The Brandywine Ballet Company has been providing Chester County residents with premier ballet performances since 1979. The company’s dancers receive rigorous and top-of-the-line training in a facility just minutes from West Chester University.
WCU students may be aware of some of the Brandywine Ballet Company’s performances, which take place three times a year at Emilie K. Asplundh Hall. This past fall brought a chilling performance of “Dracula” to our campus, and December’s “The Nutcracker” doused the campus with a healthy helping of holiday cheer. The spring performance, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” will run from May 3-5.
However, the BBC’s connection with WCU goes much deeper than their shared use of Asplundh Hall, and has produced a collaboration few students know about-the Certificate in Ballet.
The certificate program, offered to WCU students through the BBC, was first introduced over ten years ago, and more than 25 students have participated in the program since its introduction. In order to partake in the program, applicants must be accepted into West Chester University and audition for the Brandywine Ballet Company. Jennifer Jones, a junior secondary education major focusing on mathematics, says she decided to pursue the certificate because “it was a great opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree at WCU while receiving advanced dance training with the Brandywine Ballet Theatre.”
Participants must fulfill the dance requirements for both WCU and BBC, which include taking two WCU courses related to dance, 5 BBC technique classes each week, and performing in the BBC’s Scheduled Performance Series. Additionally, participants must complete the degree requirements for their chosen major.
Nicole Salvaggio, a third-year Pre-Chiropractic major, knows all too well the challenge of balancing school with dance. “It so happens that our performances always fall near or on the week of finals, so I typically try to get as much work done in advance as possible. I also tend to lose a lot of sleep during theater week,” Salvaggio reveals.
Despite the enormous workload of the student dancers, they always manage to pull off fantastic performances. Perhaps their success can be attributed to their dedication and tenacity, qualities ingrained in them since their early years as dancers. “The idea of going to ballet class every day was already a part of my routine, so to have it continue through college was normal for me,” says Hannah Telthorster, a 2009 graduate.
Telthorster, who performed the pivotal role of Mina in “Dracula,” and was a former principal dancer with the BBC, is glad to have had the chance to receive the Certificate in Ballet. About her experience, she explains, “it shows that not only have I accomplished an Accounting degree, but I did what I truly love throughout that time, which is dance.”
The Certificate in Ballet seems to have provided all of its participants with a positive experience. Alex DiMattia, a 2009 graduate of the program recalls, “I found most of my teachers at WCU very supportive, a few even came to performances.” DiMattia managed to graduate Magna Cum Laude while completing all of his dance requirements and he does not regret a thing. “I recently performed at the WCU 30th annual Presidential Scholarship Community Gala and I was really proud of having completed the Certificate Program and being a WCU Alum,” DiMattia says.
Although some WCU faculty members graciously show their support for students in BBC performances, the certificate program could still use some more support from the WCU community. “The only thing that I would want students to know about the certificate program is that we exist,” Salvaggio admits. “It would be nice to have faculty as well as students be more aware of the contribution we are making to dance at WCU.”
In order to raise campus awareness and appreciation for this amazing ballet company, the BBC is offering a discount on tickets for the upcoming performances of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Typically $25-$40, tickets will be sold for $10 to any West Chester student who shows his or her Ram Card at the box office in Asplundh Hall.
The performances, which will take place on Friday, May 3 at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 4 at 4 p.m., and Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m. are sure to please patrons of all ages. The time-tested tale of Dorothy and her loveable buddies will be given the Brandywine Ballet treatment and audience members will experience the story in a whole new way. Be sure to keep an eye out for Jones, Salvaggio, and DiMattia who will all be performing. Also look for Max, the 13-year-old Pomeranian who will be appearing as Toto. His Tumblr, “TAILS from OZ!” provides a dog’s-eye-view of the upcoming performance and is yet another fun reason why WCU students might want to pay attention to the Brandywine Ballet Company.
Molly Herbison is a second-year student majoring in English. She can be reached at MH757997@wcupa.edu.