— Lisa Harrison, parent
The Boys’ Scholarship Program was established in 1999. William DeGregory, renowned Principal Dancer of the Pennsylvania Ballet and current 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 36 week program. Now beginning our 11th year, we are proud that our program has grown, with 55 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. Andrew Pap, chair 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, the Philadelphia region and New York City.
Students from the program have been recognized for many special achievements including:
Boys’ Scholarship student Peter Weil, age 11, performed as the young protagonist, Oliver Percy, in Pennsylvania Ballet’s June 2008 premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Carnival of the Animals.
For the first time in its 40 year history, all boys’ casting roles in Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker since 2006 have been filled by boys due in large measure to our Boys’ Scholarship Program.
For each of the past nine 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 2008 57 students performed; eleven boys, including four in the featured roles of the Little Prince and Fritz, and forty-six girls, including six 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, the 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.
Two graduates of the Boys’ Scholarship Program now dance professionally, one with State Street Ballet and another with American Repertoire Ballet.
Students have been accepted into professional summer dance programs such as American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Juilliard, The Ailey School, Boston Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Joffrey Ballet, Kirov Academy, Nutmeg, Orlando Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Three graduates now dance professionally.
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.