Page 3 - Jupiter Spotlight - April '22

Jupiter Spotlight, Page 3
Florida Teen Selected For Prestigious Training

Program At Dutch National Ballet

Devon Luxton, 17, Was The Sole American “His success is a testament to Jean-Hugues Feray, who is
Male Dancer Offered A Contract At an extraordinary teacher. Devon has received elite training
Barcelona’s Grand Audition, Earning A at Paris Ballet that is comparable with some of the best
international ballet schools in the world.”
Coveted Spot At The Renowned Dance Meisner of the Dutch National Ballet Academy
Company’s Training Program In Amsterdam congratulated Feray for Devon’s progress. “Devon has
improved so much since I last saw him in our summer
It’s a real-life Billy Elliot story. program,” he said.
Similar to the young hero of the Broadway blockbuster And ballet isn’t Luxton’s only gift. A skilled visual artist,
and film, a talented American teen who started ballet he is a senior digital media major at West Palm Beach’s A.W.
classes only five years ago has earned a sought-after Dreyfoos School of the Arts, a highly competitive magnet
training program spot at one of the world’s foremost school that consistently ranks among the top 2 percent of
professional ballet schools: the Dutch National Ballet high schools nationwide. After school and on weekends, he
Academy in the Netherlands. Jupiter’s 17-year-old Devon Luxton has earned a sought- spends six days per week training with Feray at Paris Ballet.
Jupiter resident Devon Luxton, 17, was selected through after training program spot at one of the world’s foremost Prior to moving to Amsterdam in the fall, he will attend
a rigorous video audition process as one of 177 dancers professional ballet schools: the Dutch National Ballet summer intensive sessions on scholarship at Princess Grace
worldwide invited to audition at Barcelona’s Grand Audition Academy in the Netherlands. He earned the spot earlier Academy at Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and the famed
on Feb. 8 and 9, a prominent audition opportunity for this month in Spain, where he was the only American male institution familiar to Billy Elliott fans: the Royal Ballet
dancers (ages 17 to 26) to be seen by directors of multiple dancer offered a contract at Barcelona’s Grand Audition. School in London. He will travel this month to compete
international ballet companies. After the first day, the dancers Photo by Jonathan Givens in the regional competition where it all began: the Youth
were narrowed down to 49 (of whom Luxton was the only of EPS Entertainment Photography Specialists America Grand Prix regional competition in Kansas City,
American male dancer), and only 10 of those dancers were Mo. He was seen in Paris Ballet’s three performances at
offered positions by company directors. He was one of them the Jupiter school founded in 2009 by former international The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
– accepting a coveted placement that most young dancers ballet star Jean-Hugues Feray. in West Palm Beach, including Mixed Bill: An Evening of
can only dream of. A native of France, Feray served as a principal dancer Dance on March 20.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Luxton. “I’ve known with many international companies, including Ballet Florida “This is a unique opportunity for audiences to see all of
for some time that the Dutch National Ballet was where I and National Ballet de Marseille. With both his school and my school’s most advanced dancers perform before they
wanted to be. I can’t wait to continue training in their pre- conservatory, he and his staff focus on teaching ballet in its leave to start professional careers, including Luxton,” Feray
professional division starting this fall.” Only 12 male dancers purest, original French form, in addition to other forms of said. “I’d like to encourage everyone to come and see the
and 12 female dancers from across the world earn spots each dance. He knew immediately that Devon had natural talent incredible performances and talented dancers that we have
year for the 61-year-old Dutch National Ballet Academy’s that could be cultivated, Feray said. here at Paris Ballet.”
celebrated two-year training program. An opportunity that “Ballet is something that chooses the dancer, and it Tickets to all upcoming Paris Ballet performances at the
will also earn Luxton an associate’s degree in classical ballet, absolutely chose Devon,” he said. “He is incredibly naturally Kravis Center are currently on sale. For tickets and more
the intensive program serves as a training ground for the talented, so we started with the fundamentals of ballet and information, call the box office at (561) 832-7469 or visit
legendary Dutch National Ballet Company, the official and he progressed quickly from there. I am so proud of him and Kravis.org.
largest ballet company in the Netherlands. The program gives his many hours of training that have earned his success.” About Paris Ballet And Dance
talented young dancers the opportunity to prepare for a career Within 18 months of starting training, Devon traveled Paris Ballet and Dance was founded in 2010 by Jean-
with Dutch National Ballet or another leading international to Kansas City, Mo., to compete in the regional dance Hugues Feray, a native of France and former principal
ballet company. Its dancers also regularly perform in popular competition Youth America Grand Prix, often referred to as dancer with many international companies, including Ballet
professional productions by Dutch National Ballet. the “Olympics of ballet.” Up against students who had been Florida and National Ballet de Marseille. Located in Jupiter,
“We are thrilled that Devon Luxton will join Dutch training for many years, he won first place – then went on Fla., the school offers world-class dance training for students
National Ballet Academy’s associate degree upper school,” to dance in the New York finals. In the years since, he has starting at age 3. With a stellar reputation for quality,
said Ernst Meisner, choreographer and artistic director. “He been selected for the finals every year and has been offered exceptional master classes and top-notch training in ballet,
performed wonderfully well in Barcelona and I look forward numerous scholarships and opportunities. He has attended jazz, tap and modern, the school draws 100 students per year
to working with him at our academy this fall.” summer intensives at such famed institutions as the Paris from as far as Vero Beach, Lake Worth Beach and Wellington.
Luxton’s journey started just five years ago, when he saw Opera Ballet (where Feray received his training), Joffrey The school is also home to the prestigious not-for-profit Paris
a regional production of Billy Elliot: The Musical, the hit Ballet and the Dutch National Ballet Academy, which Ballet Conservatory, an elite accelerated training program
musical about a boy who discovers ballet and the teacher who solidified his love for the school and company. for students preparing for professional dance careers. For
fosters his natural talent. Inspired by the show and subsequent “Devon has been recruited for many renowned residential more about Paris Ballet and Dance and its Conservatory,
exposure to other dance musicals, Luxton, then 11, told his training programs through the years, but we’ve always call (561) 308-8377 or visit www.parisballetdance.com.
parents he’d like to try ballet. His mother enrolled him in felt that he’s already getting exceptional ballet training at
his first class on his 12th birthday at Paris Ballet and Dance, Paris Ballet and Dance,” said Julie Luxton, his mother.

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