Wikipedia

Ballet Memphis

Ballet Memphis
General information
NameBallet Memphis
Previous namesMemphis Concert Ballet
Year founded1986; 39 years ago (1986)
FounderDorothy Gunther Pugh
Principal venueOrpheum Theatre
Websiteballetmemphis.org
Senior staff
Chief ExecutiveGretchen Wollert McLennon
AdministratorCarol Miraglia
Company managerCourtney Sage
Artistic staff
Artistic DirectorSteven McMahon
Ballet MasterBen Delony
Ballet MistressJulie Marie Niekrasz
Other
OrchestraMemphis Symphony Orchestra
Official schoolBallet Memphis School, Youth Ballet Memphis

Ballet Memphis is an American 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.

History

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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]

View of main entrance and drop-off area with metal sculptures along the roofline.
Former Trinity Rd location

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 is located on Madison Ave in Midtown and opened to the public in August 2017. It was designed by archimania and features a five-story rehearsal studio used for performances.[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]

Dancers

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Dancers (as of 2024-2025 season)[8] are:

  • Iori Araya
  • Kennedy Ballard
  • Angelina Broad
  • Anwen Brown
  • Cayce Cavett
  • Matthew Cunningham
  • Nicolas Gongora
  • Cecily Khuner
  • Noah Long
  • Phoebe Magna
  • Beth Ann Maslinoff
  • Darcy McLoughlin
  • Wyatt Pendelton
  • Demetrious Reed
  • Emilia Sandoval
  • Rianna Talento
  • Gretchen Vander Bloomer
  • Harry Warshaw
  • Rosamond Mullinax (Trainee)

Repertoire

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The company performs its normal October–April season at its Midtown building, the Orpheum Theater, and Playhouse on the Square.[9] Its repertoire includes classical and contemporary choreography including retellings of stories such as Dracula[9] and The Wizard of Oz.[10] Ballet Memphis has performed The Nutcracker every year since 1987. In December 2020, Ballet Memphis released an abbreviated version of The Nutcracker on WKNO and their website, with the first act recorded at the Mallory–Neely House.[11]

Ballet Memphis School

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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.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Smith, Whitney (February 6, 1987). "Ballet company outgrows its name". The Commercial Appeal. pp. B3. ProQuest 2657477470. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Smith, Whitney (June 11, 1996). "Memphis Concert Ballet becoming Ballet Memphis". The Commercial Appeal. pp. B5. ProQuest 2657974391. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  3. ^ Smith, Whitney (July 30, 1997). "Ballet facility 'to have a presence'". The Commercial Appeal. pp. A12. ProQuest 2657663418. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Ferello, Jamie (10 August 2018). "The Ballet Memphis building shines behind a corrugated copper curtain". archpaper.com. The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  5. ^ Dries, Bill (September 1, 2017). "Tennessee Shakespeare Company Buys Ballet Memphis' Cordova Facility". Memphis Daily News. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  6. ^ "Dorothy Gunther Pugh, CEO and Founding Artistic Director of Ballet Memphis, announces retirement". ABC24. January 7, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  7. ^ Sparks, Jon (July 6, 2020). "Gretchen Wollert McLennon to lead Ballet Memphis". Memphis Flyer. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  8. ^ "The Company". Ballet Memphis. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  9. ^ a b Perry, Elle (September 29, 2024). "'Dracula' begins season of duality for Ballet Memphis". Daily Memphian. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  10. ^ Sparks, Jon W. (April 7, 2017). "Ballet Memphis dances down yellow brick road". The Commercial Appeal. pp. 8, 15.
  11. ^ Burch, Peggy (December 10, 2020). "Coming to a screen near you: 'The Nutcracker' ballet". Daily Memphian. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  12. ^ "Youth Ballet Memphis". Ballet Memphis. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
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