Greensboro Ballet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Greensboro Ballet |
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| General information | |
| Name | Greensboro Ballet |
| Local name | Greensboro Ballet |
| Previous names | Greensboro Civic Ballet, Civic Ballet Theatre |
| Year founded | 1964 |
| Principal venue | Carolina Theatre of Greensboro Greensboro United States |
| Website | Greensboro Ballet |
| Senior staff | |
| School director | Nina Bass Munda |
| Artistic staff | |
| Artistic Director | Christine Cervino Grider |
| Other | |
| Associated schools | The School of Greensboro Ballet |
| Formation |
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The Greensboro Ballet is a professional ballet company located in North Carolina. It is the only ballet company in the Piedmont Triad area. It is also one of the few non-profit ballet companies in the state. This means it focuses on art and education, not just making money.
The Greensboro Ballet performs many famous ballets. They have also shown special dances created just for them. These works were made by talented choreographers like Rick McCullough and Emery LeCrone. Maryhelen Mayfield was a director for many years. She created over twenty-five dances for the company.
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History of Greensboro Ballet
The Greensboro Ballet started in 1964. It was first called the Greensboro Civic Ballet. Its main goal was to give local dancers a chance to perform each year.
In the 1970s, the company changed its name to Civic Ballet Theatre. They also opened a ballet school. The group joined the United Arts Council of Greensboro. This helped them get funding and a space in the Greensboro Cultural Center.
Elissa Minet Fuchs, a dancer from New York City, was an early artistic director. In 1980, she brought in Maryhelen Mayfield. Mayfield, a former dancer herself, became the Artistic and Executive Director. Under her leadership, the school became an "Honor Company." This is the highest level of membership in the Southeast Regional Ballet Association. The company then changed its name again to Greensboro Ballet. In 1995, professional dancers joined the company.
The Greensboro Ballet often performs with live music. They have worked with the EMF Young Artists Orchestra and the Greensboro Symphony. While they mostly perform in Greensboro, they have also toured around North Carolina.
In 2017, a dancer named Lauren Dorn made history. She was the first African-American to dance the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in their Nutcracker show.
In 2019, new leaders took over the Greensboro Ballet. Jennifer Savage Gentry became the Executive Director. Nina Bass Munda became the School Director. Christine Cervino Grider was hired as Artistic Director in 2022.
During the COVID pandemic in 2020, the Greensboro Ballet found a creative way to perform. They filmed their Nutcracker show at the Carolina Theatre. Then, they showed the film at a "Nutcracker Drive-In" at the Greensboro Coliseum. This event got national attention from CBS Morning News. It helped their dancers perform and supported local businesses.
That same year, they created a virtual show called A Benefit for Healthcare Heroes. They offered this performance for free to over 10,000 healthcare workers.
In 2022, famous guest artists performed in The Nutcracker. These included Megan LeCrone and Alicia Mae Holloway as the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Famous Ballet Shows
Greensboro Ballet has performed many different ballets. Some of their well-known shows include:
- Cinderella
- Coppélia
- Dracula
- The Firebird
- Giselle
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
- The Nutcracker
- Muttcracker, a fun version of The Nutcracker with live dogs on stage!
- Serenade
- The Sleeping Beauty
- Snow White
- Swan Lake
- Mozartiana
- Les Sylphides
- Valse Fantasia
The School of Greensboro Ballet
The Greensboro Ballet also has its own school. It is called The School of Greensboro Ballet. It is one of the few non-profit schools in the Piedmont Triad that teaches classical Russian ballet. It is also the only school in Guilford County where students can learn Balanchine choreography. The school is located in the Greensboro Cultural Center.
The School of Greensboro Ballet is supported by a group of parents called BRAVO. BRAVO stands for Ballet Resource and Volunteer Organization. They help the school by raising money and providing volunteers. They work to support the dance education of the students.
Successful Alumni
Many talented dancers have come from The School of Greensboro Ballet. Some notable alumni include:
- Kara Medoff Barnett, who is now the Executive Director of American Ballet Theatre
- Katie Digby, who started her own dance company called Digby Dance
- Emily Byrd Lawrence, a meteorologist at WGHP
- Megan LeCrone, a soloist with New York City Ballet
- Emery LeCrone, a well-known choreographer and dancer
- Brandon Alley, a dancer with BalletBC
Community Programs
Greensboro Ballet offers many programs to help the community. They share the art of ballet with people all over Greensboro and North Carolina. Some of their programs include:
- Build-a-Ballet Program - This program helps create a new dance work each year. It is performed at a different public school in Guilford County.
- City Dance - The company visits elementary schools. They teach ballet techniques and movement classes. They also offer scholarships to students who show promise.
- Dancing Above the Barre - This program is for students with different abilities. It helps them enjoy dance classes.
- Dance in the Schools (DITS) - The company visits elementary schools in the Triad area. They perform and teach children about classical ballet.
- Out on the Town series - The company performs in community centers, schools, and theaters. They visit areas that might not often see ballet.
- First Friday - The Ballet Company takes part in the First Friday festival in downtown Greensboro every month.
- Annual shows where local schools can attend a performance at the Carolina Theatre for a very low cost or even for free.
Greensboro Ballet also gives free tickets to other non-profit organizations.
