Youth Company

Alma Dance Youth Company provides ballet dancers with exceptional potential in the Chicago area, ages 14-19, the ability to further advance their classical training and perfect their technique and artistry as they prepare for a professional career. The youth company prepares dancers for positions in a plethora of professional ballet companies, and the program strives to help ballet dancers develop the skills required to achieve success in company life. The youth company will provide dancers with the opportunity to work in tangent with professional artists during Alma Dance Theater’s professional productions. Acceptance into the Alma Dance Youth Company is by invitation or audition only.

Under the artistic direction of Guillermo Leyva and Vilma Machin, members of the ADYC will participate in a well-balanced schedule of classes and rehearsals that will include: classical ballet technique, pointe, variations, character/folk dance, modern/contemporary, choreography and conditioning classes (for increasing strength and flexibility). In addition, as part of the Alma Dance Youth Company, dancers will be provided individual guidance and instruction for company auditions and competitions under the discretion of the artistic directors.

Youth Company members will receive performance experience through participation in Alma Dance Theater’s annual performances of the Nutcracker and Simply Classic Series and through outreach performances and in studio presentations. The ADYC will perform alongside our company dancers in main-stage productions and in their own studio and venue performances. Dancers will be able to to learn from up and coming choreographers and perform an array of repertoire and solo work.