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The History of LakeCities Ballet Theatre
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Twenty Five Years of Performing The Beauty and Drama of Classical Dance
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The evolution of LakeCities Ballet Theatre, a not-for-profit organization, has had many significant milestones
during the last 25 years. First chartered as Lewisville Dance Ensemble in 1984 under the direction of Sue Ellen
Lassetter, the company's purpose was to provide a performing outlet for local dancers and dance students. During
the 1989-90 season, charter dance member, Kelly Kilburn-Lannin assumed the position of Artistic Director and
dedicated herself to taking the company to a professional level that would in turn bring recognition to the community
through the arts. To celebrate the growth of the organization from a small ensemble to a ballet company with full-length
productions, the company name was changed to LakeCities Ballet Theatre as it now encompassed dancers and audiences from
not only Lewisville, but Flower Mound, Highland Village, Lake Dallas, Denton, Coppell and the surrounding areas of
Lake Lewisville.
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In 1991, LakeCities Ballet Theatre's introduced its first major production of The Nutcracker choreographed by
Ms. Lannin and supported by an enthusiastic Board of Directors dedicated to bringing this new production to the
stage. LBT's production of The Nutcracker was quickly recognized as a potential star in the local arts community by
the Greater Lewisville Arts Council and the City of Lewisville. In 1992, Ms. Lannin collaborated with Maestro
Adron Ming to incorporate the Lewisville Lake Symphony making LBT's production the first regional company in the
metroplex to boast a live, professional orchestra! To this day, LBT is one of the few companies committed to using
a live orchestra each year.
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Ms. Lannin was also instrumental in bringing world-class guest artists to Lewisville beginning with Romanian ballet
star, Vasile Petrutiu. Before long, this small company made up primarily of student dancers began to attract favorable
notice from not only area dance critics, but also from international guest artists such as Damian Woetzel, Wendy Whelan,
Jennifer Ringer, and Miranda Weese from New York City Ballet, and Julie Kent, Paloma Herrera, and Marcello Gomes from
American Ballet Theatre. Soon to follow were other performances by the company including: The Sleeping Beauty,
A Soldier's Tale, Coppélia, Giselle,
Swan Lake, Peter and the Wolf, and most recently, an all new production of
Le Ballet de Dracula. Ms. Lannin also encouraged the Board of Directors to bring in Guest Teachers and Choreographers
to enhance the training of LBT dancers.
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Dancers from the company have gone on to dance professionally and to receive major accolades and awards because of
the training and performing experience they received as members of LakeCities Ballet Theatre. During the past 25
years, the school and the company have grown in both reputation and stature in the North Texas area and continues
to develop today due to the commitment of our dancers, the devotion of our Artistic Staff, the hard work of our
Board of Directors, the support of both our Guild and the City of Lewisville, and the persistence and vision of
our Artistic Director, Kelly Kilburn-Lannin, who also celebrates her 25th anniversary with the company.
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