Ballet Tennessee’s nationally competitive Summer Intensive (BTSI) is a three-week dance intensive featuring a comprehensive program including ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, improvisations, classical variations, partnering, student choreography, and guest/faculty choreography.
The BTSI continues its 17-year history of bringing acclaimed national and regional guest artists to Chattanooga. The 2013 guest faculty includes David Keary, artistic director of Ballet Mississippi, Brian Gephart, Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada, Jere Hunt, Rioult Dance New York, and Caroline Cavallo, most recently principal dancer at the Royal Danish Ballet.
David Keary began his training with Jackson Ballet. He completed his dance training at the School of American Ballet, The official school of New York City Ballet. He was invited to join the New York City Ballet where Mr. Keary performed in extensive NYCB repertoire and also performed on the PBS series Dance in America. Among his many accomplishments was as a guest artist to honor Princess Grace of Monaco. Currently he is artistic director of Ballet Mississippi.
Brian Gephart received his training from North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem (now University of NCSA), Houston Ballet II, and Ballet Tennessee. Following his graduation from NCSA in 2007 he joined Houston Ballet II for one season and Joffrey Ballet of Chicago for three seasons. In 2011 Mr. Gephart joined the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada where he just finished his second season.
Jere Hunt graduated with a BFA in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College in 2009. He joined Rioult Dance New York in 2010 and was recently privileged to set Rioult’s signature work, Bolero, on students at Adelphi University. Mr. Hunt was an apprentice with the Alabama Ballet during the 2006-2007 season under the direction of Wes Chapman.
Caroline Cavallo trained with both Atlanta School of Ballet and School of American Ballet. She danced professionally with Atlanta Ballet before being engaged by the Royal Danish Ballet. She danced both at the soloist and principal levels. She was awarded the Spies Foundation Grant, the Albert Gaubier Grant, the Royal Danish Ballet’s Grant of Honour 2002, and in 2012 the Reumert Award for Dance. Ms. Cavallo will teach a special guest class for the BTSI students on Tuesday, July 9.
Ballet Tennessee invites community dancers to attend evening classes taught by these exciting guest artists. Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30-8 p.m. for $15. See the Ballet Tennessee website for more details at www.ballettennessee.org.