Wednesday, October 26, 2016

"Auburn Ballerina takes her place on the world stage"
(click on link for full article)

Nice article about TCDA alumni Tessa. We are so proud of you! Once again, CONGRATS!!


Photo: Permanent Glimpse

{Theodore Constant met Tessa Magda when she was 9 years old and he became her ballet master. They worked together up to four hours a day for 10 years. Magda also took additional private classes with Constant at his academy in Roseville.
All of that barre work finally paid off. This month Magda was offered a contract with the Vienna Volks Opera Ballet in Austria.
“It’s been quite a long time,” Constant said. “She’s finally ended up where she wanted to be.”
Magda, who was homeschooled and graduated from Sierra College, moved to Austria with Constant in 2015 when he took a year-long position teaching ballet at the Vienna State Opera Academy. She was a student at the academy until she was offered a contract with the youth ballet company in September.
Less than three weeks later, she was offered a contract with the Vienna Volks Opera Ballet.
Working for a ballet company in Europe isn’t the same as in the U.S., Constant said. They offer year-round employment with paid vacations and benefits.
“Hundreds of dancers audition to be offered a contract like this,” Constant said. “It is quite amazing, (and) it doesn’t happen often.”
It’s especially difficult for dancers who train in private ballet schools to make it in the professional world.
While Magda has a lot of talent and the physique of a professional dancer, Constant said, it’s really the years of hard work and passion that allowed her achieve her goals.
But it wasn’t easy for the 19-year-old to move from Auburn to Vienna, a European cultural center with a population of more than 1.7 million.
“She had to leave her friends and family behind and learn the German language,” he said. “It’s a huge transition to a new culture.”
Constant was happy that he was able to be with Magda as a mentor for her first year in Austria.
“I always feel a little bit like a father to my students,” he said. “(We) have a different relationship. It’s never finished.”
Constant has former students dancing in London, Germany and Sweden, and he sees them dance whenever they visit the U.S.
He’s looking forward to seeing Magda perform as well.
“Teaching is a wonderful thing, and I love doing it,” he said. “They’re happiness is mine. I don’t need anything else.”
Some of the performances in which Magda is scheduled to appear include “Cinderella” by Thierry Malandain, “Giselle Rouge” by Boris Eifman, “Carmina Burana” and “The Snow Queen” by Michael Corder.}
European Ballet Schools Festival "Grand Assemblée" 

Mr C's lectures have been published in a bilingual version by the European Ballet Schools Festival "Grande Assemblee".




"The second edition [of the Festival] has proposed in addition, a much anticipated publishing event: the launch of "Grand Assemble 2015," overview of the first edition on the symposium (signed dr. Oliver Graber, Anca Ardelean, John Blikendaal, Pedro Carneiro, Alina Ciceo, Nicoleta Demian, Corina Dindelegan, dr. Oana Corfariu, Theodor Constantinescu [Theodore Constant], Mioara Cot Somes, Liliana tabus, Mariana Cotinghiu, Simona Noja, Luminita Toader Camelia Vale, Oana Rebega) through interviews and press articles, a welcoming bilingual edition (Romanian - English).

Festivalul european al şcolilor de balet “Grand Assemble”

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Demonstraţie de balet VI. Tineri la porţile afirmării
miercuri, 26 octombrie, 19. 00 * Opera Naţională Cluj – Napoca

Tuesday, October 18, 2016






Photos of Tessa @19yo : Permanent Glimpse

TCDA alumni Tessa, has been Mr. C’s student for the past decade. She joins the Vienna State Opera Ballet Academy in Austria, in September 2015, from which she receives a diploma in June 2016. 

Throughout the 2015-2016 season, Tessa is selected to dance with the Vienna State Opera Ballet Company directed by former Star Dancer of the Paris Opera Manuel Legris, including in his acclaimed premiere of "Le Corsaire". 

Upon graduation, she is invited to join the State Opera’s Youth Company from September 2016, where she immediately started rehearsals for Rudolf Nurejew’s ballet Raymonda, and Balanchine’s Symphony in C with the main Company. 

