Huntsville Ballet In the News
Huntsville Ballet brings 'Billy the Kid," Balanchine and more to Von Braun Center Concert Hall
By Pat Ammons, AL.com
Posted March 29, 2013
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Huntsville Ballet Company is bringing a little of the wild, wild west to the Von Braun Center for its final performance of the 2012-2013 season. "Billy the Kid and More," will include the "Billy the Kid" ballet set to the music of Aaron Copeland and a tribute to George Balanchine, one of the greatest choreographers of all time. Read more
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- The audience was laughing out loud and the actors were acting out of the box during the performance of Nutcracker Gone Wild at the Von Braun Center Sunday, December 9, 2012. (Eric Schultz / The Huntsville Times) Click here to see the photos
Huntsville Ballet Takes the Non-Profit Center Stage in Huntsville/Madision County's Chamber of Commerce magazine, Initiatives. Click here to see the online version, on pages 34,35.
Huntsville Ballet announces 2012-2013 season
Published: Sunday, July 29, 2012, 6:00 AM
By Deborah Storey, The Huntsville Times
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Huntsville Ballet’s upcoming season will celebrate nature, Christmas and a famous outlaw. Read the story
Huntsville Swan Flying North for a Special Performance
Huntsville, Alabama
Posted 6/1/12
Two dancers from Huntsville Ballet Company, Abby Callahan and Kagen Morring, will help celebrate and honor the life of Eva Ryan Block. Ms. Block was a former student of Mr. Phillip Otto, Artistic Director of Huntsville Ballet, and Rachel Butler, School Director of Huntsville Ballet School. Ms. Block died in a fire at her home in January 2012, and in honor of her dedication and passion for ballet, the Eva Block Ballet Scholarship Fund has been established. Mr. Otto will accompany the Huntsville Company dancers to New Haven, CT where they will perform the White Swan Pas De Deux for a benefit performance on June 16th.
Before coming to Huntsville in 2008, Mr. Otto was Artistic Director for New Haven Ballet, where Ms. Block danced, and Ms. Butler served as Ballet Mistress. Because the professional ballet community is a small one, it is not uncommon for Artistic or School Directors to reach out to each other for support. Mr. Otto commented, “When I approached the Community Ballet Association Board of Directors about doing this, they were very receptive, which we appreciate”. This scholarship will keep Eva's memory alive by giving the gift of dance to a child from the greater New Haven community who otherwise would not be afforded that opportunity. Community Ballet Association celebrates at the Virginia Hammill Simms Awards
By Amy Mayfield, The Huntsville Times
Posted 4/25/2012
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama--Thursday night, the North Hall of the Von Braun Center was a true celebration of the arts as the Community Ballet Association hosted the Virginia Hammill Simms Awards Dinner. Read the story
Virginia Hammill Simms nominees honored by Community Ballet Association are local luminaries
By Amy Mayfield, The Huntsville Times
Posted4/21
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama--Since 1968, local luminaries with an interest in expanding the arts in North Alabama have been recognized by the Community Ballet Association with the Virginia Hammill Simms Memorial Award. Read the story.
Huntsville Ballet Company presents 'Swan Lake and More'
By Deborah Storey, The Huntsville Times
Posted 4/8/2012
You could say Huntsville Ballet Company’s next presentation, “Swan Lake and More,” spans the ages. Read the story
Moscow Festival Ballet does select dances in Huntsville Ballet show
By Deborah Storey, The Huntsville Times Read the story
posted 2/26/12
Classic holiday story 'Nutcracker' comes alive with Huntsville Ballet dancers, orchestra
December 02, 2011, 2:00 PM
The Huntsville Times By Deborah Storey, The Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Just because “The Nutcracker” ballet dates to 1892, Huntsville audiences shouldn’t feel they’ve been there, done that. Missing the classic Christmas holiday story would be “like having Thanksgiving without the turkey,” said Phillip Otto, artistic director of Huntsville Ballet. Read the story.
