“What a Saint Mary’s education means to me is that people don’t underestimate you.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saint Mary’s College to Host Milwaukee Ballet II 
Media contact:
Gwen O’Brien
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary's College
(574) 284-4579
February 28, 2011 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—The Milwaukee Ballet II program will step onto the stage at Saint Mary's College on Saturday, March 26. The show will be filled with the energy, spirit, and emotion of up-and-coming dancers from the program. These young dancers come from every part of the U.S. to learn and participate in Milwaukee Ballet’s artistic repertoire, which is rooted in classical ballet with a strong commitment to new and contemporary works. The performance will start at 7:30 p.m. at Little Theatre, in the Moreau Center for the Arts. The event is open to the public.
The Milwaukee Ballet II performance is part of this academic year’s Shaheen Performing Arts Series hosted by the College’s Office of Special Events. The College’s Cultural Affairs Committee, made up of faculty, staff and students, select visiting artists for the series. Committee member Julie Long, librarian at Saint Mary’s Cushwa-Leighton Library, recommended the ballet company for consideration. “My daughter Emily attended Milwaukee Ballet's summer intensive on scholarship in summer 2007. At the end of that six-week program, she was invited to continue her training in the Milwaukee Ballet II program. Following two years as an Milwaukee Ballet II, she was hired by Ballet Quad Cities and is in her second season with that company,” Long said.
The Milwaukee Ballet II program, established in 1978, nurtures and develops dancers’ technical skills and artistry required for a professional career in dance. The dancers participate in outreach programs through teaching and performing which fully enhances their education. Rolando Yanes is the director of Milwaukee Ballet II and Milwaukee Ballet School. Yanes came to the United States in 1996 from his home country of Cuba as a principal dancer with Milwaukee Ballet Company. This marks Yanes’ fifth year as the director of Milwaukee Ballet II.
Richard Baxter, director of Special Events and chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee, says a goal of the series is for performers to connect with the College and South Bend communities off stage, when possible. “While in town, Milwaukee Ballet II will do a master class at Perley Primary School in South Bend, a connection made through a Saint Mary’s College alumna who teaches there,” Baxter said.
The Milwaukee Ballet II curriculum is based on the artistic vision of Milwaukee Ballet and gives dancers the training needed to bridge the gap between student and professional through performing opportunities with the Milwaukee Ballet Company. “Dancers in the Milwaukee Ballet II program, selected from some of the best pre-professional training programs around, are aspiring young professionals ready to take the next step in launching their dance careers. Seeing this group perform will give the audience a look at the next generation of classical and contemporary dancers. Their performance will be a real treat for aspiring young dancers in our community,” said Long.
Tickets can be purchased at MoreauCenter.com or by calling the Box Office at (574) 284-4626.
Adults: $18
Senior Citizens: $15
SMC/ND/HCC Faulty and Staff: $13
SMC/ND/HCC Students: $8
About Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, women’s institution offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study. Saint Mary’s College has six nationally accredited academic programs: social work, art, music, teacher education, chemistry and nursing. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the top 100 “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” in the U.S. News & World Report 2011 College Guide. Founded in 1844, Saint Mary’s is a pioneer in the education of women, and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.