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After a career as a professional ballet dancer that spanned nearly two decades, Fay Smolen returned to her native Connecticut in 1995 to pursue a BFA degree in Children's Dance Education at the Hartt School/University of Hartford.
With a growing interest in the profound benefits music and movement has on child development, Fay transferred to the University of Connecticut in Storrs where she was able to individualize her major; Fay currently holds a Bachelor's degree in children's Dance and Music through UCONN's School of Family Studies. Fay is also a certified Kindermusik educator, and has taught Kindermusik 'Music box' at Clinton Child Care.
While at UCONN, Fay participated in an independent study in Children's Jazz and Tap at the Woodbridge JCC with UCONN faculty member, Christine Gambardella. In the summer of 2003, Fay completed post graduate study in Early Childhood Music with Professor Linda Neelly. The following semester, Fay was invited to assist Dr. Neelly in a symposium entitled "Musical Conversations Throughout the Day" at the Village Community School in New York City.
Fay's artistic education began at the age of seven with weekly classes in ballet, tap, and jazz at the Alyce Carella School of Performing Arts; Fay also studied piano and violin at the Community Division of the Hartt School of Music. At the age of eleven, Fay decided to focus on ballet, and was accepted into the rigorous pre-professional program of The Hartford Ballet where she was invited to join the company as an apprentice at the age fifteen.
After graduation, Fay joined the Connecticut Ballet Company as a soloist where she became known for her diversity, musicality, and lyrical style. Her numerous roles include the Sugar Plum Fairy and Dew Drop from The Nutcracker, Dance of the Hours from Coppelia, and The Cat from Peter and the Wolf!
Due to her natural singing ability and interest in all forms of dance, Fay auditioned for Theater-in-the-Park's summer season, where she performed featured roles in Carousel, Cabaret, Mame, and Music Man. She also served as Dance Captain for the entire cast.
For almost fifteen years, Fay called New York her home, where she studied classical ballet, pointe, modern dance, voice, tap, jazz, and acting technique. Her love of diversity led to numerous roles in many different genres: such as portraying the Angel in Opera Camerata's production of Hansel and Gretel, to dancing the Tango in La Mama's production of La Grande Josephine (a revue based on the life of Josephine Baker). Fay also frequently appeared as a Guest Artist in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.
While studying at American Ballet Theatre during Baryshnikov's tenure as artistic director, Fay was chosen to dance with ABT's corps de ballet in a 'Live from Lincoln Center' broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Later that season she returned to the Met, appearing in Sleeping Beauty with The Royal Ballet from London, and in Romeo and Juliet with Italy's La Scala Ballet.
Throughout her career, Fay has enjoyed teaching and sharing her passion for dance in a variety of ways. A faculty member at Eastern Connecticut Ballet from July 1998 to August 1999, Fay also coordinated the music and movement for special event held at the Mystic Aquarium promoting a children's book by Deb Adamson.
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