Edge Rewrite
pun Source code View original
Jump to content

Draft:Montgomery Ballet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Montgomery Ballet
Formation1958
TypeProfessional ballet company and dance school
Legal statusNonprofit arts organization
PurposeBallet performance, dance education, and community outreach
HeadquartersMontgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Location
  • Montgomery, Alabama
Artistic and Executive Director
Danny Mitsios
Websitemontgomeryballet.org
Formerly called
Montgomery Civic Ballet

Montgomery Ballet is a professional ballet company and dance school based in Montgomery, Alabama. Founded in 1958 as the Montgomery Civic Ballet, the organization became a professional ballet company in 1987 and later adopted the name Montgomery Ballet.[1][2]

The company presents classical, neoclassical, and contemporary ballet works, operates the Montgomery Ballet School, and conducts educational outreach programs throughout central and southern Alabama.[3][4]

Montgomery Ballet is known for annual productions of The Nutcracker and Ballet and the Beasts, a free outdoor performance series held at the Montgomery Zoo.[5][6]

History

[edit]

Montgomery Civic Ballet

[edit]

Montgomery Ballet was founded in 1958 as the Montgomery Civic Ballet.[1][2] The organization began as a civic ballet group dedicated to bringing classical ballet performance and dance education to the Montgomery area.[1]

Corporate records for Montgomery Civic Ballet list several early incorporators, including Molly A. Brumby, Elinor R. Sameth, John C. Tyson III, Mary M. Buchanan, Peggy H. Joseph, and Jean T. Mann.[7][8]

The company was active in regional ballet organizations during its civic-ballet period. The Southeastern Regional Ballet Association listed Montgomery Civic Ballet among its member companies in the 1960s and early 1970s, including in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1970.[9]

Gary Moore served as artistic director of the Montgomery Civic Ballet from 1980 to 1984.[10] A 2013 resolution of the Alabama House of Representatives stated that Moore relocated to Montgomery as artistic director of the Montgomery Civic Ballet before beginning his later career with Montgomery Public Schools.[11]

Emily Caruso is also associated with Montgomery Ballet's early training lineage. Alabama Dance Theatre faculty member Joy Ohme's biography states that she began training with Montgomery Ballet under the direction of Gary Moore and Emily Caruso.[12]

Professionalization under Don Steffy

[edit]

In 1984, Don Steffy was hired as artistic director, with Marylou Hume serving as associate director and director of the Montgomery Ballet School.[1] During Steffy's 11-year tenure, the organization transitioned from Montgomery Civic Ballet into a professional company. In 1987, it adopted the name Montgomery Ballet.[1]

During this period, the organization was designated an "Advanced Arts Institution" by the Alabama State Council on the Arts and became part of the state touring program.[1] Montgomery Ballet was also designated the official performing ballet company of the City of Montgomery in 1987.[1] Community programs associated with this era included educational outreach and the annual outdoor performance series later known as Ballet and the Beasts.[1]

In 1989, Montgomery Ballet hosted the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association Festival in Montgomery, with Valerie Huston serving as adjudicator.[13] The company continued to appear in SERBA member-company listings in the early 1990s and was listed as an Honor company in 1992.[14]

Crommelin-Ball and Antunez era

[edit]

Priscilla Crommelin-Ball later led Montgomery Ballet for approximately a decade before the appointment of Elie Lazar as artistic director in 2007.[15]

From 1996 to 2007, Oskar Antunez served as associate artistic director and resident choreographer for Montgomery Ballet.[16] A former dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, and Harkness Ballet of New York, Antunez staged and choreographed numerous works for the company, including A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Carmen, Peter and the Wolf, Carnival of the Animals, Red, White & Blue, and Alice in Wonderland.[16]

In a 2007 Dance Magazine listing, Montgomery Ballet was identified as the official performing ballet company of the City of Montgomery, with Crommelin-Ball listed as artistic director and school director and Antunez listed as ballet master.[17]

Lazar, McIntyre, DuBose, and Villalobos leadership

[edit]

In 2007, Elie Lazar was appointed artistic director of Montgomery Ballet.[15] Lazar, an Israeli-born dancer, teacher, and choreographer, had previously directed the Joffrey Ensemble Dancers in New York and founded Lazar Ballet NYC.[15] He directed Montgomery Ballet from 2007 to 2011.[18]

Darren McIntyre served as artistic director during the early 2010s.[19] McIntyre is an Australian dancer, choreographer, adjudicator, and teacher who trained at the Australian Ballet School and performed internationally before working with Montgomery Ballet.[20]

Foye DuBose, a Montgomery-born dancer, choreographer, and educator, served as artistic director from 2014 to 2015.[21] DuBose had previously performed with Dayton Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Ohio Ballet, Southern Danceworks, and Alabama Ballet, and served as ballet master at Alabama Dance Theatre from 2005 to 2014.[21] The Montgomery Advertiser described DuBose as a Montgomery dancer and teacher who spent decades shaping young artists.[22]

