Ormond Ballet hosts guest artists for summer dance intensive

Northwest Arkansas Ballet Theatre's Stephen and Britta Wynne were once the instructors of Ormond Ballet's artistic director. Now, they're passing their knowledge off to her students.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 10:00 a.m. July 10, 2024

Stephen Wynne works with advance level Ormond Ballet students Ryann Wilcox, Dallas Kinsley and Alexis Stockhammer on the second day of their summer intensive on Tuesday, July 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Stephen Wynne instructs advance level Ormond Ballet students (front line) Ryann Wilcox, Dallas Kinsley, Summer Euson, Sabrina Bobeck, (back line) Alexis Stockhammer, Taylor Falb and Baylee Rogan on the second day of their summer intensive on Tuesday, July 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

The advance level Ormond Ballet students — (front line) Ryann Wilcox, Dallas Kinsley, Summer Euson, Sabrina Bobeck, (back line) Alexis Stockhammer, Taylor Falb and Baylee Rogan — work on their technique with Stephen Wynne on the second day of their summer intensive on Tuesday, July 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

The intermediate level Ormond Ballet students — (front line) Cristina Pruna, Ellen Svajko, Emma Doster, (back line) LanDanOlivia Kloznick, Olivia Rodriguez, Madison Morgan and Mika Johnson — work on their ballet technique on the second day of their summer intensive on Tuesday, July 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Britta Wynne works with the intermediate level Ormond Ballet students — LanDanOlivia Kloznick, Cristina Pruna, Ellen Svajko, Olivia Rodriguez and Madison Morgan — on the second day of their summer intensive on Tuesday, July 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Britta Wynne speaks to the intermediate level Ormond Ballet students on the second day of their summer intensive on Tuesday, July 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Stephen Wynne works with the advance level Ormond Ballet students — Ryann Wilcox, Dallas Kinsley, Summer Euson, Sabrina Bobeck, Alexis Stockhammer, Taylor Falb and Baylee Rogan — on the second day of their summer intensive on Tuesday, July 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Stephen Wynne works with the advance level Ormond Ballet students — Ryann Wilcox, Dallas Kinsley and Alexis Stockhammer — on the second day of their summer intensive on Tuesday, July 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Britta Wynne works with intermediate level Ormond Ballet student Ellen Svajko on the second day of their summer intensive on Tuesday, July 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Britta Wynne works with the intermediate level Ormond Ballet students — (front line) LanDanOlivia Kloznick, Cristina Pruna, Ellen Svajko, Emma Doster, (back line) Olivia Rodriguez, Madison Morgan and Mika Johnson on the second day of their summer intensive on Tuesday, July 9. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

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Technique. Artistry. Curiosity.

These are all aspects of dance that Ormond Ballet Training Center aims to instill in its dancers year-round, but for the next two weeks, they’ll be learning them from two trainers from the Northwest Arkansas Ballet Theatre.

Ormond Ballet’s summer workshop began on Monday, July 8. Featuring NWA Ballet Theatre Artistic Director and Choreographer Stephen Wynne and Associate Artistic Director and Company Wellness Director Britta Wynne, a total of 17 students at the intermediate and advance levels will spend the workshop taking technique classes, modern and ballet classes, dance studies and participating in rehearsals. After the workshop concludes at 4 p.m. some continue dancing in the school’s evening program.

“They’re very motivated,” Ormond Ballet Artistic Director Michelle Boutros said. “This is such a special bunch because how many preteens and teenagers are giving up their summer to work really hard? This is not easy.”

When Boutros opened Ormond Ballet in 2022, her goal was to create art in the community through dance. To help with that this summer, she brought in the Wynnes, both of whom were her teachers in the past. She’s known them since 2006 and the three have worked together many times over the years in different cities.

Two years ago, Britta Wynne helped with Ormond Ballet’s summer worshop. This is the first year the school has both of them as guest artists.

Stephen Wynne, who worked as a professional dancer in Europe for almost 20 years, said his focus for the intensive is to give the students another “flavor of technique.”

“The more they see the expansiveness of the dance possibilities and the dance techniques, the better chance they have of continuing within their journey of dance,” he said.

And developing their curiosity is key, he said. Having guest artists helps students deepen and broaden their understanding of dance, he added. What they learn during the two-week workshop this summer will be carried through by Boutros to be performed in Ormond Ballet’s spring production.

Britta Wynne was a professional dancer in Germany for 11 years before continuing her career in the U.S. She said she wants all the students to feel individually seen and appreciated. The ballet world can be tough, but they seek to strike a balance between emphasizing the students’ abilities and teaching them to dance.

She said she has seen a lot of improvement in the dancers she taught two summers ago.

“When you say something, there’s an understanding,” Britta Wynne said. “It’s not like, ‘blank.’ They do listen. I feel that’s that soil where you can continue to plant the seeds — and that’s definitely growing.”

Boutros likened the learning process to making bread from crumbs, but first you have to find instructors that can break a subject down into its core. That’s what the Wynnes were able to do with her when she was in training, she said. It’s all going full circle.

“It’s been a part of my legacy that will then go into these kids and beyond,” Boutros said. “So it’s like this beautiful dance family tree.”