academy teacher david fernandez has been commissioned to choreograph a piece which will premiere this season at the dance theater of harlem.  check back for more information, pictures and performance schedules!

Great job keeping this a secret before the performance! Bravo to David’s choreography and to all the company girls and “special guest” dancers for making this piece fill the room with energy!

Click above to view the video clip

“White Shirt, Black Tie, Black Pants” will be performed at:

First Look: Brooklyn Ballet & Friends on Saturday May 15 at 8PM @ Performance Space at The Schermerhorn (160 Schermerhorn St.)

The wonderful Katie Moorhead, Georgia St Onge Lathrop, and our own Natalie Lambelet Palacios will be performing the piece.

recital is just around the corner, may 22nd and 23rd at bedford middle school.  our dancers have been trying on their costumes and working very hard to put on the finishing touches to their dance pieces.  these girls came in on a saturday morning…an “extra” rehearsal for their modern piece choreographed by tollie barrato…looks like they worked hard and some fun too!

dance magazine’s website … front and center … a photo slide show of the kings of dance.  click here to view.  our congratulations once again to academy teacher, david fernandez!  your piece in the show was amazing!

lynn swann … dance lessons were part of his master plan and played an important role in his journey to become a wide receiver for the pittsburgh steelers (1974-1982).  he played 9 seasons with the steelers during some of the greatest years in their franchise history.  he was the first draft pick in 1974 and became one of the top 10 steelers of all time.  he has been called the ballet master of the nfl amazing fans with his style and grace … and of course his jumps, leaps and amazing catches!  his movements were truly poetry in motion and appreciated by football and dance fans all over the country.  crediting dance lessons as an important part of his football training opened the door for many football players to openly take classes to help their grace, agility and form ultimately making them better players.

one could ask how high can he jump?”  “how far can he leap/reach?” “how did he make that 64 yd catch at Super Bowl X that led to the steelers victory over the dallas cowboys and his being named super bowl mvp?”  surely his dance training helped along with his amazing natural agility and ability.

he truly was an inspiration and role model to kids across the country and we have followed his career from football to sports broadcaster to pennsylvania politics.  read his induction speech into the football hall of fame given by john stallworth on august 4, 2001 for an understanding of the truly amazing man he is.

which academy teacher is carrying the ball as quarterback?  did you know that there is a long tradition between nfl football players and dance classes?  click here to read about one of the nfl’s most famous players who was seen in dance classes by many and certainly did look like a swan on the field.

once again, david fernandez’s choreography has been selected to be performed with new york city ballet’s finest dancing in a lead role.  this time as part of ballet builders 2010, an annual group show by emerging choreographers,  ask la cour, nyc ballet soloist will be dancing the lead role in objects in mirror are closer than they appear. also appearing in david’s piece is academy teacher natalie anne lambelet palacious.

performances are:
friday, april 9th at 8pm
saturday, april 10th at 8pm
sunday, april 11 at 3pm

the performance will be held at the joan weill center for dance in the alvin ailey american dance theater located at 55th and 9th.  click here to purchase tickets.

hope to see you there!

dress rehearsal and performances were the highlight of this past weekend!  bravo to our wonderful teachers and choreographers, tollie barrato, catalina bohiltea, david fernandez, natalie lambelet palacious, courtney poulos, caitlin roberts, and our student choreographer julia edelman.  ftc’s stage one theater was filled with amazing music and performances on a beautiful sunday afternoon.  our dancer’s hard work paid off and our audiences were on their feet!

a very special thanks to fred busk and his son, for their invaluable help setting up and taking down our dance floor … your generosity and spirit are greatly appreciated by all, especially our dancers who wouldn’t be able to perform without your help!  let’s not forget our film crew, visual mercernary group, who’s talent and editing skills will be seen once again with a dvd recording of our amazing day.  thank you to gayle kirsch for running back stage again for us, it wouldn’t be such an efficient show without you.  we can’t wait for next year…our 2nd annual winter showcase!  enjoy the pictures below.