photos: Carol Kyros Walker
photos: Carol Kyros Walker
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Schedule of Classes, 2024-2025 Season The Evanston School of Ballet Foundation Welcome to the fifty-seventh season of the Evanston School of Ballet. The PhilosophyIn dance, the body is the instrument. Since every human body is different, we believe it to be of the utmost importance that every student learn through understanding rather than solely by imitation. To this end, we strive to help each student become aware of his or her strengths and weaknesses in order to achieve the greatest potential and do so without injury. Classes, therefore, are carefully graded. We also believe in the power of music to motivate and inspire the human spirit; therefore, we provide live accompaniment for all the classes. The Teachers
About the SchoolThe school is directed by Kerry Hubata and was founded in 1968 by Kerry Hubata and Phyllis Wills. It is dedicated entirely to education in classical ballet and includes work from pre-ballet through professional levels. Students may expect to be offered a sound technical preparation for professional work. At the same time, the school offers classes designed to meet the interest of students who wish to study ballet for personal enrichment and fitness. Richard Phillips, in the Chicago Tribune of March 23, 1984, reported that "from conversations with nearly two dozen dancers and dance professionals," Evanston School of Ballet was one of three ballet schools to "emerge with near-unanimous praise." The highly qualified regular staff is augmented by distinguished guest teachers, who have included, alphabetically: Gwynne Ashton, Marijan Bayer, Nanci Crowley, Ann Hutchinson Guest, Penny Jay, Joan Kunsch, Enrique Martinez, Kay Mazzo, Kenneth Melville, Brunhilda Ruiz, Jurgen Schneider, Dame Kirsten Simone, Paul Sutherland, George Verdak, Maia Wilkins, Anne Woolliams and George Zoritch.
The Evanston School of Ballet is pleased to offer lecture demonstrations for schools and other groups. Faculty:
Amanda Dye Accompanists:
Dennis Costanzo Schedule of Classes, 2024-2025 Season Click here to download the 2025 Summer Schedule and Application formFall Term: September 9 through December 7; no classes November 25 through December 1 (Thanksgiving vacation) Adults and Teens Children Tuition Per Term: Summer Schedule 2025 - June 23 through July 24* Junior Division Monday and Wednesday 5:15pm, Tuition - 5 weeks $180 / per week $40 Senior Division
Beginning II
Basic
Intermediate/Advanced Fee for an individual class is $20 School Regulations* Promptness. Promptness is requisite at all levels; tardy students are not admitted to class. No gum or jewelry allowed in class. Girl's uniform. Black leotard, pink footed tights, pink shoes, hair neatly and securely arranged off neck. Advanced students may wear any solid color leotard with pink footed tights, pink shoes. Sweat pants or leg warmers may not to be worn in class. Boy's Uniform. T-Shirt, black or gray tights, dance belt, white or black shoes. Sweat pants or leg warmers may not be worn. When dance attire is worn to and from the school, outer clothing must also be worn. Classes that are missed may be made up within the term. *Any student not in compliance with these regulations may be excluded from class. Public Transportation
Evanston bus #201 eastbound to Prairie Avenue, walk 1/2 block east. |
Kerry Hubata received her training from Phyllis Wills and earned her Cecchetti student and teacher certificates under her tutelage. She also studied at the Ellis-DuBoulay School, the University of Utah, the National Ballet School, Toronto, and with Vera Volkova at the Banff School of Fine Arts. She was a principal dancer with Evanston Concert Ballet and has done innovative work in liturgical dance. She is a member of the Cecchetti Council of America and has been teaching for 60 years, having co-founded The Evanston School of Ballet with Phyllis Wills in 1968.
Meghann Mueller received both a BFA in Dance and a BA in History from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. She began her early dance training at the Evanston School of Ballet under Kerry Hubata and Laura Wade. During summers, Meghann studied at the Joffrey Ballet and on scholarship at the Milwaukee Ballet. While at TCU, she had the opportunity to perform works by TCU faculty members, as well as several guest artists including Elizabeth Johnson, Dana Nicolay, and TCU Choreographer in Residence Fernando Bujones. In the spring of 2006, Meghann's work, Narrow Anguish, was performed at the American College Dance Festival in the adjudicated concert. In 2007, Meghann formed Project606 Dance with former classmate Maureen Caspers. The company has performed throughout Chicago including at the revered Hamlin Park Fieldhouse and at the Atheneum Theater as a part of Dance Chicago.
Elizabeth Turek graduated from the National Ballet School of Canada, where she studied under the school's founder, Betty Oliphant. She continued her professional studies at The University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she studied under Warren Conover of the American Ballet Theater. During summers she trained at the San Francisco Ballet School and the School of American Ballet of the New York City Ballet.
Amanda Dye hails from Evanston, IL where she received formative dance training at the Evanston School of Ballet and ETHS. She then graduated with high honors from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, earning Bachelor’s degrees in Dance and Humanities. Returning to Chicago, she became a founding member of Project 606 Dance before joining the Leopold Group 2011-2018. She had the privilege of being rigorously trained and mentored by Paul Sanasardo from 2008-2015, and performing in his Sleepless Nights in the City and Ancient Canyon. Along with other young dancers in Sanasardo’s orbit, Amanda was a founding member of Dmitri Peskov Dance Theatre and Fôr Dance Company. Amanda is honored to begin teaching at ESB, where she learned so much.
Carmen Ellett began her ballet studies under the tutelage of former NYC Ballet Company dancer, Claire Kincaid. She went on to study jazz, tap and flamenco dance styles at the Gus Giordano School of Dance. She continued ballet studies with Richard Ellis and Christine DuBoulay, dancing in the RAD, Vaganova and Cecchetti methods for area performances and demonstrations. In addition, she earned a teaching position that lasted for 12 years at the Ellis-DuBoulay School. Under the direction of Wayne Warren, Carmen was a soloist with the Second City Ballet Company, performing in La Llorona, Little Red Riding Hood and other compilations. In 1994, she was the ballet coach for USA Rhythmic Gymnastics Team that competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics. Carmen continued her ballet studies with Kerry Hubata at the Evanston School of Ballet. She also earned certification and membership into the Cecchetti Council of America. In addition to a career in ballet, Carmen has owned a personal training business for 36 years.