Pre-Professional
Dance Training Program
Instructors: Ninel Cherevko, Dmitri Malikov, Shannon Torres, Danielle Homan, Lindsay Curlee
Proper training in classical ballet is the cornerstone of Mid-Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts.
MCPA is proud to have exceptional teachers on staff to train our students in this beautiful art form.
About the Program
For students ready to explore the professional world of dance, we offer a year-round Pre-Professional Dance Training Program. Admission into this program is by audition only, but for those dancers ready for a broader challenge the opportunity is unparalleled.
As our dancers develop in the Pre-Professional division, they learn an appreciation for the dedication and perseverance required to succeed in the world of dance. Our dancers begin their season with a professional, full-length production of The Nutcracker ballet. This provides our dancers the opportunity to perfect their performance skills and explore ballet as the foundational discipline of dance.
Performances
The fall season also brings audition opportunities to perform and compete individually or as part of our award winning ensembles in a multitude of dance styles. We invite amazing choreographers to join our extremely talented in-house coaches and choreographers to create our MCPA season performance repertoire. What sets MCPA apart from other dance schools? The ability to train professional level dance in classical ballet as well as in jazz, musical theatre, modern and contemporary- all under one roof. We also offer tap, hip-hop and Pilates to round out our dancer’s curriculum.
Solo
For those dancers offered the opportunity for solo performances in competition, those solos are customized to each dancer based upon their developmental needs. This customization ensures our dance instruction is focused on what will make each student a well-rounded dancer and advance their skills as an artist.
Competitions
Selected dancers will attend a range of competitions during the season such as ballet focused Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) as well as contemporary focused workshops and competition opportunities such as New York City Dance Alliance (NYCDA). The preparation for these performances rounds out MCPA’s superb training.
Awards
Mid-Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts has been highly awarded at these dance competitions, providing our students many additional performance opportunities and scholarships to attend unique dance intensives.
Lastly, what dance season would be complete without a performance for friends and family in the Spring Gala? Here, dancers from all levels and classes join together to share their joy of dance with performances of favorites like the Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and Salute to Broadway.
MCPA is proud of our many graduating dancers who have received millions of dollars in college scholarships and perform all over the world in professional ballet companies and national Broadway tours. MCPA graduates are consistently accepted to prestigious schools and training programs, including Boston Ballet, Juilliard, American Ballet Theatre, Joffre Ballet, New York University, Mark Morris Dance Group, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, and many others. Our most recent Juilliard graduate has gone on to be accepted into the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in New York City.
Students in the Pre-Professional dance program train year-round and attend class two to five days per week depending upon their class level. Should your dancer be interested in joining this dedicated group, please contact the studio at (443) 438-4525 or use our form to request an audition.