Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefanie Best.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Stefanie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I had my first ballet class at the age of five (my mother was a Russian emigre who placed a high value on the classical arts). I had an on-again, off-again relationship with dance over the years, but I eventually spent two seasons as a dancer with the Dallas Opera, and ten seasons with Krassovska Ballet Jeunesse, a company founded and run by Nathalie Krassovska, former Prima Ballerina with the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo and the London Festival Ballet. I also attained a Masters Degree in Dance from the University of Houston.
When I opened my own school, the Allen Conservatory of Dance, in 1995, I had 29 students. By 1999, enrollment had more than tripled, and I began seeing a lot of talent and potential in my dancers. So that year I founded the Allen Civic Ballet (a 501(c)3 non-profit), to broaden the experience of those young dancers considering a career in the profession. Since there is no program in public schools to address the needs of potential professional dancers, the Ballet was created to serve as a bridge from the Conservatory to the professional world of dance. In joining the Ballet, students enjoy extra performance opportunities, as well as master classes from some of the finest dancers in the world from companies such as the New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and others.
But the mission of the Allen Civic Ballet is two-fold. In addition to supporting young dancers, it also serves to provide high quality, affordable, family friendly dance performances for Allen.
Our Nutcracker had been selling out every performance for years until we were finally fortunate enough to have a venue that could accommodate our patrons’ demand for tickets. When the Performing Arts Center at Allen High School opened in 2010, we not only got a house that could seat more people, we also got a professional quality theater with an orchestra pit. And so, since 2010, our Nutcracker has had live orchestral accompaniment provided by the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The hardest part of my job is dealing with the fact that dance is not fair. I have students who are passionate, focused, driven, workaholic perfectionists who spend countless hours in the studio for years and years, but if they don’t have the facility for dance (flexibility, arched feet, etc), they will be disappointed at some point. It’s very hard to watch people you care so much about experience the pain of that disappointment, but, unfortunately, that is the reality of this art form. It hasn’t gotten any easier over the years.
Please tell us about Allen Civic Ballet.
We produce art and artists. Our dancers get very classical training, which imbues our students with the ability to adapt to all forms of dance. This versatility allows us to present very diverse repertory, which makes our performances very entertaining to people who don’t know much about dance. What I’m most proud of is when we hear from audience members that they were pleasantly surprised at how they enjoyed our productions so much more than they anticipated. I love spreading the “gospel” of dance!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Every experience is valuable, regardless. I wouldn’t do anything differently.
Contact Info:
- Address: 602 E. Main St., Suite E, Allen, Texas 75002
- Website: allencivicballet.org
- Phone: 972-727-5959
- Email: allencivicballetevents@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allencivicballet/
Image Credit:
Mary Muller
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