In summer 2015, former Montgomery Ballet dancers Joseph and Laura Villalobos returned to the organization as co-artistic directors and co-school directors.[23] The pair choreographed Montgomery Ballet's 40th anniversary production of The Nutcracker and helped introduce new repertory and community programming during their tenure.[24] Joseph Villalobos also choreographed Montgomery Ballet's 2016 production of Messiah at Alabama Shakespeare Festival.[25]

Mitsios era

[edit]

Dionysios "Danny" Mitsios joined Montgomery Ballet as a dancer in 2017 and became interim executive director later that year.[26] By May 2018, Mitsios had become the company's artistic and executive director.[26]

Under Mitsios, the company expanded touring activity to communities including Greenville, Pike Road, and Tallassee; increased educational outreach; and developed new performances and community events.[26][27]

In 2022, the company relocated to a new studio at 1044 East Fairview Avenue in the Cloverdale neighborhood of Montgomery.[28] The space was designed to support classes, rehearsals, and black-box theater performances.[28]

In 2025, WAKA reported that Montgomery Ballet would receive its first permanent home after nearly 70 years, occupying the former Dixie Cleaners building on Coliseum Boulevard. The planned facility includes two studios, a costume shop, and a flexible black-box theater.[29]

Performances and repertoire

[edit]

Montgomery Ballet presents classical, neoclassical, and contemporary works. Its active repertoire includes works choreographed by August Bournonville, Marius Petipa, Arthur Saint-Léon, Jules Perrot, David Lichine, Vadim Fedotov, and Danny Mitsios, among others.[30]

The company's listed active repertoire includes Carnival of the Animals, Graduation Ball, Le Conservatoire, Napoli (Act III), The Nutcracker, Carmen, Pas de Quatre, Coppélia, Le Corsaire, Ocean and Pearls, The Awakening of Flora, excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty, A Folk Tale, Paul and Virginia, The Wizard of Oz, Snow White, La Vivandière, La Fille mal gardée, La Ventana, Paquita, and Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.[30]

The company also maintains contemporary and original works in its active repertoire, including The Masks We Wear, The Masks We Wear in the Neighborhood, Masks We Wear on Social Media, Lights, Head Full of Dreams, Your Sins, Taste of Greece, and Unifier.[30]

Major productions documented in independent coverage include The Nutcracker, Carmen, Snow White, The Wizard of Oz, Napoli, Le Conservatoire, The Masks We Wear, Lights, Graduation Ball, and Carnival of the Animals.[31][32][33][34]

The Nutcracker

[edit]

Montgomery Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker is one of its longest-running traditions. News coverage documented the 42nd annual production in 2017, the 43rd in 2018, the 48th in 2019, the 49th in 2020, and the 51st in 2022.[35][27][5][36][4]

The production has toured to Greenville, Pike Road, and Tallassee, and has included both public performances and LEAP educational performances for students.[27][5][4]

Ballet and the Beasts

[edit]

Ballet and the Beasts is an annual outdoor performance presented at the Montgomery Zoo. By 2018 the event had reached its 28th annual edition, and by 2019 its 29th annual edition.[2][37]

The event has included collaborations with Alabama State University, Troy University, and community organizations, and has featured works such as Carnival of the Animals, Four Swans, Swan Misfits, Animals of Classical Ballets, and Lights.[37][38][6][28]

Education and outreach

[edit]

Montgomery Ballet operates the Montgomery Ballet School, offering dance instruction for children, youth, and adults.[3] The company also operates educational outreach programs, including the Linking Education and Art Performances (LEAP) program.[3]

The LEAP program introduces students to ballet through performances, classes, and school-focused programming.[3] In 2022, Montgomery Ballet reported a LEAP performance of The Nutcracker for approximately 1,500 students, chaperones, and parents at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre.[4]

Principal dancer and outreach coordinator Rania Charalambidou has also led community cultural programming, including Greek folk dance classes supported by an Alabama State Council on the Arts grant.[39][40]

Touring and community programming

[edit]

Montgomery Ballet has toured productions and educational performances to communities in central and southern Alabama, including Greenville, Pike Road, and Tallassee.[27][41][26]

Touring and community performances have included The Nutcracker, Snow White, Graduation Ball, The Masks We Wear, and other classical and contemporary works.[41][42][43]

Facilities

[edit]

Montgomery Ballet operated for many years from a studio in the Courtyard Building on Eastern Boulevard in Montgomery.[44] In 2018, the company created an in-studio black-box theater for smaller productions, beginning with Carmen.[31]

In 2020, the company left its longtime Eastern Boulevard location and relocated to Woodley Road in Cloverdale, a building described by WAKA as Montgomery Ballet's original studio and as having been built in 1987.[45][44]

