How to See a Ballet Performance in Indianapolis

Indianapolis is still mourning the loss of professional dance company Ballet Internationale, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see a ballet performance in Indiana’s capital city. Here’s how to go to the ballet in Indianapolis--and maybe create new family traditions.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Appropriate theater attire
• Money for tickets
• Your own automobile or a rental car

1. One reliable option is the Butler Ballet, part of the dance department at Butler University’s Jordan College of Fine Arts. The student ballet company, which performs at Clowes Memorial Hall, offers an annual holiday performance of “The Nutcracker,” as well as other traditional favorites and contemporary dance performances. The schedule varies each year, so check the Web site for more information.

2. The Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana performs at the Madam Walker Theatre. Recent performances have included “The Nutcracker” and “Phantom of the Opera.” Again, the schedule changes every year, so check the Web site for updates.

3. Check the performance schedules for Clowes Memorial Hall and the Murat Centre. These two Indianapolis venues often feature traveling ballet companies.

4. If you love ballet, why not explore contemporary dance, as well? Your best bets are the Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, which performs primarily at the Pike Performing Arts Center, and Dance Kaleidoscope, which performs at Clowes Memorial Hall and the Indiana Repertory Theatre.

5. Indianapolis is home to several ballet academies that present amateur performances to the public. These include the Indianapolis School of Ballet and the Central Indiana Dance Ensemble. If your children are aspiring dancers, these performances can show them that their dream is within reach.

Resources

• Arts Council of Indianapolis
• Butler Ballet
• Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana
• Clowes Memorial Hall
• Murat Centre
• Dance Kaleidoscope
• Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre

[jeffndan]

on 4/7/2009 Central Indiana Dance Ensemble is a pre-professional, not-for-profit ballet company committed to bringing the art of dance to the community. CIDE is a member of Regional Dance America/MidStates and is an Honor company. Regional Dance America was founded in 1956 to promote the artistic development of dance companies throughout the United States. Each year CIDE presents two full-length productions, The Nutcracker during the holiday season(first full weekend in December) and an exciting venue in the spring. CIDE has many past members dancing professionally.

[tracebooks]

on 2/3/2008 The Russian Ballet Academy is the feeder school for the Indiana Ballet Company, which has risen from the ashes of Ballet Internationale. Some of the dancers and instructors from Ballet Internationale began both RBAI and IBC. They are a fledgling group, since most of Ballet Internationale's funding is now going to groups out of state. Indianapolis needs to get behind IBC if we expect to see professional, world-class ballet continue here.