Three principal dancers from New York City Ballet will be on faculty for Pacific Beach-based City Ballet of San Diego’s 27th annual Summer Intensive training program, July 25 through Aug. 12. The three-week program is designed to give serious ballet students at the intermediate to advanced level the opportunity to study with the finest ballet instructors assembled on the West Coast, culminating in a free public performance.
Summer Intensive 2022, in addition to the resident faculty of artistic director Steven Wistrich, resident choreographers Elizabeth Wistrich and Geoffrey Gonzalez, and principal dancer Ariana Gonzalez, includes guest faculty members who are principal dancers from New York City Ballet: Megan Fairchild (July 25-29), Ashley Bouder (Aug. 1-5), and Daniel Ulbricht (Aug. 8-12).
“City Ballet of San Diego is proud to offer one of the finest training programs in the country through its Summer Intensive,” said Wistrich. “Students selected from all over have the rare opportunity to study with seasoned professional ballet artists from New York City Ballet. This is unsurpassed training at the best level.”
GUEST FACULTY
Fairchild was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and began her ballet training with Dance Concepts and then the Ballet West Conservatory. She was a trainee at Ballet West prior to attending the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, in 2000. She became an apprentice with New York City Ballet in 2001 and joined the company as a member of the corps de ballet in 2002. In 2024 she was promoted to the rank of soloist and in 2005, she was promoted to principal dancer
Bouder was born in Carlisle, Pa., and began her ballet training at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. In 1999 she continued her training at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet. She was named an apprentice with New York City Ballet in 2000 and then a member of the corps de ballet. She was promoted to the rank of soloist in 2003 and then in 2005 was promoted to principal dancer.
Ulbricht was born in St Petersburg, Fla., and began his dance training at the age of 11 at the Judith Lee Johnson Studio of Dance. In 1999 he was invited to continue his training at the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet. In 2000 he became an apprentice with New York City Ballet and in 2001 joined the company as a member of the corps de ballet. In 2005 he was promoted to the rank of soloist and principal dancer in 2007.
CLASS AND PERFORMANCE
Based on Summer Intensive auditions, students are assigned to one of three levels: Advanced, Intermediate II or Intermediate I. Trainees and Apprentices for the upcoming season are selected from dancers attending the Summer Intensive. Information about auditions is available at https://cityballet.org/school/intensives/san-diego-ballet-summer-intensive/.
The Intensive culminates in a free public performance. Ballet Showcase 2022 free performance at Joan B Kroc Theatre, 6611 University Ave., Friday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m., open seating, free parking.
MASTER CLASSES
City Ballet also offers master classes at its Pacific Beach studios located at 941 Garnet Ave. (alley entrance) with its three world-famous Summer Intensive ballet instructors: Fairchild on Wednesday, July 27, at 6:30 p.m., Ashley Bouder on Wednesday, Aug. 3 at 6:30 p.m., Daniel Ulbricht on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 6:30 p.m.
Each class is limited to 30 students. Participants must be at least 11 years old and at the intermediate level. Cost is $35 per class, $60 for two, or $85 for all three. All participants must pre-register. Information and registration available at https://cityballet.org/school/intensives/master-teacher-series/. For more information, call City Ballet at 858-274-6058 or visit cityballet.org.
