About Enrico Cecchetti

Maestro Enrico Cecchetti (1850-1928)
Born in Italy in 1850, Enrico Cecchetti was a brilliant virtuoso dancer who went on to become the leading teacher of his generation. As guest artist with the Imperial Russian Ballet, he created the role of "The Bluebird" in The Sleeping Beauty. As a teacher in Russia, his many famous students included Anna Pavlova and Vaslov Nijinsky. With Diaghilev's Ballet Russes he worked with Marie Rambert and Ninette de Valois, the founders of British ballet. His successor, Margaret Craske, passed on the Cecchetti Method to numerous dancers and teachers in New York while on the staff of Ballet Theater.
Because of its continuity, ability to promote longevity in dance, and emphasis on classical lines, the Cecchetti Method is highly respected and now taught Internationally.
The legacy of the Cecchetti teachings has continued to grow. Among the many dancers influenced by Cecchetti were: Anna Pavlova; Vaslav Niinsky; Tamare Karsavina; Dame Ninette de Valois (Royal Ballet of England); Dame Marie Rambert (Ballet Rambert); Gisella Caccialanza (New York City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet); Vencenzo Celli, Luigi Albertieri, Dame Alicia Markova, and Margaret Craske (Metropolitan Opera Ballet); Luba Egorova and Olga Preobrajenska (who taught in Paris); Serge Lifar (Paris Opera Ballet); Betty Oliphant (National Ballet of Canada); Molly Lake (Ankara Ballet of Turkey); Adolf Bolin (San Francisco Opera Ballet and Chicago Lyrical Ballet); Michail Mordkin (American Ballet Theater); George Balanchine (New York City Ballet); Dame Peggy Van Praagh (Australian Ballet); Dulcie Howes (University of Cape Town, South Africa, also known as C.A.P.A.B. Ballet Co.) The list is endless.

Cecchetti Overview

The Cecchetti Method is a disciplined system of ballet instruction designed with careful regard for the laws of anatomy.
This allows for:
- Complete embodiment of the essential qualities of a great dancer.
- An understanding and emphasis of body line.
- Superior balance and poise.
- Strength and elasticity of the muscles
- Indispensable ability to adapt quickly and fluidly to all styles of choreography.

The Cecchetti trained student is better able to absorb the basic principles which govern the art rather than the mere imitation of an individual's teaching style.

The Cecchetti Method offers:
- Set Syllabi for pre-school through professional levels
- Student examinations
- Certification examinations
- Teacher training courses

Based on international standards, examinations are designed to give students and instructors of the Cecchetti Method a greater sense of purpose while insuring that each level has been successfully accomplished before progressing to the next.

Cecchetti Method

The Cecchetti Method is influential and recognized by professionals worldwide. Teachers, parents and students of the Cecchetti Method testify to the superiority of the training and what it has done for them:
"I prefer the Cecchetti Method for me because it's rigorous yet elegant. I am able to dance anywhere now and people are able to recognize that I am Cecchetti trained."
-Fiona Pitt (student)

"Cecchetti has taught me discipline, determination, and self-confidence in not only ballet but every aspect of my life."
-Megan Hanley (student)

"I feel confident she (my daughter) is learning the correct and safe way to execute the various ballet moves. Her caring teachers are trained to pay close attention to her physical development as she progresses."
-Angie Crellin (parent of a Cecchetti child)

Cecchetti trained individuals are easily recognized by their elegance and pure classical style. When auditioning, Cecchetti students are chosen for their simplicity of line, coordination, speed, stability, and harmony of movement. Many students of the Cecchetti Method have gone on to pursue professional careers in dance, as well as arts management, physical/dance therapy, sports medicine, film/theater and college level arts education.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I took classes with West Coast Civic Ballet last year, and am looking to continue my Cecchetti training. What can I do?
A: All Cecchetti classes are taught under the direction of Deborah Vinton for SRQ Dance, Inc., either directly by Ms. Vinton or a certified Cecchetti teacher. SRQ and WCCB are NOT two separate dance schools in one building. West Coast Civic Ballet is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing performance opportunities for the community and will hold rehearsals for it's holiday performance at SRQ Dance, Inc. Deborah Vinton is the new Ballet Director at SRQ Dance, Inc. and will teach the Cecchetti program to its students through SRQ Dance, Inc.

Q: I'm confused about the different programs. What's the difference between the Professional/Competitive Classes and the Cecchetti Program?
A: Our Pro/Competitive classes feature studies in jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop as well as ballet. These classes are designed for the student seeking a diverse exposure to a multitude of styles and techniques in a professional training environment. The Cecchetti Program is designed specifically for students wishing to focus primarily on their ballet training through the Cechetti syllabus and optionally, prepare for the Cecchetti exams.

Q: I only want Cecchetti classes, will SRQ Dance, Inc. make me sign up for jazz too?
A: Not at all. We respect each student's choice of dance disciplines, and want our students to get the most out of their dance training. We are proud of all of the programs we offer at SRQ, but understand that different students have different needs, and for this reason, we offer a multitude of classes for various ages and skill levels in a variety of subjects.

Q: What about the flooring? I'm used to dancing on a certain type of floor!
A: All of the flooring at SRQ Dance, Inc. offers impeccable protection against injury. We have laid sprung-wood floors in our two smaller studios, and our two larger studios have Harlequin Allegro floors, the same floors the New York City Ballet uses. These floors are specifically designed to be laid directly on a hard sub-floor, such as concrete, and offer the same shock-absorption as a traditional sprung floor without the necessary maintenance that comes with wooden flooring in humid environments such as Florida. The owner of SRQ Dance, Inc. has personally danced on the Harlequin Allegro floors for over 15 years, and has never experienced any injury such as shin-splints or impact fractures. For more information on our Harlequin floors, the worldwide leader in dance floors, please CLICK HERE

Schedule

Due to the nature of the Cecchetti program, students must first be evaluated before being alllowed to participate in the program. All classes start the week of August 25th. A one-time registration fee will apply which covers student liability insurance and administrative costs.