Answers for some of your letters....

STUDYING AT ABT

Dolores Perkins of Copperas Cove, Texas wants information about studying at the school of the American Ballet Theatre in hopes of eventually joining the company. If you share her ambition, your best bet is to plan ahead for next spring when auditions for the annual summer intensive will be held around the country. Some students are given scholarships to come to New York and others are given scholarships to continue at their home schools, with occasional visits from ABT teachers to check on progress. There are no open auditions for ABT, and the open classes which are held daily throughout the year are not a gateway to joining the company.

See my May column for more information, including a link to the ABT website, or call (212) 477-3030.

 

FAN MAIL FOR PALOMA HERRERA AND OTHER DANCERS, TOO!

Dolores Perkins, the same dancer who asked about info on ABT, is a Paloma Herrera fan -- like a lot of us! Write to Paloma and any other members of ABT c/o The American Ballet Theatre, 890 Broadway, New York, New York 10009.

If you're a New York City Ballet devotee, write to your idols c/o The New York City Ballet, State Theatre, Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, New York 10023.

BTW, many of my students have written fan letters and received lovely letters in return, as well as signed head shots and even signed pointe shoes.

HOW TO AUDITION FOR THE ROCKETTES -- AND OTHER JOBS AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

If you are a jazz and tap dancer at least 18 years old and between 5' 5 1/2" and 5'9" tall, the world-famous, high-kicking Radio City Music Hall Rockettes are looking for you! Sign-up sheets for AGVA and non-AGVA dancers will be available on Wednesday, September 10 at the stage door, 34 West 51st Street at 6th Avenue. Auditions will be held the following day, Thursday, September 11, starting at 9 a.m. AGVA members will be seen first. Bring a current photo and resume.

Ballet and jazz dancers at least 18 years old can audition for the chorus of the 1997 Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular on Monday, September 22. Call-backs will be the following day. Some roles require "full-body costumes," meaning you could be making your NYC debut as a pig on pointe or a dancing Christmas tree -- but, hey!

Auditions for men will be held in late August. For up-dated information, call (212) 632-4000 and ask for the audition line.

BTW, Radio City dancers perform four shows a day for three weeks straight and then they get a week off. There are cots backstage for cat naps, but even so, the schedule is grueling. Be sure you're in tip-top shape and absolutely injury-free before you attempt this gig!

I'll be rooting for you, especially Carol Cordon who asked for info about the Rockettes!