KANSAS CITY BALLET ASSOCIATION
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Mission Statement
MISSION The Mission of Kansas City Ballet is to establish the organization as an indispensable asset of the Kansas City community through exceptional performances, excellence in dance training and community education programs for all ages. VISION Kansas City Ballet: Making Kansas City a destination for dance.
About This Cause
THE COMPANY Kansas City Ballet, a professional company of 28 dancers (plus KCB II – a second company of six – and a newly formed Trainee group) was incorporated in 1957 by Tatiana Dokoudovska to serve Greater Kansas City. Under the direction of Artistic Director Devon Carney and Executive Director Jeffrey J. Bentley, the Ballet is one of the most artistically dynamic and financially sound performing- arts institutions of its size in the country. Besides a series of performances for nearly 60,000 people a year at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity, we are proud of our Kansas City Ballet School (1,800 youth and adult students) and our community-education program, which reaches 17,500 annually. Kansas City Ballet has earned the respect of the national dance community as well as the city and region as an organization devoted to excellence, committed to the best interests of its artists and willing to take artistic risks even as it protects and secures its financial resources. The late Todd Bolender, a former dancer with the New York City Ballet and protégé of George Balanchine, established Kansas City Ballet’s artistic focus. Artistic Director Devon Carney joined the company in July 2013, replacing William Whitener, who spent the previous 17 years with the company. THE SCHOOL The Kansas City Ballet School provides excellence in dance training for more than 1,800 participants each year. Under the leadership of our new school director, Grace Holmes, we are experiencing significant growth in participation. The School is comprised of two divisions: The Academy, for ages 3-19 (plus the soon-to-be-formed Training Company and KCB II), and Studio Classes for community members age 12 through adult. The Academy’s comprehensive approach is based on the classical ballet traditions and prepares students for opportunities within the artistic community and professional dance world. It includes the Kansas City Youth Ballet (led by Kimberly Cowan) for about two-dozen outstanding high-school dancers, as well as KCB II and the Trainees (led by Anthony Krutzkamp). Studio Classes encourage health and wellness through dance and movement classes. Its diverse offerings include ballet, Pilates, Zumba, tap, jazz, Hip Hop, Flamenco, modern, yoga The School develops students whose lives are enhanced through their experience with faculty, staff and artists. These students are in a position to elevate the community’s appreciation of the arts through their outstanding dance education. The School also boasts two locations; downtown at the Todd Bolender Center and in Johnson County, Kan. Many students receive scholarship support to ensure their continued participation, regardless of economic capacity. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION • Reach Out And Dance (ROAD) is the centerpiece of our community outreach. It brings dance directly into 12 elementary schools weekly during the school day to introduce children to movement fundamentals and live accompaniment. This year we have served more than 700 children. Kansas City Ballet provides this program at no charge to the schools, an offer made necessary by reduced school budgets and reinforced by our commitment to the program’s powerful results. It costs, on average, $7,000 a school for us to provide an instructor, pianist and curriculum support. Research consistently shows the positive impact ROAD has on student’s academic, physical and social development. • KC Dance Day brings together the community and diverse dance groups, including several world dance troupes, to The Bolender Center each August for a day of free performances and classes. More than 2,200 participate; this event is free and open to all. • Open rehearsals give patrons and the community (often at a First Friday event) the opportunity to observe our company preparing for an upcoming performance. A reception afterward gives patrons the opportunity to mingle with the dancers. • Student matinees of The Nutcracker (and, occasionally another ballet). More than 6,000 schoolchildren attend these performances with their classes, each at a significantly reduced ticket price of $10. We visit classrooms in advance to prepare the students for the experience ahead. • Free lecture series - its intent is to provide ballet insights and history delivered by leading artists in the field. • The Adaptive Dance Program will foster a love of dance, music and creative expression. In doing so, it will build coordination, fitness, focus and self-esteem. It is a partnership with the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City, Brain Balance and the nonprofit Children’s Therapy Group, Inc. For now, it focuses on children ages 3-7, though plans do include expanding it older children as well as those with physical disabilities.