Since it’s beginnings in 1978, Ballet East Dance Company has staged exciting dance programs through innovative and eclectic choreography and the development of young dancers. We now have a repertoire of more than 150 original works. Our most recent initiative – engaging nationally and internationally recognized choreographers and instructors – has taken off, like a rocket. We can now place dancers with national companies on scholarship, and local companies such as Ballet Austin and the Dance and Theatre Department of the University of Texas send their promising dancers to us for performance experience and rounding.
Ballet East has always seen itself as an instrument of community development, brining the arts to traditionally underserved area of inner-city Austin, introducing young people to the joy of performance and self-discipline through our Dare to Dance Program initiative. The Dare to Dance umbrella of programs – folkloric dance and the theatre/dance project – have grown and expanded to meet the need of communities serving the Martin and Mendez Middle Schools, Metz and Sanchez elementary Schools, Eastside Memorial High School (Johnston), and Metz and Dove Springs Recreation Centers. The infusion of professional instructors with board national training/experience has elevated the delivery of programming and simulated greater creativity as demonstrated at our annual recitals. Since 1989, 10,000 students at risk of dropping out of school have participated in this much loved program, and the audiences get bigger every year.
As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, Ballet East can look back on deep roots in the community, on growth and achievement. What comes next? First, our heartfelt thanks to our loyal audience and supporters; second, we invite you to be a part of our sizzling new season featuring choreographers Hope Boykin, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Francisco Gella, formerly of Philadanco. Our 2008 – 09 season will be dedicated to the memory of Robert Barnstone, who was a Council member in 1989, was instrumental in recognizing the need for after school programming and spearheaded the drive for allocation of funds to the “Dare to Dance Program.
Please join us by investing in the Ballet East Dance Company and its outreach programming. Ballet East is a non-profit organization supported by grants, donations, corporations and individuals like you. Contributions of all levels are welcomed. Your contributions are tax-deductible, of course, and in terms of rewards – priceless.
Thank you,
Rodolfo Mendez, Artistic Director
|
