Sarasota Ballet of Florida

The Sarasota Ballet of Florida is the only professional ballet company on the state´s west coast.  Established more than 15 years ago, the Ballet offers both classical and contemporary performances ranging from the well-known to unique and original works by local as well as internationally-renowned choreographers.
 
Popular works that have been and continue to be performed by the Sarasota Ballet of Florida include Echo & Narcissus, Giselle, Madame Butterfly, Othello, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Zal & Rudabeh. 
 
Sarasota Ballet of Florida is recently under new direction from Artistic Director Iain Webb, formerly of Tokyo, Japan.  Webb was a professional dancer for 18 years and has been involved with dance in various capacities for over 35 years.  His dance history includes involvement with the production of ballet performances such as Coppelia, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. 
 
The Sarasota Ballet of Florida was founded by Jean Allenby0Weidner, and achieved world-class recognition under the direction of the previous Artistic Director, Robert de Warren.  The Ballet has been recognized for a wide variety of performances appealing to all tastes.  Sarasota Magazine has named the Sarasota Ballet "Best Performing Arts Group" for eight years in a row.
 
The Sarasota Ballet of Florida performs at various venues.  Popular accommodations for the Ballet´s performances include the Florida State University Center for the Performing Arts, an arts complex at Florida State University, located at 5555 North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, a bay front Sarasota landmark located at 777 North Tamiami Trail.
 
Aside from its beautiful and well-executed dance performances, the Sarasota Ballet of Florida also is involved with a number of outreach programs aimed to help build the Sarasota community´s appreciation for and knowledge of dance.  Two such programs include the Sarasota Ballet Academy and Dance-The Next Generation. 

The Sarasota Ballet Academy, which is the Ballet´s official school, offers students the chance to dance in professional productions of the Ballet, working with professional dancers, choreographers, and teachers.  Classes range from creative dance for children as young as age three to adult ballet instruction.

Dance-The Next Generation is a full-scholarship program that enrolls 120 at-risk children annually in a seven-year dance and education curriculum.  The program is the only one of its kind in the nation, and further offers the opportunity for those children who complete the seven-year training to qualify for a four-year college scholarship.

Combined, the Sarasota Ballet Academy and the Dance-The Next Generation program involve approximately 5,000 children each year, introducing them to the wonder of dance and other arts and giving them the opportunity to learn about career opportunities related thereto through participation in local events such as the Manatee Festival, Sarasota Arts Day, and the Sarasota Reading Festival.

Current single ticket prices, subject to change, range from $17.00 for rear balcony seats to $62.00 for front-row seats in the orchestra section.  More information is available at http://www.sarasotaballet.org, or by telephoning the Ballet at (941) 359-0099.  The direct number for the box office is (941) 351-8000 or (800) 361-8388.