| Ballet Memphis | |
| Previous Names: | Memphis Concert Ballet |
| Venue: | Orpheum Theatre |
| Chief Executive: | Gretchen Wollert McLennon |
| Artistic Director: | Steven McMahon |
| Orchestra: | Memphis Symphony Orchestra |
| Official School: | Ballet Memphis School |
| Founder: | Dorothy Gunther Pugh |
| Ballet Mistress: | Julie Marie Niekrasz |
| Administrator: | Carol Miraglia |
Ballet Memphis is a regionally and nationally recognized professional ballet company based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded as Memphis Concert Ballet in 1986 by Dorothy Gunther Pugh. Ballet Memphis regularly performs at their Midtown home, at Playhouse on the Square, Crosstown Theater and the Orpheum Theatre.
Ballet Memphis presents classical and mixed-repertory contemporary choreography.
Ballet Memphis was founded in 1975 as Memphis Youth Concert Ballet. In 1986, it was renamed Memphis Concert Ballet when it was refocused as a professional troupe under Dorothy Gunther Pugh.[1] In July 1996, the company was renamed Ballet Memphis.[2] In August 1997, Ballet Memphis began constructing a new location on Trinity Rd in Cordova. The building was designed with metal and glass to give it an industrial feel and included a marquee-like sign and five sculptures of dancers to maximize its visibility from the road.[3]
The current Ballet Memphis building was designed by archimania and opened to the public in August 2017.[4] That same month, Ballet Memphis sold its Trinity Rd building to Tennessee Shakespeare Company.[5]
In 2019, Pugh began to retire from leading Ballet Memphis, selecting Steven McMahon to succeed her as artistic director. In July 2020, Gretchen Wollert McLennon was selected by the company's board of directors as the new president and CEO.[6] [7]
Dracula choreography by Steven McMahon
Ballet Memphis' The Nutcracker
Winter Mix: Love Songs/Love Stories
Gerald Aprino's Birthday Variations, Marcus J. Willis' T&C's Apply, Garrett Ammon's Short Trip Home
Cinderella choreography by Steven McMahon
In This Moment: Gabrielle Lamb's Elapse, Steven McMahon New Work, Mariana Oliveira's Pagliacci
Ballet Memphis' The Nutcracker
Winter Mix: George Balanchine's Concerto Barocco, Trey Mcintyre Patsy Cline Gets Her Heart Broken, Brandon Ramey New Work
Soul: Julie Niekrasz's In Search Of, Emilia Sandoval's In Mind's Eye, Chanel DaSilva's Heathen Hearts
Romeo and Juliet choreography by Steven McMahon at Playhouse on the Square
Ballet Memphis' The Nutcracker
Winter Mix: New works with choreography by Crystal Michelle Perkins, Julie Marie Niekrasz and Uri Sands
The Ballet Memphis School offers ballet lessons for ages 3 through adult. It is led by Brandon and Virginia Ramey.
Youth Ballet Memphis is the highest level of the school, with students practicing and performing alongside members of the professional company.[8]