Washington Ballet

The Washington Ballet is one of the premiere ballet companies in the United States. The company is an outgrowth of the Washington School of Ballet, which was founded in 1944 by Lisa Gardner and Mary Day; pioneers in American dance. Renowned as an exceptional training facility, in the 1950s a group of students performed with the National Symphony Orchestra and began touring throughout New York and Virginia. In 1961 the company premiered Mary Day's "The Nutcracker" with the National Symphony Orchestra at Constitution Hall. Their annual presentation of "The Nutcracker" has been a DC holiday tradition for more than 40 years.

The Washington Ballet company was officially formed in 1976; its first resident choreographer was Choo San Goh, who came to the company from the Dutch National Ballet, creating 14 ballets for it before his death in 1987. Choo San Goh, ultimatley appointed associate artistic director, also danced with his Washington Ballet company on occasion. The company's founding company members were, Patricia Berrend, Madelyn Berdes, James Canfield, Sharon Caplan, Robin Conrad, Lynn Cote, John Goding, Robin Hardy, Jon Jackson, Brian Jameson, Terry Lacy, Christine Matthews, Ricardo Mercado, Julie Miles, Patricia Miller, Philip Rosemond, Helen Sumerwell and Allison Zusi. The company produces a full season of ballets at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra, tours internationally and continues to operate one of the top dance training facilities in the country. Well known former pupils include Amanda McKerrow and Kevin McKenzie. Founder Mary Day retired in 1999, handing the company's artistic reigns over to Septime Webre, who is the company's current artistic director. Septime Webre, along with his other ongoing artistic contributions, has since created his own newer version of The Nutcracker for The Washington Ballet. A Nutcracker which now too has become a Nation's Capital tradition and annually well received. Jeff Edwards is the current associate artistic director and John Goding ballet master. In 2005, the company voted to become unionized and received it's first dancers union, American Guild of Musical Artist, AFL-CIO represented contract in 2006. Mary Day died in July 2006 leaving a rich legacy of contributions to American Dance.

External links

* [http://www.washingtonballet.org Washington Ballet website]