Straz Center forms ballet company

With the epidemic closing of arts institutions across the country, organizations are squeezing every drop of creative juice to find a means to survive. It's hard enough to maintain established arts programs, let alone begin a new one.

But that's what the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts has done.

Next Generation Ballet is Tampa's newest dance company and classes begin Monday, Straz officials said this week.

"Next Generation Ballet will provide a fantastic opportunity for young dancers to be nurtured and inspired, and will benefit our audiences as they'll get to experience ballets featuring our talented dancers as well as guest artists," Judith Lisi, president and CEO of the Straz Center, said in a news release.

Straz officials say what makes NGB financially practical in tough economic times is its innovative, crossbred organizational structure.

"The financially self-sustainable model that exists for ballet companies is no longer viable," said Peter Stark, chair of the dance department at the Patel Conservatory and NGB artistic director. "NGB is a hybrid between a youth company and a professional dance company."

NGB's mission is to prepare young dancers for professional employment while providing audiences with local dance performances of international quality without compromising the company's financial stability.

"It's for people wanting to dance and people wanting to see real dance - not a recital," said Stark.

Wendy Leigh, vice president of education says the training component of NGB will be funded through current scholarship money. The company's productions will be funded through existing budgets of the Straz Center and the Patel Conservatory.

"The Straz Center's development staff will continue to search for additional sources of funding as the NGB program expands." Leigh said.

Modeled after Miami's New World Symphony - a youth-driven organization that Stark says has high artistic quality - NGB will bring students together with professional dancers. There will be a three-tier demographic: Guest artists that will include principal dancers from companies around the world; apprentice dancers who have completed the bulk of their training but are looking for additional mentoring and stage experience; and trainees who are the Patel Conservatory Youth Ballet's most advanced students.

The curriculum is a tough balance of training and academics. Students will work from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., attending dance classes and rehearsals while fitting in study time.

"It's physically demanding to be a ballet dancer. Like any athlete, under the strain you take, there's a shelf life on your body," Stark said.

Two annual productions will feature apprentice company members and guest artists. Members of the New York City Ballet and Boston Ballet will participate in NGB's inaugural production of "The Nutcracker" in December, followed by "A Midsummer Night's Dream" May 14.

"This is a dream come true for me to open a dance company," Stark said. "Particularly during a time when dance has lost so many wonderful institutions nationally, it's gratifying to create something new."