The Kansas City Ballet Names Grace Holmes as the New School Director

Kansas City Ballet is pleased to announce that Grace Holmes, previously Professor of Dance at University of Texas at Austin, assumed the role of Kansas City Ballet School Director beginning September 1, 2014. Her responsibilities will include oversight of the Academy, the Kansas City Youth Ballet, the newly created Trainee Program, the Studio Division and the summer programs for the more than 600 children, young adults and adults in the downtown Bolender Center campus and the Johnson County campus.

Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney stated "I'm thrilled to announce the appointment of Ms. Holmes. She will bring an exceptional level of expertise to this critical position." Carney continued, "Ms. Holmes' extensive experiences from her collective background has just the right mix of many styles and techniques that she will now be able to pass on to our talented and eager students to give them a broader more full understanding of the greater world of dance. She has an intense passion for dance education and I am elated that she will lead our esteemed faculty and bring high quality dance education to our community."

Holmes has enjoyed a remarkable career as performer, ballet master, choreographer, teacher, and repetiteur. Following her early training in New Orleans, she studied with San Francisco Ballet School, where her teachers were Erik Bruhn, David Howard, Stanley Williams, Helgi Tomasson and Galina Samsova, among others. She additionally holds a Master of Arts in Dance in Education and the Community from the University of Birmingham, U.K.

Holmes, in accepting the position stated, "I was so excited to see that Kansas City Ballet was looking for a new School Director, and that Devon Carney was the Artistic Director of the professional company. When I came to Kansas City to meet the directors, I was immediately impressed by the beautiful facility and the obvious love that the staff have for the organization and its history." Ms. Holmes continued, "Most importantly, though, I was thrilled to learn that I share the vision that Devon has for the company and the school. I feel that my work over the years as an educator, artist and administrator has led me to be able to help bring that vision into reality. I cannot wait to dive in and get to know everyone - teachers, staff, students and their families."

Holmes performance experience includes Birmingham Royal Ballet as a Senior Soloist under the artistic direction of David Bintley and, earlier, with San Francisco Ballet as a Soloist under the artistic direction of Helgi Tomasson. During her lengthy performance career, Holmes performed in repertory including Frederik Ashton's Birthday Celebration and La Fille Mal Gardee', William Forsythe's New Sleep, and In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, Agnes De Mille's Rodeo, Wayne MacGregor's Reverse Project Jerome Robbins' The Cage, The Concert and Opus 19, Twyla Tharp's In the Upper Room, Paul Taylor's Company B, Anthony Tudor's Dark Elegies and Sir Peter Wright's Giselle (Myrtha). At the University of Texas at Austin, Holmes taught all levels of Ballet Technique, integrating choreography from masters such as Petipa, William Forsythe, George Balanchine and Lew Christensen into the syllabus. Outside of the University, she also taught an extensive breadth of ballet classes from youth to adult, pointe classes and variations.

In addition, Holmes served as Academy Director for the Tapestry Dance Company in Austin, Texas where she supervised a team of 25 teachers of multiple dance forms, planned and managed a Summer Intensive Program, created and coordinated Outreach Programs with the professional company as well as its junior company, managed studio rental and facility maintenance, built positive relationships with parents and faculty and was responsible for grant writing and research.

As Ballet Education Manager at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England, she managed and implemented Middlesex University Dancers' Degree Course, managed the Chance to Dance program which offered free weekly classes 6 days per week to a total of 130 students in four London boroughs.

About Kansas City Ballet

To make Kansas City a destination for dance

Founded in 1957, Kansas City Ballet is a 29-member professional ballet company under the leadership of Artistic Director Devon Carney and Executive Director Jeffrey J. Bentley. The company's mission is to establish Kansas City Ballet as an indispensable asset in its community through exceptional performances, excellence in dance training and quality community education programs for all ages.

Kansas City Ballet is home to Kansas City Ballet School with an enrollment of 600+ children and adults offering professional training for the career-minded student as well as for those simply seeking a healthy lifestyle.

Through its professional company, its second company (KCB II) and its many community service programs such as Reach Out and Dance (ROAD) and DanceINFORMances we seek to nurture and develop our artists, audiences and students in the values inherent in the creativity, diversity and joy of dance.

Our home, the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity on the campus of Union Station, in conjunction with our Resident Company status at the world-class Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts has truly positioned Kansas City as a Destination for Dance.

Kansas City Ballet

2014-2015 Season at a Glance

@The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

1601 Broadway

Kansas City, MO 64106

Alice (in wonderland)

October 10-19, 2014 | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts | Music performed by Kansas City Symphony

Take an incredible, magical journey of misadventures when you tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice (in wonderland).

Alice (in wonderland) Choreography: Septime Webre Music: Matthew Pierce

Fri., Oct. 10 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 11 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 12 2 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 17 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 18 2 p.m. (*) & 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 19 2 p.m.

* No subscriptions are available for this performance

The Nutcracker

December 6-24, 2014 | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts | Music performed by Kansas City Symphony

Kansas City's favorite holiday tradition continues with the presentation of Todd Bolender's delightful family classic The Nutcracker. Sponsored by Bank of America.

The Nutcracker Choreography: Todd Bolender Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky

Fri., Dec. 5 Nutcracker Ball

Sat., Dec. 6 2 p.m. (*) & 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 7 1 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 12 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 13 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 14 1 p.m. & 5 p.m.

Thurs., Dec. 18 7:30 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 19 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 20 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 21 1 p.m. & 5 p.m.

Mon., Dec. 22 7:30 p.m.

Tues., Dec. 23 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Weds., Dec. 24 1 p.m.

* Sugar Plum Fairy Children's Ball

New Moves

February 6-14, 2015 | Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity

New Moves is a unique performance event designed to search out, develop and showcase new emerging choreographers from both the local and national dance scene.

Fri., Feb. 6 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 7 7:30 p.m.

Fri., Feb. 13 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 14 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Giselle

March 13- 22, 2015 | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts | Music performed by Kansas City Symphony

This stunning production of Giselle from Artistic Director Devon Carney, choreographed to the enchanting music of Adolphe Adam, is a rare opportunity to enjoy one of ballet's true romantic classics.

Giselle Choreography: Devon Carney Music: Adolphe Adam

after Marius Petipa

Fri., Mar. 13 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Mar. 14 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Mar. 15 2 p.m.

Fri., Mar. 20 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Mar. 21 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Mar. 22 2 p.m.

Dances Daring (then and now)

May 8-17, 2015 | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts | Music performed by Kansas City Symphony

Presenting classics from Balanchine, plus two exciting Kansas City premieres, and a beloved work of Todd Bolender to celebrate his centennial.

The Four Temperaments Choreography: George Balanchine Music: Paul Hindemith

Wunderland Choreography: Edwaard Liang Music: Philip Glass
Kansas City Premiere Choreography: Amy Seiwert Music: Arcangelo Corelli

The Still Point: 3rd Movement Choreography: Todd Bolender Music: Claude Debussy

Fri., May 8 7:30 p.m.

Sat., May 9 7:30 p.m.

Sun., May 10 2 p.m.

Fri., May 15 7:30 p.m.

Sat., May 16 7:30 p.m.

Sun., May 17 2 p.m.

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