"We had teachers in tears of joy. Thank you for being our first assembly since COVID! It was beautiful, thank you so much." -teacher after a lecture demonstration of Sleeping Beauty
The Ballet Theatre of Maryland is a professional dance company that has brought cultural experiences to its Annapolis home for over four decades. Its reach extends far beyond one city, though, as the company tours throughout the state as a member of the Maryland State Arts Council Touring Roster. The organization believes dance has the power to unite, empower, and strengthen a community, and aims to extend these benefits to all regardless of background, age, or physical ability.
The organization’s Conservatory of Dance, which focuses on healthy body types and healthy mentoring, is the only school in Maryland that offers a fully comprehensive ballet training program for the beginner student up to the professional dancer. The Conservatory also supports an Adaptive Dance program. This inclusive class specializes in meeting the needs of individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities. It promotes self-expression, enhances spatial awareness, improves motor skills and coordination, fosters cooperation and collaboration–all while building a strong community.
As part of the nonprofit’s mission, The Ballet Theatre of Maryland connects local communities to the art of dance by expanding access to live performances and dance education. The company often performs excerpts from their repertory as part of instructive and educational demonstrations in Anne Arundel County schools during assemblies. It provides Access to Classics Outreach to introduce the art of dance to children and teachers from Head Start, school children in under-served communities, and organizations such as CASA, Casey Cares, and the Stanton House. At Maryland Hall, The Ballet Theatre of Maryland stages Mini-Performances for school children and seniors. The organization also participates in community engagement events like Annapolis Arts Week.
Visit their Contact Us page for general inquiries. Keep an eye out for the next season and register for classes in their Adaptive Dance Program. If you would like to connect your organization to the art of ballet and/or for a complete list of The Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s outreach program offerings, contact the Community Engagement Coordinator, Brenna Mazzara, at bmazzara@balletmaryland.org.
