Boston Ballet, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events, and Boston Public Schools, present two free, interactive performances featuring Boston Ballet company dancers, Boston Ballet II dancers, and Boston Ballet School students at The Strand Theatre at 543 Columbia Road in Dorchester, MA on Friday, March 12, 2010 at 10:30am and 4:30pm.
“Boston Ballet is thrilled to perform at The Strand Theatre for the first time,” said Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. “Boston Ballet is the city’s ballet company, and our deep roots in the community continue to grow through our extensive outreach programs and our mission for excellence and access to the art form of dance. These inaugural Strand Theatre performances are part of our many initiatives to support and contribute to the Boston community.”
“This is a great opportunity for Boston kids to learn about dance, which I have always found to be such a productive and healthy outlet for them to express themselves,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “I want to thank Boston Ballet for continuing to offer great resources to our community by helping expose our kids to this beautiful art.”
The performances, developed specifically for The Strand Theatre, will feature a dynamic introduction to a variety of dance forms through an interactive and diverse program. The performance will include contemporary dance, classical ballet, and new works created for event.
The 10:30am performance has been reserved for Boston Public School students. The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events has generously assisted in the transportation for over 400 students to attend and has waived the Strand’s standard rental fee. The 4:30pm performance is free and open to the general public.
The two performances are an extension of Boston Ballet’s unparalleled community outreach initiatives which include the nationally acclaimed Citydance, Adaptive Dance and Taking Steps programs. Boston Ballet is proud to reach more than 10,000 children every year through its education and outreach programming.
The event is sponsored by Boston Ballet, The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events, and Karmaloop.
About Boston Ballet
Since 1963, Boston Ballet has been one of the leading dance companies in the world on stage, in the studio and in the community. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Executive Director Barry Hughson, the Company maintains an internationally acclaimed repertoire and the largest ballet school in North America, Boston Ballet School.
Boston Ballet maintains a repertoire of classical, neo-classical and contemporary works, ranging from full-length story ballets to new works by some of today's finest choreographers. Boston Ballet's second company, Boston Ballet II, is comprised of pre-professional dancers who gain experience by performing with the Company and independently, presenting lecture-demonstrations and special programs to audiences throughout the Northeast.
Boston Ballet School, the official school of Boston Ballet, has a long-standing dedication to excellence and access and reaches more than 10,000 students ages 2-adult each year through Boston Ballet School classes, Summer Dance Workshop, Summer Dance Program, Citydance, Taking Steps, and Adaptive Dance. The wide array of dance programs are held at four studio locations in Boston, Newton, Norwell and Marblehead, as well as community centers and in Boston Public Schools.
The Mayor’s Office of Arts Tourism & Special Events
The Mayor’s Office of Arts Tourism & Special Events is responsible for advancing the arts, tourism and culture in the city of Boston by providing advocacy, support, promotional and technical assistance, and by producing special events and public celebrations that reflect the city’s rich diversity.
The Strand Theatre
The mission of the Strand Theatre is to serve as a cultural and educational resource to artists and audiences regardless of race or cultural background, age, ability, gender, economic level, or sexual orientation. Central to the Strand's mission is the development and implementation of youth arts educations programs. The Strand Theatre has a special commitment to the surrounding communities of Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan.
