August 14th of 2005, before a sold-out audience, marked the beginning of a new and revolutionary
arts organization; the Hartford
City Ballet. With a mission of providing an education in the arts while producing & presenting quality performances in Hartford
and throughout New England.
During 2006, Hartford City Ballet presented sold out performance presentations as well as performing
for the community in outreach programs. Hartford City Ballet and ESPN filmed a commercial for the UEFA Soccer finals which aired throughout
France and most of Europe. And a partnership with the Connecticut Valley Girl Scout Council was established and brought a performing
arts education to children living both in Hartford and surrounding towns.
During 2007, Thanks to our team of volunteers,
sponsors and supporters, as well as our well-accepted programming, we generated revenues, which exceeded all expectations. Hartford
City Ballets growth was a direct result of the dedication of our community to its cultural and artistic enrichment, with understanding
of the great impact which Hartford City Ballets consistent efforts create to it. Funds were used to expand to include a pre-professional
performing arts school; School of Hartford City Ballet. The Hartford City Ballet continued to re-establish a professional performing
arts presence in the Capital City presenting performance presentations as well as performing for the community in outreach programs.
Hartford City Ballet began 2008 as the center piece in Basel, Switzerland's Night at the Museumsnacht and some
30,000 spectators. In February, Hartford Children's Theater hosted Hartford City Ballet's annual Winter Ball,
Le Triomphe De L'Amour. Photographs displayed during February's standing room only presentation chronicled early beginnings,
backstage, on-stage, during rehearsals and preparation, high moments and low, the distress and the all of the excitement through
creation of the Hartford City Ballet. Following that performance, Hartford City Ballet went to Tijuana, Mexico to take part in
an international exchange of culture and ideas with Cubans unable to enter the United States due to the Embargo.
School
of Hartford City Ballet's 10 week Advancing Academic Achievement Scholarship, made possible through a City of Hartford grant, provided
an educational base in ballet and the performing arts to Classical Magnet School students of any race, color, and national
or ethnic origin, and produced and presented cultural and artistic performances for the community. City of Hartford's grant
was successfully expanded to include Theater classes for Hartford Children's Theater. May 8 at 3:00 pm, School of Hartford City
Ballet performed in the Atrium of City Hall.
We also celebrate and look forward to firmly establishing
ourselves within the Greater Hartford community by officially moving daily operations into a "Performing Arts Center" from
which our growing team of volunteers, partners, sponsors, supporters, students, families and artists will be able to further
enrich and expand excellence in the performing arts throughout the Captiol city and New England with multi-year programming
and special events.
You can dance anywhere, even if only in your heart,
Hartford
City Ballet/Artistic Director