Ballet is one of the most difficult and arduous forms of dance to learn, but is simultaneously one of the most graceful and breathtaking to watch. It requires years of training to learn and master, and near-constant practice to retain this mastery. With such feats of strength and dexterity combined with peerless grace and beauty, is it any wonder that ballet has remained popular for over five hundred years and has spread across the globe from its beginnings in the courts of the Italian Renaissance?
Tacoma City Ballet is a premier ballet school and performance company dedicated to preserving and perpetuating the technique and traditions of classical ballet, and to making the study of ballet accessible to anyone who desires to learn. The school offers four divisions of study in classical ballet: Creative Movement and Pre-Ballet, for beginners ages 3 5; the Elementary Division for early dancers ages 6 10; the Intermediate Division for ages 11 14, which requires a placement class to qualify; and the Company Division for ages 14 21, which also requires that students qualify. In addition to these divisions, the school offers an Adult Open Class Program that teaches beginning through intermediate technique and the Ballet Bees Mommy & Me! open class for ages 2 4.
Students in the Intermediate and Company Divisions are eligible to audition for the Junior and Senior Performing Companies, respectfully. The companies perform throughout the year at various venues, but most particularly in the Tacoma City Ballet productions. Upcoming performances include The Nutcracker and the Tale of the Hard Nut this month.
The Tacoma City Ballet is housed in The Merlino Art Center on the corner of 6th Ave. and Fawcett Ave. More information on both the school and the performances is available at the Tacoma City Ballet website here.