In January, four choreographers—San Francisco-based Brian Enos; Fulbright scholarship winner Hazel Sabas-Gower; Avichai Scher, a 2005 Dance Magazine “25 to Watch”; and Los Angeles Ballet dancer Kelly Ann Sloan—spent 13 days rehearsing four new works with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet students for two performances at CPYB’s Warehouse Studios in Carlisle, PA, as part of ChoreoPlan 2011.

In 1998, CPYB started ChoreoPlan to commission emerging choreographers to create works for CPYB’s advanced dancers level 5 and higher. Each year, choreographers are invited to submit their work for consideration, and principal faculty member Laszlo Berdo selects four from an international pool of about 15 applicants.

“CPYB faculty does not guide the choreographers in who they should select for their pieces, so it gives the kids a real opportunity to step up to the plate,” says Berdo. “It’s a clean slate, and the possibilities are endless. ChoreoPlan is a growing experience for our dancers and hopefully a growing experience for our choreographers as well.” Info: CPYB.org

Photo: Laszlo Berdo with CPYB students (courtesy of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet)