About

Margot Fonteyn's Vision
Fonteyn Academy vs A Dance School
Dame Margot Fonteyn de Arias
Kenneth Ludden, Director
News Press
Background
Facilities
Boniello Library
Vreeland Costume Shop
Almaden Bank
Hookham Hall
Nob Hill Video Lab
Computer Workstations
Film Theater
Art Closet
Administrative Offices

Hookham Hall is designed specifically for Level 1 and Level 2 students in MFAB's Lower School. The room is 14' x 24'. With all of the structural features of Almaden Bank, Hookham Hall also has a brand new upright Young Chang piano (Donated in part by Ford Piano of Peekskill), that is specially outfitted with a sound damper so that the sound will not be too loud for teachers to speak over.

The studio's barres are at a level particularly for smaller bodies. In addition, the barre backboard is inlaid with icons of ballet history who were innovators in their time, to lend encouragement and inspiration to the youngest children that they, with as yet unformed futures, can create greatness of their lives if they want to. Above the barre backboard are display racks with original costume and stage set designs, again showing that the inspiration coming from a drawing or painting can become a real and lasting object in the material world.

Hookham Hall houses an overhead, theatrical digital projector that uses one entire wall as a movie screen so that films can be shown. These film projections take the form of both educational material for the students, and public offerings of ballet film nights for the general public. It is available for informal screenings of new films, or launch parties for new films as well.

Hookham Hall doubles as the General Arts room, costume shop, lecture hall and private rehearsal studio. It is a versatile space indeed, as the far end has independent lighting, and a dropped ceiling creating a make-shift proscenium arch for student acting classes and dramatic presentations.