In addition to the secondary school and summer programs, Walnut Hill is proud to offer after-school programs in dance to children from Metrowest Boston communities.
For enrollment information please print our most recent materials CAA Brochure, and Schedule (PDF).
The Program
The Walnut Hill School Dance Community Academy’s goal is to provide excellent classical training in a nurturing environment. Many classes are taught by the same faculty who instruct students in the high school program, and most classes have live musical accompaniment.
Important: New students are accepted into the Preliminary Division on a first come, first served basis without audition. The Dance Academy accepts new students into the Lower, Middle, and Upper Divisions by audition only.
For more information or to schedule an audition, contact the Office of the Dance Academy at (508) 650-5042.
Preliminary Division (Preballet I, Preballet II, Primary)
Classes introduce basic dance movements, beginning ballet, and music skills. Levels are carefully constructed for each age group, encouraging rhythm coordination, creativity, and listening skills. Informal presentations are held for parents at the end of the year.
Lower Division (Ballet I, Ballet II, Boys 1, Modern 1, Modern 2)
These classes intro-duce technique with continued opportunities for creative expression. Students perform in the Student Demonstration in June at the Keiter Performing Arts Center. More interested students should attend twice a week.
Middle Division (Ballet III, Ballet IV, Ballet V, Modern 3, Modern 4, Modern 5, Character, Pointe, Beginning Jazz, Boys 2)
These classes continue to build strong technique and vocabulary. Female students will begin pointework when their age and strength are appropriate.
Upper Division (Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Modern 6, Modern 7, Repertory, Pointe, Intermediate Jazz)
These classes continue to strengthen ballet technique while introducing more complex vocabulary. Students interested in a professional dance career are provided additional class and performing opportunities, and should attend daily.
MICHAEL OWEN (Director of the Walnut Hill Ballet Department) Received training at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet with Marcia Dale Weary, the School of American Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. Studied with Stanley Williams, Andre Englevsky, Mikhail Baryshnikov, David Howard, and others. Danced with American Ballet Theatre from 1973 to 1998. Featured in films and PBS specials and Live from Lincoln Center. Taught at New York University, SUNY Purchase, American Ballet Theatre, New Jersey Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and Alabama Ballet.
KATHRYN STARK (Director of Dance Community Academy and Youth Summer Dance) has been a faculty member of Pittsburgh Youth Ballet. American Academy of Ballet, Buffalo, and Chautauqua Institution. She received her dance training at North Carolina School of the Arts. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, and as a child with Jean Gedeon. As a professional. Ms. Stark performed with Ballet Met and was a principal dancer of Southern Ballet Theatre (now Orlando Ballet) where she performed principal roles in works including The Nutcracker, La Fille Mal Cardee, and Balanchine’s Valse Fantasie and Allegro Brilliante.
DIANE ARVANITES-NOYA (Modern) founder and Co-Artistic Director of Prometheus Dance, has been teaching modern technique and choreography at Walnut Hill since 1989 and is also on the dance faculty of The Boston Conservatory. Presentations of Ms. Noya’s choreography include The International Dance and Theatre Festivals in Venezuela, Ecuador, Spain, and France, as well as La Mama, the Joyce SOHO, and the Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors Festival in New York City.
EMILY BEATTIE (Modern) Emily Beattie has been a modern dance educator and choreographer in the Boston area for three years. Ms. Beattie recieved her modern dance training from the Boston Conservatory. She has had the pleasure of training with many masters nationally as well as internationally in Quito, Ecuador and Berlin, Germany. Her choreography has been selected for several workshops and grants.
NICOLE DANIZIO (Jazz) has danced with Prometheus Dance, Ace Entertainment, Impulse Dance Company, and others in the Boston area, as well as Brian Brooks Moving Company, and John Freeman Repertoire Dance in New York. Ms. Danizio studied at Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts, and is a graduate of The Boston Conservatory. She is currently on the faculty of Jeannette Neill Dance Studio.
GIANNI DiMARCO (Ballet) danced with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, and most recently Boston Ballet. Mr. DiMarco trained with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, studying summers at the National Ballet of Cuba, and was a medalist at the Helsinki International Ballet Competition. He has taught at Boston Conservatory, Festival Ballet of Rhode Island, and Boston Ballet , where he served as principal of the Citydance program. Gianni’s work with Downs Syndrome children is a cause close to his heart.
SHERRI KITCHENS (Ballet) trained at rhe School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, and with Ditzi Nagy and Allan Miles in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. She also studied in New York City with Rosanna Seravalli, Elisabeth Carroll, and Nadine Revene. Ms. Kitchens danced with the Hartford Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, and Tucson Ballet. She has been an instructor at Boston Ballet School, Ballet Theatre of Boston, Dallas Conservatory of Ballet, and Steps on Broadway.
MONICA LENDER (Ballet) received her training in NYC with Robert Blankshine, Richard Thomas, David Howard and Diana Cartier. She danced professionally with Feld Bailers/NY, Princeton Ballet, James Sewell Ballet and Ballet Manhattan, among others. Ms. Lender has taught in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and is also on the Walnut Hill Dance Department faculty.
CAREY McKINLEY FOSTER (Modern) is a graduate of the Harvard Extension School of Graduate Education (adolescent development). She trained with teachers including Diane Arivantes-Noya, Mark Morris, Tommy Neblett, Doug Varone, and at ODC/ San Francisco and danced locally with Snappy Dance. She has taught at Cambridge School of Weston, Franklin School of Performing Arts, and is on the Dance Department faculty at Walnut Hill.
NATHALIE NAVERT (Assistant Director of Dance Community Academy) is a graduate of the National Ballet School of Canada’s teacher training program. Ms. Navert was the owner and director of her own school of 300 students in Quebec, Canada. Since coming to the US in 2004, she has been the principal instructor for the lower school of Ballet Workshop of New England in Hopkinton. MA. This is Nathalie's fourth year with Walnut Hill.
GUEST FACULTY WILL INCLUDE:
CATHERINE BATCHELLER former principal dancer of San Francisco Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.
KATHY KOZUL former member of Boston Ballet and Assistant Director of the Walnut Hill Ballet Department.
MEGAN McCOOL former dancer with New York City Ballet.
