(DEAL PARK, NJ) -- The Axelrod Performing Arts Center (APAC) has begun a series of Masterclasses at the theater featuring some of the most popular choreographers and teachers from the internationally renowned Broadway Dance Center (BDC) of New York City. In March, Luis Salgado (Broadway’s “In the Heights” and “On Your Feet”) and Lane Napper (TV’s “Suddenly Susan” and “Victorious”) each conducted Masterclasses for 35 local young performers. APAC, a recent grant recipient of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, is expanding its educational offerings to provide supplementary training for local dance and musical theater performers in the area.
BDC was established in 1984 by Richard Ellner and has become an integral part of dance training in Manhattan for decades. APAC welcomes select BDC Faculty to teach at the center in a wide range of styles, from Tap and Musical Theater to Hip-Hop, Street Theater and Jazz. “Many students in the area travel in the city on weekends to take classes at Broadway Dance Center,” says Rising Stars Performing Arts director Lisa Goldfarb, “Offering classes with the most popular instructors here at the Axelrod is an amazing way for local students to take classes with current Broadway performers and choreographers without having to travel into the city. It’s more convenient and more affordable too.”
In addition to BDC instructors, APAC is delighted to welcome director and choreographer Gabriel Chajnik a Julliard-trained dancer and former member of the American Repertory Ballet whose work has been seen at the Manhattan School of Music, The Julliard School and Lincoln Center. On April 9 Chajnik will be offering his first classes in ballet and contemporary for ages 10 and up and 14 and up. Chajnik’s classes will be accompanied by one of the world’s great ballet pianist Josu Gallastegui (American Ballet Theater and Dance Theater of Harlem), an essential element that most dance schools aren’t often able to offer. Chajnik, who is a new resident of Ocean Grove, enthuses about beginning a dance program at APAC, “I am delighted to have found this beautiful theater and enthusiastic advocates of art who share with me a passion for the transformative power of dance. As a part of my vision, the Axelrod Masterclass Series is not set up as a school or dance studio, but a hub for dancers in the area to expand, refine, and add new elements to their training. It will bring in teaching artists from all over the Tri-state area to help build up the reputation of the Jersey Shore as a place for dance.”
Chajnik is also the founder of TranscenDanceGroup (TDG), a contemporary ballet troupe based in New York. TDG will be performing original works at APAC on Sunday, May 21, at 3 PM. Members of TDG will be offering a Masterclass prior to the performance. APAC Board Member (and part-time dancer) Elise Feldman has become one of the catalyst for the new dance program. “When joining the Axelrod Board, the ‘dancer’ in me surfaced, and as a philanthropist, I am delighted that our launch a new dance program has been so well received, beginning last summer with Fosse specialist Andre Quintela. We are excited about welcoming Gabriel Chapjik into our center, along with his company, TranscenDanceGroup, which will be performing with his colleague Niv Ashkenasi accompanying the performance on one of the Violins of Hope.”
The Masterclass Series continues with BDC Faculty including Sheila Barker (June 10), Leslie Feliciano (June 25), Jon Rua (July 9) and Karla Garcia (July 23). Rua and Garcia are both currently cast members of “Hamilton” on Broadway. Garcia’s class will include some dance routines from the hit show. Other teachers coming in August and the fall are AC Ciulla, Tony Award nominee for choreography for “Footloose,” “Saturday Night Live” choreographer Nick Kenkel (Broadway’s “Legally Blonde” and “Catch Me If You Can”), Brandon Leffler (Broadway’s “Wicked” and “On the Town”) and others!
To learn more about the Masterclass Series and other programs at APAC, visit www.axelrodartscenter.com
PHOTOS: (TOP) Salgado Masterclass: Luis Salgado, currently in Broadway’s “On Your Feet,” taught a masterclass for young dancers in Latin dance and musical theater performance. Photo Credit: Wendy Roman. (BOTTOM) Napper Masterclass: Lane Napper, popular choreographer from Broadway Dance Center and Nickelodeon, held three-hour musical theater intensive at the Axelrod PAC. Photo Credit: Wendy Roman.
