Dance Student From Carmel Academy of Performing Arts Accepts Apprenticeship

1. Dance Student from Carmel Academy of Performing Arts Accepts Apprenticeship at Prestigious Spanish BalletCompany A student of the Carmel Academy of Performing Arts, Alexandra Huffman (Wen Wen), has been accepted for a ballet apprenticeship with the prestigious Ballet de Catalunya in Barcelona,Spain. Carmel, CA, June 25, 2019 — A student of the Carmel Academy of Performing Arts, Alexandra Huffman (Wen Wen), has been accepted for a ballet apprenticeship with the prestigious Ballet de Catalunya in Barcelona,Spain. With two full scholarships awarded, Wen Wen leaves the Monterey Peninsula in late June for La Scala, Milan and IB Stage, Barcelona, continuing her passion and study before entering the trainee position in Barcelona and company rehearsals inAugust. “I am looking forward to my apprenticeship with Ballet de Catalunya as it gives me the opportunity to dance in what I consider the center of dance, Europe, yet I know CAPA will always be here and my special dance home,” Huffman told Carol Richmond, her first teacher, when she was home in Monterey this week and back at CAPA for the ballet intensive with her teacher Philip Pegler and Twyla Tharp dancer MatthewDibble. Huffman, who was adopted in China by Andra Aeslyn and Al Huffman of Carmel, began dance lessons at CAPA when she was age 3. Her summers have been filled with intensive ballet programs; four years with Paris Opera Ballet, Princess Grace Academy, San Francisco Ballet School and Prague Masterclasses. She recently graduated after two years at the year-round program in Washington D.C., Kirov Academy of Ballet.

2. The Huffmans made valiant attempts to adopt a daughter for six long years. Those years were spent applying for adoptions in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and various other countries, only to be turned away with governmental twists and turns, a failed match and many promises heartbreakinglycrushed. Andra Huffman’s sister had adopted a child from China, so with a final monumental push to realize their dream, they went to meet their new daughter. The second morning the 17-month-old toddler awakened in the United States, Andra was called Momma, and the new family never lookedback. “We will watch in awe of Wen Wen’s dedication to the performing arts, welcome her home at every opportunity and follow her progress and performances,” said Richmond, founder and director ofCAPA. About BNC — The CatalunyaBallet The Catalunya Ballet was created with the objective of filling a void that has existed for decadesin Catalunya. The company will be able to represent and identify Catalunya as a production center of dance with its own personality and capability to present the greatest dance classics of all time while also bringing new and avant-guard works to thestage. With the constitution of this new company, based on classical dance as its axis and precursor of any other type of modality, especially neoclassical and contemporary dance, young talented dancers from our country finally have the opportunity to be part of a national ballet company rather than join the continuous flight of Catalan and Spanish dancers to internationalcompanies. The BNC will have the presence of internationally renowned dancers, teachers and choreographers with an original artistic program of classical, neoclassical and contemporary repertoire. The company will present works by internationally recognized choreographers as well as some of the greatest Catalan choreographers in the history ofdance. The BNC is the resident company at the Cultural Center of Terrassa (CCT, which is recognized as the theater with the most extensive dance program in Catalunya. Opening in 1980, the CCT is a center that offers a diverse program of activities directed at all types ofaudiences. http://catalunyaballet.com/ Carmel Academy of Performing Arts Mission Street & Eighth Avenue Carmel, CA93923 (831)624-3729 www.carmelacademyofperformingarts.com Contact: Marci BraccoCain

3. Chatterbox PR Salinas, CA93901 (831)747-7455 http://www.carmelacademyofperformingarts.com