CEA travels to Spain every four to six years with groups of dancers and soccer players. This cultural immersion experience allows students had the opportunity to expand their horizons and train in internationally renowned facilities and conservatories. Dancers participate in a variety of classes, workshops, performances, and cultural exchanges. Soccer players participate in training sessions and clinics. Together, students additionally visit multiple museums and cultural centers, including the Prado Museum and Reina Sofia Museums in Madrid, as well as day trips to Segovia, Toledo, Medida, La Mancha, and/or Cordoba. They watch performances in typical tablaos and enjoy a Broadway musical in Spanish.
Dance
Dancers experienced the four disciplines of Spanish dance, classical Spanish dance, flamenco, Escuela Bolera, and folklore, in a variety of settings, as well as ballet and contemporary dance classes. Spanish dancers take class in the Carmen Amaya Conservatory in Madrid, where they experience classes in ballet, classical Spanish dance, Escuela Bolera, and flamenco alongside dancers their age in Spain, giving them the experience of professional Conservatory training in Spain. They also visited and attended seminars and watched classes at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos Dance Institute. In Madrid, they also take classes in the famous Amor de Dios studios with multiple renowned dancers including Eduardo Martinez (principal dancer, Ballet Nacional de España),ancers. After the rehearsal, they took a master class with principal dancer, Eduardo Martinez, Antonio Reyes, Cristobal Reyes, and Maria Torres, among others. They watched a professional rehearsal of the Ballet Nacional de España, where they had the opportunity to meet and interact with their artistic director and dancers. Dancers also took contemporary dance classes at the Centro de Danza Victor Ullate.
In Seville, dancers took class, had a cultural exchange, and performed at the Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Antonio Ruiz Soler. The dancers took class and performed alongside young dancers from the Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Antonio Ruiz Soler in Seville, forming new friendships and bonds with children their age in another part of the world. They observed several classes and attended performances that allowed them to more deeply grasp and understand the subtleties and meaning of the dance and experience it on a more emotional and profound level, thus eventually being able to transfer that knowledge into their own performances. They also took class and attended a performance at the Fundación Flamenco Cristina Heeren in Seville with renowned teachers, including Milagros Mengibar, Luisa Palicios, and Beatriz Rivera, among others. Learn More about Master Classes and Instructors
Soccer
Soccer players trained with the best of the best. They had training sessions, clinics, and activities with professional coaches from Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Real Betis, and training sessions with coaches from Fundación Marcet and Fundación Real Madrid. They learned new techniques and drills to improve their skills and develop a better understanding of the game. They played three friendly games against local teams their age, building an atmosphere of collaboration where they left with not only new skills, but also new friendships. They also visited the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, had a private tour of the Real Betis stadium, and even attended professional soccer games!
