Summer Intensive and Performance Tour in China
A Once-In-A-Lifetime International Dance Experience

 June 24th  -  August 5th, 2013

(Eligible Age: 13 - 20)

Diary-Blog of Last Year's Tour

China Tour Video

Slide Show of 2010 Tour

The Long Beach Ballet has been appointed by China to assemble a group of passionate, talented, American ballet students to share their love for ballet with the people of China each summer.  As was seen during the opening ceremonies of the 2008  Olympic games, China is unsurpassed in beauty and precision, and they are anxious to share their developing artistic power with the rest of the world.  They have chosen the Long Beach Ballet as their conduit to the U.S.

This unique six week ballet intensive begins in Long Beach, where students will train with master teachers, choreographers and coaches.  After three weeks the dancers and artistic staff will fly to China and continue their training and rehearsals for one week under the guidance of the National Ballet of China, Guangzhou.

After an "Opening Night Performance" in Guangzhou, everyone will begin a two-week tour to cities throughout China, visiting historic and cultural sites, taking classes with local ballet dancers, and performing.

The performance was created by artistic director David Wilcox expressly for the Chinese audience.  The goal is to share American culture with China while providing an amazing learning experience for the American ballet students. 

The Long Beach Ballet has been selected for this unique honor because of artistic director David Wilcox’s extensive ties with the ballet world in China. The only American choreographer to have staged three full-length ballets in China, Wilcox has also produced nine ballet tours to China with American ballet dancers.

Students return from their international ballet experience with greater knowledge, strength, technique and artistry.  More importantly, this unique program provides young dancers with a profoundly enhanced view of themselves, of the world, and of life inside a ballet company.

A limited number of spaces are available for family members to join the dancers in China.

Click here to read letters from previous tour participants

2013 Faculty David Wilcox, Artistic Director Born and raised in Southern California, David Wilcox trained with Yvonne Cusack and Stanley Holden before starting his professional career in Europe at the age of 18.  He joined the Berlin Ballet as a soloist at the age of 24 and returned to the U.S. when he was 28 to launch a new career . He founded Long Beach Ballet Academy in 1981 and a professional company in 1982 which changed its name to the Los Angeles Classical Ballet in 1991.  This company grew into Southern California's largest professional company over a period of 15 years and attracted over 50,000 audience members annually.  Many of Mr. Wilcox's students have competed in international ballet competitions, including the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi and the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland.  He has produced dozens of professional dancers, students who have joined major companies such as San Francisco Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada, Hamburg Ballet, New York Ballet Theatre, Oregon Ballet Theater, and Sacramento Ballet. He has created and produced more than a dozen full length ballets, three of which were commissioned by the National Ballet of China in Guangzhou.  The list of international ballet stars with whom he has worked is long, and includes Vladimir Malakov, Cynthia Harvey, Maya Plisetskaya, Marat Daukayev, and Patricia Barker. His dancers appeared three times on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and in 2007 he was invited by ballet presenters in China to be an official conduit from China to the U.S. ballet world.  He has presided over eight successful ballet tours to Taiwan and China since 1999.   Johnny Zhong Mr. Zhong graduated from the Shen Yang Arts Institute in China and performed for seven years as a soloist with the National Ballet of China, Guangzhou.  He was featured as the Golden Idol in La Bayadere Cupid in Don Quixote, the Court Jester in Swan Lake, and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, as well as many other leading roles.  His father is a well-known Chinese choreographer and Mr. Zhong has continued in his father's footsteps by choreographing for and competing in several international ballet competitions, finishing in 8th place at the Shanghai International Ballet Competition in 2005.  He recently immigrated to the U.S. as a free-lance ballet dancer and joined the faculty of the Long Beach Ballet. Shani Englert Ms. Englert is a Long Beach Ballet alumni and danced professionally with the Los Angeles Classical Ballet for six years. She has performed as a soloist with the Crystal Cathedral and is a co-founder of the Long Beach Ballet performing company, for which she was artistic director for eight years. Melissa Sandvig Melissa was a soloist with the Milwaukee Ballet for five years. She toured to Asia twice as a featured ballerina with the Long Beach Ballet and is a certified Pilates instructor.  She was the first ballet dancer to make the finals in the TV hit show "So You Think You Can Dance" and became a top five finalist.  Miss Sandvig is now a free-lance dancer in Los Angeles and on the faculty of the Long Beach Ballet Academy.  Maricar Drilon Miss Drilon hails from the Philippines where she was a soloist with Ballet Philippines.  After immigrating to the U.S. she became a soloist with Ballet West and then with the Long Beach Ballet under the direction of David Wilcox.  She is now director of Northwest Classical Ballet School in Vancouver Washington. Zhiwei Wang Awarded the Silver Medal in the Senior Division at the 21st Varna International Ballet Competition in 2004. Awarded the Silver Medal in the Senior Division at the Moscow International Ballet Competition in 2005. Performs the principal roles in “Swan Lake ”, “Cinderella”, “La Bayadere”, “ Giselle”, “ Don Quixote”, “Dream of Red Chamber”, “Mei Lanfang”, “La Sylphide” , “Romeo and Juliet”, the Repertoires “The Butterfly Lovers”, “Yellow River”, “Human Sentiment” and Balanchine’s production “ Theme and Variation”, “Serenade”ect. Has toured to the  USA, Germany, Australia, Canada, UK, France as well as the regions of Hong Kong and Macao. Shu Fu Awarded the Gold Medal in the Junior Division of China’s National Ballet Competition in 1994; Awarded the Silver Medal in the Senior Division at the 9th French International Ballet Competition in 2000. Awarded the Silver Medal in the Senior Division at the 21st Varna International Ballet Competition in 2004. Performs principal roles in “Swan Lake”, “La Sylphide”, “The Nutcracker”, “Turandot”, “ Don Quixote”, “La Bayadere”, “Cinderella” , “Mei Lanfang”, “Giselle”, “Dream of Red Chamber”, “Romeo and Juliet”, the Repertoires “The Yellow River”, “ The Butterfly Lovers”，“Human Sentiment”. the Contemporary dance “ Crossing the Permanent Darkness” ,and Balanchine’s production “ Theme and Variation” , “Serenade” . Xin Sun Principal Dancer with the National Ballet of China, Guanghzou.  Graduate of the Shen Yang Arts Institute, Xin Sun joined the Guangzhou Ballet in 1999, was promoted to soloist in 2001, performed the lead role of Nikya in La Bayadere in 2002 and the title role in Cinderella in 2004. Gold Medalist at the Moscow International Ballet Competition in 2005.  Guest Artist in Long Beach Ballet's production of The Nutcracker in 2006.  Silver Medalist at the Seoul (Korea) International Ballet Competition in 2007.  Alexander Kalinin Born in Moscow, Mr. Kalinin began his dancing career at the age for our with his father.  He graduated from the prestigious Bolshoi  Ballet Academy before joining the Moiseyev Dance Ensemble where he danced as a soloist in over 60 countries.  Since immigrating to the U.S. in 1981, Mr. Kalinin has performed on stages from New York to Las Vegas, Reno, Australia and  Southern California. He has taught dance for over 29 years in the U.S. and abroad, and is know throughout the world as a teacher and performer of great skill and strength who inspires his students with passion and artistry. Additional faculty to be announced

