About Us

What is Ballet Arkansas?

A community, a city and a state thrives when it provides a well balanced atmosphere in which its citizens can partake. This well balanced atmosphere attracts businesses and strengthens the roots of the community. Ballet Arkansas is committed to providing the vital artistic world of ballet. Whether it is through the performers or through the audience, the productions of Ballet Arkansas promise to enrich the lives of all of those involved.

Mission Statement

To provide world-class dance performance to Arkansans through a permanent company of professional dancers. We will position the company as a pillar of Arkansas’s performing arts community and enable it to inspire and educate students across the state, educate the public about dance, and act as an ambassador for the State of Arkansas.

History

Ballet Arkansas was founded in 1978 as a non-profit organization but traces its roots back to the Little Rock Civic Ballet. In 2009, the organization’s Board of Directors formed Ballet Arkansas Professional Dance Company. These dancers, from varied backgrounds, have unique capabilities in the area of teaching as well as performing. For the 2012-13 Season, Ballet Arkansas has nine professional dancers on contract, along with a two-person administrative staff and a ballet mistress. Its Season of three concerts including American Images, a fall concert at Wildwood Park for the Arts in October, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at Robinson Center Music Hall with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in December and Spring into Motion, a spring concert at Arkansas Repertory Theatre in April, 2013. The company also tours the state with concert productions and educational programming.

Artistic Director

Michael Bearden - Principal Dancer, Ballet West

2012-2013 Company

Leslie Dodge
Lauren McCarty Horak
Toby Lewellen
Anna Maris
Sean Porter
Laurel Dix
Paul Tillman
Katchiri Feys Tillman
Amanda Sewell

Ballet Mistress

Marla Edwards

Executive Director

Lauren Strother

Production/Company Manager

Erin Anson

Board of Directors

Dr. Larry Kim , President
Amy Jones , Vice President
Molly McGowan , Secretary
Cheddy Wigginton , Treasurer
Delanna Padilla
Jammie Neill-Ziller
Drake Mann
Wendy See
Jason Wiest
Karen Bassett
Clea Bunch
Shelia Vaught

Advisory Board

Jana Beard
Suzanne Catlett
Christina Munoz
Perry Young
Craig Wilson
Allison Wilson
Donna McCarty
Robert Henry
Jo Blankenship
Joe Kolb
Ginger Adams
Deede Phelps