Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Cooper.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I founded Avant Chamber Ballet in 2012 with my now husband, David Cooper, to create dance performances with live music. At that time, no dance companies in Dallas were using live music and I wanted to choreograph and create something new that represented what ballet could be in today’s DFW. Since we started, ACB has produced 24 of our own programs and performed by invitation over a dozen times at dance festivals. ACB has also given 32 world premieres of new choreography and commissioned 2 original scores.
In 2015, we broke ground with Women’s Choreography Project which gives female choreographers the opportunity to have works commissioned by a professional company. The program helps bring balance to the male-dominated field of ballet choreography. The selection of potential choreographers is in an international open application process.
Avant Chamber Ballet’s season is now based at Moody Performance Hall in the Dallas Arts District. In addition to our Dallas productions, ACB tours locally and throughout Texas. The company is nationally known for presenting world premieres and masterworks by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, and Paul Mejia.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Like any non-profit organization, we have had our struggles with funding. Performing arts in the U.S. has the challenge of raising our funds from our community, but that has helped shape ACB into a dance company that represents and speaks to the city of Dallas and our audiences. We pride ourselves in being based in Dallas and supporting local artists.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Avant Chamber Ballet – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Avant Chamber Ballet is known for new works, collaborations and presenting classical art to a modern audience. We always perform with live music which is unique in today’s world of dance, but we believe it takes performances to the next level.
This season in addition to our regular shows, we are launching Family Saturdays which is a series of afternoon performances designed to introduce the performance arts to new audiences.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Avant Chamber Ballet has had exponential growth since our founding 2012 and we are still on that trajectory. We are expanding our performances in Dallas, our outreach program and touring.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3630 Harry Hines Blvd # 30, Dallas, TX 75219
- Website: www.avantchamberballet.org
- Phone: 817-360-6387
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/avantchamberballet
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/avantchamberbalelt
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/avantchamber
- Other: www.ticketdfw.com/presenters/avant-chamber-ballet/
Image Credit:
Sharen Bradford
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