Summerlin ballet group offers classes

Nevada Ballet Theatre, headquartered in Summerlin, is hosting three dance camps this summer. One of the community's major cultural facilities, the facility provides dance education to nearly 500 students and houses the state's only professional ballet company.

A creative dance camp for children ages 3 to 8 will be offered June 9 through 27. This popular summer camp teaches creative movement, singing, arts and crafts, as well as storytelling.

The Academy's general summer session runs from July 9 through Aug. 30 and includes a full range of dance styles, from ballet technique, pointe and repertoire to modern, jazz, musical theatre and hip-hop. The general summer session is open to dancers of all ages and abilities -- from toddlers through teens and adults.

An intensive ballet program for students seeking serious dance education will be offered July 21 to Aug. 8. This rigorous three-week training program targets young people ages 10 to 20. Students attend 25 classes per week in a variety of dance forms. The intensive summer dance camp requires an audition. For more information on the Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre's summer dance camps, call 243-2623.

According to Tom Warden, senior vice president of community and government relations for The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of Summerlin, Nevada Ballet Theatre is a significant and "treasured" component of Summerlin's cultural community.

The 36,000-square-foot Summerlin facility has eight dance studios, including a new exercise room, recently completed for a variety of fitness classes, including Pilates and yoga.

"Nevada Ballet Theatre has made its home in Summerlin since 1999," he said. "Its headquarters, the state-of-the-art Donald W. Reynolds Cultural Center, stands as a hallmark to the community's commitment to the arts. Many lives, young and old, are enriched by Nevada Ballet Theatre's programs, and we are proud the company makes its home here in Summerlin."

"The dance programs offered at The Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre are great summer enrichment experiences," said academy director, Victoria Stocki-Kim. Our youngest participants learn about rhythm, flexibility and coordination, while those involved in the summer intensive program learn the disciplines of professional dance training."

Summerlin began to take shape in 1990 and is located along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley.

The master-planned community encompasses 22,500 acres with about 9,000 acres still remaining to accommodate future growth within the master plan, including the community's urban core of Summerlin Centre.

For more information about the master-planned community and its amenities, visit summerlin.com or call 888-898-5015.