ABOUT
TWIN CITY
BALLET
COMPANY
Twin City Ballet Company is chartered by the State of Louisiana as a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the cultural environment of northeast Louisiana and the surrounding areas. The company was founded under the artistic direction of Mme. Cecilia Kelly, a former soloist with the Sadler's Wells Ballet in England. In 1979, leadership passed to Linda Lavender Ford, whose remarkable vision, talent, and unwavering passion guided the company for more than four decades. Under her direction, TCB grew into a regional leader in the performing arts, fostering both community engagement and professional-caliber training for young dancers.
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Today, the company proudly carries forward Mrs. Linda’s enduring legacy. Her influence continues to shape every rehearsal, performance, and educational initiative. Through a year-round schedule of classes and performances—including instruction from esteemed faculty and world-renowned guest artists—Twin City Ballet offers an exceptional foundation in classical ballet, contemporary, and jazz. The company remains a creative haven for aspiring dancers and a cultural treasure for the region.
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Twin City Ballet Company, a member of LANO (Louisiana Non-Profit Organization), is supported by generous patrons, grants, and fundraising initiatives led by its Board and Parent's Boosters.
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Each year, three major performances are held for TCB members. The annual Christmas production in early December brings approximately 20,000 students, teachers, and chaperones from across northeast Louisiana and south Arkansas to the Monroe Civic Center Theatre. In past seasons, Twin City Ballet has also presented Ballet Under the Stars, a community favorite once held in West Monroe’s Kiroli Park. While not an annual event, this outdoor performance remains a cherished part of the company’s legacy and may return in future seasons as part of special programming. As a presenter of national and international dance companies, TCB has hosted the Miami City Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ailey II, Houston Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet Hispanico, and Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company, among others.
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In collaboration with the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s School of Visual and Performing Arts, Twin City Ballet also co-hosts a six-day Summer Dance Intensive Workshop each year. The program attracts serious dance students from across the South for instruction by internationally acclaimed faculty.
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Twin City Ballet is an Honor Member of Regional Dance America/Southwest, and participates annually in a four-day festival of classes, performances, and workshops. In both 1989 and 2002, TCBC hosted the RDA/SW Festival in Monroe. The company also received the prestigious Stream Award in 1990 and 2002 for artistic excellence and collaboration.
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Twin City Ballet Company remains deeply proud of its talented, passionate dancers—and forever grateful to Mrs. Linda Lavender Ford for the foundation she built, the lives she touched, and the joy she brought to our stage and our community.
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Artistic Leadership
The Twin City Ballet Company is guided by a dedicated team of directors committed to upholding the company’s high artistic standards and nurturing its rich legacy. Gretchen Crawford Jones serves as Artistic Director, bringing vision and expertise to every aspect of the company’s artistic development. Supporting her are Assistant Artistic Directors Linda Lou Bourland, Michelle Harvey, and Wendy Waller, each contributing their unique talents and deep commitment to training and performance excellence. Honoring her foundational role and lasting impact, Linda Lavender Ford holds the title of Director Emeritus, continuing to inspire the company’s mission and artistic spirit.
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In Loving Memory: Linda Lavender Ford
Artistic Director and Ballet Mistress
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The heart and soul of Twin City Ballet for more than 40 years, Linda Lavender Ford’s lifelong devotion to dance transformed the cultural landscape of northeast Louisiana. As an educator, mentor, and visionary leader, she trained thousands of young dancers and shared the magic of performance with audiences across generations.
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Linda was the owner and operator of one of the largest dance schools in the Ark-La-Miss and an acclaimed choreographer whose original works—including A Storybook Christmas, Rudolph, and Scrooge—introduced tens of thousands of schoolchildren to the art of ballet. Her choreography and teaching were grounded in her own training with Mary Lou and Pat Young and Mme. Cecilia Kelly.
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Throughout her career, Linda received numerous accolades, including the Governor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts, the Mary Lee Milam Award, and two Stream Awards for Artistic Excellence. She served as President of both the Southern Association of Dance Masters and Regional Dance America/Southwest. She was recognized nationally by Dance Magazine, Dance Studio Life, and others for her contributions to the field.
In 2008, the Ballet Garden at Kiroli Park in West Monroe was named in her honor—a living tribute to her tireless advocacy for the arts and her unshakable belief in the power of dance.
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Mrs. Linda’s passion, creativity, and generosity will forever live on in the hearts of her dancers, her colleagues, and her community. Her legacy continues to inspire the next generation of artists, and her spirit will always be center stage.
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Programs of the Twin City Ballet Company are supported by a grant from the Louisiana State Arts Council through the Louisiana Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts as administered by the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council.
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