DanceWest Ballet Company

The Company's purpose is to bring a high artistic level of dance to the community. The company accepts an elite few from The School of Dance West Ballet at auditions held in August each year for the upcoming season.

History

DanceWest Ballet was founded in 1990 by professional dancers Ricardo Moyano, formerly of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Chicago Ballet and Regina Helmer Moyano, formerly of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and San Diego Ballet. In 1994, the company received its not-for-profit status.

Included in its repertoire are a variety of classical ballet, jazz and contemporary pieces. This affords the dancers the opportunity to become proficient in more than one dance style. Graduates of The School of DanceWest Ballet and the Company have gone on to join professional dance companies throughout the U.S.

In May of 1996, DanceWest Ballet was accepted into the Regional Dance America organization as an Intern Company. Regional Dance America is a national organization of pre-professional ballet companies. After participating for one year as an Intern Company, DWB was awarded Performing Company status. In 2000 DanceWest Ballet received Honor Company status; the highest honor for a Regional Dance America member company.

In May 2002, DanceWest Ballet hosted the Regional Dance America MidStates Festival. This was the first time the festival has been held in Naperville, IL. Over 600 dancers, teachers, and choreographers attended the festival. Three days of classes and scholarship auditions were held. Three evenings of performances by members of the MidStates companies were presented at Pfeiffer Hall on the campus of North Central College in Naperville.

Each spring the company performs several works from its extensive repertoire at Pfeiffer Hall in Naperville.

In the past, DanceWest Ballet has performed benefit concerts for DuPage PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter). Contributions to PADS, which provides shelter for the homeless, have totaled in excess of $5,000. Other PADS benefits have included former Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre principal dancers, Tamar Rachelle and Ernest Tolentino and Greg Begley, formerly of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

Throughout the year, the company visits public schools in the area providing lecture demonstrations and performing excerpts from the repertoire.

The purpose of DanceWest Ballet is to provide a well rounded dance education to young dancers through professional training and exposure to guest artists, who bring inspiration to the dancers. To enhance their growth in discipline, poise, skill and creativity, DanceWest provides the opportunity for accomplished students to present professional quality performances to audiences in the western suburbs. It is the goal of the directors to encourage their students to enjoy and respect the art of dance, celebrating the human body’s ability to transcend feelings and emotions into dance form.

Founders

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Regina Helmer Moyano

Founder of DanceWest Ballet Company

Regina Helmer Moyano received her early dance training at the schools of San Diego Ballet and Norfolk Civic Ballet. At the age of 16, she was awarded a scholarship to the Professional Programme of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She performed as an apprentice with the company and went on to join the San Diego Ballet.

Regina performed a variety of contemporary and classical roles and worked with such luminaries as Alicia Alonso, Valery Panov, and John Butler. She toured the eastern half of the U.S. while a member of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and was noted for vivacious performing style and strong technique in such signature roles as the cat in “Aurora’s Wedding,” the turning variation in “Pas de Dix” and the “Peasant Pas de Deux” in “Giselle.”

After dancing five years with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Regina moved to Chicago with Ricardo. While residing there, she continued to do guest performing and danced solo roles in the Arie Crown production of “The Nutcracker” for five years.

Regina has brought her strong background in the classical and neo-classical repertoire to the choreography she has created for schools and regional companies in the Chicago Metropolitan area. She has taught Ballet, Pointe, and Variations to students ages two through adult and is co-director of the School of DanceWest Ballet and DanceWest Ballet Company.

headshot_ricardo

Ricardo Moyano

Founder of DanceWest Ballet Company

Ricardo Moyano, originally from Argentina, has studied dance with Carol Walker, Richard Arve, Marjorie Mussman, Larry Long, and Lou Conte. He began his professional career with Richard Arve Modern Company and later danced principal and soloist roles at Chicago Ballet, San Diego Ballet, Dayton Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. Most recently, Ricardo performed with Hubbard Street Dance Company where Lynn Taylor Corbit set “GO SAID MAX” on him. He also performed as a principal dancer in John Butler’s “Carmina Burana” during his three years with San Diego Ballet. Critic reviews read, “Ricardo Moyano is a powerful dancer with a compelling presence.”

