— Lisa Harrison, parent
The Boys’ Scholarship Program was established in 1999. William DeGregory, renowned Principal Dancer of the Pennsylvania Ballet and Artistic Director of the Pennsylvania Ballet II, leads the classes.
The all-boys, tuition-free program, for boys ages 7–18, is designed to enhance athletic skills, flexibility and strength and includes performance opportunities. Students are accepted by audition. No prior dance experience is required.
Our inaugural year, 1999, drew twenty boys ages 7–15, eighteen of whom continued for the entire thirty-six week program. Now beginning our 11th year, (2009–2010) we are proud that our program has grown, with 57 boys currently enrolled. The program draws students from Philadelphia and its five county region, and from all areas of interest. Whether the boys are bound for a career in dance, musical theater, figure skating, gymnastics or team athletics, all enjoy the opportunity to study dance in an all-male atmosphere from truly great teachers. Over the past eight years, the curriculum has expanded to include classes in partnering and advanced ballet. Andrew Pap, head of ballet at the University for the Arts, and Alexander Iziliaev, Principal Dancer with the Pennsylvania Ballet, complete our distinguished faculty for Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced male dancers. The students are offered additional coaching and performance opportunities through the MBC Performing Company, as well as master classes and summer study from a variety of Guest Artists from the Pennsylvania Ballet and New York City.
Students from the program have been recognized for many special achievements including:
When Pennsylvania Ballet presented the Washington, DC premiere of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” in November 2009, three MBC students danced the lead children’s roles: Peter Weil (Prince), Maria Santangelo (Marie) and Lucas Tischler (Fritz).
Boys’ Scholarship student Peter Weil, age 11, performed as the young protagonist, Oliver Percy, in Pennsylvania Ballet’s upcoming June 2008 premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Carnival of the Animals.
For the first time in its 40 year history, due in large measure to our program, all boys’ casting roles in Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker since 2006 have been filled by boys.
For each of the past ten years, our students have been invited to participate in Pennsylvania Ballet’s performances of The Nutcracker. Of the six schools from which students are selected, Metropolitan Ballet continues to provide the majority of young dancers. In 2009 52 students performed; ten boys, including four in the featured roles of the Little Prince and Fritz, and forty-two girls, including one in the featured role of Marie and two in the company roles of Tea and Hot Chocolate.
Senior students performed in Pennsylvania Ballet’s 2009 production of La Sylphide, the 2009 production of Cinderella, 2007 production of Sleeping Beauty, the 2006 production of A Midsummer Nights Dream, the 2005 production of La Fille mal Gardee and the 2003 production of Cinderella.
In November of 2006, thirteen students participated in an “invited audition” at the School of American Ballet in New York City for Broadway’s upcoming production of Billy Elliot.
Students have been accepted into professional summer dance programs such as American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, The Ailey School, Boston Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Joffrey Ballet, Juilliard, Kirov Academy, Nutmeg, Orlando Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Two graduates of the Boys’ Scholarship Program now dance professionally, one with State Street Ballet and another with American Repertoire Ballet.
The Boys’ Program is proud to be supported by a generous grant from The Loeb Performing Arts Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation and by many generous gifts from individuals. Metropolitan Ballet Company is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.