Announcements

Summer Intensive Dates for ages 9 and above are July 27-August 7.

SUMMER CAMP FACULTY

Samantha Dunster

Samantha Dunster, Assistant to the Artistic Director of the Orlando Ballet, joined the Orlando Ballet in 2000. Having worked closely with artistic directors, Fernando Bujones and Bruce Marks, Ms. Dunster has played a significant role in the Orlando Ballet’s artistic operation.

Ms. Dunster began her professional training with Cristina Pora in Toronto, Canada. At the age of 17, she travelled to Havana, Cuba, to dance with the National Ballet of Cuba. She continued dancing with the Centro Pro-Danza, under the artistic director of Laura Alonso, where she also worked as regisseur. Ms. Dunster was awarded her teacher’s diploma based on the Cuban method.

Ms. Dunster has also danced and taught in countries around the world, such as Sweden, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina, as well as the United States.

In 1996 Ms. Dunster accepted the position of artistic director and principal dancer of Bale de Ilha in Brazil where she mounted numerous productions of full-length ballets.

Ms. Dunster has also coached award winning medalists for international ballet competitions, and has won the Best Choreographer Award at the Youth America Grand Prix regional competition in 2004.

Karen Scalzitti-Kennedy

Karen Scalzitti-Kennedy was born in Hawthorne, New Jersey and received her formative training at the Irine Fokine School of Ballet and with Jeremy Ives.

Among her frequent partners have been Fernando Bujones, Roland Price and Gilles Reichert.

In 2005 Ms. Scalzitti-Kennedy left Ballet Internationale to pursue a career as a freelance guest artist and teacher.

Last Revised: June 2009

Kyra Strasberg

Ms. Strasberg received critical acclaim for her performances in the classical and contemporary repertoires.

Ms. Strasberg danced in the Second New York International Ballet Competition in 1987 and the International Ballet Competition in Jackson in 1990. She also appeared with the Boston Ballet at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Strasberg performed with Nureyev and Friends in the Pas de Six from Napoli in 1991. other guest appearances have included dancing the roles of Fokine’s The Dying Swan and Bluebird Pas de Deux with Columbia City Ballet, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker with Ann Brodie’s Carolina Ballet, White Swan Pas de Deux and Pas de Quatre with the South Florida Symphony as part of the Miami Music Festival, and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker and the title role in Cinderella with the Greater Milford Ballet in productions choreographed by Frank Ohman. In 1996 Ms. Strasberg appeared as a guest artist with the Cincinnati Ballet dancing the principal roles in Balanchine’s Jewels. Ms. Strasberg has also appeared as a guest artist with the Charleston Ballet and many other regional

In 2000 Ms. Strasberg left the Boston Ballet to pursue a career as a freelance guest artist and master teacher.

Eddy Tovar

Principal, Texas Ballet Theater

Cuban-born, Eddy Tovar, received his ballet training at the National Ballet of Cuba School in Havana, Cuba. He has also received training at the Studio Dancart in Goinia, Brazil.

In 1998 Mr. Tovar joined the Bale do Estado de Goias in Brazil. In 1999 he joined the Orlando Ballet, and was promoted to principal dancer in 2000.

In 2009 Mr. Tovar left the Orlando Ballet to join Texas Ballet Theater as a principal dancer.

In 1997 Mr. Tovar received the Gold Medal at the Third International Ballet Competition and the Silver Medal at the Alicia Alonso Competition in Havana, Cuba. Also in 1997 Mr. Tovar won the Silver Medal at the Melosur Competition in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the Grand Prix at the McDonalds Competition in Belo Horizante, Brazil.

In 1998 Mr. Tovar received the Gold Medal at the 1er Danca in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the Silver Medal at the CBDD in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the Grand Prix at the Joinville Competition in Joinville, Brazil.

In 2000 Mr. Tovar won the Gold Medal at the Youth American Grand Prix in Boca Raton, Florida. In 2003 he was a finalist at the New York International Ballet Competition, in 2005 he was a finalist at the Helsinki International Ballet Competition in Finland, and in 2006 Mr. Tovar was a finalist at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi.

In 2008 Mr. Tovar danced one of the principal roles in George Balanchine’s Who Cares? on the television show, “So You Think You Can

Mr. Tovar is a permanent guest artist with the Los Angeles, and has appeared as a guest artist with many regional ballet companies in the United States. Mr. Tovar has also participated in internation

Tentative Faculty- Eddy and Samantha Tovar from the Orlando Ballet, Donna Ross (formerly of the Joffrey Ballet), Christopher Fleming (The Rock School), Stefani Kammer (Janet Jackson's Tour), Lu Cuadra (Los Angeles), Melissa Young (Dallas Black).

Mary Jane Hobgood

Mary Jane Hobgood leaving Shreveport Dance Academy to attend the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City for her Senior Year of High School. Only 75 dancers across the nation were accepted into this selective intensive ballet program.

Miriam Estes

Accepted into Alvin Ailey School in New York City.