MASTER CLASSES!

The Link School of the Arts …home of The Link Ballet welcomes Ms. Shawn Stevens, Repetiteur for the Balanchine Trust and Mr. Caleb Mitchell, former Houston Ballet danseur for Master Classes –

Monday, December 10th, 2012 through Saturday, January 6th, 2013.

Download the complete schedule and cost details:

  Master Classes December 2012 

Shawn Stevens

Caleb Mitchell

Shawn Stevens is originally from Houston, Texas. At 14, she attended Walnut Hill School of Performing Arts, under the direction of Sydelle Gomberg. She then continued her training at The School of American Ballet. In 1982, Ms. Stevens was chosen by George Balanchine to join the New York City Ballet. During her time with the Company, she performed principal roles in Balanchine ballets including “Symphony in Three Movements”, “The Four Temperments” and “Symphony In C”. She also danced in the original cast where she performed principal roles in “Brahms-Handel” which was choreographed by Twyla Tharp and Jerome Robbins.

Ms. Stevens has also worked with many other choreographers; namely, Peter Martins, William Forsythe, Edward Villella, Lib Andersen and Joseph Duell. During the ten years Shawn performed with The New York City Ballet, she danced in the TV show “Live from Lincoln Center with NYCB ” and “ Dance in America”. Shawn has also appeared as a principal dancer with The New York City Opera in “Cinderella.”

In 1991 Shawn joined Twyla Tharp’s Company where she performed for five years. With Tharp’s Company she performed old works of Twyla as well as new principal works. Shawn was also asked to dance in the “Cutting Up” tour with Twyla Tharp and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Her Film credits include, “I’ll Do Anything”and “In The Upper Room” all choreographed by Twyla Tharp. More recently, Shawn was asked to perform in Twyla’s hit Broadway musical “Movin’ Out.”

Aside from her impressive talent as a former professional dancer, and now, ballet teacher, Ms. Stevens is also an authorized repetiteur for The George Balanchine Trust, as well as authorized by Twyla Tharp to stage her original works.

(For more about Caleb Mitchell, Click Here.)

Shawn Stevens is a former member of New York City Ballet and Twyla Tharp’s Contemporary Dance Company. During her tenure with both companies, she performed principal roles in Balanchine’s ballets including Symphony in Three Movements, The Four Temperments and Symphony In C, as well as various original works by Twyla, including Twyla’s hit Broadway musical Movin’ Out.

The Balanchine Trust was formed in 1987, four years after Balanchine’s death, to facilitate the licensing of his choreography, preserve the artistic integrity of his works and provide Balanchine-trained repetiteurs to stage his ballets for qualified companies throughout the world. Since his death, interest by dance companies throughout the world to perform Balanchine’s works have increased.

Though there are other trusts, such as those for Frederick Ashton and Antony Tudor, none have the scope of the Balanchine Trust which numbers 400 dance works, 75 of which are currently active.  The Balanchine Trust provides 40 repetiteurs, including Ms. Stevens who have first hand knowledge of the Balanchine repertoire.

Because the Balanchine Trust requires all licensed Balanchine ballets to have an approved repetiteur to stage the work and see it through to the premiere, Ms. Stevens travels the country to work with professional ballet companies and universities to stage various Balanchine ballets, as well as Twyla Tharp’s works.

Currently, Ms. Stevens is now teaching ballet at several Schools, Universities and Companies all across the United States; in addition to staging various Balanchine ballets and Twyla Tharp works.

We are very please to have Shawn Stevens teach master classes and set choreography on The Link Ballet for our spring dance performances scheduled for Saturday, May 18 and Sunday May 19th.