About the Syllabus

With over 14,000 members' spread across 82 countries, The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is one of the largest and most influential dance education and training organisations in the world. The training method begins with children at age 3 and takes sudents through a graded syllabus to the professional level. The Children's Syllabus includes classical work, free movement and character dance. The vocational syllabus is for the students who desire a career in ballet. It takes much dedication on the part of the dancer to achieve the required level of training to progress at this level. Students are encouraged to participate in the RAD examinations at the end of each year.

The Cecchetti Council of America is an organization dedicated to maintaining the standards and method of ballet training established by Cav. Enrico Cecchetti. The organization is based in Holland, Michigan. The Cecchetti syllabus begins with five-year old students and progresses to the Diploma Level. As students progress, they may take examinations in this syllabus as well.

Examinations provide a goal for the students. It encouarges students to focus in class, build strength quicker and requires correctly demonstrated technique. It insures a wider range of skills and prevents dancers from only learning 'tricks'.

About the Staff

Bridget Porter Young, Artistic Director

Having grown up in a ballet studio, Bridget began dancing as soon as she could walk. As a child, Bridget was selected to dance with New York City Ballet and Baryshnikov for the Washington Season. During this time, she was also selected to perform at the White House for President Carter. She has danced with Louisville Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre and Ocala Ballet. She toured the United States performing in Industrial Shows, spent many summers performin in summer stock including roles such as Jeannie in Brigadoon and Dream Laurie in Oklahoma and appeared on All My Children and Guiding Light while living in New York.

Bridget has choreographed many short works ballets and musicals including South Pacific, Once Upon a Mattress, Barnum, The King & I, and Big River. In Colorado, she directed The Nutcracker for Pueblo Ballet.

Bridget holds the teaching certificate of the Royal Academy of Dance and is a Cecchetti Council of America Licentiate. She has been Ballet Mistress for the Charlotte Youth Ballet for the last 10 years, a member of the board of directors for Queen City Jazz Company and the President of the Cecchetti Council of America, Southeast Committee.

Gay Porter-Speer

Gay received her training in her native London, England at Arts Educational School and the Royal Academy of Dancing. Her professional performing career began at Stratford-on-Avon, followed by engagements at Oxford, touring the British Isles, and two and a half years in the original productions of The King & I and Kismet in London's West End.

After engagements in film, television, and an Esther Williams aqua spectacular, Gay went to Spain with the Royal Festival Ballet. She later toured Germany and danced in Paris before coming to the United States.

Gay has directed productions for the Charlottetown Players and C.P.C.C. She founded the Charlotte Regional Ballet and the C.P.C.C. Ballet Department. Currently she is artistic director of the Charlotte Youth Ballet for which she created numerous original ballets.