About Young People's Ballet Theatre

Last updated Thursday, October 25, 2007

Young People's Ballet Theatre was founded in 1988 for the purpose of developing children's ballet in Flint, MI and surrounding areas.  YPBT is a non-profit, 501c3, tax exempt organization.  Presently there are thirty-five members in our company.  Our dancers range in age from eight to eighteen and enter our company through an audition held in the fall. 

Our major goal is to produce at least one full-length children's classical ballet every spring.  The season includes technical training and choreography by professionals.  In addition to their spring ballet, company members have other opportunities to perform throughout the year.  They perform Frosty the Snowman and Snow from Nutcracker for a fundraiser breakfast and dinner in December.  They have had opportunities to perform in professional productions of The Nutcracker through the Midland Center for the Arts.  Companies our students have been privileged to perform with in the past include North Carolina Dance Theater, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Cincinnati Ballet, Oakland Ballet and Minnesota Dance Theater. 

Many of our dancers have gone on to dance with professional companies, and many have been accepted to and received scholarships for prestigious dance programs in colleges and universities in and out of Michigan.

Our major production for the 2008 season is a combination of 2 classic stories adapted from the originals: Snow White by the Brothers Grimm and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Our choreographer is Mr. Dale Brannon, a former dancer with Stuttgart Ballet, Ballet Met, and the Louisville Ballet. Mr. Brannon is using music by Adolfe Adam, Elgar, and Strauss to set these original ballets on YPBT dancers.

Click HERE to view our repertoire of past performances!