 |
 |
 |
| |
 |
 |
       
|
| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Guest Performer on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” 1969
New York State Theatre Ms. Balestracci in her personal dressing room, preparing for the opera, “Louise” with Beverly Sills
|
|
Sandra Balestracci is co-director of the Eastern Virginia School for the Performing Arts in 1996. EVSPA was an outgrowth of her ballet studio, which she had founded in 1983. Her teaching career began at the age of 16 with the inheritance of a dance studio in her home town of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Only two years later, her teaching was interrupted with her invitation to appear as a soloist at the prestigious Radio City Musical Hall. Throughout her incredible professional career, Ms. Balestracci continued her teaching internationally. In NYC she was remembered by many of her students at the Neubert Institute at Carnegie Hall. During the early years of her career, she toured with dance convention circuits and began making recordings of ballet music for class. Ms. Balestracci has taught as an adjunct professor at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.. She has taught for summer programs at the South Carolina University, Ballet Seiskaya in NY along with colleagues Edward Villella, Elenor D’Antoino, and Anne Marie Holmes, always being noted for her outstanding technical expertise in classical ballet. In 2000, Ms. Balestracci was invited to teach for Debbie Allen in Fort Worth Texas for the Debbie Allen Institute, part of the Kennedy Center’s Imagination Celebration. Ms. Allen gave Ms. Balestracci a personal letter of reference and a endorsement for students to study with her. Ms. Balestracci was the first dance teacher in the state of Virginia and second in the country to receive acceptance to the Registry of Dance Educators.
Ms. Balestracci continues to inspire, encourage and raise students to professional levels in dance. At the 2002 International Youth American Grand Prix Ballet Competition in Philadelphia, she was awarded “Best Teacher” and in 2003, had five students selected as finalist in both senior and junior division to enter the finals in NYC.
|
Many of her students have been accepted into major dance companies and students that have been selected into summer program with scholarships. She continues to direct compact disc music for ballet classes with noted pianists Elaine Chelton Mastrogiacomo, principal pianist for the New York City Ballet and Sophie Velberg from American Ballet Theatre. Her CD's are sold internationally and plans to release her newest compact with international pianist Gulnara Salimova, formerly with the Atlanta Ballet.
Ms. Balestracci was saluted for her auspicious career as a professional ballerina and hailed for her outstanding accomplishments as one of the outstanding instructors in classical ballet. She has received two citations; City of Williamsburg, presented by Mayor Jeanne Zeidler and from the New York City Opera, presented by Peter Marks, Artistic Director for the Virginia Opera.
Ms. Balestracci has performed extensively in New York City and has also toured throughout the United States, Europe and South America as a guest ballerina with concert ballet companies She also was principal ballerina with many of America's major opera companies, including the New York City and San Francisco operas. Ms. Balestracci achieved immortality for her "one hand lift" when she stood, on pointe, in the palm of her partner's hand.
In addition, choreographers have used her exciting qualities in areas other than the classics. Agnes de Mille personally selected Ms. Balestracci as her principal dancer in the Lincoln Center revival of OKLAHOMA. She receive a citation from Radio City Music Hall for her portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in Peter Gennaro's production of HERE'S CHARLIE. This was the first such award ever presented to a performer in the music hall's history. Ms. Balestracci began her dance studies in Boston and continued her formal dance training at the American Ballet Theatre School in New York. She had the privilege of working with such eminent teachers as Mme. Ana Roje, Mme. Nemtchinova, Mme. Swoboda, Harriet Hoctor and Mario Ignicsi.
|
Ms. Balestracci achieved immortality for her "one hand lift" when she stood, on pointe, in the palm of her partner's hand.
 Click to go back to Artistic Directors
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
