The Joffrey Ballet School (JBS), New York will return to Australia this April with its popular masterclass audition series at Energetiks VDF24. Offering more dance styles than ever before and new scholarships for its summer training intensives, the school continues to seek out talented Australian dancers at the popular Victorian Dance Festival.
Representing the school again is Matthew Prescott, who last toured Australia for JBS, NY in 2022. Prescott, an alumnus of the school having attended their inaugural program in New York, joined the Joffrey Ballet in 2000, for several years before setting out as a freelance artist.
Prescott has had a varied career performing with companies such as Donald Byrd’s Spectrum Dance Theater, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, Ballet NY, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Alabama Ballet, Armitage Gone! Dance, BalletX, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Morphoses / The Wheeldon Company and Dance Theatre of Harlem. He was featured in Robert Altman’s film, The Company, and has choreographed works performed by Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Chamber Dance Project, the Joffrey Ballet School, BalletX, Interlochen Arts Academy and for Misty Copeland for Prince’s Coming to America 2010 Madison Square Garden performances, as well as the Vail International Dance Festival.
No stranger to musical theatre either, Prescott was the Resident Choreographer on the national tour of Billy Elliot as well as performing the role of Older Billy. He made his Broadway debut in the cast of The Phantom of the Opera.
Prescott is to be joined for the first time this Festival by hip hop artist TRIX. TRIX has appeared on BET’s hit show 106 & Park several times as a champion contestant and also as a Dance Week guest performer. He was also a finalist on US version of So You Think You Can Dance Season 9.
A talented performer and choreographer, TRIX has worked for the Walt Disney World in Florida performing across all four parks, as well as choregraphing for basketball’s Orlando Magic’s Dance Team.
TRIX is currently a guest faculty member at Broadway Dance Center and Peridance Center in New York, alongside choreographing for the JBS, New York’s Hip Hop program. TRIX regularly recruits talent for JBS, New York internationally, as well as across the US.
Prescott and TRIX will be teaching masterclass auditions under the Joffrey Ballet School, New York banner at Energetiks VDF24 from 12-14 April at Melbourne Showgrounds. Registrations open soon for the four masterclasses auditions in ballet, jazz and contemporary, musical theatre and hip hop. Masterclass auditions are open only to VDF ticketholders. Book your tickets today at vdf.com.au/tickets. Tickets include access to over 50 dance classes and entry to Australia’s largest dance expo.
By Nichola Hall of Dance Informa.
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