Two Webster dancers from the Draper Center for Dance Education will be heading to Peru later this month to perform at the prestigious International Ballet Festival of Trujillo.
Webster residents Hannah Boyer and Morgan Throumoulos will be joined by 13 of their fellow dancers from the Draper Center. They will be the only U.S. dancers to perform at the three-day festival, which brings together professional ballet companies from Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and more.
“This opportunity is unique because it mixes the chance to perform in an international setting with a rich cultural experience,” said the school’s Artistic Director Jamey Leverett. “Our young dancers will be immersed in the Peruvian culture as they share the stage with professional dancers from a wide variety of South American countries.”
In addition to performing two shows for sold-out crowds at the famed Teatro Municipal de Trujillo, the teens will participate in master classes and enjoy local historical and cultural attractions.
Trujillo native and Draper Center Instructor Fidel Orrillo Puga made the initial connection between the two organizations.
“It’s a win-win situation for both the festival and our students,” explains Puga. “Professional companies from all over the world get to see first-hand that our dancers are among the best-trained in the U.S, and our students get a taste of professional dance on an international level. Additionally, Jamey will teach a Master Class for the professional dancers, and fellow Draper Center instructor Beth Bartholomew and I have been asked to teach Master Classes for students from Trujillo and the surrounding communities.”
This is not the first time that the Draper Center has been invited to the prestigious festival. Two years ago, five dancers made the trip to Trujillo. Breena Keefe of Pittsford was one of those students and will be making her second trip later this month. She, Hannah and Morgan will be joined by Caterina Baker of Honeoye Falls; Olivia and Riley Bevilacqua of Hilton; Marissa Chen of Pittsford; Giuliana Fauth of Brighton; Abra Geiger of Spencerport; Abigail Jacobs of Honeoye Falls; Anna Joy of Fairport; Savanna Ross of Brockport; Sarah Schiffhauer of Penfield; Clara Thiele of Pittsford; and Jocelyn Wynn of Rochester.
The dance team will leave Rochester on October 16, and the festival runs from October 18-20. Community members are invited to attend a special “Peru! Studio Sneak Peek” performance on Saturday October 13 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Draper Center, 1326 University Avenue. A suggested donation of $10 includes a glass of wine or a bottled water.
Draper Center for Dance Education, the official training school for Rochester City Ballet, teaches approximately 150 students year-round. The Center provides a disciplined level of technique-focused classical ballet training, along with pointe, variations, modern, jazz, and creative movement for all ages.
