The Heartland Youth Ballet and Theater Company are performing ensembles that provide highly-motivated young ballet dancers and actors with the technical training, artistic development, and practical experience needed to pursue professional performing careers. Open and free auditions were held this past fall to draw upon the talents of local student dancers. The companies are focusing their attention on two wonderful organizations that will help to provide students with performing opportunities, a hands-on connection to the community, and wonderful learning and sharing experiences with like-minded aspiring pre-professional students.
The first organization with which we are partnering is the non-profit WhyArts?. Their mission is to bring the arts to groups and individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities through presenting dance and theater workshops and residencies throughout the Omaha community. Heartland Youth Ballet and Theater Company will perform for such groups as: Camp Fire USA, Creighton University, Educare Center of Omaha, MOSAIC, Omaha Children’s Museum, Quality Living Inc, Ronald McDonald House and many more. Student’s will be encouraged to socialize with the audiences after the performances – what better way to learn about the diverse world in which we live?
We plan our second close tie to be as a member of Regional Dance America, a dance organization celebrating its 50th Anniversary. RDA’s mission is to advance and foster the growth and education of dancers, choreographers, directors and dance companies in every community across the United States and Canada. Any company member 10 and older is eligible to participate in the RDA festival. The 2011 festival will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Students will have the opportunity to take master classes with some of the worlds most well-known instructors in jazz, ballet, pointe and modern and even be given opportunities to perform at the festival. Exposure to other hard-working Regional Dance America company members in classes and performances will help re-new student’s detemination and passion to strive towards their dream.
The Heartland Youth Ballet is directed by Rachel Hartley and Robin Welch and holds rehearsals at Robin Welch Dance Arts. Weekly rehearsals after school and on week-ends, provide the company with the necessary staging, and coaching time to ensure students the training and performing quality needed to bring the Omaha community high-quality and well-polished demonstrations and performances.
Heartland Youth Ballet and Theater Company will have its first fund-raising event on April 2, at Jocelyn Castle. If you would like to help, or have ideas or expertise in fundraising, please call us at 237-8801.
This summer, Heartland Youth Ballet will present Summer Stock in Omaha! This exciting performance summer camp will culminate in two great productions at a wonderful new Omaha Amphitheater. In June HYB will present the ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, based on Shakespeare’s play of the same name with music by Felix Mendelsson. This beautiful, well-known classical ballet fantasy, is full of fairies, love, and mischief. In August, we will present a lively, fun-filled production of Babes in Arms. Written by Rogers and Hart, this great musical is about a teen who puts on a show with his friends and features songs like, Johnny One-Note, My Funny Valentine, and I Wish I Were In Love Again! Audition information will soon follow.
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Congratulations to Robin Welch, School Owner and Director, who recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Omaha Entertainment and Arts. Go to Robin Welch Dance Arts on Facebook to see pictures!
