Meet the Artist program features ‘Cinderella’ dress rehearsal with the Atlantic City Ballet
Students from Principle Academy Charter School in Egg Harbor Township and Stafford Township Intermediate School experienced the magic of the performing arts firsthand, thanks to a special Meet the Artist program sponsored by the Schultz-Hill Foundation. The event featured a live dress rehearsal of the Atlantic City Ballet’s production of “Cinderella” at the Stafford Township Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, April 15.
The program gave students a rare, behind-the-scenes look at a professional ballet performance. Following the rehearsal, students engaged in a lively Q&A session with members of the Atlantic City Ballet. They asked insightful questions such as “What inspired you to become a dancer?” and “How many hours do you spend practicing?” The dancers shared personal stories about their training and experiences, including their audition journeys from places as far as New York, Japan and Italy.
“Watching ‘Cinderella’ come to life on stage gave our students a whole new appreciation for the discipline and creativity involved in the performing arts,” said Sara Caporilli, Chief Operating Officer, Principle Academy Charter. “They’ve been studying different versions of the ‘Cinderella’ story, exploring its cultural history, and even examining the STEM aspects of scenery design and lighting. To then see it all brought to life in a professional performance—this kind of experience is priceless.”
Over 300 students in third through sixth grades participated in the program. Olivia Thiffault-Esche, grade 6, Stafford Intermediate School, aspires to be a professional dancer someday. “I’ve never been to a ballet before,” she said. “I’m really excited to see how the dancers will tell the story of Cinderella without words, but with gestures and movement and music.”
“By introducing students to live performance and giving them the chance to interact with professional dancers, artists, and performers, we hope to help them gain a deeper appreciation for the arts,” said Gary Hill, co-founder of the Schultz-Hill Foundation. “At the same time, we may be planting the seeds that might inspire the next generation of talent.”
The Meet the Artist student program is part of the Schultz-Hill Foundation’s mission to promote and support arts, history, and education in South Jersey via educational scholarships, direct grants and funding for the Arts, historical and musical programs. For more information, visit http://www.schultz-hill.org.
