Minnesota Ballet Celebrates 60th Anniversary
The lyrics from a song from the Broadway musical A Chorus Line offer simple imagery to describe the elegant world of the ballet.
“Everything is beautiful at the ballet.
Graceful men lift lovely girls in white.
Everyone is beautiful at the ballet.
Every prince has got to have his swan.
Everyone is beautiful at the ballet.
Raise your arms and someone’s always there.”
For the dancers and audiences of Minnesota Ballet, those images have come to life every year since 1965 and will again this year as they celebrate their 60th anniversary season. As the premier classical ballet company in the Northland, they have provided top-notch performances, pre-professional ballet training and entertaining outreach programs for decades.
Whether with their versions of classic works, interpretations of masterpieces by talented artists or new commissions from both established and emerging choreographers, they have enriched the area’s cultural landscape in their own distinctive artistic niche.
They are driven by their mission to inspire appreciation of the art of ballet through performance and education and their vision “to make the beauty, joy and passion of dance accessible to all members of the community.”
As noted at their website, “We advance and celebrate diversity, inclusion and equity because we’ve seen firsthand how it richly nourishes the art of dance. We thrive on the support and generosity of our wonderful, art-loving community. We are the Minnesota Ballet. Where we believe dance is for all.”
On Their Toes Since 1965
In December 1965, 20 ballet supporters in the Duluth area formed a board of directors, with Janice Gibson as the first president, establishing the Duluth Civic Ballet to provide instruction in ballet.
From those early beginnings, that first dedicated board and many enthusiastic citizens, the vision of a vibrant ballet and supporting patrons has continued to grow and evolve.
According to their website, “The community founded the Ballet. The community has sustained it for decades and remains a valued part of Minnesota Ballet as it moves upward in its second century of excellent dance, education, outreach and performance.”
Karl von Rabineau, Artistic Director at Minnesota Ballet, explained, “The success of Minnesota Ballet over the years truly comes down to one core strength: our community. From the very beginning, it was driven by a group of passionate individuals who recognized the need to offer students a more professional experience.
“When our community expressed a desire to see full-length ballets, Minnesota Ballet responded — producing The Nutcracker and eventually establishing a fully professional company,” he added.
“Through every challenge and every triumph, it’s been the unwavering support of those who believe in the importance of high-quality, professional ballet in our region that has sustained us. We are here today because our community continues to invest in and believe in the value of the arts and ballet.”
A Dynamic 60th Season
Minnesota Ballet will begin its 60th Season with the 19th anniversary of their popular Celebrity Dance Challenge in the Depot Theatre on October 9.
This annual fundraising event pairs local celebrities with professional dancers from the company for an entertaining evening of dance. Proceeds from the Celebrity Dance Challenge support the Minnesota Ballet’s educational programs and its professional dance company.
“For our 60th anniversary season, we’ve crafted a lineup that celebrates both our rich history and the vibrant future of Minnesota Ballet. The season is filled with beloved story ballets that our community knows and loves — works that showcase the beauty of classical ballet while also engaging audiences of all ages,” von Rabineau stated.
“With three full-length ballets in our upcoming season, we’ve expanded the company from 14 dancers last year to 22 this season,” he explained. “This growth allows us to not only support a strong core of seasoned professionals but also provides valuable opportunities for emerging dancers who are just beginning their careers. It’s a unique and exciting balance — bringing together experience and fresh talent to elevate the artistic quality of our productions.”
He said that he is especially looking forward to their first full-length ballet of the season, Giselle, performed for the first time in the Twin Ports area (October 24-26 at MPAC).
“Giselle is considered the pinnacle of Romantic ballet, not only because of its beautiful choreography and haunting atmosphere, but also because of its deeply human story,” von Rabineau said. “At its heart, it’s about love, loss and the transformative power of forgiveness — the greatest gift we can offer one another.”
The ever-popular Nutcracker returns for the holidays (December 12-14 DECC). “To return with this iconic ballet, with its sets, elegant costumes, Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable scores and casts of children feels incredibly special,” he stated.
Von Rabineau noted that they are also excited about their production of Sleeping Beauty (March `13-15 DECC). The last time they staged this grand, full-length ballet, a major snowstorm forced them to cancel half of the performances, heartbreaking after so much preparation and anticipation.
