 |
|
| Published: 27th February 2011 |
|
| YAT-SEN CHANG, CUBAN PRINCIPAL BALLET DANCER OF THE ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET TO TEACH AT ESPINOSA |
The award winning Yat-Sen Chang, Cuban Principal Dancer of The English National Ballet Company, is joining the ballet staff at the Espinosa Chute Centre, where he will be conducting workshops and teaching regular weekly ballet classes.
“This is an amazing opportunity for our ballet students”, says Corinna Chute (Director of the Centre, and ex-professional dancer herself). “Yatsen will not only be giving Master Classes for visiting vocational and professional dancers, but will be actively involved in coaching classical technique to our own Academy students and Scholars. His years of expert training at the Cuban National Ballet School, coupled with his outstanding career as ENB Principal Soloist, gives our students and staff a unique opportunity to learn about the discipline and technique used in ballet training in Cuba.” |
Yat-Sen Chang was born in Matanzas, Cuba. He joined the Cuban National Ballet School aged nine, and graduated in 1989 both as a dancer and a teacher. “The experience and training I received under Alicia Alonso made me who I am today” says Yatsen.
In 1992, after dancing with the Cuban National Ballet Company, Yat-Sen was invited to the International Dance Festival of La Baule in France, and then joined Jeune Ballet de France. In 1993 he was offered a contract as Principal at The English National Ballet, where he has performed major roles including Bluebird and Carabosse in The Sleeping Beauty; and the Gopak dancer and the Prince in The Nutcracker. He has performed in Paquita, and in Dances from Napoli, played Franz in Hynd’s Coppelia and has starred as both Romeo and as Mercutio in the current production of Nureyev’s Romeo and Juliet. |
Alongside his busy rehearsal and performance schedule, Yatsen will teach weekly classes to students up to Advanced level and will join James Espinosa Chute as guest teacher for The Boys Academy.
“Yatsen’s involvement in our Dance programme marks the launch of the “Cuban link”, which has been waiting in the wings for the right moment. Our 3 dance studios are all named after famous Cuban ballet families, whose sons have influenced British ballet by becoming Stars of the Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet – Carlos Acosta, Yatsen Chang and Jose Manuel Carreno. The Centre is also named after James Espinosa’s father who was one of Cuba’s most highly acclaimed world champion boxers. |
Having worked in Cuba for 10 years, initially with the Cuban National Ballet promoting their international ballet courses, Corinna Chute has always envisaged the need for a “home for Cuban ballet training in the UK” where the teachers who inspired and moulded the great Cuban Dancers of our time, would be invited to run intensive training courses for British Dance students, thereby developing the virtuosity and artistry so admired in world class Cuban dancers such as Yatsen Chang.
Shortly to be announced are the dates for the first CUBALLET Intensive Dance Course, to take place at the Espinosa Chute Centre, with classes in Ballet, Cuban Contemporary, Afro-Cuban Dance, and Salsa.
For more information regarding classes and courses with Yat-Sen Chang, please contact the Espinosa Chute Centre on 01442 818283, or visit www.espinosacentre.com for latest news. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
