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About, Mission, & History

About the Ballet Theatre of Maryland

As the state’s premier professional ballet company, Ballet Theatre of Maryland presents over 20 full-length performances each season in classical and contemporary ballet styles. Through traditional classics and innovative new works, we endeavor to entertain, inspire, and enlighten audiences through dance.

 

Because the beauty of live professional dance would not be possible without quality instruction, our Conservatory of Dance provides training and education for aspiring dancers of all ages. We believe in the power of dance to inspire and enrich lives, which is why we also partner with numerous local organizations to make dance accessible to all.

 

Through our performances, education, and community collaborations, BTM continues to bring the magic of live dance to diverse audiences in Annapolis as well as across the State of Maryland.

 Our Mission

To provide Maryland with a fully professional ballet company and training academy that meets the aesthetic and recreational needs of Maryland through expressive movement by:

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  • Performing known and original classical and contemporary works of artistic integrity; 

  • Creating new eclectic works that express both American and Maryland culture;

  • Educating the community by providing a complete training program as well as other services that make the ballet more accessible to the under-served;

  • Preserving the tradition of the classical form while promoting the continual evolution of dance as an art.

Our History

Originally established as Ballet Theatre of Annapolis, BTM was founded in 1978 as a private non-profit corporation in Annapolis.

 

Artistic Director Edward Stewart, who served the company from 1980 until his death in 2002, forged a strong path for the company’s future. Under his leadership, the company achieved professional status in 1996 and changed its name to Ballet Theatre of Maryland in 2000. This new name reflects a heightened mission to serve the entire State of Maryland.

 

Dianna Cuatto helmed the organization as Artistic Director from 2003 to 2020 and contributed to the continued growth of both the Company and Conservatory. During her tenure, Ballet Theatre of Maryland was recognized as Maryland’s premier professional ballet company by many distinctions and awards, including by the Governor’s Proclamation.

 

Current Artistic Director Nicole Kelsch was appointed in 2020 after serving Ballet Theatre of Maryland as a Principal Dancer, School Principal, and Ballet Mistress over a 14-year career. Kelsch has steered BTM through the turbulent times of the COVID-19 pandemic into a renaissance of rising talent within the company, record-breaking ticket sales, and renewed focus on giving back to the community.

 

In 2021, Ballet Theatre of Maryland widened the geographic scope of its Conservatory operations when it acquired Jean Marie Dance Studio in Grasonville, MD. The Conservatory now operates out of three locations: Maryland Hall, the Moreland Parkway Annex location, and the Grasonville location. This demonstrates the company’s commitment to making classical ballet training accessible to students throughout our local community.

 Our Impact

As part of our goal to be a vital cultural institution in Maryland, BTM blends artistic excellence with direct community involvement. Some of our public-minded efforts include:

 

  • School assemblies: Performing numerous educational assemblies in Maryland K-12 schools each season

  • Outreach performances: Providing access to the classics at local libraries, senior centers, and community centers throughout the year

  • Mini-performances: Presenting 10 mainstage mini-shows for students and seniors at Maryland Hall

  • Dance workshops: Serving community partners such as Casey Cares, Boys and Girls Club, GiGi’s Playhouse Annapolis, Naval Support Activity (NSA) Annapolis, Seeds 4 Success, and many more

  • Arts integration: Teaching and performing a 10-week Arts Integration Residency in tandem with participating Anne Arundel County Public Schools

  • Trainee and apprentice programs: Conducting training programs that attract promising young dancers throughout the U.S.

  • Scholarship programs: Offering accessible dance training to students in need through the Thea B. Pinsky Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Robert Sutton Memorial Scholarship Fund, and other sponsorships

  • Local collaborations: Collaborating with other local arts organizations to expand our artistic repertoire, influence, and reach

 

To learn more about some of these endeavors, visit our Conservatory and Community Engagement pages.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to our mission as an organization. 

 

The people we serve come from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, many geographies, a range of economic circumstances, and a variety of different cultures, customs, and languages.

 

Our goal is to make ballet accessible to all of them as we aspire to ever-higher levels of artistic excellence. 

 

We are dedicated to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination.

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