Melinda Roy, a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet, held a free master class attended by 40 students at the Patel Conservatory at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center on March 7. Roy is one of several guest artists whom the conservatory brings to conduct free master classes and workshops. Roy was in town to schedule rehearsals for the Balanchine ballet "Valse-Fantaisie," to be presented in "An American Dream" at the performing arts center May 17, and to stage the ballet with students from the Orlando Ballet School at the Patel Conservatory. ...more

March 25, 2009

The crushed velvet costume, the thrill of sweeping onto the stage and the opportunity to dazzle an audience eager to absorb some holiday spirit are just a few of the reasons dancers in this year's "The Nutcracker" are eager for Tuesday's performance. ...more

December 21, 2008

After prying off their sneakers and slipping on dance shoes, the students at Metropolitan Ministries Academy formed straight lines and stood at attention. ...more

October 8, 2008

Melissa Stafford sat on the floor of a ballet room at the Patel Conservatory, urging the 13 boys and girls, ages 3 to 5, to "sit up nice and tall, like proud kings and queens." ...more

August 24, 2008

THEATER Today-Saturday "The Sleeping Beauty"; America's Ballet School takes you on a journey through enchanted lands filled with wondrous characters, including Princess Aurora, Puss 'n Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and more; 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday; $12 to $15; The Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, 30651 Wells Road, Wesley Chapel; (813) 558-0800 ...more

June 6, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Pink and black tutus, tights and slippers adorn 10 tiny ballerinas as they leap across the stage, doing their mightiest to impress their Ms. Lu - ballet instructor extraordinaire. ...more

December 1, 2007

Things To Do is a list of some of the most interesting upcoming events. For a complete list of Tampa Bay area events, see this week's Friday Extra. ...more

November 28, 2007

As it winds up its 20th anniversary celebration - before the concluding Liza Minnelli concert Oct. 6 - the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center plans an open house Saturday. ...more

September 12, 2007

As it winds up its 20th anniversary celebration - before the concluding Liza Minnelli concert Oct. 6 - the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center plans an open house Saturday. ...more

September 12, 2007