The Ballet Arts Academy at the Old Waldorf School

Ballet Arts Academy at the Old Waldorf School was established in 2005 by Jayne Stefani-Keating for the purpose of providing the community with a dance environment devoted exclusively to the study of classical ballet. In addition, the Academy offers complementary enrichment activities that provide an enduring appreciation for music, art and aspects of stage production and performance. The primary focus is educational offering a comprehensive course of instruction in classical ballet that follows the Vaganova method of training, service to the community through educational outreach and scholarships, and enrichment by engaging local and regional artists, musicians, dancers, poets, actors, theatre technicians, and master teachers for workshops and seminars which will be available to our students and members of the community.

The Ballet Arts Academy intends to build for all students an awareness of the relationship between the discipline of ballet and the cultivation of poise, self-confidence and an enduring respect for artistry and the joy of dance. Training at the Academy will also ensure a strong technical foundation for those wishing to advance to a pre-professional level of dance. The Academy is a 501c(3)a non-profit organization.

Oscar Hawkins, Artistic Director and Ballet Master

Oscar C. Hawkins is a native of Brandywine, Maryland. After studying voice and drama for six years, he ambitiously decided to add dancing to his repetoire. In 1987, Oscar enrolled in the Duke Ellington School of the Performing Arts under the supervision of Madam Lynn Welters. Shortly thereafter, he was recommended by Mikhail Lavrovsky to attend the Kirov Ballet Academy where he trained intensively with Rudolph Kharatian, Alla Sizova, Ludmila Morkovina, Nikolai Morozov and Vladimir Djuluhadze.

Oscar's first test of the stage was in a national dance competition where he performed Le Corsaire and Freedom (choreographed by Fran Peters). After winning the gold medal, he was asked to work as a principal dancer with the Washington Opera on the premiere of "The Cunning Little Vixen" for which he recieved critical acclaim.

He has danced with Ballet International, Tulsa Ballet, Deutsche Opera, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Spoleto Festival and performed leading roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, Paquita, Esmerelda, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Le Corsaire,Venetian Carnival, Alberto Alonzo's "Carmen", Jeffrey Holder's "Douglas" and "Troy Games", George Balanchine's "Four Temperaments" and "Prodigal Son", Vladimir Anguelov's "Forte", Alonso King's "Signs and Wonders" and Dennis Nahats "A Midsummer Night Dream" and "Go Daddy O".

Mr. Hawkins is known for his effortless classical lines with a strong sense for elegant characterization and technique. He is also said to be a powerful and passionate contemporary dancer/choreographer.

He has recieved critical acclaim for his choreography "Strange Fruit" (danced to the vocals of Billie Holliday) and "Cris D'Enfant" (music written and sung by Hawkins).

Recently, Oscar has performed in Las Vegas with Cirque Du Soleil's "Mystère" , Belle Et Foux in Berlin,Germany and worked with Hinton Battle as a Principal Character in the film "The Great Observer" due to be released Fall 2008.

Jayne Stefani Keating, Founder

Jayne Stefani Keating is originally from Sacramento, California where she received her early training in classical ballet. She performed principal roles in full-length ballets as a soloist in the regional company under the direction of Barbara Briggs. In New York she continued her training. She has taught classical ballet for over 25 years and participated in teacher training workshops and seminars devoted to the study of the Vaganova syllabus with master teachers, including John White, Jurgen Schneider and Janina Cunova.

After moving to upstate New York she established, with Paul Sanasardo, the Susquehanna School of Ballet and served as its ballet mistress and artistic director. She has choreographed original full-length ballets for her students, frequently collaborating with area musicians, guest artists and professional dance companies and has been the recipient of grants awarded by the New York State Council on the Arts and the Upper Catskill Community Council for the Arts. She also served as resident choreographer for Orpheus Theatre productions.

In addition to traditional studio lessons she has directed summer dance workshops for Hartwick College, has been a visiting artist in the public schools, introducing boys and girls to dance through group classes and lecture demonstrations, was a dance auditor for the New York State Council on the Arts, and has studied flamenco in Madrid and Cordoba, Spain.

After living in Lugano, Switzerland for eight years and founding the ballet program at the American School in Switizerland (TASIS) in nearby Montagnola, Ms. Stefani-Keating and her husband returned to the United States and settled in southern Maryland in 2001.