Ballet Montana Academy
Building Dancers
(An Archived Page)
Sallyann Mulcahy
"The teaching of ballet requires a
continual renewal of passion for
ballet, and a soul-deep belief in
ballet as a complete form of artistic expression. Just as there can be no
substitute for owning one's soul,
there is no substitute for
having lived this passion as a
professional dancer, for having
earned one's passion in work and
performance, for having lived
ballet itself. A 
good ballet teacher looks not at
her students, but into them. She
breaks down the work, not
the dancer. She teaches, by
example, that doing good work
is what matters most of all, and
that success in all the rest - in life
as in dance - follows
from good work. This is what
it means to 'build dancers'."
Sallyann Mulcahy
Director, Ballet Montana Academy
Michael Russell
Ballet Montana Academy's Director of Development
is former captain of the US
Freestyle Ski Team and
winner of three World
Cups in ballet skiing. As a
competitor Michael
was featured on ABC's
Wide World of Sports,
CBS Sports Spectacular,
and on French,
Austrian, German, Italian,
and Canadian sports television.
As creator of snowdancing and
founder of the Snowdance Company, 
he starred
in Warren Miller's Winter
Fever and was the lead
performer in the international
Ski Film Festival-winning film,
Wintersong. He has appeared in
dozens of television-magazine
shows throughout the United
States, as well as in Ski and
Skiing magazines. Dancemagazine attended
one of his live performances and published a
feature story on Michael's innovative merging
of sport and dance. He is a published novelist
with a background in music, theater,
photography, education, and business.
Letter from Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov
Sallyann studied privately and semi-privately for a year with Prima Ballerina Gelsey Kirkland.
Ms. Kirkland, former principal dancer with New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theater and widely
regarded as one of America's leading ballerinas, visited Montana several years ago to guest
teach Sallyann's Artisan Dance company. She and her husband, teacher/choreographer Michael Chernov,
have recently opened the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet in New York City. Among their goals
is the fostering of a renaissance in story ballets. Ms. Kirkland and Mr. Chernov took time from their 2010
nationwide academy-audition tour to offer their endorsement of Ballet Montana Academy.
Dear Ballet Students and Parents:
Sallyann Mulcahy's rich emotional life has always translated into beautiful, soulful
dancing. It is often the case that the most sensitive of artists do not blow their own trumpets,
and perhaps the quiet profile she has kept these many years in Montana were in preparation
for a new life direction. Having shared the joy she imparts to her students and professional dancers, we are delighted to hear about her decision to found Ballet Montana Academy.
Sallyann demands nothing less than the best of her students, yet at the same time is able to support them through the difficult transitional stages required when breaking old dance-training habits and creating new, healthier ones. Her solid teaching base and technique combine with her positive and generous spirit to enlighten her dancers, and we support her wonderful endeavor wholeheartedly.
Gelsey Kirkland and Misha Chernov
Founders, Co-Artistic Directors
Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet
400 Central Park West, Suite 14W, New York, NY 10025
www.gelseykirklandballet.org
Class Offerings
Ballet Montana Academy teaches classical-ballet technique at three levels. Achievement Track I is designed for serious, talented students who are considering ballet as a career. Achievement Track II is open to students transitioning from Track I with correct, detailed advanced-level* technique and a commitment to dancing professionally. The syllabus for both programs comprises an optimal balance of technique, variations, pointe, and physical conditioning. Dénouement is an Academy level dedicated to providing technical and artistic refinement to emerging and established professionals, including career counseling, audition preparation, remedial training, and injury prevention/recovery.
Enrollment at all levels is by audition.
*Ballet Montana Academy's ability standards are international and career-oriented, based on a student's preparedness to dance professionally.
Academy-Training Residency
Ballet Montana Academy offers training at a level that invariably requires a focus change and, occasionally, a residency change. A high percentage of students who have studied a year or more with Sallyann have become professional dancers, and their studies have often meant relocating to Helena to train with her: sometimes permanently with their families, sometimes renting an apartment during the week with a home-schooling parent, sometimes residing with a host family and transferring to a Helena public school. Students in their junior or senior year of high school who need assistance locating a Helena host family are invited to inquire about home-stay possibilities. High-school graduates who wish to combine serious ballet training with higher education are encouraged to research course options at Carroll College.
Collaborations, et Cetera
*Annual Summer Professional Apprenticeships with Ballet Montana
*Classes in dance history and music appreciation
*"The Stage We Share": Scheduled interpretive student excursions to concerts, opera, dance performances,
galleries
*Dance-career counseling and company-placement/audition assistance
*Technique evaluation/consultation
*Challenging, advanced-level semi-annual Academy performances
*Pilates training, injury prevention, nutrition, physical-rehabilitation guidance
*Choreography workshops and choreographic services
*Seminars in ballet-teaching methodology
*Guest coaching
*Stage-combat instruction
"Genius is the ability to reduce the complicated to the simple. Sallyann Mulcahy has this gift of greatness. What she gives will always work."
Dr. Arnold Spohr, Artistic Director
Royal Winnipeg Ballet, 1958-1988
"She knows what ballet is all about and has trained with the best and danced the best with the best. Sallyann not only understands cutting-edge dance technique but also is able to demonstrate it. She is an artist of the highest caliber."
Finis Jhung, Master Teacher
Founder, Chamber Ballet USA
"Sallyann is the ballet whisperer. She knows what dancers need and gives it life."
Halliet Slack,
Dayton Ballet
"Sallyann's deep understanding of the intricacies of ballet parallel the intensity of her passion for sharing this beauty with her students. These qualities radiate through her precise training methods, and resonate as a truly powerful means of artistic growth."
Susan Roemer,
Smuin Ballet
Class and Tuition Schedule, 2012/2013*
Academy classes commence September 4, 2012 and run through May 31, 2013 in two semesters. Enrollment is limited with very small classes allowing for extensive individual attention. Tuition includes performance, wardrobe, and rehearsal costs, dance-library access, Saturday classes, and admission to two "The Stage We Share" excursions per semester. Full-semester registration is required. Academy performances are staged annually, with optional invitational engagements.
| Achievement Track I: | Monday, Wednesday, Friday 4:00-6:30pm |
| Tuesday and Thursday 6:30-8:00pm | |
| Ballet History/Music Appreciation classes 10am-noon | |
| on the first Saturday of each month | |
| Track I Tuition: | $400/month; $1580/full-semester payment (12% discount) |
| Achievement Track II: | Monday through Friday 1:00-3:30pm |
| Monday, Wednesday, Friday 4:00-6:30pm | |
| Ballet History/Music Appreciation 10am-noon | |
| on the first Saturday of each month | |
| Track II Tuition: | $520/month; $2060/full-semester payment (12% discount) |
| Private Lessons: | 1/2 Hour, $45 | Per 5 | $215 | Per 10 | $400 |
| (Deduct 20% for | 3/4 Hour, $65 | $310 | $580 | ||
| Academy students) | 1 Hour, $75 | $355 | $660 |
Acceptance at Ballet Montana Academy is by private audition and interview, and requires a parental consultation. Contact Michael Russell, Director of Development, at or Sallyann Mulcahy, Director, at or call 406-447-5508.
*Subject to revision
©2013 Ballet M Academy