After only three weeks of rehearsals, follows an invitation to join the Vienna VolksOper Ballet as Company Artist. 


Congrats!
The third TCDA International Ballet Festival enjoys great success. Students and Faculty join from six nations and fourteen cities!
Awarded Scholarships: Vienna State Opera Ballet Academy, Austria and Premiere Division Ballet, New York, USA.
Congrats to all!

















Congrats to Vincenzo for joining The Royal Ballet in London, UK!

"I really thank you for everything you have done for me; for the courage and power you always provided. You supported me a lot, and I really needed it! It has been really nice to work with you, and am looking forward to work again with you for YAGP." 
- Vincenzo

Mr. C has worked with Vincenzo this past season for the Prix de Lausanne as well as for the Youth America Grand Prix with great success, and then the great news of a contract with the Royal! Best wishes! 

"I'm so grateful and glad to have met you!I Hope to see you soon, and thank you so much always for everything!" 
- Vincenzo 


Mr C's student Federico is elected Best Male Student of the Vienna State Opera Ballet Academy for the 2015-2016 school year by The Directors and Teaching Panel.

Great achievement! Bravo!




Mr. C's students perform in the end of the year show at the Vienna State Opera House.

Mr. C with the team of the Vienna State Opera Ballet Academy in June, 2016.

Mr. C with a talented young boy from Italy auditioning for class.

Some of Mr. C's students preparing for the end of the year Performance.

Luisa dances as Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet" with the Vienna State Opera Ballet Youth Company.


Congrats to Danielle who has received a contract with the Bucharest National Opera Ballet, Romania! All the best for the start of your career!
Vincenzo is invited to perform at the YAGP Gala of the Stars 2016 on both nights. Congrats!




Mr. C at YAGP New York with three Student Finalists:
Luisa -Bronze Medalist at the YAGP European Finals,
Federico - Silver Medalist at the TAGP European Finals, and
Vincenzo - Outstanding Artistry Award at the YAGP New York Finals.
Congrats!

At the 2016 YAGP New York Finals, Mr. C has been invited as Teacher, and is Representative of the Vienna State Opera Ballet Academy, awarding Scholarships for 2017 at the Academy.





















Mr C with Tessa at the Vienna Opera Ball in 2016.

After moving to Vienna, Tessa was already selected in 2015 to dance in the prestigious Vienna Opera Ball in Austria, by ex-international Star Dancer and former Director of the Berlin State Ballet (Germany), Vladimir Malakhov, who choreographed on the famous waltz by Johann Strauss. 

The event is televised live around the world, and features stars from the world of Ballet and Opera who perform for a live audience, attracting each year several numerous international personalities, including Hollywood movie stars. 

At the Vienna Opera Ball, the Vienna State Opera is transformed into the world’s most famous ballroom. This ball of balls creates opportunities for encounters between artists, politicians, businesspeople, and ball enthusiasts.

Mr. C in the Jury of the 20th International Ballet Competition in Lyon, France in 2016.
TCDA alumni Ariana, who received a scholarship to the Premiere Division Ballet in New York City during the TCDA - International Ballet Festival.


“I had the amazing opportunity to partake in the 2015 TCDA Summer Festival. The four weeks of intensives gave the opportunity to work and train with ballet masters from Europe, the East Coast, and with two professional dancers who trained under Theodore Constant.

The level of expertise and demand during this summer program was not like any I have had before.

The instructors were very clear in communicating what they wanted from the dancers, keeping in mind the individuality of each person. They were also all very approachable when posed with dance questions and inquires.

I loved each and every class I got to take from these masters, improving in my technique as well as artistic capability.

At the end of the four weeks, I was awarded a two week scholarship to go and train with Premiere Division in New York. As one of the oldest dancers of the group, I thought this was near impossible, seeing that more and more of the younger generation of dancers are more susceptible to these kinds of training opportunities.

This awarded scholarship went to show me how much Mr. Constant- as well as the other ballet masters- believes in his/their students. I will be attending Premiere Division on this scholarship in 2016.

All in, Mr. Constant brings only the best Masters to the TCDA festival- including himself. The program is exceptionally unique in style and training, and is definitely not a program to pass up.”