As the grand finale to this milestone year, they will present a special Gala Retrospective Performance (April 17-18 Depot).
“This celebratory event will honor six decades of artistic excellence, featuring highlights from past productions, guest appearances, and moments that pay tribute to the dancers, choreographers and supporters who have shaped our legacy,” von Rabineau said. “It’s going to be a season full of heart, artistry and gratitude — and we can’t wait to share it with our community.”
Importance of Funding, Volunteers and the Board of Directors
As with most artistic organizations, achieving financial stability is difficult. A ballet company requires daily access to studio space for rehearsals, classes and production preparation.
According to von Rabineau, some performing arts groups can operate with artists working independently until closer to performance dates. Ballet, however, requires consistent, in-person collaboration. This significantly increases overhead compared to other arts organizations.
Minnesota Ballet’s funding comes from ticket sales, private donations, and both public and private grants. The school’s tuition revenue helps support the organization. They also do concession sales and rent their Studio Four space for events and other community uses.
Volunteers are essential to the success of Minnesota Ballet. Their time, energy and talent help behind the scenes, both helping with the Ballet’s limited resources, but also helping to build strong connections within the arts community.
Minnesota Ballet’s dedicated parent volunteer group is particularly critical, especially during the performance season, doing costume work, helping with backstage logistics, and assisting with the large number of performers.
In addition, the Ballet’s Board of Directors does much more than govern. They are critical in the planning, fundraising and hands-on work to keep the Ballet alive and thriving. Many of them are sponsors for individual dancers within the company.
A New Generation of Dancers
The Minnesota Ballet Academy offers classes for all ages, starting as young as three, creating opportunities for lifelong engagement with dance — whether as a student, performer or audience member. They currently have approximately 140 students in the school.
Besides ballet, the Academy offers classes in other forms of dance with classes such as jazz, modern dance and tap. Tiny Toes, a new class this year, gives a chance for mothers or fathers to share in the joy of movement with their little ones as young as six months old.
Minnesota Ballet Academy offers classes for students ages 3+ of all levels and backgrounds — no prior dance experience is necessary. From creative movement to recreational classes and summer camps to pre-professional training, they have something for everyone.
Class sizes are intentionally kept small in order to give each dancer attention and support from the talented faculty who are current or former professional dancers.
In addition to their annual summer camps, Minnesota Ballet will hold its second year of a dance camp during the public school district’s February break. Students of any dance experience are invited into their studios for the week to work alongside the Minnesota Ballet’s professional company. The students will perform a family friendly performance at the end of the week of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
Perspectives from Two Company Dancers
Breanna Crockett, is beginning her seventh season as a dancer with the Minnesota Ballet. Originally from Denver, Colorado, Crockett began her training with International Ballet School in Littleton, Colorado. She went on to receive training from a number of other top-notch dance organizations.
During her tenure with Minnesota Ballet, she has danced in a variety of roles including in the Nutcracker and as the lead in last season’s Snow White
and in the role of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.
Matthew Frezzell began his ballet training in Norfolk, Virginia, at Ballet Virginia International, and has been a company dancer with the Orlando Ballet and
School, Ballet San Antonio, South Carolina Ballet, and the San Diego Ballet..
Frezzell joined the Minnesota Ballet this past season and danced several roles, including the leading role in Romeo and Juliet opposite Crockett.
Both Crockett and Frezzell have taught in the Minnesota Ballet’s Academy.
Crockett said, “I love teaching in addition to my dancing. It is important for me to impart what I have learned to students.
“To have them see me as a dancer and a role model and to watch the work ethic required to become better dancers are important, too. Everything you do in your work with students leaves a lasting impression.”
“I love ballet despite it being a demanding job,” said Frezzell, “To share that love with students is a joyful part of what I do. My biggest goal with students is to inspire them to become better dancers.”
“To teach in the Academy and to see the students grow in their confidence and think outside the box is very rewarding,” he noted.
Crockett added, “The artistic leadership at Minnesota Ballet is wonderful. They care for and respect the dancers. Karl and Ballet Master Jennifer Miller show appreciation for the dancers and the hard work we put into rehearsal and performances.
