Dayton Ballet facts for kids

The Dayton Ballet is a famous ballet company located in Dayton, Ohio. It's one of the oldest ballet companies in the United States, starting way back in 1937!

Each year, the Dayton Ballet performs many shows. These often include classic ballets like The Nutcracker, plus exciting new dances. They perform in beautiful places like the historic 1,139-seat Victoria Theatre (Dayton, Ohio) and the larger 2,300-seat Schuster Performing Arts Center.

The Dayton Ballet is part of the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. This big group also includes the Dayton Opera and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. They work together to bring amazing performances to Dayton.

History of Dayton Ballet

How It All Started

The Dayton Ballet began with two sisters, Josephine (Jo) and Hermene Schwarz. They opened The Schwarz School of Dance in 1927. Jo Schwarz loved ballet and studied it in big cities like New York and even in Europe. She danced on Broadway but had to return home to Dayton after an injury.

In May 1938, Jo and Hermene brought together their best students. They called this new dance group "The Experimental Group for Young Dancers." Their first show was at the Dayton Art Institute. This special performance was the very beginning of what we now know as the Dayton Ballet!

Growing the Company

Jo Schwarz was a true pioneer in American regional ballet. She worked hard for many years to make Dayton a major center for dance. In 1958, the company changed its name to the Dayton Civic Ballet. It also became a non-profit organization. The Schwarz sisters helped organize many dance festivals and choreography events. In 1978, the company became fully professional and dropped "Civic" from its name, becoming simply the Dayton Ballet.

New Leadership: 1980s

Stuart Sebastian, who was a student of the Schwarz sisters, became the artistic director in 1980. He had danced professionally for the Dayton Ballet and the National Ballet of Washington. Stuart Sebastian led the Dayton Ballet for 10 years. During this time, the company became much more well-known and respected.

He brought in new dancers and created the company's first full-length ballet, The Sleeping Beauty. He also choreographed over 25 new dances, including other full-length ballets like Swan Lake and Dracula. Under his leadership, the Dayton Ballet toured over 75 cities and even went on its first international tour to Jerash, Jordan. In 1988, the company was even seen on national television during the opening ceremonies of the Pan American Games. Stuart Sebastian left the company in 1990 and sadly passed away in 1991.

Changes and New Directions: 1990s

After Stuart Sebastian left, the company went through a time of change. James Clouser, a former artistic director from the Houston Ballet, was hired. He was the first director not from Dayton, which brought many new ideas. Many dancers and staff changed during this time. In 1992, Dermot Burke became the first executive director in the company's history.

Modern Era: 1993–2011

Dermot Burke was a famous dancer with the Joffrey Ballet in New York. He became both the executive and artistic director of the Dayton Ballet in 1993.

Under Dermot Burke, the company focused more on American dance styles. They performed works by American choreographers and featured American dancers. The company also became known for performing a wide variety of dances, including both older works and new pieces by different choreographers. In 2011, Karen Russo Burke became the Artistic Director of the Dayton Ballet.

Joining Forces: 2012 Merger

After more than two years of planning, the Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera, and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra joined together on July 1, 2012. This new, single organization is called the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. It is the biggest performing arts group in the community! This alliance helps make sure that amazing performances continue in Dayton.

The new organization has one main team that handles all the business and operations. Each performing arts group, like the ballet, still has its own artistic director.

Dayton Ballet School

The Dayton Ballet also has its own dance school, called the Dayton Ballet School. It is the oldest dance school in Dayton and one of the oldest in the entire United States! It's the only school in the Miami Valley area that is directly connected to a professional dance company. This means students can learn from professional dancers and choreographers.

Famous Dancers from Dayton Ballet School

Many talented dancers have come from the Dayton Ballet School. Here are a few:

• Jeraldyne Blunden, who started the famous Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.
• Dan Duell, a dancer with the New York City Ballet and artistic director of Ballet Chicago.
• Joseph Duell, also a dancer with the New York City Ballet.
• Jeff Gribler, a dancer and ballet master with the Pennsylvania Ballet.
• Peter LeBreton Merz, who danced with Louisville Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet.
• Stuart Sebastian, who later became the Dayton Ballet Artistic Director.
• Donna Wood, a dancer with Alvin Ailey.
• Rebecca Wright, a dancer with American Ballet Theatre and the Joffrey Ballet.

See also

• Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
• Dayton Opera