Tulsa Ballet facts for kids

Tulsa Ballet is a professional dance company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its main goal is to keep classical ballet alive and to help people enjoy modern dance. They also create amazing new ballets and teach dance through great shows and classes. This company has performed all over the United States and even in other countries. Many people have praised their performances.

History of Tulsa Ballet

How Tulsa Ballet Started

Tulsa Ballet began in 1956. It was founded by a musician named Rosalie Talbot and a married couple, Roman Jasinski and Moscelyne Larkin. Jasinski and Larkin were very famous dancers. They were known around the world for their special style from the grand Ballets Russes tradition.

Growing into a Professional Company

Under the leadership of Jasinski and Larkin, the company grew a lot. By 1973, it became one of the top groups in the National Association for Regional Ballet. Then, in 1978, it officially became a fully professional ballet company.

Early Success and Recognition

Tulsa Ballet started to gain more attention in the 1980s. They performed successfully in New York City in 1983. They also went on a tour to the West Coast in 1986. In 1988, they returned to New York to perform a special ballet called Mozart's Violin Concerto. Because of these performances, Tulsa Ballet was recognized as one of Oklahoma's most important arts groups.

A Change in Leadership

In 1990, Roman Larkin Jasinski, the son of the founders, became the artistic director. However, the company faced some challenges during his time. There were disagreements among the board members, dancers, and managers. In 1994, Jasinski resigned, and the company needed new leadership.

Meet the Artistic Director

Marcello Angelini's Leadership

In 1995, a famous Italian dancer named Marcello Angelini became the Artistic Director of Tulsa Ballet. He helped solve the company's problems and made their performances even better. Angelini worked well with everyone, including Moscelyne Larkin, one of the founders. He was known for being strong and determined, earning him the nickname "The Italian Tornado."

Building a Strong Dance Company

Dance Magazine says that Angelini built a very strong and flexible company. This means the dancers can perform both classic ballets and modern pieces by famous choreographers. Angelini, who trained in Kiev, expects his dancers to be very skilled. He believes that to make a company grow, you need to challenge the dancers in new ways.

Amazing Ballet Productions

What Tulsa Ballet Performs

Every year, Tulsa Ballet puts on five main shows, plus their popular holiday performance of The Nutcracker. More than 48,000 people come to watch their shows each season. Under Marcello Angelini's guidance, the company has added many new ballets to its collection.

New and Exciting Works

Over the past years, Tulsa Ballet has added more than 60 new works. Many of these were either performed for the first time in America or were brand new ballets created just for them. Some of the world's best choreographers have worked with Tulsa Ballet. These include famous names like Leonide Massine, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Nacho Duato, and Val Caniparoli. Caniparoli is even their resident choreographer, meaning he creates many works specifically for them.

International Recognition

In 2002, Tulsa Ballet went on its first international tour to Portugal. A national magazine there called them "One of the best in the world." The company has also been featured in major dance magazines like Dance Magazine and Pointe Magazine. In March 2008, Tulsa Ballet was even on the cover of Pointe magazine, which is a big honor.

New Performance Space

In April 2008, Tulsa Ballet completed a big project. They raised $17.3 million to open a brand new performance space called Studio K. This studio has 300 seats and is used for creating new ballets.

Current Dancers

Principals

Soloists

Demi-Soloists

Corps de Ballet

Apprentices