Performances
The Lori Ardis Ballet, a nonprofit educational organization has been giving dancers opportunities to perform since 1975. There is no cost to the dancer as the costumes and rehearsals are provided free. Choreographers and costumers donate their time for free and more than 100 other volunteers help with each production.
Six performances of a full length classical ballet are performed in June, six performances of The Nutcracker in December, and two performances of Ballet a la Modern in February. All performances include original choreography and some have had original music commissioned.
Ballet productions have included:
- Peter Pan — with original music by Ray Lindsey
- The Dream Weavers — with original music by Ray Lindsey
- Louisa — with original music by Kathleen Andrews
Ballet a la Modern was started so the students who have attended the choreography class at least a year and are in the pointe class may choreograph on any students in the school. They schedule the rehearsals for the downstairs studio at anytime there are classes. Then each choreographer teaches and coaches the performers. They may use any of the company's hundreds of costumes. When all the dances are planned, if there is time left to round out the program, then the SBT teachers will choreograph some pieces. We don't see the students' choreography until dress rehearsal. They dance to a variety of things including live music, original poetry or even silence.
Besides performing at Swarthmore Ballet Theatre which has professional lighting and raised seating, the company has performed at
- The Rose Tree Summer Festival
- Port of History Museum
- The Masonic Temple Philadelphia
- Temple University
- Drexel University
- Neuman College
- Germantown Friends
- Germantown High School
- Swarthmore Elementary School
- Springton lake Middle School
- St Mary Magdelin School
- Media Middle School
- And many other libraries, retirement comunities etc.
The Lori Ardis Ballet Company has official IRS designation as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Individual and corporate contributions are tax deductible.