Ballet Magnificat! summer workshop brings excitement and purpose to the summers of hundreds of students annually. The intensive training, both spiritual and technical, conducted by members of the Ballet Magnificat!'s professional touring companies and staff guides young people to develop their potential and seek God's direction for their lives.

Classes offered in ballet, pointe, variation (classical and Ballet Magnificat! repertoire), pas de deux, modern, conditioning, improvisation and creative worship. In addition, the schedule includes daily chapel and small group discipleship.

NEW! Pre-Professional Level

Created for the dancer capable of stepping over the barre from student to professional dancer, this new level offers unique training and experiences for the participants.

1. Open to 4-week students only.
2. Students selected for this level during the regular workshop placement classes.
3. Variations class 5+ times each week where dancers will learn and rehearse an original ballet created for this level by Ballet Magnificat!’s Resident Choreographer, Jiri Sebastian Voborsky, to be premiered at the Student Performance at the end of the 4-week workshop.
4. Classes - experience the life of a professional by working like and with the professional companies and under the instruction of company teachers like Kathy Thibodeaux, Jiri Sebastian Voborsky and Sol Nazario.
5. Pre-Professional Company Local Tour of Will You or Won't You during the final week of the intensive.

Student Concert

All students will participate. Ballet Magnificat! choreography will be learned, rehearsed and performed in variations classes and performed at the Student Concert at the end of each 2-week session of the workshop.

Applications Accepted Beginning November 1, 2008

Applying early will help you begin your fundraising efforts sooner, especially during Christmas vacation. Here's a link to some fundraising ideas and encouragement. Click Here.

 LOCATION AND HOUSING

1. Classes and chapel meetings held at Ballet Magnificat! studios and Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi
2. Belhaven College dormitories reserved for out-of-town students
3. 3 meals daily served by the cafeteria on campus
4. Students are required to bring bedding, towels, and personal toiletries
5. Coin-operated laundry facilities available in each dorm
6. Prior to the workshop, participants are prayerfully divided, by age, into small groups
7. Adult counselors/chaperones assigned to each group to provide supervision, moral support, and spiritual encouragement for the duration of the workshop

 REQUIREMENTS

1. Female applicants must have a minimum of 4 consecutive years of ballet training and at least 1 year of pointe since the age of 8**
2. Men must have a minimum of 2 years of ballet instruction**
3. All applicants must be currently in dance training and be able to dance four to five hours daily, six days a week

**For special case situations that do not meet the requirements, please call our office to discuss with our workshop staff.

CLASSES

1. Classes offered in ballet, pointe, variation (classical as well as Ballet Magnificat! repertoire), pas de deux, modern, conditioning, jazz, improvisation and creative worship
2. Variations classes - Ballet Magnificat! choreography is learned, rehearsed and performed by all students at the Student Concert at the end of each 2-week session of the workshop.
3. Classes are taught by members of Ballet Magnificat!'s professional touring companies as well as teachers from the Ballet Magnificat! Trainee Program and School of the Arts
4. Schedule includes daily chapel and small group discipleship
5. Planned evening and weekend activities include performances by Ballet Magnificat! companies, speakers, and student concerts

4-Weekers Mid-Workshop Fun Saturday On Saturday, July 11, when First Session students are leaving and Second Session Students are arriving, we'll take you on an outing where you can clear the ballet dust from your heads, refreshing you for the second two-week session. We'll post details as soon as they are available.

ARRIVAL WEEKEND

(Arrival is a day earlier than past workshops and no activities are scheduled for that day.)

Saturday - Arrival Day. Dancers arrive and settle into their dorm rooms, meet their counselors, roommates, and small group members. After a hot dinner and a good night's rest, everyone is ready for the next day.

Sunday - Morning: Chapel and Orientation. Afternoon: Placement Classes.

Monday - Classes begin!

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

We provide a shuttle for those on-campus students coming by plane, train, or bus on arrival and departure days, with greeters assigned to check in each arriving participant.

Preferred Arrival and Departure Times:

Airlines that fly into Jackson International Airport (JAN)

American Eagle………………………………………………………………………………………………………800-433-7300
Delta (www.delta.com)…………………………………………………………………………………………800-221-1212
Continental……………………………………………………………………………………………………………800-523-3273
Northwest ( www.nwa.com )…………………………………………………………………………………800-225-2525
Southwest (www.iflyswa.com)………………………………………………………………………………800-435-9792
U.S. Air ( www.usair.com )……………………………………………………………………………………800-428-4322

Ground Transportation into Jackson

Amtrak……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..800-872-7245
Greyhound…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………800-231-2222

 PLACEMENT

1. A placement ballet class is held to determine the level of each student.
2. Seven levels of classes offered.
3. Placement is determined by a panel of qualified faculty under the direction of Kathy Thibodeaux.
4. Students are grouped according to similar physical capabilities and levels of training.
5. Placement is based on the range of ability represented at the workshop, not on a student's level within his/her local ballet school.
6. Students are picked from these placement classes for participation in the new Pre-Professional Level.

 FEES, REGISTRATION & PAYMENT SCHEDULE

**Materials Fee for all students, plus Activity Fee for 4-Week Students

Upon acceptance into the workshop, a link to additional information will be provided.

1. Registration due by May 29, 2009, or as long as space is available.
2. Applications received after May 29, 2009, will be charged a $100 processing fee and all fees are due with registration.
3. A $50 non-refundable registration fee required at the time of application.
4. Payments may be made in installments (depending on date of registration).
5. REFUNDS: No refunds will be issued if we do not receive cancellation notification by the Thursday preceding the start of your session. There is a $375 fee for cancellations after May 29, 2009. All refunds of payments made by credit card are subject to a 3% refund fee.
6. There will be a charge of $25 for all returned checks.
7. All monies must be paid by May 29, 2009. Absolutely no exceptions.

New and returning students are required to submit:

1. Registration Form
2. Current dance photograph, first arabesque profile en pointe for ladies, demi pointe for men. Leotard and tights only, no skirts or costumes, please. It is not necessary to send a studio portrait. A clear, unobstructed snap-shot will do fine, no larger than 3" x 5".
3. Two head-shot photos (may be the same picture).

 SCHOLARSHIPS

1. A limited number of tuition scholarships are available.
2. Merit Scholarships - 4-week students only - awarded on the basis of technical ability and potential
3. Financial Aid Scholarships - 2-week students only - awarded on the basis of financial need.
4. $50 non-refundable scholarship application/ registration fee
5. Applications must be received by March 13, 2009
6. Those received after the dead-line will not be considered

FOCUS ON JESUS CHRIST

At Ballet Magnificat! we seek to honor Jesus Christ and make Him known to the widest possible audience through the medium of dance.  So how does that happen at our Summer Intensive? We begin each day with praise and worship and an opportunity to hear personal testimonies from Ballet Magnificat! staff and professional company members.

Also, all students are assigned to small groups of 10-12 students and a counselor.  These small groups meet for Bible studies in the evenings.  Students often find that treasured friendships are formed in their small groups as they are able to discuss and learn with others their own age. 

Creative Worship sessions take the dancer from the classical setting and allow them to use dance and creative talents as a worship tool.  Students are encouraged to use their dancing as an expression of adoration to the Almighty Creator.

Ballet Magnificat! is an inter-denominational ministry. Our members attend a variety of churches including Presbyterian, Southern Baptist, and non-denominational charismatic. It has always been our policy not to encourage one denomination over another, but rather to respect one another's choice of worship and to celebrate our common faith in Christ.