Ricardo is also renowned for his choreography. He set ten works for the San Diego Dance Ensemble while serving as their director. He choreographed and performed his critcally acclaimed “Getting Out” throughout the U.S. and Europe. Ricardo was awarded the Illinois Arts Council Fellowship Grant for choreography and created five original works for Chicago dance companies. He was invited by Stuart Sebastian, director of Dayton Ballet, to create one of his most stunning works, “L’Arc De Triomphe.” Ricardo has taught ballet and jazz for numerous dance companies. From 1986 to 1988, he taught master classes in Muster, Bonn, and Ahem, West Germany, performing with Tanztheater Werkstatt. His teaching experience includes Ruth Page Foundation, Lou Conte Dance Studio, Gus Giordano Dance Center, and numberous studios throughout the U.S. Ricardo is resident choreographer and co-director of DanceWest Ballet and the School of DanceWest Ballet.

Philosophy

The Company’s purpose is to bring a high artistic level of dance to the community. The company accepts an elite few from The School of Dance West Ballet at auditions held in August each year for the upcoming season. Junior Apprentices are considered to be in training and therefore may or may not receive performing roles.
Members of DanceWest Ballet Company perform in The Nutcracker and a spring repertoire performance. Dancers also participate in the school concert presented every June, as well as attending the Regional Dance Association Festival held at one of the Mid States companies, usually in May. Company members participate in performances that are scheduled as opportunities for performances arise.

The time commitment is rigorous and rehearsal time involved is extensive. Junior Company members and Junior apprentices rehearse twice a week, at least, during The Nutcracker season. During the rest of the year, they rehearse at least once a week, usually on Saturdays. These rehearsals are for the entire DanceWest Ballet Company Season, August through July. Senior company members and Senior apprentices rehearse three to four times a week during The Nutcracker season, including Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The rest of the season, they rehearse Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Company members are expected to uphold the highest of standards in conduct, appearance, classroom etiquette and attendance at The School of Dance West Ballet. Artistry and excellence in technique are the criteria reviewed when evaluating those auditioning.

DanceWest Ballet Company gives its members the opportunity to be a part of a superlative pre-professional ballet company. The performance opportunities are plentiful, and membership in the Regional Dance Association assures the highest of standards in training and performances nationally. Dancers have the opportunity at the annual festivals to view their peers from across the United States and broaden their horizons in training, choreography, and performance.

Funding

Primarily self-supported, DanceWest Ballet relies on ticket sales, program advertisements and donations from small businesses, corporations and individual sponsors to fund its operating budget. A corporate benefactor of DWB is IPSCO, a Canadian Corporation that recently located in DuPage County, IL. Mid America Bank, First Chicago Bank and the Motorola Corporation matched donations from private sources. Naperville Sunrise Rotary Funds for the Arts has awarded generous grants to the company to underwrite additional repertoire performances and guest artists. To keep up with the rapid growth of the company and to maintain a professional level of operation, DanceWest Ballet continually seeks to attain grants and additional funding sources.

Honors

In 1993, DanceWest Ballet adjudicated and was accepted into Regional Dance America; a nationally renowned organization of pre-professional dance companies. The Company received Performing status in 1994 and Honor Company status in 2001. Four hundred dancers attended the R.D.A. Festival in May of 2005 in Anderson, Indiana. Of these dancers, twelve DanceWest Ballet Company members were awarded scholarships to summer dance programs at some of our nation’s most prestigious dance companies. Scholarships awarded to DWB company members have included American Ballet Theater, Milwaukee Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Interlochen Arts Camp, and the National Regional Dance America’s Choreographers Conference.

Additional honors awarded DWB Company members in the past include scholarships and apprenticeships to: Arizona Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, River North Dance Company and the Nutmeg Ballet. Graduates of Dancewest Ballet have joined The Professional Programme of The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Dayton Ballet , Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Ruth Page’s The Nutcracker, and two Chicago-based companies, Moose Project and Melissa Thodos and Company. Most recently, a student trained by Ricardo and Regina Moyano joined the Joffry Ballet of Chicago in 2006.

Newspaper Reviews of the Company’s performances read: DanceWest Ballet gives major-league performance, Tim West, Chief Editor, The Naperville Sun, and DanceWest Ballet sparkles with Nutcracker rendition, Lois Michel, Staff Writer, The Naperville Sun.

