Alabama Ballet

The Alabama Ballet is a ballet company in Alabama, United States.

History

Prior to the establishment of Alabama Ballet, there were three smaller ballet companies in the state of Alabama: the Birmingham Civic Ballet, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Ballet and Ballet Alabama. In 1981, dancers Sonia Arova and Thor Sutowski decided to start a bona fide ballet company in the state and created Alabama Ballet. Fifteen years later, in 1996, Wes Chapman and Roger Van Fleteren became co-directors of the company. Nearly a decade later, in 2005, Tracey Alvey became Ballet Mistress and, two years later, Artistic Director.Todd Keith, ''Insiders' Guide to Birmingham'', Globe Pequot, 2011, pp. 92-9

/ref> After Chapman left, Van Fleteren became Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer. Moreover, Leslie Fillmer serves as a music composer for the company.

One of its annual performances is ''The Nutcracker'' as choreographed by George Balanchine (1904-1983). Indeed, it is one of only six ballet companies in the world licensed to perform it. The company has also performed choreographic renditions of '' Dracula'' and '' Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde''.

Since 1997, in conjunction with the Gorham Bluff's Institute, it has organized a summer residency in Gorham's Bluff, Alabama, overlooking the Tennessee River Valley.Michael Huebner
Alabama Ballet retreats to Gorham's Bluff
''The Birmingham News'', August 09, 2010Great Southern Gateaways
''Atlanta'', July 2007, p. 172Michael Huebner
Alabama Ballet offers elegant retreat from city atop Gorham's Bluff
''The Birmingham News'', August 10, 2010Alabama Ballet plans annual summer residency at Gorham's Bluff
''The Gadsden Times'', July 03, 2003

Additionally, the company runs a school for children ages 3 to 18.

References

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Dance in Alabama
Ballet companies in the United States
1981 establishments in Alabama
Arts organizations established in 1981