Ballet Theatre Company

08/07/2024

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the difficult decision to close Ballet Theatre Company (BTC) after 25 years of service to the Greater Hartford Community. Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to overcome the financial challenges posed by recent events. BTC has cherished every moment spent fostering the love of ballet in children and creating a community dedicated to the art of dance. We understand and regret the impact this closure will have on our students, their families, and the community.

Thank you to all for your unwavering support and being a part of the Ballet Theatre Company family.

Ballet Theater Company Board of Directors

04/17/2024

A HUGE thank you to Nancy Compton, Robert & Francine Goldfarb, and David & Linda Roth for their support of the Magic Mirror!

Don’t miss your chance to see our larger-than-life Magic Mirror take the stage at The Bushnell this weekend! 🍎

West Hartford-based Ballet Theatre Company will perform ‘Snow White’ at the Bushnell on April 20 and 21. Submitted Mirror, mirror, on the wall … who is the fairest of them all? Join Ballet Theatre Company (BTC) for Stephanie Dattellas’ Snow White at the Bushnell’s Belding Theater, April 20...

04/16/2024

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 🍎

The Evil Queen is quite jealous of her stepdaughter Snow White, whom her Magic Mirror identifies as the “fairest of them all.” She attempts to take Snow White’s life multiple times throughout the ballet using her evil magic to transform herself into three merchant women who offer Snow White a scarf, comb and apple.

Though the Evil Queen and her Sirens are forces of evil propelling Snow White through her tumultuous journey in response to the Magic Mirror’s decree, choreographer Stephanie Dattellas has also integrated humor into the darkest moments of the ballet. As the Sirens scramble to appease their Evil Queen in her time of need, their absurd and humorous escapades heighten the drama of the Evil Queen’s vanity.

The Evil Queen, performed by BTC’s Sarah Berglund, and her Sirens, performed by pre-professional students from BTC’s Junior Corps de Ballet, are driven to hatch extreme plans in response to each of the Magic Mirror’s announcements. “I’ve loved working with the Junior Corps,” shares Sarah. “The portrayal of their characters are spot on and they continue to inspire me with my character."

🍎 Snow White premieres this weekend at The Bushnell!
Visit https://dancebtc.org/snow-white to purchase your tickets.
Costume Design by Pat Nurnberger

04/15/2024

THIS WEEKEND! 🍎🌟

West Hartford’s Ballet Theatre Company has adapted their video production of “Snow White” from the early COVID era into a new stage production coming to The Bushnell.

04/15/2024

Get your tickets!

West Hartford’s Ballet Theatre Company will present ‘Snow White’ this spring, and tickets are available now. Submitted To continue its 25th Anniversary celebration, Ballet Theatre Company (BTC) is proud to present Stephanie Dattellas’ Snow White at the Bushnell’s Belding Theater, April 20-...

04/15/2024

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟕 𝐃𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐬 🍎

Here is a closer look at the Seven Dwarfs from our final in-studio rehearsal on Saturday, April 13. All Dwarfs are played by students in the community! Don't miss your chance to see them steal the show this weekend at The Bushnell! Tickets available at https://dancebtc.org/snow-white. Get yours today!!

Costume Design by Pat Nurnberger
Photos by Tracy Dorman

04/09/2024

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 🍎

Leading BTC’s cast of professional and student dancers will be BTC Company Artist Jo-ann Burke who will play the coveted role of Snow White. Burke, a Wethersfield native, has danced with BTC since the original premiere of Snow White on film, and was recently featured as the Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker and Cinderella in Cinderella.

"Jo-ann continues to impress me with her ability to approach character roles with clear intention driven by the story-line and emotion," shares Artistic Director & Choreographer Stephanie Dattellas. "It has been a joy to see her tackle this role with big, bright, doe like eyes that play perfectly to the essence of Snow White's character."

See Jo-ann dazzle on stage at The Bushnell April 20 & 21. Visit www.dancebtc.org/snow-white for tickets!

04/03/2024

𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 🍎 // We are pleased to announce from will be returning to Ballet Theatre Company to perform the role of the Prince in Snow White.

Zane is from Levelland, Texas, and began his formal training at Ballet Lubbock in 2009. In 2011, he was accepted to the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. Zane then moved to Delaware to join First State Ballet Theatre. In 2020, Zane joined the Oklahoma City Ballet, where his repertoire included soloist and principal roles in Septime Webre's ALICE in wonderland, The Sleeping Beauty, Robert Mills' The Nutcracker, Ryan Nyes’ The Nutcracker, and Val Caniparoli's Lady of the Camellias. We are thrilled to have him back as part of Artistic Director Stephanie Dattellas’ original production!

Tickets on sale now! Visit www.dancebtc.org/snow-white!

03/14/2024

𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 🩰

We invite dancers ages 14-18 to join the School of Ballet Theatre Company for our popular and exciting summer Variation Intensive.

The intensive offers a unique experience to intermediate/advanced pointe students to learn a classical variation, receive professional 1:1 coaching, and perform in a costume in front of dance professionals. Students must have at least 2 years of pointe experience to participate.

There are 2 sessions offered:
🪭 June 17-21 (intermediate)
🪭 June 24-28 (advanced)

REGISTRATION IS OPEN! https://dancebtc.org/summer-2024

📸 Junior Corps de Ballet performing the “Seguidilla” Variation from Don Quixote at Up Close Winter

03/05/2024

This weekend! Get your tickets today!! 🩰

BTC’s resident choreographer Derek Brockington dances for Dance Theater of Harlem. By Keith Griffin The world premiere of a new ballet piece, “Starburst,” will highlight Ballet Theatre Company’s intimate, mixed-repertoire performances, Up Close: Spring that takes place March 9 and 10. Create...

03/05/2024

𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙈𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙚 // BTC's final Up Close performance of its 25th Anniversary season is this weekend! We caught up with dancer, Liza van Heerden to see how she prepares for those fleeting moments on stage.

"I think everyone has their own pre-show rituals," Liza shares. "I like to put my left shoe on before my right one. I don’t know why, but I always do it. I make sure to add lipstick last, and then spray any extra hairspray on all of my flyaways. I spray the bottom of my shoes with water to prevent slipping on stage, and I put rosin on my heels so that the shoes remain secure throughout the performance."

"I practice movements or steps that I know will be challenging to perform. For the most part I will practice a turn or something that I might be nervous about. Before I go on, I make sure to close my eyes and go through all of the choreography- I like to envision it in my head so it is clearer in my body. I then take a deep breath and give the other dancers a knowing look, usually a smile, that we are ready to go and that we got this."

"Lastly, sometimes we give each other a hand or shoulder squeeze to show support before going on. It is calming to know that we are in it together and that we are giving our all in each performance."

Tickets to Up Close Spring are on sale now! Don't miss your chance to see Liza and the entire company perform in Derek Brockington's world premiere, "Starburst". In addition Liza will present "Distracted Dispatch" a piece she choreographed on BTC's Junior Corps de Ballet.

📸 Liza preparing for Up Close Winter, Photo by .semenzaphoto