School of Minnesota Ballet is excited to offer 3 very special master classes this year. These classes are included in the tuition for SMB summer intensive students in Tech 1 and Tech 2. This class is to others dancers for $25 per class.
There is in-studio availability for our summer intensive students and for a limited number of other dancers, as our current studio capacities allow. There is also a virtual option for each master class via Zoom. Students will be given a Zoom link after registering for each class. These links will be good for one class only.
For our 2021 Summer Master Class series, we are excited to welcome the following, distinguished guest teachers.
Register Here Soon!
Christina Hampton
July 16
10:00am-12:00pm Central
Ms. Hampton began her ballet career with training in Belgium from Bejart soloist, Daniel Lambo. She also trained at Tidewater Ballet with Pat Sorrell, Virginia State Ballet, Star Dancer’s Ballet in Tokyo, Japan and she was a full scholarship student at Chicago City Ballet. Christina also spent two summers at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB).
She began her professional career in 1986 with Tampa Ballet and moved on to perform in Ruth Page’s production of the “Nutcracker” in Chicago. In 1987, she became principal dancer with Minnesota Ballet where she performed in roles such as Odette/Odile, Aurora and Swanhilda. Christina moved to Miami in 1995 and performed the Snow Queen in Miami Ballet’s Nutcracker directed by Yanis Pikieris. In 1996 she was principal guest artist with Santa Barbara’s State Street Ballet directed by Rodney Gustafson. While in California, Christina was offered a position with Hartford Ballet where she performed soloist and principal roles in Graham Lustig’s “Evening,” Bronislava Nijinska’s Blue Girl in “Les Biches” and Artistic Director Kirk Peterson‘s “Nutcracker.“ She spent the last eight years of her twenty year career as a principal dancer with Ballet Florida. She performed in works by world renowned choreographers such as Glen Tetley‘s “Sphinx,“ Val Caniparoli‘s “Lambarena,“ Lar Lubovitch‘s “Smile with my Heart,“ and “Musette,“ Sean Lavery‘s “Sleeping Beauty“ and “Classical Symphony,“ Ben Stevenson‘s “Dracula“ and “Esmeralda“ pas de deux, Jerome Robbins’ “In the Night” and Twyla Tharp‘s “Baker‘s Dozen.“
Christina Hampton is the founder and Artistic Director of the Arizona Youth Ballet in Mesa Arizona. Her career as a dance instructor has included associations with such prestigious schools as Chicago City Ballet School, School of Minnesota Ballet, Miami Conservatory, Academy of Ballet Florida, Palm Beach Ballet Center and currently CanDance studios. She has been a “Summer Guest Faculty” member at CPYB since 1999 and a guest teacher at Next Generation Ballet in Tampa Florida and Brigham Young University in Utah as well. Ms. Hampton’s experience as a ballet teacher has spanned over 38 years.
Rolando Yanes
July 23
10:00am-12:00pm Central
Rolando Yanes is a native of Villa Clara, Cuba. He received training at the Professional School of the Arts and the Vocational School of Ballet in Santa Clara, Cuba. While in Cuba, Mr. Yanes was a principal dancer with Ballet de Camaguey under the direction of Fernando Alonso. In 1995, he was awarded the Silver Medal at the prestigious International Ballet Competition in Brasilia, Brazil. Mr. Yanes came to the United States in 1996 as a principal dancer with Milwaukee Ballet Company.
Mr. Yanes expanded his diverse classical and contemporary repertoire while at Milwaukee Ballet dancing leading roles in such ballets as Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake, Coppélia, The Nutcracker and Giselle. His powerful technique and unparalleled partnering skills led to principal roles in La Esmeralda, Spartacus, Troy Game, Who Cares?, Diana and Acteon, and Le Corsaire, as well as major works from leading choreographers like George Balanchine, Choo-San Goh, Robert Joffrey and Kathryn Posin. He has performed with numerous companies such as Ballet Taller de San Juan (Puerto Rico) and in The International Ballet Festivals in Havana, Cuba and Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Mr. Yanes’ became the director of The Nancy Einhorn Milwaukee Ballet II Program in 2001. Since 2004, Mr. Yanes has also been directing Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy. He has created original work for the school including Alice in Wonderland and The Adventure of the Cipollino and The Giant’s Garden. He has been a judge in international and national ballet competitions including the American Youth Competition, DATE Competition in Sendai, Japan and the Japan Grand Prix.
Monica Isla
July 30
10:00am-12:00pm Central
Monica Isla is a native of Havana, Cuba. She received her training at the Professional National School of the Arts in Havana. While in Cuba, Ms. Isla danced with Ballet de Camaguey under the direction of Fernando Alonso. In 1993, Ms. Isla danced with the Pro-Danza Company as a principal dancer under the direction of Laura Alonso. In 1996, she was awarded a silver medal in The International Ballet Competition Alicia Alonso. Ms. Isla participated in the International Dance competition in Nagoya, Japan and invited to participate in the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson Mississippi. Ms. Isla repertoire includes Odette-Odile in Swan Lake. Kitry, Dulcinea,, Mercedes in Don Quixote. Swanilda, Dawn and Prayer variation, in Coppelia. Nikiya, Gamzatti and first variation of shades in la Baydere. Diana and Acteon. Le corsaire. Flames of Paris. Paquita Pas de Deux. Esmeralda pas de Deux. Sugar Plum and Snow Queen. Giselle Pas de Deux. Lillac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty. Who cares. Le Jazz Hot among other modern and contemporary pieces and freelancing works. Ms. Isla has performed with the Neoclassic Company of the University of Mexico and Soloist of Ballet Concerto in Puerto Rico and on international tours to Argentina, Panama, Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil. Ms. Isla has been part of Milwaukee Ballet School Faculty since 2008 and help choreographing along with Mr. Yanes. In 2016 started work with Rockford Dance Company in Illinois and choreographed Nutcracker for the company and school alongside with Rockford Symphony Orchestra and The Coronado Theater. Ms. Isla created Healing with Ballet a program were she volunteers teaching ballet classes for the Cancer Center in Froedtert Hospital in Wisconsin.
Register Here Soon!