Twin City Ballet Company is chartered by the State of Louisiana as a
non-profit organization to enrich the cultural environment of northeast
Louisiana and the surrounding areas. The first artistic director of the
Twin City Ballet was Mme. Cecilia Kelly, a former soloist with the
Sadler's Wells Ballet in England. Since 1979, under the artistic
direction of Linda Lavender Ford, the dual aims of the ...company
are to create an exciting dance experience in the community and offer
an opportunity for training and stage experience to talented young
dancers. The year-round program of performances and classes provides
young dancers with training by an experienced faculty and world-renowned
guest artists as performers, choreographers and teachers. The company,
which embraces all styles of dance from classical ballet to contemporary
and jazz, has become a haven for exceptional dancers.
Twin
City Ballet Company, a member of LANO (Louisiana Non-Profit
Organization), depends solely on the support of friends who are patrons
and benefactors for the financial operation of the company. Financial
support also comes from gifts, grants and fundraising projects
undertaken by the Board and Guild.
Three performances are held
each year for the Twin City Ballet Company membership. Approximately
20,000 students, teachers and chaperones from all over northeast
Louisiana and south Arkansas come to the Monroe Civic Center Theatre for
our annual Christmas performances in early December. TCBC also holds an
annual Spring Ballet Under the Stars in West Monroe's Kiroli Park. As a
presenter of major touring dance companies, TCBC has been pleased to
bring companies such as Miami City Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem,
Ailey II, Houston Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance - Chicago, Ballet
Hispanico and Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company for area audiences.
Each year Twin City Ballet co-hosts a ten-day Summer Dance Intensive
Workshop with the University of Louisiana - Monroe's School of Visual
and Performing Arts. The workshop attracts serous dance students from
throughout the South with its internationally acclaimed faculty of
teachers and choreographers.
The Twin City Ballet is an Honor
Member of Regional Dance America/Southwest, an organization of dance
companies from five states. Our dancers also participate in four days of
classes, workshops and performances each spring hosted by different
members of RDA/SW. In 1989 and 2002, TCBC hosted RDA/SW Festival in
Monroe. In 1990 and 2002, TCBC was the recipient of the Stream Award, a
silver bowl and tray awarded annually to outstanding directors in
recognition of excellence in growth and cooperation with other regional
companies.
Artistic Director Linda Ford was named "Artist of
the Year" by the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council and received the
Governor's Arts Award for "Lifetime Achievement in the Arts" from the
State of Louisiana and was given the prestigious A.O. Evans Award by the
West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce for her contribution to
the community in the field of dance.
Twin City Ballet Company takes pride in our talented, passionate, dedicated dancers and your support makes it all possible.
