Madeline Cantarella Culpo, Director
"Miss Madeline" and her charges.
The School of the Berkshire Ballet maintains facilities in Albany, NY, Lenox, MA and Pittsfield, MA and offers dance training for students of all ages in ballet, modern, lyrical jazz and tap.
SCHOOL INFORMATION |
The School of the Albany Berkshire Ballet (Albany, NY) and Cantarella School of Dance (Pittsfield, MA) are known for their outstanding balanced dance curriculums. Director Madeline Cantarella Culpo founded the School of Dance in 1955 with the goal of providing personal attention and training for students and professional dancers. Graduates have gone on to dance with the Albany Berkshire Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Jacob's Pillow and the Pennsylvania, Ohio, Portland, and Washington Ballets.
The School teaches the Cecchetti method of ballet developed by Enrico Cecchetti, world renowned teacher of the Ballet Russes and ballet master of Diaghilev Ballet Russes, who trained such dancers as Pavlova, Fokine and Nijinsky. Among his proteges was English ballerina Margaret Craske who later taught at the Juilliard School and Jacob's Pillow. From Miss Craske, Madeline Cantarella Culpo developed her technique.
PROGRAM INFORMATION |
At the School of the Albany Berkshire Ballet and the Cantarella School of Dance the welfare of our young dancers is paramount. The program provides inspiration and progressive physical development in a professional friendly atmosphere. Classes are offered daily at all levels. Modern, Lyrical, Jazz and Tap dance classes complement the ballet training.
Multiple lessons are available at special tuition rates. Students are encouraged to take a minimum of two classes per week.
THE ACADEMIES OF THE SCHOOLS OF THE ALBANY BERKSHIRE BALLET is a comprehensive training program for the talented and serious pre-teen student who desires to commit more time to the art of dance. Advanced students may apply for admission to the ALBANY BERKSHIRE BALLET JUNIOR COMPANY. These pre-professional classes accelerate talented students and expose them to nationally known teachers. Both the Academy and the Junior Company perform frequently in the Capital Region and the Berkshires throughout the year. Admission to the Academy and Junior Company is by audition only. Contact the School Administrator for details.
SCHOOL NEWS |
The School of the Albany Berkshire Ballet - Albany, NY
A $10 registration fee and information is required for all new students. Please click here for registration form. Call 518-426-0660 for more information. Please see the bottom of this page for location and additional contact information.
Cantarella School of Dance - Pittsfield, MA
A $10 registration fee and information is required for all new students. Call 413-442-1307 for more information. Please see the bottom of this page for location and additional contact information.
Resident Faculty |
Madeline Cantarella Culpo, Director-Founder and Artistic Director of the Albany Berkshire Ballet, is an alumna of the Juilliard School where she studied ballet with Margaret Craske, Antony Tudor and Alfredo Corvino and modern dance with Martha Graham. She is a nationally recognized teacher of dance, having taught throughout the United States, including at Jacob’s Pillow. She was featured in the November 1996 issue of "Dance Magazine" in an article entitled "Great Starts American Teachers Series" - "A Tribute To Teachers Who Have Produced Outstanding Results." In addition, Mrs. Culpo has received three choreography fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Nancy Ropelewski Pierce, Ballet, Ballet Mistress - Academy I & II, is a graduate of the Cantarella School and was a scholarship student at Jacob’s Pillow. She was formerly a principal dancer with the Albany Berkshire Ballet. Ms. Pierce has also established herself as a choreographer. Her "Peter and the Wolf’ has been performed extensively before school audiences throughout the Northeast.
Deirdre Duffin Swindlehurst, Ballet, Ballet Mistress - Junior Company of the Albany Berkshire Ballet, started dancing at age five under Madeline Cantarella Culpo and went on to be a principal dancer with Albany Berkshire Ballet. She joined the Pennsylvania Ballet in 1980, and rose to soloist in "The Nutcracker," "Coppelia," "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," "Les Sylphides," and "The Four Temperaments." Deirdre has appeared as a guest artist at Jacob’s Pillow and has toured the United States with Leonid and Valentina Kaslov and with Cynthia Gregory and her "Celebration Tour."
