The Run-up. A Moment Before Takeoff: The Jerusalem Ballet Summer Course

I keep reading and rereading the program Nadya Timofeyeva sent me—she and the Jerusalem Ballet have cooked up a series of masterclasses that are simply breathtaking. They've brought in top-tier teachers, too—so prepare yourself for a dance saga à la William Forsythe... assuming, of course, you manage to make it into Tamás Móricz’s masterclass.
And if you think you've never seen him before—think again! Remember Mount Olympus? That audacious 24-hour bacchanal choreographed by Jan Fabre, with only three breaks for sleep? That’s where he was, in all his shameless, mythic glory. We saw it in Jerusalem, at the Israel Festival, in what feels now like a former, radiant life. But back to summer, and to the workshops. There’s too much to say at once, so let’s take it step by step, by age.

Summer Course for Young Dancers (Ages 6–10)

A program for children who have already taken their first steps in ballet or gymnastics—and are eager for more. A joyful, thoughtful introduction to body awareness, musicality, attention, expressiveness, and cultural imagination. Children will learn to move beautifully and mindfully, to hear and understand music, to work at the barre, to try pointe shoes—and to dream.

What's included?

• Classical ballet classes: expressiveness, coordination, technique, discipline
• Modern dance lessons: freedom, impulse, spatial awareness
• Body strengthening: flexibility, strength, and endurance through play
• Attention games: fun exercises for focus, coordination, and precision
• Musical journeys: listening, discussing, discovering
• Ballet history: great dancers and performances through fairy tales and video clips
• "Feather Dance" calligraphy: graceful movement as handwriting; cultivating taste, focus, and form
• Intro to pointe work: learning the history, trying it at the barre under expert supervision
• Roundtable with Nadya Timofeyeva: a warm, heartfelt conversation to remember

The course concludes with a mini-exhibition of the children's work, a short performance—and a spark of inspiration that may last a lifetime.

Dates: August 10–14, 2025
Location: Jerusalem Ballet Studios, Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem
Limited spots available—because here, every child gets real attention.
Give summer a chance to become magical.
Sign up for a course that nurtures body, mind, and soul:
Registration link

Summer Course for Pre-Teens (Ages 10–12)

A serious summer course for young dancers who don’t take a vacation from their passion. Designed for students already studying classical ballet and modern dance, and eager to grow—in technique, thought, and stage presence. For those who already understand turnout, pointe work or demi-pointe, and who want not rest, but immersion.

What's included?

• Classical ballet & pointe: barre, center, technique, turns, expression, and demi-pointe variations
• Modern dance: body control, impulse, breath, weight, and rhythm
• Repertoire: classical and contemporary excerpts—with a final performance
• Body strengthening: endurance, strength, flexibility, coordination
• Musical literature: listening to music not as background, but as rhythm, imagery, and meaning
• Ballet history: from court ballets to modern stages—told vividly, with cultural depth
• Focus & coordination: memory, precision, presence
• "Feather Dance" calligraphy: the poetry of movement and the elegance of written form. Culminates in a mini-exhibition
• Roundtable with Nadya Timofeyeva: a candid talk on the profession, doubts, inspiration, and dreams

For dancers aged 10–12 with experience in ballet and/or modern dance
Note: Students not yet on pointe may study repertoire on demi-pointe.
Dates: August 3–7, 2025
Location: Jerusalem Ballet Studios, Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem
Limited spots available
Students from other schools are welcome, provided they meet the level.
Don’t press pause on summer. Enroll your child in a course that transforms “I take class” into “I think like an artist.”
Course info and sign-up

"The Run-up. A Moment Before Takeoff": Summer Intensive for Young Dancers (Ages 14–20)

A space to search for your voice. A new stage. The run-up. Work on the edge of what’s possible. A meeting with masters. A deep dive. That turning point when something shifts inside you—and for the first time, you think:
Yes. I am a dancer.
Level: Advanced (strong background in classical ballet and modern dance required)
A rare opportunity for young dancers to immerse themselves in the professional dance world, guided by renowned teachers from Israel, Europe, and the U.S.

What's included?

• Classical ballet
• Contemporary dance
• Pilates and somatic work
• Signature masterclasses
• Creative lab & rehearsals

Faculty highlights:

Nadya Timofeyeva
Artistic Director of Jerusalem Ballet, choreographer, and teacher with international experience. Trained in the finest classical traditions, she blends academic precision with vivid stage imagination. Whether working with beginners or professionals, she helps dancers develop their individuality, expressiveness, and artistic thinking. Her students perform across Israel, Europe, and the U.S., and study in top academies.

Martin Schönberg
Associate Artistic Director of Jerusalem Ballet. A former soloist with the Royal Ballet of Flanders and Zürich Ballet, and founder of Ballet Theatre Afrikan in Johannesburg. Since the 1990s, he has championed classical ballet and interdisciplinary performance. Repatriated to Israel in 2022 and now leads teaching and coaching at Jerusalem Ballet.

Aidan Nettles
Professor of Dance at Florida Atlantic University (USA), choreographer, and certified ABT® instructor. With degrees from the University of Alabama and Roehampton University (London), she specializes in classical, contemporary, and jazz dance. Her choreographic and pedagogical work has earned national and international acclaim. She is also passionate about dance improvisation.

Tamás Móricz
Choreographer, master of impulse, architect of motion. Danced for a decade with William Forsythe’s Ballett Frankfurt, where he became not just a performer but a co-creator of a new movement language. His method, “Movement and Awareness,” integrates techniques from Forsythe, ballet, yoga, martial arts, physiotherapy, and PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation). His workshop is a convergence of styles — precision, freedom, discipline — designed to unlock each dancer’s unique voice.

Dates: August 3–8 and/or 10–15, 2025
Location: Jerusalem Ballet Studios, Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem
Limited spots available
If you’re standing at the threshold between school and stage, this course is for you.
Sign up here
 

Summer Course period: August 3–15, 2025. Location: Jerusalem Ballet Studios, Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem. Sign up and details: jerusalemballet.com/workshop-summer-eng

Photo by Mikkel Carlsen