Carreño Dance Festival revitalized with new partnership

In December 2013, cofounder of the Carreño Dance Festival Robert de Warren announced that the 2014 festival was taking a year off. But, a recent press release from Sarasota Ballet suggests it's not canceled, but revamped as a partnership between Ballet San Jose and Sarasota Ballet.

The festival, in its third year in 2013, annually gives talented young dancers from around the world a chance to hone their craft alongside a faculty of professionals and in a performance with current professional dancers. It was under the artistic direction of José Manuel Carreño, a former dancer at American Ballet Theatre and The Royal Ballet. Carreño was named artistic director of Ballet San Jose in June 2013.

José Manuel Carreño artistic director of Ballet San Jose will partner with director Iain Webb of Sarasota Ballet to produce a three-week workshop and gala performance. The pre-professional students will receive training in both Cuban and British styles from former Carreño Dance Festival faculty, such as Jose Carreño and Loipa Araujo in addition to new faculty such as Director Iain Webb and Assistant Director Margaret Barbieri of Sarasota Ballet. Other guest instructors will be announced in the future.

Instead of the Carreño Dance Festival it comes under a new guise of "Carreño-Barbieri Festival for Pre-Professionals."

Those interested in auditioning for the 2014 Carreño-Barbieri Festival for Pre-Professionals should call 225-6515.

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