Segerstrom center to open ballet school

Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the American Ballet Theatre have announced the creation of the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School at the Segerstrom Center campus in Costa Mesa.

The school is named after Orange County philanthropist and American Ballet Theatre board member William J. Gillespie.

The fall semester of its 36-week dance training program will begin Sept. 14. The nine class levels will be open to students ages 3 to 14, and tuition starts at $1,150.

In addition, the school will introduce Sunday Intensives and the Young Dancer Summer Workshop. The intensive monthly sessions will begin Sunday and run through June 14 for students ages 10 to 18. Classes will be geared toward the intermediate and advanced dancer.

“This is an exciting and, in many ways, precedent-setting arts collaboration that has far reaching potential for the future of dance in Southern California and beyond,” said Gillespie in a statement. “I congratulate the center and ABT for embracing this concept and forging this alliance.”

For more information about the school, call (714) 556-2122, Ext. 4100, or visit scfta.org/abtgillespieschool

—Kathleen Luppi