In addition to our celebrated season performances, Amherst Ballet invites you to join us for workshops, smaller-scale community performances, movie matinées, community work days, and more! We hope to see you soon.
- Performances
- Workshops
- Community days
- Movies
July
July 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 10:30-11:30am at the Forbes Library: Dancing in the Library
A joyful introduction to dance and music for the youngest movers (and their siblings and caregivers!), this playful and encouraging program is designed to nurture imagination, coordination, and collaboration. Through imaginative games and improvisation, we explore the building blocks of movement and sound—direction, level, tempo, rhythm, texture, melody, and shape—while developing strength, flexibility, coordination, and body awareness. We invite participants to move through creative play, yoga, games, and modern techniques. Thoughtful attention is given to cultivating respect for self and others, while the program lays a strong foundation for a lifelong love of movement and the arts. Great for children ages 2-6 and their parents and caregivers.
This program is supported by a grant from the Northampton Arts Council.
July 12: Community Workday
This month’s community day is CANCELLED. Keep your eyes out for upcoming opportunities to hang out and work on projects together.
July 23rd at 6:30pm: Summer Benefit Concert
Featuring Antonin Dvorak’s celebrated Piano Quintet in A, one of the greatest pieces of chamber music ever composed. Also on the program is the Scherzo movement from Juliusz Zarebski’s Piano Quintet in g minor, a rarely-heard romantic gem of the repertoire. Both selections will be played by violinists Gary Capoziello and Jaroslaw Lis, violist and Amherst Ballet Music Director Geoffrey Archambeau, cellist Ignacy Gaydamovich, and pianist Corbin Beisner. This concert will benefit our new music program, including care of our superb Steinway and Sons Model B concert grand piano. Tickets are a suggested donation of $50, payable via PayPal, Venmo, cash, or check. More information on our performances page. Tickets available here.
August
August 1, 11:30-1:00pm: Strength Training for Dancers
An exciting new workshop led by Nikolai Wright, a long time member of the Amherst Ballet family. The workshop will include a presentation on strength training, nutrition, and recovery for dancers, a short workout with exercises everyone can start to use at home, and time for a Q&A. This program is offered for free, with no need to register ahead – just show up! Contact info@amherstballet.org with questions.
August 1, 3:00-6:00ish pm: Barre & Bar
Part of our quarterly series, focusing on ballet foundations for adult dancers who want to go deeper into technique: things you may never have learned if you are an adult beginner, or may have lost track of if you learned them a long time ago. August’s barre & bar will explore music for dancers. Come for the workshop and stay to hang out! Appropriate for beginner dancers who have taken several classes through advanced dancers. Max 20 students; suggested donation $60; no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Register here. Contact info@amherstballet.org with questions.
August 14, 10:30-11:30am at the Sunderland Public Library: Dancing in the Library
Join us for creative movement inspired by Alice in Wonderland! We will hear the story and explore different movements of the ballet to see how characters can be expressed through movement and music. Appropriate for children of all ages and their siblings and caregivers. This event is free and takes place at 20 School Street, Sunderland
August 22, 3:00-6:00ish pm: Barre & Bar, special edition
This special edition of our quarterly Barre & Bar series is for beginner adult men, and will focus on skills and vocabulary to support men’s healthy participation in ballet. Led by company dancer Brokk Toggerson, the session includes a full introductory ballet class with ample time for questions and discussion. Hang out and enjoy refreshments after the class! Appropriate for absolute beginners. Max 20 students; suggested donation $40; no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Register here. Contact info@amherstballet.org with questions.
August 22, 12:30-2:00pm: Partnering Workshop
Yay! We’re offering another partnering workshop, for the first time since we moved to the new studio. More details to come soon, but get ready to lift and turn each other! Contact info@amherstballet.org with questions.
August 23, 3:00pm: Community Children’s Concert & Celebration
A string orchestra of local professional musicians and their students will perform beloved child-friendly classics. Popsicles, popcorn, and cookies will be shared by all musicians, young and less-young. Stamell Strings, 18 Kellogg Avenue in Amherst, will offer a bowed strings petting zoo, where all the fascinating differences and similarities between violins, violas, cellos, double basses, and their bows will be explored in a hands-on display. Discounts on starter rentals will be available.