Charlotte Ballet

Programs: Artistic programming: charlotte ballet presents 5-6 performance series of classical and contemporary ballet in charlotte annually, in addition to performing on tour locally, regionally and nationally. The organization employs an average of 28 dancers (20 first company; 8 second company) each season. The nation's top dancers are attracted to charlotte ballet's renowned artistic leadership; the diversity of its choreographers and challenging repertoire (both classical and contemporary); and a competitive contract that includes a minimum of 36 weeks of work/year. Throughout the organization's 46-year history, charlotte ballet has been recognized as an industry leader. Highlights include being named the nation's highest-rated dance touring company by the national endowment for the arts; receiving the advancement of excellence grant from the charlotte-mecklenburg arts & science council; invitations to perform at the spoleto festival, joyce theater, and - twice in three years - ballet across america at the kennedy center (where the new york times declared of the company, "lucky north carolina"). In the past several years charlotte ballet has been recognized locally, receiving a 2012 medal of honor in the arts from winthrop university and the 2015 center city vision award. Charlotte ballet was also recognized for "best rebranding" by charlotte magazine, following the brand evolution in 2014 from north carolina dance theatre to charlotte ballet. In 2017/2018, hope muir will become charlotte ballet's fourth artistic director since the organization's founding in 1970. Born in toronto, muir has worked for the past 27 years throughout europe, canada and the united states in both classical and contemporary dance companies. Her diverse career has seen her create and perform roles for some of the world's most prolific choreographers including twyla tharp, jiri kylian, william forsythe, george balanchine, paul taylor, merce cunningham, christopher bruce cbe and perter schaufuss. Muir has worked with some of the most prestigious companies worldwide as guest teacher, stager and rehearsal director including english national ballet, rambert dance company (london), hubbard street dance chicago, ballet bc (british columbia) and the national ballet of canada. She leaves her current role as assistant artistic director of scottish ballet to serve as the chief architect of charlotte ballet's aesthetic vision and artistic profile. As charlotte ballet launches this leadership change, the board, artists and staff are excited for what the future will bring for this company and community. Muir brings unique vision; unparalleled passion for the art of ballet; and relationships with renowned national and international choreographers such as javier de frutos, helen pickett, bryan arias, crystal pite and more. Her plans for the next three seasons at charlotte ballet include both classical and contemporary works that challenge the dancers and audience, engage partners and collaborators and shine a light on the human experience. Says muir, "i am thrilled and honored to have been invited to be the new artistic director of charlotte ballet at such an exciting time in the company's development. Jean-pierre bonnefoux and patricia mcbride have built a family of artists, produced exciting and varied work, and grown a loyal audience. I relish the opportunity to build on the company's tradition of excellence and lead it forward for the next generation. "

education & community engagement programming: charlotte ballet's flagship community engagement program, reach, offers ballet and world dance training by professional teaching artists and dance attire for up to 140 students annually, all at no cost to participants' families. Classes are conducted over 29 sequential weeks, in five community centers across mecklenburg county. The program, which is a result of a partnership between charlotte ballet and the mecklenburg county park & recreation department, is the recipient of the national association of counties award in recognition of "an effective and innovative program which contributes to and enhances county government in the united states and the north carolina recreation and parks association arts and humanities award. Not only does reach offer access to high-quality dance training at no cost, with classes in diverse neighborhoods across mecklenburg county; it also offers opportunities for promising students to continue to train in dance through scholarships to charlotte ballet academy, as well as mentorship opportunities for reach graduates that include teacher assistant positions and internships. Reach scholarships complement numerous scholarships offered by charlotte ballet academy to train at various levels. Charlotte ballet is committed to offering talented, committed dancers access to high-quality training, regardless of socio-economic background, geographic or other resource limitations. In addition to reach, charlotte ballet's annual education and community engagement programming includes community performances, behind-the-scenes tours, after-school dance programs, summer enrichment programs, senior dress rehearsals, curriculum-based arts education through in-classroom programming, dance-a-story workshops, lecture-demonstrations and educational theater performances - all in partnership with area schools and community organizations. A partnership with inreach (a non-profit organization that supports adults with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities) offers members and their caregivers weekly dance classes by charlotte ballet teaching artists and a public performance at the center for dance. During the middle & high school dance festival, charlotte ballet offers a two-day festival at the center for dance, with master classes and auditions for scholarships to college and summer dance programs. A "sensory friendly performance," gives individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders and other sensory, social, and cognitive disabilities the opportunity to enjoy a charlotte ballet performance with a modified level of sensory stimulus in the theater. In total, charlotte ballet's annual education and community engagement programming serves over 30,000 - approximately 85% of whom are children/youth.

dance training: the only dance school in north carolina affiliated with a professional dance company, charlotte ballet academy annually enrolls over 900 students ages 3-adult from across the country and around the world. Alumni of the highest level of training, the pre-professional division, have gone on to dance at american school of ballet, san francisco ballet and more; and the academy's repertory ensemble, a performance group made of top-level students, is designated as an honor company with the southeastern regional ballet association.

touring: charlotte ballet completes an annual residency at the chautauqua institute in chautauqua, ny. The charlotte ballet also toured in the current year to the gaillard center in charleston, sc with the nutcracker performance. Both the residency in chautauqua and tour in charleston include educational events and performances.