Ballet Theatre of Maryland facts for kids

The Ballet Theatre of Maryland is a professional ballet company located in Annapolis, Maryland. It started in November 1978 as The Ballet Theatre of Annapolis. The company became a professional group in 1996. In 2000, its name changed to Ballet Theatre of Maryland (BTM). This change helped the company serve the whole state of Maryland. Nicole Kelsch is the current artistic director. She began this role in the 2020–2021 season. Before that, she was a Principal Dancer and School Principal for 14 years.

Exciting Performances

The Ballet Theatre of Maryland performs many shows each year. Their 2022–2023 season included:

• Les Sylphides and Other Works (October 7–9, 2022)
• The Nutcracker (December 10, 11, 17, 18, 2022)
• Momentum (February 24–25, 2023)
• Don Quixote (April 28–29, 2023)

Meet the Dancers

The Ballet Theatre of Maryland has many talented dancers. They are organized into different levels. These levels show their experience and roles in the company.

Principal Dancers

Principal Dancers are the lead performers. They often dance the main roles in ballets. As of August 2022, some Principal Dancers included Lindsey Bell and Alexander Collen.

Soloists

Soloists perform important solo parts. They also dance in smaller groups. As of August 2022, Soloists included Aaron Bauer and Victoria Siracusa.

Demi-Soloists

Demi-Soloists dance in small groups and sometimes have solo parts. As of August 2022, this group included Caroline Anderson and Hannah Hanson.

Apprentices

Apprentices are dancers who are gaining professional experience. They are often newer to the company. As of August 2022, Apprentices included Destiny Billot and Emma Lane.

Trainees

Trainees are dancers who are still training. They are preparing for a professional career. As of August 2022, Trainees included Arielin Anderson and Jillian Battle.

Ballet Theatre of Maryland's School

The Ballet Theatre of Maryland also has a special school. It is called the School of Classical and Contemporary Dance. It opened in 1978. This school is the only one in Maryland with a full ballet training program. It teaches students from beginners to those ready for a professional career. Classes are available in Annapolis and Grasonville, Maryland.

The school's teachers use a special plan to train students. This plan is based on how the body moves. They teach different ballet styles. These styles come from famous schools like the American Ballet Theatre and the Royal Danish Ballet.