The River Region Ballet told its dancers and their families in early August that the organization would no longer offer tap, pom and acrobatics classes. The group is shutting down its School of Dance on River Road in Norco and shifting its focus to its ballet company and productions like The Nutcracker. It will now regularly offer only ballet, pre-pointe, pointe, and contemporary instruction at the River Region Drama Guild on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Emily Mire, owner of S Studio Dance Co., said her studio has taken in several new students and teachers after the River Region Ballet closed their School of Dance location.
“[River Region Ballet’s] dance families and most of their faculty were suddenly left without a dance home and were all scrambling to find somewhere before the dance season began,” Mire said.
Mire said about 12 to 15 families attended her studio’s open house. She estimated that about 90 percent of the families were from the School of Dance. She said it seemed that dancers and their families were understanding of River Region Ballet’s shift in focus, but they were also stressed about finding a new studio before the dance season started. Some parents were also hoping to keep dancers who had performed together for years in the same classes, Mire said.
“I was just really grateful that we had space to bring people in so that they weren’t lost out in the dance universe,” she said, “because that breaks my heart.”
Maintenance issues, inflation, and the effects of Hurricane Ida pushed the River Region Ballet toward this shift, according to a member of River Region Ballet’s Board. This summer, a broken air conditioner caused damage to the studio. Without a full summer season, the River Region Ballet lost out on important funding.
River Region Ballet, Inc. is a non-profit and some of its funding comes from grants. The board worked to find solutions to budget issues, but time was running out. The dance season typically starts at the end of August or first week of September.
The River Region Ballet board said in a statement that their dancers and their families were at the root of their decision.
“We recognized that financial setbacks placed a strain on us continuing to operate the studio on Apple Street,” the statement said. “However, we jumped into action immediately, creating the partnership with the River Region Drama Guild to continue to offer weekly classes focused on our roots, classical dance.”
The board said it was an incredibly difficult decision to reduce classes knowing they would no longer see some of their students weekly.
“We were so encouraged, however, to see local studios embrace our dancers and welcome them to their studios,” the statement continued. “We know that they are in incredible hands to continue their training, and we will be a beacon for them to show off their talents through our performances, like The Nutcracker.”
River Region Ballet’s board members sent out two emails to dancers and their families explaining the decision for a “rebirth” that would bring the River Region Ballet “back to its roots” of classical ballet, according to a board member. The board said it offered its teachers opportunities to stay involved with the organization and participate in its productions. Families were also given information about other studios in the area that provide classes the River Region Ballet cut.
The River Region Ballet was founded in 1995 as a ballet company. It now has a mini company for dancers 5 years and older, a junior company (pre-pointe) and a senior company (pointe). Company Director Elizabeth Birkel and Adrianne Lehmann, the only board certified Cecchetti teacher in Louisiana, will teach at the new location. The Cecchetti method is a style of ballet founded by Italian ballet master Enrico Cecchetti.
The organization will also offer its members various workshops taught by guest artists, a big sister-little sister program, and performance opportunities at local organizations and festivals.
The board said that it wanted to make sure dancers still have a place to learn classical dance techniques, while also having a space to bring them to life through performances.
“Our dancers and families have welcomed the new partnership with the River Region Drama Guild to have space to continue this almost 30-year tradition of classical dance within the River Region,” board members said in an email. “We take pride in the family, teaching and community support that will allow classical dance to continue to be a fixture in the River Region.”