NATIONAL AUDITION TOUR 2013

• Arrive at audition site at least 30 minutes prior to audition start time above.
• All auditions are conducted as a Master Class and are 90 minutes in length.
• Audition fee: $20.00 cash or check made out to Long Beach Ballet.
• Bring photo in arabesque.
• Class begins on flat and progresses to pointe.
• Audition attire: Ladies -- black leotard, pink tights. Men -- white t-shirt, black tights.
  

Video Audition

If you are unable to attend an audition, you may also audition by video (DVD or YouTube). Download and print out the Video Application. Complete the form and return to the Long Beach Ballet with video and support materials. 

Summer Intensive 2013 Information

Accommodations

During the Long Beach portion of the program the students are housed at the beautiful dormitories of California State University Long Beach, approximately two miles from the school in one of the most prestigious areas of Long Beach.  The residence provides a safe and secure atmosphere with its own security system, including television monitors and on-campus security guards. Chaperones from Long Beach Ballet reside at the dormitories, travel with the students to class, and see to their needs while maintaining a professional atmosphere.

Hotels in China are arranged by the local "culture bureau" of each city.

Meals

All meals are provided for dorm students in Long Beach.  Non-dorm students will be expected to bring a sack lunch.  In China the meals are spectacularly diverse, delicious, and healthy.

Transportation

Transportation that is provided as part of the program includes
--Airport pick-up the day before the program begins (additional fee applies)
--Daily transportation between the dorms and the studios for students residing at the dorms
--Transportation from dorms to LAX (dorm students only)
--Round trip airline travel between Los Angeles and China
--All transportation in China

Transportation that is not provided:
--Transportation to Los Angeles/Long Beach from the dancers home town.
--Transportation from LAX at the conclusion of the tour.

*Does not include $85.00 registration fee or optional excursions such as Disneyland.

Dormitory Housing and Meals in Long Beach (3 weeks)

A limited number of spaces are available for family members to join the dancers during the tour in China.  "Tour Companions" pay for Airfare to China, China Expenses (3 weeks), and Visa Fee -- Total $3,905.00..

Non refundable registration fee of $85.00 and non-refundable program fee deposit of $200.00 due upon acceptance to ensure a place in the program.  50% of balance due no later than April 1st.  Remaining balance due no later than June 1st.

All passport numbers must be submitted no later than March 25th.