Sue Bell

Emily Van Dolah performing in AAB's The Sleeping Beauty

All American Ballet School in Ventura is seeking individuals or organizations who would like to co-sponsor one of its top student dancers to attend a five-week, pre-professional summer program at a prominent classical ballet company.

Emily Van Dolah, who just turned 15 in May, has been accepted on a partial scholarship by the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet Company in Carlisle, PA. Founded in 1955, the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet is an internationally-recognized classical ballet school and performing company, which provides exceptional training to pre-professional dancers and has produced many alumni who go on to perform with top companies throughout the world.

Emily comes from a family of five siblings who reside with their parents, Peter and Tobi Van Dolah, in Ojai. Four of the Van Dolah children are present and past students and performers in All American Ballet.

"I knew I wanted to dance since I was three years old when I saw The Nutcracker on a video," mused Emily. Shortly thereafter Emily began dancing, and by the time she was eight she had her sights set on becoming a professional. Since then, she has logged countless hours of intense training under the tutelage of Clarissa Boeriu, AABs founding artistic director and more recently, Olga Tchekachova and Sayat Asatryan, the School's current artistic directors and principal ballet teachers.

In three short years, from the tender age of twelve, Emily has garnered a remarkable number of summer program acceptances and scholarships to pre-eminent ballet companies. Among these are San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, The Rock School in Philadelphia (received scholarship), Houston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Washington Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet (received scholarship) and Pacific Northwest Ballet, the latter from which she also received a scholarship and at which she attended last summer.

The full cost of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet's summer program is $3,200, approximately half of which is covered by the host company and assistance from All American Ballet. Additional contributions would be made to All American Ballet, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 corporation, and are tax deductible. If you would like to help out Emily, please contact AAB President, Camille Wallace, at 654-5322.