In 2022, with support from Montgomery architect and property owner Mike Watson, Montgomery Ballet secured a new space at 1044 East Fairview Avenue in the Old Cloverdale neighborhood and began planning for long-term development there.[44] The space was designed to support classes, rehearsals, and black-box theater performances.[28]

Following Watson's death in March 2024, the Fairview Avenue building was sold and later deemed unsafe, forcing Montgomery Ballet to vacate the property.[46] The company temporarily rehearsed and conducted classes at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Capitol Heights.[46]

Later in 2024, Montgomery Ballet secured a transitional location at 405 Coliseum Boulevard in the Eastbrook Shopping Plaza, with support from Lee Wilcoxon and community fundraising efforts.[47][48] The company announced plans to renovate that space with sprung flooring, mirrors, ballet barres, Marley flooring, a costume shop, two studios, and a studio theater.[47][48]

In 2025, WAKA reported that Montgomery Ballet would receive its first permanent home after nearly 70 years, occupying the former Dixie Cleaners building on Coliseum Boulevard.[29] Montgomery Ballet stated that the former Dixie Cleaners building was made possible through a generous gift and would include two fully equipped studios, a dedicated costume shop, and a flexible black-box theater.[44][29]

During construction of the permanent facility, the company temporarily operated from 440 Coliseum Boulevard.[citation needed] In May 2026, Montgomery Ballet moved into its permanent home at 104 Coliseum Boulevard.[citation needed]

