Performance Opportunities

MCPA students have a wide variety of performance opportunites as they grow through our programs.

All students participate in the year end Spring Gala performance. In June 2009, MCPA students presented “Oz – A Magical Journey!” at Chesapeake Arts Center.

Once students complete Primary Ballet (around age 8), they are encouraged to audition for our annual full-length Nutcracker performance in December.

All students in the MCPA Ballet Academy participate in our annual Student Achievement Awards, an in-house demonstration for parents and families. Students present exercises they have learned in class, and the faculty present awards based on attendance, dedication, and work ethic, including the coveted “most improved” award. Younger levels also have a ballet vocabulary written exam, and older levels have an exam that covers vocabulary, ballet history, summaries of classical works, and more, similar to a college level exam. Students with high scores on their exams are also recognized at the Achievement Awards.

Students who are looking for additional opportunites are invited to audition for our Hot Shots Performance Team. Hot Shots members perform in the MCPA theatre for our annual “Milk & Cookies with Santa” event, at local nursing homes and parades, and participate in a few dance competitions each season to share the stage with dancers from other schools.

We are proud that our Hot Shots and Ensemble dancers have earned high enough scores to be ranked fifth on the list of “Top 50 Competitive Dance Schools in North America” by Dancer Magazine. With the limited emphasis placed on competition at MCPA, and the small number of dances we present at competitions, this is quite an honor.

Click here to read the MCPA philosophy regarding
dance competitions & their place in our students’ training.

Serious dance students in our pre-professional ballet program have the opportunity to attend the Youth America Grand Prix, a prestigious international level ballet competition.

~ In 2008, MCPA student Maria Kroat was awarded the Gold Medal in the classical division at the YAGP in Philadelphia, and the MCPA Ensemble placed in the top 12 Ensembles at the YAGP international finals in NYC!

“Any Other World”, Choreographed by Maeghan McHale
Top 12 finalist, YAGP International Finals
MCPA Dance Ensemble