Rules and Policies

Members of DanceWest Ballet Company perform in The Nutcracker and a spring repertoire performance. Dancers also participate in the school concert presented every June, as well as attending the Regional Dance Association Festival held at one of the Mid States companies, usually in May. Company members participate in performances that are scheduled as opportunities for performances arise.

The time commitment is rigorous and rehearsal time involved is extensive. Junior company members and Junior apprentices rehearse twice a week, at least, during The Nutcracker season. During the rest of the year, they rehearse at least once a week, usually on Saturdays. These rehearsals are for the entire DanceWest Ballet Company Season, August through July. Senior company members and Senior apprentices rehearse three to four times a week during The Nutcracker Season, including Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The rest of the season, they rehearse Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Company members are expected to uphold the highest of standards in conduct, appearance, classroom etiquette and attendance at The School of DanceWest Ballet. Artistry and excellence in technique are the criteria reviewed when evaluating those auditioning.

DanceWest Ballet Company gives its members the opportunity to be a part of a superlative pre-professional ballet company. The performance opportunities are plentiful, and membership in the Regional Dance Association assures the highest of standards in training and performances nationally. Dancers have the opportunity at the annual festivals to view their peers from across the United States and broaden their horizons in training, choreography and performance.

Code of Conduct

DanceWest Ballet Company members are expected to follow the Conduct Code guidelines. Please remember that your behavior is a direct reflection of you as an individual and as a member of DanceWest Ballet Company.
1.) When the Company attends a dance festival, you must attend and participate in all dance classes scheduled for your level of ability. Anyone not attending their classes may be suspended from DanceWest and an Alternate may be used for the next performance.

2.) Polite appreciation of instructors, chaperones and other Regional Dance Association members is expected at all times.

3.) Conduct yourselves with thoughtfulness regarding The School of DanceWest Ballet students and other DanceWest Company members who are not performing.

4.) Dancer to dancer support and encouragement is expected and appreciated.

5.) Smoking, drinking, foul language or drug use will result in immediate dismissal from DanceWest Ballet.

6.) Respect for DanceWest Ballet, School of DanceWest Ballet Faculty, parents, and your peers is expected at all times. You must be a positive role model, take responsibility for yourself and your actions, take direction openly and respectfully, be respectful, polite, caring, and supportive to The School of DanceWest Ballet students, and all persons you come in contact with.

7.) You must be warmed up, dressed, and ready to dance BEFORE your dance company rehearsal begins. Please try to arrive AT LEAST TEN MINUTES before your classes begin. If an emergency occurs, and you arrive late for classes or a rehearsal, please be polite enough to ask the instructor permission to join the class or rehearsal already in progress. If you arrive after tendus, DO NOT ASK TO JOIN THE CLASS, but politely give your explanation for tardiness to the instructor and sit and observe the rest of class.

8.) The School of DanceWest Ballet stands dedicated to the emotional and physical well-being of all members of DanceWest Ballet.

It is very important that you carefully consider how these expectations will affect you and if you will be ready and eager to abide by them.

Infractions of the DanceWest Ballet Conduct Code will result in the assignment of school service hours, suspension from performances, and/or dismissal from the school and company.

Nutcracker Auditions

General Guidelines & Information about Auditioning

Students may audition for walk-on parts beginning at age three. During The Nutcracker auditions, the Artistic Directors are looking for listening skills, musicality, and a desire to dance from the three to five year old. Enthusiasm is a must for these young people. The audition lasts approximately one hour. Some steps from the choreography in The Nutcracker will be given for the dancers to learn and perform in the audition.

Dancers ages six and up will be given a ballet class with a barre, center floor, and steps from The Nutcracker choreography. Ladies should wear black leotards, pink tights, and pink ballet slippers. Ladies thirteen and up should bring pointe shoes. Gentlemen should wear black dance pants, white tee shirts, white socks, and white or black slippers.

All should come prepared to dance. Auditions for dancers ten and under will be approximately one hour in length. One and a half hours is the approximate length of auditions for nine year olds and above.

Company Inquiries

Please use this form to learn more about Company or to inquire about auditions.

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