Berkshire Opera Festival

Founded in 1969 by ballet teacher, Sharon Dante, the Nutmeg Conservatory has continued the commitment to her original vision of providing professional-level ballet training to aspiring young dance artists. Almost 41 years later, the Nutmeg Conservatory is recognized as a major professional ballet training organization in the United States and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance. Through quality training, education and performance of dance, the Nutmeg Conservatory prepares its students for entry into the professional world. One of the reasons Nutmeg enjoys an international reputation for its training and placement of students after graduation, is our emphasis on their overall development. Training, deportment and confidence building, are all aspects of Nutmeg's years of success. It is through this methodical approach that the Nutmeg has produced outstanding students who excel in all areas of their lives. The fundamental schooling is based on the classical Vaganova training methodology. This unique detail based curriculum has been producing legendary dancers for nearly one hundred years, among them such talents as Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Natalia Markarova. The guiding principles of the Vaganova approach enable a dancer to develop the flexibility, strength ; endurance, muscle memory, discipline, and attention to detail that are essential for growth as a ballet dancer. To see a YouTube of this training in action, click here.