Students and alumni (many now dancing professionally around the world) will come home to perform lead roles
(WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.) — The prestigious Jupiter-based dance school Paris Ballet is gearing up to present two dynamic performances at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts this spring. Tickets go on sale starting March 21.
An Exciting Mixed Bill will take place on Sunday, May 19 at 7 p.m. at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in the Rinker Playhouse (701 Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach). The performance will feature works in ballet, modern, contemporary, tap, and jazz.
An Incredible Mixed Bill will take place on Sunday, June 2 at 7 p.m. on the Kravis Center’s main stage, featuring selections from renowned ballets including the Don Quixote Suite, excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty, La Esmeralda pas de deux, Flames of Paris pas de deux, and the Le Talisman variation.
The two performances will feature stunning performances from the school’s talented roster of students ages 3 to 18. The show will also highlight guest performances by Paris Ballet alumniandPalm Beach County natives, Sebastian Bondar (Boston Ballet 2) and Mario Mery (Ballet West), who now dance professionally, as well as Caelan Gagnon (a pre-professional at The Rock School).
Four seniors, each a strong dancer and longtime student—Endia Banks, Maia DeOreo, Raelin Flanigan, and Isabella Gutierrez—will also perform lead roles before going on to study dance in college.
“These spring performances enable Paris Ballet students to showcase the impressive works that they’ve added to their repertoire while at our school,” said Jean-Hugues Feray, Paris Ballet’s artistic director and founder. “We are also especially excited to welcome Sebastian, Mario, and Caelan. I am so proud of their efforts to chase their dreams and become professionals. I am also deeply proud to see my senior girls perform. It will be bittersweet to watch their final show with Paris Ballet, and it’s such an honor to see their hard work and talents shine. Finally, I want to thank my other incredibly talented and dedicated students who will bring these shows to life!”
A native of France, Feray served as a principal dancer with many international companies, including Ballet Florida and the French National Ballet. With both his school and conservatory, he and his staff focus on teaching ballet in its purest, original French form, in addition to other forms of dance. He is proud to use his skills and talents to teach nationally and internationally, including masterclasses at institutions such as Joffrey Ballet School and Milwaukee Ballet 2 and its school, and serve as a judge for international ballet competitions.
Tickets go on sale March 21 and start at $14. For tickets, call the Kravis Center box office at (561) 832-7469 or visit kravis.org.
If You Go (Calendar Listing)
An Exciting Mixed Bill
Date: Sunday, May 19, 2024 (7 p.m.)
Featuring ballet, modern, contemporary, tap, and jazz
Location: The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (The Rinker Playhouse)
An Incredible Mixed Bill
Date: Sunday, June 2, 2024 (7 p.m.)
Featuring selections from renowned ballets including the Don Quixote Suite, excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty, and more
Location: The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (Dreyfoos Hall/Mainstage)
About the guest performers
Sebastian Bondar (18) is a professional dancer with Boston Ballet 2. He competed at the international Prix De Lausanne competition this year with elite classical coaching. He was one of 44 men globally to participate. He also danced on a full scholarship in the pre-professional 2 division with Houston Ballet. In the past, he won the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) semi-finals (while attending Paris Ballet). He was also selected to compete in the 2021 final round. Bondar began dancing at Paris Ballet as a beginner around age 12.
Caelan Gagnon (15) is a pre-professional dancer with the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia. He trained at Paris Ballet from age 7 to 15. He has had numerous scholarships from many international ballet schools, including the Royal Ballet School in London and the National Ballet of Canada. Gagnon was also a finalist at the YAGP each year he participated, after placing in the top three in many semi-finals. While dancing with Paris Ballet last year, he was selected to be in the YAGP final round.
Mario Mery (18) is currently dancing with Ballet West as a trainee on a full scholarship. Before that, he attended the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia on a full-ride scholarship. Mery started dancing at Paris Ballet from age 6 through 17 and placed in the top three at the YAGP semi-finals twice. He was also selected to participate in the finals several times while dancing with Paris Ballet.
Tickets go on sale March 21 and start at $14. For tickets, call the Kravis Center box office at (561) 832-7469 or visit kravis.org.
###
About Paris Ballet
Paris Ballet and Dance was founded in 2009 by Jean-Hugues Feray, a native of France and former principal dancer with many international companies, including Ballet Florida and the French National Ballet. Located in Jupiter, Fla., the school offers world-class dance training for students starting at age three. With a stellar reputation for quality, exceptional master classes and top-notch training in ballet, jazz, tap and modern, the school draws 100 students per year from as far as Vero Beach, Lake Worth Beach and Wellington. The school is also home to the prestigious not-for-profit Paris Ballet America, an elite accelerated training program for students preparing for professional dance careers. For more about Paris Ballet and Dance and Paris Ballet America, call (561) 308-8377 or visit parisballetdance.com.