Notable figures

[edit]
  • Molly A. Brumby, Elinor R. Sameth, John C. Tyson III, Mary M. Buchanan, Peggy H. Joseph, and Jean T. Mann – early incorporators associated with Montgomery Civic Ballet.[49][50]
  • Gary Moore – artistic director of Montgomery Civic Ballet from 1980 to 1984; later director of dance for Montgomery Public Schools and Booker T. Washington Magnet High School dance educator.[10][11]
  • Emily Caruso – early Montgomery Ballet educator associated with the training lineage of Montgomery dancers.[12]
  • Don Steffy – artistic director beginning in 1984; led the company through its transition into a professional ballet company in 1987.[1]
  • Marylou Hume – associate director and director of the Montgomery Ballet School during the Steffy era.[1]
  • Priscilla Crommelin-Ball – director and executive director during the late 1990s and early 2000s; led the organization prior to the appointment of Elie Lazar.[15]
  • Oskar Antunez – associate artistic director and resident choreographer from 1996 to 2007.[16]
  • Elie Lazar – artistic director from 2007 to 2011.[15]
  • Darren McIntyre – artistic director from 2011 to 2014.[51]
  • Foye DuBose – artistic director from 2014 to 2015; dancer, choreographer, and educator active throughout Alabama.[21]
  • Joseph Villalobos and Laura Villalobos – co-artistic directors and co-school directors beginning in summer 2015.[23]
  • Rania Charalambidou – principal dancer, educator, and outreach coordinator.[39][40]
  • Danny Mitsios – artistic and executive director from 2018; led expansion of touring, outreach, facilities, and community programming.[26]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "About Montgomery Ballet". Montgomery Ballet. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Heupel, Shannon (19 September 2018). "Ballet and the Beasts a carnival of fun at the zoo". Montgomery Advertiser.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Raquel Whitehead returns to lead Montgomery Ballet school". Montgomery Advertiser. 22 October 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Heupel, Shannon (6 December 2022). "Bringing it home: Montgomery Ballet's 'Nutcracker' road trip leads to MPAC on Dec. 14". Montgomery Advertiser.
  5. 1 2 3 Heupel, Shannon (11 December 2019). "A Christmas tradition: Montgomery Ballet's 48th annual Nutcracker returns this weekend". Montgomery Advertiser.
  6. 1 2 Heupel, Shannon (29 September 2021). "Ballet and the Beasts: Free night of dancing animals returns Friday to the Montgomery Zoo". Montgomery Advertiser.
  7. ↑ "Montgomery Civic Ballet, Inc". OpenCorporates. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Montgomery Civic Ballet, Inc". OpenCorporates. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Member Companies 1956-1989". Southeastern Regional Ballet Association. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Gary Moore M. Ed., C.I.E." LinkedIn. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  11. 1 2 "HR249: Commending Gary Stephen Moore for professional achievement" (PDF). Alabama Legislature. 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Joy Ohme". Alabama Dance Theatre. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Festivals 1980-1989". Southeastern Regional Ballet Association. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Member Companies 1990 to Present". Southeastern Regional Ballet Association. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Talley, Jennifer (18 June 2007). "Elie Lazar appointed Director of the Montgomery Ballet". ExploreDance. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 "'Midsummer' facts and background". American Midwest Ballet. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "United States". The Free Library. 1 September 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Elie Lazar". Peridance Center. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Darren McIntyre". Darren McIntyre. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "Darren McIntyre". Darren McIntyre. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  21. 1 2 3 "Obituary for Foye DuBose, III". Jackson Professional Funeral Services. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  22. ↑ Heupel, Shannon (18 September 2024). "Montgomery dancer Foye DuBose dies at 53 after decades shaping artists". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  23. 1 2 Ely, Liz (27 September 2015). "Former Montgomery Ballet stars return to lead company". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  24. ↑ "Press Release: Montgomery Ballet Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary Performance of The Nutcracker". Montgomery Ballet. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  25. ↑ "Montgomery Ballet Presents Messiah at Alabama Shakespeare Festival". Montgomery Ballet. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 Heupel, Shannon (3 January 2023). "Danny Mitsios building Montgomery's dance culture one step at a time". Montgomery Advertiser.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Heupel, Shannon (5 December 2018). "A true holiday road trip: Montgomery Ballet's 'Nutcracker' at Davis Theatre this weekend". Montgomery Advertiser.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Heupel, Shannon (5 October 2022). "Montgomery Ballet ready to light up zoo's night with Ballet and the Beasts". Montgomery Advertiser.
  29. 1 2 3 "Montgomery Ballet gets first-ever permanent home". WAKA 8. 14 May 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  30. 1 2 3 "Active Repertoire". Montgomery Ballet. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  31. 1 2 Heupel, Shannon (7 February 2018). "Montgomery Ballet is bringing Carmen home". Montgomery Advertiser.
  32. ↑ Heupel, Shannon (9 May 2018). "Montgomery Ballet puts own twist on Oz and Napoli". Montgomery Advertiser.
  33. ↑ Heupel, Shannon (7 May 2019). "Montgomery Ballet bringing Fedotov's Snow White to ASU this weekend". Montgomery Advertiser.
  34. ↑ "Montgomery Ballet presenting Spring Concert 2023". Montgomery Advertiser. 3 May 2023.
  35. ↑ Heupel, Shannon (6 December 2017). "It's a whole new Nutcracker at Montgomery Ballet". Montgomery Advertiser.
  36. ↑ Heupel, Shannon (9 December 2020). "Montgomery Ballet has three days of Nutcracker performances this weekend at Davis Theatre". Montgomery Advertiser.
  37. 1 2 Heupel, Shannon (19 September 2019). "Free night with Ballet and the Beasts at the Montgomery Zoo on Friday". Montgomery Advertiser.
  38. ↑ Heupel, Shannon (5 November 2020). "Montgomery Ballet gets wild and masked Friday at Montgomery Zoo for Ballet and the Beasts". Montgomery Advertiser.
  39. 1 2 Hitson, Hadley (6 December 2022). "Alabama State Council on the Arts doles out $1.2 million to support public arts programs". Montgomery Advertiser.
  40. 1 2 Heupel, Shannon (23 March 2023). "Opa! Learn Greek folk dance for free at the Montgomery Ballet". Montgomery Advertiser.
  41. 1 2 Heupel, Shannon (3 May 2019). "Montgomery Ballet's Snow White takes a bite out of Greenville on Sunday". Montgomery Advertiser.
  42. ↑ Heupel, Shannon (27 February 2019). "Mardi Gras and mirth: Montgomery Ballet ready to party this Saturday". Montgomery Advertiser.
  43. ↑ Heupel, Shannon (22 February 2023). "Montgomery Ballet takes new Masks dance into the secrets we hide from online". Montgomery Advertiser.
  44. 1 2 3 4 "Montgomery Ballet Finds Its Forever Home — A Historic First Since 1958". Montgomery Ballet. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  45. ↑ "Montgomery Ballet Moves Back to Original Studio". WAKA 8. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  46. 1 2 Heupel, Shannon (9 April 2024). "Montgomery Ballet moves to temporary church home after Fairview building deemed unsafe". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  47. 1 2 Heupel, Shannon (31 July 2024). "Montgomery Ballet asks for help to prepare its new home". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  48. 1 2 "Montgomery Ballet Launches Fundraising Campaign for New Home Renovations". Montgomery Ballet. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  49. ↑ "Montgomery Civic Ballet, Inc". OpenCorporates. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  50. ↑ "Montgomery Civic Ballet, Inc". OpenCorporates. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  51. ↑ "Darren McIntyre". Darren McIntyre. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
[edit]

Category:Ballet companies in the United States Category:Culture of Montgomery, Alabama Category:Performing arts in Alabama Category:Organizations based in Montgomery, Alabama Category:Arts organizations established in 1958 Category:1958 establishments in Alabama Category:Dance schools in the United States Category:Non-profit organizations based in Alabama

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Montgomery_Ballet&oldid=1367947065"