Monmouth County’s first professional ballet company, the Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater [AXCBT]will host a Winter Intensive on January 12 and a Partnership Workshop on February 9 for local dance students who wish to experience focused training in a professional setting under the guidance of the Artistic Director and Choreographer Gabriel Chajnik.
When Chajnik first joined the Axelrod Performing Arts Center to establish the company, he met with local schools and dance programs to see what kind of professional-level training was needed and desired in the area. This inspired a series of focused workshops conducted directly on stage with live musicians and high caliber professional dancers.
“We have already hosted over 150 dance students through our masterclass series and intensives,” Chajnik said. “Axelrod Contemporary Ballet’s educational program is designed to enable local dancers to expand, refine and add new elements to their training. Our intention is to build Jersey Shore’s reputation as a place of predilection for dancing.
AXCBT’s Winter Intensive takes place on January 12 and offers a full day of training for all students to include ballet technique, pointe, male class, and classical and contemporary variations. All classes will be taught by graduate faculty from The Juilliard School, NYU Tish School of the Arts, and the Paul Taylor Dance theater among others.
On February 9, AXCBT will host an intensive ballet and contemporary partnering workshop. “Partnership is one of the most exciting, fun and beautiful parts of ballet. What aspiring ballet dancer doesn’t want to one day recreate the adagio of Aurora’s wedding or recreate the drama and magic of the BLACK SWAN pas de deux?” Chajnik said.
Ballet partnership is valuable training and the cornerstone of all comprehensive classical ballet. With an emphasis on safety and technique, the AXCBT Intensive will include strengthening exercises, as well as practice of fundamental skills.
Dancers will learn to work with their own body weight in relation to their partner and learn to use dance phrases and incorporate them into the movements of a duet, trio or larger group. The creation of short dances by the dancers themselves will take center stage. Dance pairs can be formed freely and regardless of gender.
Anyone interested in registering for the workshops can contact (732) 531-9106 or visit the ballet’s website for more information: https://www.axelrodartscenter.com/axelrod-cbt.
AXCBT was established in the fall of 2017 under the leadership of Board Chair Elise Feldman and Artistic Director and Choreographer Gabriel Chajnik. The mission of Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater is to inspire an appreciation of dance in dancers and dance lovers alike through artistic excellence, innovative choreography and exhilarating performances.
Through contemporary ballet, Gabriel Chajnik and his team of master instructors will be able to inspire and teach young dancers to learn how to express their talent, explore their creative spirit and broaden their artistic horizons. This training program is designed to emphasize the joy of dance and prepare young dancers for the challenges of a dance career or a life of love for dance.
The Axelrod Performing Arts Center is New Jersey’s newest professional theater, offering musicals, ballets, original concerts, films and special events throughout the year. APAC encourages artistic excellence by presenting diverse and distinct cultural programs that enrich the imaginative, intellectual and creative soul, while cultivating an appreciation for diverse communities through the pursuit of the arts. For more information, please visit www.axelrodartscenter.com.