“The dancers themselves are also so supportive of each other. They lift each other up. This is not an environment of cutthroat competition. We are one big family,” she said.
Crockett is also appreciative of area audience members. “The Ballet is important to Duluth. People appreciate when we as dancers take them out of the real world for a while. People who have never been at a ballet before are often surprised at how much they enjoy it.”
“I enjoy doing community outreach and look forward to becoming a bigger part of the community in my second year here,” Frezzell added.
Nancy Gibson
No one in the entire organization of the Minnesota Ballet has as close of a perspective on the inception and growth of the company from the very beginning than Nancy Gibson. She has worn many different hats within the organization in every step of their growth.
Dance has always been a passion of hers. She started taking dance lessons herself at a ballet school in Duluth. When she and her mother Janice Gibson went to see the Royal Danish Ballet, her mother was so inspired that she decided to pursue her dream of establishing a school of ballet herself in Duluth. And in 1965, that dream became a reality.
As the company evolved, Nancy was a student from age seven, a company dancer (starting in the junior company at 12), eventually a ballet master, the artistic director, a choreographer, and a teacher with the Academy.
“I shifted from dancing at age 16 to doing more teaching. To be truthful, performing terrified me, but I loved teaching and still do,” she said.
Nancy became the Acting Artistic Director in 1988 and that ended up lasting until 1992. “I started to have more and more of a passion for choreographing and as the ballet master, I was teaching company classes and running rehearsals.”
Nancy is excited to be choreographing and resetting choreography for a few pieces for the Retrospective concert this season, including her own “Suite for High Tops.”
“I have been so thrilled with the growth of Minnesota Ballet and for having this symbiotic relationship I have had with the path it has taken over the years,” she said.
Nancy stated that her mother Janice Gibson is now 89 years old and continues to attend performances of the Ballet. “The Ballet still means a lot to her, and she is so very proud of how far it has come.”
Ballet Live Is a Captivating Experience
“Attending a Minnesota Ballet production is a unique and unforgettable experience. Anyone who enjoys watching the power, precision, and artistry of the human body — whether in sports, live music or theater — will find something captivating in ballet,” noted von Rabineau.
He added, “Minnesota Ballet’s performances showcase world-class talent combining athleticism, emotion, storytelling and beauty in a way that connects with audiences on many levels. Having shared a celebration of human expression and creativity, audiences leave the theater having experienced something inspiring,”
Von Rabineau stated that ballet is sometimes regarded as highbrow or intimidating, but that the Minnesota Ballet aims to break that perception.
“At its core, ballet is about human movement, emotion and storytelling — something we all connect with, whether we realize it or not. We’re all dancers in some way. The way we walk, move through space or express ourselves physically — there’s grace in everyday life, and ballet is simply a reflection of that, elevated through artistry and technique.”
“Minnesota Ballet is here to welcome everyone, whether it’s your first time in the theater or you’re a lifelong fan,” von Rabineau concluded. “You don’t need to know anything about ballet to be moved by it — you just need to show up and let yourself experience the beauty, athleticism and emotion that unfolds onstage.”
For more information on the Minnesota Ballet, visit their website at minnesotaballet.org
Sheryl Jensen is a Duluth-based freelance writer, editor and reviewer.
PULL QUOTES
“You don’t need to know anything about ballet to be moved by it — you just need to show up and let yourself experience the beauty, athleticism and emotion that unfolds onstage.”
Karl von Rabineau, Artistic Director at Minnesota Ballet
“I love ballet despite it being a demanding job. To share that love with students is a joyful part of what I do.”
Matthew Frezzell, dancer and teacher going into his second year with Minnesota Ballet
“The dancers themselves are also so supportive of each other. They lift each other up. This is not an environment of cutthroat competition. We are one big family.”
Breanna Crockett, entering her seventh year with Minnesota Ballet
“I have been so thrilled with the growth of Minnesota Ballet and for having this symbiotic relationship I have had with the path it has taken over the years.”
Nancy Gibson, daughter of Janice Gibson, who helped establish Minnesota Ballet’s forerunner, Duluth Civic Ballet
