp
HER STORY:
Järvi Raudsepp started her ballet training at the age of 8 with Nadia Veselova-Tencer at the Academy of Ballet & Jazz and graduated from Nadia's class in June 2003 at the age of 17. She was immediately offered a contract with the National Ballet of Estonia and left for Tallinn in early August, 2003. During her first year in Estonia, Järvi also studied privately with the well-known ballet pedagogue Tiiu Randviir (prima ballerina of the Estonian National Ballet during the 1960s and 70s). Ms. Randviir gave her the ultimate praise at the end of her first coaching session with Järvi, telling her that she had been "absolutely correctly taught" in the Vaganova method of ballet.
Because of her exemplary training throughout her 9 years at the Academy of Ballet and Jazz, Järvi auditioned and was accepted into many prestigious summer programs, among them the Kirov Academy of Ballet (where she was honoured to be asked to stay for the year after her first summer there) and the Miami City Ballet.
Knowing the training she received close to home was equal or superior to any professional school in North America, Järvi always chose to continue her studies with Nadia, Natasha Otcheretko, and Vladimir Ivanov at her home school, the Academy of Ballet & Jazz.
She is thrilled to have launched her ballet career with her dream company, the Estonian National Ballet. Recently she was invited to dance with Orlando Ballet, FL, U.S.A.
Ursula Szkolak
PERSONAL MESSAGE:
I started with Nadia at Academy of Ballet and Jazz at the age of 5. With Nadia's great training and help, at the age of 17 I launched my professional dancing career as soloist at Columbia Clasical Ballet, South Carolina.
Since then I have danced with Nadia's Canadian Ballet Theatre as well as other Canadian ballet companies such as Ballet Victoria and Banff Festival of Dance.
Sahra Maira
HER STORY:
Sahra Maira first came to Academy of Ballet and Jazz at the age of 7.
In 1998 Sahra represented Canada at International Ballet Competition -
A.Vaganova Grand Prix that was held in St. Petersburg, Russia. Presently, Sahra is a ballerina at Hungarian National Opera and Ballet.
Michelle Coutto
HER STORY:
Academy of Ballet and Jazz was the only professional school from North America
that was invited to participate in 1998 International Ballet Competition - A.Vaganova Grand-Prix in St.Peterbourgh, Russia.
Michelle Cuotto advanced to the elite second of three levels in the competition and had the honour of dancing on the stage of the Imperial Hermitage Theatre.
Ian Szkolak
HIS STORY:
Ian Szkolak started in Academy of Balllet and Jazz at the age of 4 and graduated in 2004. Later
accepted to John Cranko Ballet Academy (Stuttgart Ballet) graduating class.
Rachel Fox
HER STORY:
Rachel Fox, student of Nadia Veselova Tencer who is presently an Artist at English National Ballet
Jennifer Winter
HER STORY:
Jennifer started with Nadia at the age of 5.
In early 2004 she was accepted to graduating class in Julliard Dance School, New York City. Presently, artist with Dance Theater of Harlem, New York City.
Melissa Panetta
HER STORY:
Melissa started her ballet training with Nadia in 1988 at the young age of 4.
Under the skilled guidance and amazing influence of Nadia, Melissa became a teacher at the Academy of Ballet and Jazz in 2001.
With her patience, knowledge, and understanding nature Melissa has an innate ability to connect with the students she instructs under the styles of Ballet, Jazz and Pointe repertoire.
Currently she is a full time Sociology major at York University, a teacher with Academy of Ballet and Jazz and a soloist with the Canadian Ballet Theatre.
Rachel Lieberman
HER STORY:
Rachel Lieberman started with Academy of Ballet and Jazz at the age of 4. At age 16, she was accepted to graduating class at Harrid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida. Upon graduation she was offered a contract by Colorado Ballet.
