Conservatory registration open house is Sept. 9

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will conduct a semester I registration open house from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St.

Registration for semester I dance classes and MCA’s tuition-free youth choir – the Winona Area Youth Singers — will be accepted at the open house. Tours of the facility will be available, refreshments will be served, and students will have the opportunity to meet new and returning faculty and staff. Additionally, students can be fitted for dance attire at the open house. MCA’s dance attire boutique offers quality basics, including leotards, tights, ballet slippers, jazz shoes and tap shoes.

Classes begin Sept. 14. Dance class offerings — available for children age 3 through adults — include beginning through advanced levels in classical ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, Pilates, and a special tuition-free boys program which offers a Dance Technique for Boys class and performance opportunities. Semester I also provides programming in partnership with Winona County Community Education for teens and adults including: Teen and Adult Ballet, Clogging I, Clogging II, Dance Fitness, and Piyo.

MCA’s music division offers a youth choir – Winona Area Youth Singers, for students in grades four through eight. In response to the current economic climate, MCA is waiving WAYS tuition for any and all students who desire to participate for the 2009-2010 academic year. This tuition waiver is made possible by a grant from the Saint Mary’s University Friends of the School of the Arts.

Now in its second year, WAYS seeks to take young people who have been introduced to choir/music in their elementary, middle schools, or junior highs and further encourage and nurture their talent.

Academic credit is available through Cotter High School and Saint Mary’s dance minor program for a variety of MCA dance classes.
Semester I classes will provide 10 weeks of instruction, concluding with a demonstration week, Nov. 16-21.

Dance students ages 5 to 13 are also invited to audition for MCA’s Dance Repertory Company II Winter Showcase. Auditions are 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Valéncia Arts Center. The Winter Dance Showcases will be Dec. 4-5 at Valéncia Arts Center Academy Theatre.

Winona Area Youth Singers will conclude Semester I following their winter concert, Dec. 6, at the Valéncia Arts Center Recital Hall.

Tuition for MCA classes varies depending on course length and level. Discounts and scholarships are available.

For more information, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5500.