Ballet Memphis
General information
NameBallet Memphis
Previous namesMemphis Concert Ballet
Year founded1986; 38 years ago (1986)
FounderDorothy Gunther Pugh
Principal venueOrpheum Theatre
Websiteballetmemphis.org
Senior staff
Chief ExecutiveGretchen Wollert McLennon
AdministratorCarol Miraglia
Artistic staff
Artistic DirectorSteven McMahon
Ballet MistressJulie Marie Niekrasz
Other
OrchestraMemphis Symphony Orchestra
Official schoolBallet Memphis School

Ballet Memphis is a regionally and nationally recognized professional ballet company based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded as Memphis Concert Ballet in 1986 by Dorothy Gunther Pugh. Ballet Memphis regularly performs at their Midtown home, at Playhouse on the Square, Crosstown Theater and the Orpheum Theatre.

Ballet Memphis presents classical and mixed-repertory contemporary choreography.

History

Ballet Memphis was founded in 1975 as Memphis Youth Concert Ballet. In 1986, it was renamed Memphis Concert Ballet when it was refocused as a professional troupe under Dorothy Gunther Pugh.[1] In July 1996, the company was renamed Ballet Memphis.[2]

View of main entrance and drop-off area with metal sculptures along the roofline.
Former Trinity Rd location

In August of 1997, Ballet Memphis began constructing a new location on Trinity Rd in Cordova. The building was designed with metal and glass to give it an industrial feel and included a marquee-like sign and five sculptures of dancers to maximize its visibility from the road.[3]

The current Ballet Memphis building was designed by archimania and opened to the public in August 2017.[4] That same month, Ballet Memphis sold its Trinity Rd building to Tennessee Shakespeare Company.[5]

In 2019, Pugh began to retire from leading Ballet Memphis, selecting Steven McMahon to succeed her as artistic director. In July 2020, Gretchen Wollert McLennon was selected by the company's board of directors as the new president and CEO.[6][7]

Company

Dancers (as of 2023-2024 season)

Name Nationality Training Joined Ballet Memphis Other Companies
Iori Araya  Japan Australian Ballet School 2017 Singapore Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, The Australian Ballet Dancer's Company
Kennedy Ballard  United States Feijoo Ballet School 2023 Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre, Huntsville Ballet Company
Angelina Broad Orlando Ballet School, BalletMet 2022
Anwen Brown Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, San Francisco Ballet School 2013
Matthew Cunningham Ballet West Academy, Boston Ballet School Pre-Professional Program, Orlando Ballet Second Company 2023
Joey Dlearo Lilburn School of Ballet, Orlando Molina Ballet Training Center, Richmond Ballet Trainee Program 2021
Eileen Frazer  Panama Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive (2011), Butler University B.A. Dance Pedagogy 2015 Ballet Nacional de Panama
Andre Gallon  United States Florida Ballet, Orlando Ballet School Pre-Professional program, Orlando Ballet 2021 Orlando Ballet
Cecily Khuner Berkeley Ballet Theater, San Francisco Ballet School 2010
Phoebe Magna The Hartt School Community Dance Division, The Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts 2022 Colorado Ballet (Studio Company), City Ballet of San Diego, Boulder Ballet, Richmond Ballet (Guest Artist)
Beth Ann Maslinoff The HARID Conservatory 2019, 2021 Eugene Ballet, Amy Seiwert's Imagery, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, San Francisco Opera, Canadian Opera Company
Darcy McLoughlin Manhattan Youth Ballet, BalletMet 2022
Wyatt Pendelton Ballet Tucson, University of Utah, Milwaukee Ballet II 2022 Rochester City Ballet
Demetrious Reed The Pointe! Dance Studio in Philadelphia, The Joffrey Ballet School in New York 2023 BalletX
Emilia Sandoval Crockett-Deane Ballet (Sacramento), Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre 2019 Nashville Ballet 2
Rianna Talento Grand Rapids Ballet, BalletMet, Virginia Balley Company & School 2023
Gretchen Vander Bloomer Dance Academy of Libertyville, Colorado Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Alabama Ballet 2021

2022-2023 season

Dracula choreography by Steven McMahon

Ballet Memphis' The Nutcracker

Winter Mix: Love Songs/Love Stories: Gerald Aprino's Birthday Variations, Marcus J. Willis' T&C's Apply, Garrett Ammon's Short Trip Home

Cinderella choreography by Steven McMahon

2021-2022 season

In This Moment: Gabrielle Lamb's Elapse, Steven McMahon New Work, Mariana Oliveira's Pagliacci

Ballet Memphis' The Nutcracker

Winter Mix: George Balanchine's Concerto Barocco, Trey Mcintyre Patsy Cline Gets Her Heart Broken, Brandon Ramey New Work

Soul: Julie Niekrasz's In Search Of, Emilia Sandoval's In Mind’s Eye, Chanel DaSilva's Heathen Hearts

2019-2020 season

Romeo and Juliet choreography by Steven McMahon at Playhouse on the Square

Ballet Memphis' The Nutcracker

Winter Mix: New works with choreography by Crystal Michelle Perkins, Julie Marie Niekrasz and Uri Sands

Ballet Memphis School

The Ballet Memphis School offers ballet lessons for ages 3 through adult in a nurturing environment that encourages all students to reach their potential, discover the joy of movement, and appreciate the art of dance.

Youth Ballet Memphis is the highest level of the school, with students practicing and performing alongside members of the professional company.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Smith, Whitney (February 6, 1987). "Ballet company outgrows its name". The Commercial Appeal. pp. B3. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Smith, Whitney (June 11, 1996). "Memphis Concert Ballet becoming Ballet Memphis". The Commercial Appeal. pp. B5. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  3. ^ Smith, Whitney (July 30, 1997). "Ballet facility 'to have a presence'". The Commercial Appeal. pp. A12. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Ferello, Jamie (10 August 2018). "The Ballet Memphis building shines behind a corrugated copper curtain". archpaper.com. The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  5. ^ Dries, Bill (September 1, 2017). "Tennessee Shakespeare Company Buys Ballet Memphis' Cordova Facility". Memphis Daily News. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  6. ^ "Dorothy Gunther Pugh, CEO and Founding Artistic Director of Ballet Memphis, announces retirement". ABC24. January 7, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  7. ^ Sparks, Jon (July 6, 2020). "Gretchen Wollert McLennon to lead Ballet Memphis". Memphis Flyer. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  8. ^ "Youth Ballet Memphis". Ballet Memphis. Retrieved 2023-12-17.

External links

Ballet companies
Dance companies in the United States
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