For Immediate Release - November 22, 2011
Huntsville Ballet Company Teams with The Army Material Command Band at Redstone Arsenal for a Special Performance of The Nutcracker
Huntsville Ballet Company will again this year present a special performance of The Nutcracker free of charge to active and retired military. This year will be especially exciting as the Army Material Command Band (AMC) at Redstone Arsenal will present a short program prior to the start of the ballet. On December 8, 2011, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. the Vortex Tuba Quartet and the Woodwind Quintet, will perform in front of and in the lobby of the Von Braun Center Mark C. Smith Concert Hall. Beginning at 6:30 the AMC Four Star Jazz Orchestra will take center stage and perform a “Celebrating the Holidays” concert.
Huntsville Ballet Company will perform "The Nutcracker" beginning at 7:00 p.m. For tickets call 256-539-0961, and present military ID upon arriving at the performance. About The AMC Band
The AMC Band proudly serves the Soldiers and civilians of the U.S. Army Materiel Command stationed at more than 140 locations worldwide. The band, with its five Music Performance Teams, travels extensively throughout the country and overseas supporting 30 installations, 26 major tenants, seven Army Field Support Brigades, 11 subordinate commands, and four separate reporting activities within the AMC enterprise.
Since November 2003, the band has deployed in support of AMC Soldiers and civilians forward deployed in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. The AMC band has performed in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Afghanistan. The band is under the purview of the AMC chief of staff.
For Immediate Release - November 16, 2011
Huntsville Ballet Company to Perform The Nutcracker
Huntsville, Alabama- Huntsville Ballet Company will be presenting The Nutcracker, December 9th, 10th, and 11th, accompanied again this year by Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Joseph Lee. Performances will be at Von Braun Center Mark C. Smith Concert Hall. In addition to the public performances, The Nutcracker will be presented free of charge to active and retired military and their families on Thursday, December 8th, and to third graders from area schools on Friday morning. Read the story
Ballet Outside the Box 10/12/11
Huntsville, Alabama - The 45th season of Huntsville's premiere dance organization, Community Ballet Association, is a celebration of the passion for dance that brings artist and audience together. For an exciting season opener, Huntsville Ballet Unplugged offers an up close and personal performance in the intimate venue of the VBC Playhouse. Read the story
Huntsville Ballet to perform 'Stars and Stripes' at Von Braun Center 4/4/11
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Huntsville Ballet Company will present its annual spring performance next weekend at the Von Braun Center, called “Stars and Stripes” as a tribute to the military.
Read the story
A glimpse of backstage at The Nutcracker 12/10/10
See the story on Channel 48 WAFF TV's website.
Read the story
Ballet lovers visit Land of the Sweets 12/08/10
Like Clara and her nutcracker prince, supporters of the ballet took a beautiful journey to the Land of the Sweets.
Read the story
Huntsville Ballet Wins Eight Wings Awards
City Ballet On National Stage
Monday, August 31, 2009
By Victoria Cumbow
Times Staff Writer victoria.cumbow@htimes.com
Documentary on dance in America starts in Alabama
This year's Nutcracker auditions at the Huntsville Ballet Company brought out more than students in pointe shoes - it brought lights, camera and action.
Read the story Community Ballet Association announces nominees for Virginia Hamill Simms Award
By Jon Busdeker, The Huntsville Times
Since 1968, volunteers interested in expanding Huntsville's arts community have been recognized with the Simms Award. Read the story
Alabama State Council on the Arts director Al Head talks to The Times
By Jon Busdeker, The Huntsville Times
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Al Head has spent half of his life working for the arts.
In his 35 years of working for state arts councils, Head has created folk arts programs in Florida, Louisiana and Alabama. He's been on the Southern Arts Federation board since 1978. And the 61-tear-old has won awards for his achievements in promoting the arts. Read the story Local arts volunteer Robbie Hallisey wins 2010 Virginia Hammill Simms Award
By Jon Busdeker, The Huntsville Times
On Tuesday night, Robbie Hallisey won the 2010 Virginia Hammill Simms Award during a ceremony at the Von Braun Center. HUNTSVILLE, AL - A surprised Robbie Hallisey first kissed her husband. Then she stood up, walked to the podium and accepted the 2010 Virginia Hammill Simms Awards. Read the story
