Asheville Ballet is a non-profit organization that has been providing quality arts education and performance for over 60 years. Founded as the Fletcher School of Dance, Asheville Ballet is North Carolina's oldest regional ballet company. The organization believes strongly in the importance of community involvement and growth, and because of its year-round residency, it is able to provide monthly, weekly, and daily performances to meet the artistic needs of the community.
In addition to promoting professional ballet in the Western North Carolina region, Asheville Ballet also offers an annual lecture series on dance appreciation in coordination with other local dance presenters. The company also provides educational articles on dance history and appreciation for national publications and a variety of local journals. A full library of dance-related material is also available for the public.
Asheville Ballet is dedicated to providing quality arts education and performance for everyone. By fostering community involvement and growth, the organization is able to provide ongoing performances and educational opportunities, allowing people to learn more about the art of dance. The company is committed to making sure that everyone in the Western North Carolina region has access to the rich history and culture of dance.
Ballet is a type of performance dance that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread, highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary based on French terminology. The Asheville Academy of Ballet and Contemporary Dance offers classes in Creative Ballet for 3-4 year olds, 5-6 year olds, and levels of Ballet I - III for 7 year olds through adults. Creative Ballet will incorporate the basics of ballet terminology, body coordination, and musicality. Ballet I - III classes begin with ballet barre exercises focused on strengthening, stretching, and properly aligning the body for center exercises. Students ages 11 and up may begin Pointe as a part of their classical study with permission and supervision of the faculty.
Show more
BeAKid
Jazz and Broadway Dance
Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. Jazz dance was an integral part of jazz until the end of the swing era in the late 1940s. In the 1950s, a new genre of modern jazz dance emerged and combined with balletic and modern styles found its way onto the concert dance stage as well as the Broadway musical dance stage. Jazz dance promotes focus, conditioning, alignment, strength, and cardiovascular health for the well-rounded dancer.
Show more
BeAKid
Tap Dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm (jazz) tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap is widely performed in musical theater. Rhythm tap focuses on musicality, and practitioners consider themselves to be a part of the Jazz tradition. At Asheville Academy of Ballet, we utilize our knowledge of ballet and jazz dance techniques, the musicality, and technical precision of the rhythm tap tradition, and Broadway tap dance terminology in our classes.