Ballet Arkansas's roots can be traced to the Little Rock Civic Ballet, founded in 1966 by Lorraine and Donald C. Cranford. The organization was incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation in 1978 and over the course of its 46-year history, its programming has touched the lives of nearly Half-a-million Arkansans. Ballet Arkansas is the only professional ballet company in Little Rock and is the state's official ballet company SM, serving northwest, central, and southern portions of the state.

 

Under the visionary leadership of Michael and Catherine Fothergill, today Ballet Arkansas's company of 16 dancers is ranked among the Largest 75 Ballet Companies in America (based on revenue) by the Dance Data Project. Each year, Ballet Arkansas presents a vibrant repertory of the classics, masterworks of American dance, and premieres by the world's most daring dance makers to an audience of nearly 50,000. The organization's broadcast reach of the includes patrons in all 50 states and 24 countries.

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A statewide leader in dance education, Ballet Arkansas provides hundreds of children and adults of all backgrounds with exceptional training from a distinguished staff. Its interactive and educational K-12 outreach programs reach more than 10,000 K-12 students each year, and more than 300 children participate in its annual Community Cast productions.

 

Ballet Arkansas is a founding member of Little Rock's "Creative Corridor" in the heart of downtown. The company's headquarters are located across the street from the Arkansas Repertory Theater at 520 Main St.