Todd Bolender News

Oakland University, one of Michigan's leading educational institutions, has announced that JOANNE DANTO is the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Arts for her contributions to the dance community as an internationally celebrated ballet dancer and educator, and her commitment to philanthropy in raising funds to support non-profit organizations in Michigan, and other parts of the United States.

Devon Carney, Artistic Director of Kansas City Ballet, today announced the Company's continued intention to commit to more culturally appropriate representations of Asians in presentations of The Nutcracker. Most notably, the artistic representations as seen through the Chinese Tea variation will continue to evolve away from stereotypes and outdated caricatures.

Kansas City Ballet will kick-off its 62nd season with the 9th Annual KC Dance Day at the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity (500 W. Pershing, Kansas City, MO 64108) on Saturday, Aug. 24th from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The entire day will feature FREE dance performances, classes, demonstrations and FUN for the whole family. In addition, attendees may relax under a tent with food and beverages on sale from Two Guys and a Grill.

Artistic Director Devon Carney today announced the choreographers chosen for New Moves, a unique performance event designed to search out, develop and showcase emerging choreographers, both from the national dance scene as well as locally within Kansas City Ballet. New Moves is presented to provide time and space for choreographers to create world premiere works with accomplished professional dancers. New Moves features the works of choreographers Gary Abbott, associate professor of modern dance at the UMKC Conservatory of Dance and Music; Haley Kostas, Kansas City local dancer, choreographer and dance educator; Price Suddarth, Pacific Northwest Ballet soloist; KCB Company Dancers James Kirby Rogers, Emily Mistretta, and Courtney Nitting; and a work for Kansas City Ballet's Second Company created by Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye.

Programming for American Ballet Theatre's 2018 Fall season, October 17-28 at the David H. Koch Theater, was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. The season will feature World Premieres by Michelle Dorrance and Jessica Lang, as well as centennial tribute performances of Jerome Robbins's and Leonard Bernstein's Fancy Free. Check out a video preview of the season below!

Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney announced today the top awards for the Kansas City Ballet School at the recent Youth America Grand Prix Regional Semi-finals held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Top honors include eight pieces selected to advance to the national finals in New York City April 7–14 as well as the award for Outstanding School and Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye as Outstanding Choreographer. 

The Kansas City Ballet Guild has announced Lisa Merrill Hickok as the honored recipient of the 2016 Pirouette Award.

Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney today announced the appointment of April Berry as the new Community Engagement and Education Manager. 

Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney today announced the appointment of six new members, Kelsey Hellebuyck, Emily Mistretta, Gustavo Ribeiro, Amaya Rodriguez, James Rogers, Kevin Wilson, and three new apprentices, Ivan Braatz, Sarah Joan Smith, and Katherine Sawicki to the Kansas City Ballet Company.

The Kansas City Ballet Guild has announced Lisa Merrill Hickok as the honored recipient of the 2016 Pirouette Award.

Kansas City Ballet will present the 6th Annual KC Dance Day at the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity today, Aug. 27th from 9:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Kansas City Ballet will present the 6th Annual KC Dance Day at the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity on Saturday, Aug. 27th from 9:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Claire Brand, President of the Board of Directors for Kansas City Ballet, today announced the contract extensions for the Kansas City Ballet leadership at the conclusion of a record-breaking and critically acclaimed 2015-2016 season marked by the highest attendance and ticket revenue in its 58-year history.

KANSAS CITY, MO (April 15, 2016) — The 58th season of Kansas City Ballet closes with a mixed–repertory program of four bold and electrifying works in one performance: Viktor Plotnikov's WORLD PREMIERE, Vesna, featuring the music of Antonín Dvorák, Yuri Possokhov's Diving into the Lilacs including music by Boris Tchaikovsky, Helen Pickett's Petal with music of Thomas Newman and Philip Glass and closing the program with Adam Hougland's Rite of Spring with the brilliant masterpiece score by Igor Stravinsky. The production will be accompanied by Kansas City Symphony conducted by Kansas City Ballet Music Director Ramona Pansegrau and runs May 6 through 15 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

KANSAS CITY, MO (April 15, 2016) — The 58th season of Kansas City Ballet closes with a mixed–repertory program of four bold and electrifying works in one performance: Viktor Plotnikov's WORLD PREMIERE, Vesna, featuring the music of Antonín Dvorák, Yuri Possokhov's Diving into the Lilacs including music by Boris Tchaikovsky, Helen Pickett's Petal with music of Thomas Newman and Philip Glass and closing the program with Adam Hougland's Rite of Spring with the brilliant masterpiece score by Igor Stravinsky. The production will be accompanied by Kansas City Symphony conducted by Kansas City Ballet Music Director Ramona Pansegrau and runs May 6 through 15 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

KANSAS CITY, MO (March 24, 2016) — Artistic Director Devon Carney announced the choreographers chosen for New Moves, a unique performance series designed to search out, develop and showcase emerging choreographers, both from the national dance scene as well as within Kansas City Ballet. New Moves is intended to provide time and space for choreographers to create world premiere works with accomplished professional dancers. New Moves will feature choreographers Jennifer Archibald, Andrew Skeels, Stephanie Martinez, and Kansas City Ballet company dancers Sarah Chun, Charles Martin and Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye.

Adelphi Orchestra's March 13th concert 'French Impressionists' will feature an original work of dance set to Ravel's Mother Goose Suite.

The 58th season of Kansas City Ballet continues with the enchanting tale of Swan Lake with choreography by Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov and the mesmerizing score of Peter I. Tchaikovsky. The production will be accompanied by Kansas City Symphony conducted by Kansas City Ballet Music Director Ramona Pansegrau and runs tonight, Feb. 19, through Feb. 28 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney today announced the 2016-2017 season. The 59th season will open with the full length, lighthearted Shakespearian frolic, A Midsummer Night's Dream, choreography by Bruce Wells with music by Felix Mendelssohn.

KANSAS CITY, MO (Feb. 15, 2016) — Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney today announced the 2016-2017 season. The 59th season will open with the full length, lighthearted Shakespearian frolic, A Midsummer Night's Dream, choreography by Bruce Wells with music by Felix Mendelssohn.