Lisa Culpo Pulver, Director of the North Reading School of Ballet Lisa received her training at the Cantarella School of Dance under the guidance of her mother, Madeline Cantarella Culpo, Founder and Artistic Director of the Albany Berkshire Ballet. She has been teaching the Cecchetti method of classical ballet for 24 years and was director of the Albany Berkshire Ballet Jr. Company before moving with her family to the Boston area. Mrs. Pulver holds an Associate of Arts degree from Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, MA and a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Arts and Human Services and Visual and Performing Arts from Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y.
Chris Hookie, Chris is the owner of CM Dance And Company located in Pittsfield, MA. Chris began his dance career in 1970 with ballroom dance classes and has since become an accomplished dancer, choreographer and teacher. Chris holds an Associates degree in The Performing Arts as well as a minor in Dance. Chris has an extensive background in Country Western, Partner, Line, Contra, Circle, Mixer, Ballroom, Contemporary, Jitterbug, Latin and Creative Dance for Children. Chris also offers Professional Dee Jay services. Chris hopes to bring a little “Taste of Texas” to the Berkshires withhis ballroom and swing classes.
Christine Geren, ("Miss Christine"), is our new Albany School Administrator. Ms. Geren hails from Mechanicville, New York and began her dance training with Darlene Myers and The Northeast Ballet Company. Supported by a dance and academic scholarship, she pursued her Bachelor of Arts at Mercyhurst College and, during this time, earned an apprenticeship with The Lake Erie Ballet. Under the direction of Robert Vickrey, Ms. Geren performed as a soloist in such classic ballets as Coppelia, Paquita and The Nutcracker. After graduating from Mercyhurst, Ms. Geren joined the Albany Berkshire Ballet, where she has danced parts in Carmina Burana (Paula Weber), Graduation Ball (David Lichine), Les Sylphides and Petrouchka (Michael Fokine), Our Town (Philip Jerry) and Caprice and The Rockwell Suites (Madeline Cantarella-Culpo), as well as Dew Drop, Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in ABB's Nutcracker. In addition to serving as school administrator, Ms. Geren teaches ballet at both the Myers Studio and at the School of the ABB. Whenever her schedule permits, she joins the advanced dance classes and Miss Madeline reports she is mastering the Cecchetti method!
Alicia Hornicek, is a graduate of the School of the Albany Berkshire Ballet. Throughout high school, Alicia performed with The Albany Berkshire Ballet in such performances as "The Nutcracker," "Cinderella," "Temple Caves," "Our Town," "Carmina Burana," "Les Sylphides" and "Graduation Ball." Alicia is on the faculty at The School of the Albany Berkshire Ballet, and recently graduated Russell Sage College, majoring in Physical Therapy with a minor in dance.
Lindsey McGrath, teaches Intermediate and Advanced Jazz and Musical Theatre. Bio coming soon!
Alison Ritter is a resident of Catskill, NY and is a graduate of the School of the Albany Berkshire Ballet. Alison holds a BFA in Dance from Mercyhurst College and dances professionally with the ABB. She is currently on the faculties of the Cantarella School of Dance and the School of the ABB.
Jane Yablonsky - Bio coming soon!
|
Location |
Phone Number |
E-Mail Address |
|---|---|---|
| School of the Albany Berkshire Ballet 25 Monroe Street Albany, NY 12210 |
(518) 426-0660 | alboffice@taconic.net |
| Cantarella School of Dance #116 Fenn Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 |
(413) 442-1307 | abballet@rnetworx.com |
Closings
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weather-related closings or check local radio
stations' WGNA 107.7 FM -WROW 95.5 FM -WFLY 92.3 FM
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